[Closed] Ford Focus owners - what are they like to live with?

I've never done it, but I don't think I'd be too concerned about living with a Ford Focus owner. HTH.

You clearly haven't lived with a Berlingo owner. This is like going from trailer trash to terraced.

My older brother had one.

I wouldn't want to live with him.

He's an arsehole.

HTH

🤣

Ecoboost you say? I was talking to our local Ford garage about ours the other day. 2011 estate 1.6 Ecoboost less than 60k on the clock. I asked can we expect any big bills anytime soon particularly cambelt after 10years. Non Ecoboost engine Ford allow them 3 hours to replace Ecoboost 12 hours!!!! Around £1300!!!! Reckon it was almost quicker to take the engine out! Got a 2nd opinion from a trusted independent, he wasn't surprised what they said. He hadn't done one yet but he's done VWs and Audis they've been up around a grand!
Got car valued in PX 4 1/2 K, so in 18 months with servicing we'd spend half the value of the car! Should they really be allowed to design cars like it? Built in obsolescence comes to mind. 🙄
Up until now the car has been faultless to be fair, but we decided to cut our losses and buy an almost new one (ironically another Ecoboost) with the intention of keeping it maybe 5 years.
I wonder if its the way most cars are going regardless of make?

All I need to know about a Ford Focus is could I fit a Geometron in the back of one of these?

Sort of interested in this as a Focus wagon could end up being my next car.

Can't help but feel that a 1.0 engine is going to struggle one way or another with a car that big. Either it'll be underpowered and need thrashing, or its going to be highly stressed and a fair likelihood of it going *POP* at some point. Depends how long you're planning on keeping it for I guess.

Also my old man had a Fiesta with that engine in for a bit. Not an adventurous driver by any means, but he reckoned he got better actual mpg out of the 1.8T Audi TT he traded the Fiesta in for.

Don't get an ecoboost.
The 1L turbo is a lot more powerful than you'd expect, but the design means it runs very hot and there is very little metal to act as a heatsink if anything goes wrong.
A coolant leak will lead to the engine cooking itself before the temperature gauge moves, and you'll be facing a considerably higher bill than those described above.

Ours is the estate version for bike hauling duties 200 mile round trip to Dartmoor last week with 2 bikes on a 1 Litre petrol engine. Motorway cruising looking at rev counter it certainly wasn't busting a gut and returned 45mpg which is around 10mpg more than our 1,6 so far so good.

The early 1.0 EcoBoost suffered cooling issues, but thats been sorted with a new pump design.

My sister has had no trouble with her 1.0 Titanium Nav in 3 years, far better car than the Mini she had before. That was a lemon.

he’s done VWs and Audis they’ve been up around a grand!

Well obviously that covers a lot of different models and years but changing a cambelt on a typical VAG engine should cost well under £500. About £350 on mine.

Don't VW Golfs need the cam belt changing much more often? Every 4 years?

I'm on my 2nd and have had no issues at all, my commute is 80 miles a day and averages just under 50mpg (1.0 125hp model). I'm toying with selling mine if your interested, nothing wrong with it just fancy a change.

I have a 19 plate 1.5 ecoboost, it is so quick for a 3 cylinder! 182ps.

Mine is the St Line Estate, it is roomy enough to put the road bike or jump bike in with wheels on, the MTB needs the front wheel off.

Lots of passenger space front and rear.

Very happy.

I had a 2017 ST, so I won't comment on the engine. However, in terms of interior and general quality, I rate the mk3.5 Focus quite highly. It certainly wasn't hugely inferior to the 2016 Golf it replaced.

If possible, go for a model with the Sync3 infotainment system. It's actually pretty good.

I've had a 1L one for a few years now. Bought new* but has been good. Does the usual short journeys and a couple of longer drives 200+ miles to visit family.

No problem with the engine. Had it pretty full aand it is fine. Goes up steep hills, can pull out of a small road onto the A1 and get up to 70 quick enough.
Sat nav is aweful.

Like our previous Golf we intend to keep until around 7-8years. Reduces the chances of unexpected large bills and massive issues.

*BiL is an engineer at Ford. I'm sure he was on the team for this engine. I'll send him a ling to your concerns ;). Family discount made it cost effective to buy new.

I have a 67 plate Focus Zetec 1.5 diesel estate as a work pool car (soon to be replaced by the new version as a proper company car). I also own a personal 62 Octavia, until the company car arrives.

Good stuff
Easy to drive, decent handling, good gearbox, totally reliable so far at 36000 miles. Not that its relevant to your current choice, but the engine is excellent, smooth and surprisingly powerful and returns excellent economy. Rear seat space seems quite adequate.
Unaffected by carrying a 16' canoe on top on regular occasions.
Easy to park.
Ford dealer servicing (a surprise!)

Less good
Still haven't found a truly comfortable driving position after 20k+ miles in it, this is the only car I've ever had that problem with.
Weird clutch at first (high and "bitey") but that has improved no end as the car was run in.
Boot is small (compared to other estates, the new one is MUCH bigger or I wouldn't be getting one) and the hatchback is more comparable with other makes.
Sat nav is simple and clear but the data in it is poor and I can't update it currently.
Small mirrors.
The ride is a bit fidgety at times, and it tramlines a bit on our dodgy roads.
Interior plastics of a lower quality than VW Audi group stuff, inc Skoda.

When the next company car choice came up, initially I thought "not having another one" if I'm completely honest, and was going to change for, you guessed it, an Octavia estate. Even though its older, less well equipped, and battered on 126k miles, the Skoda is still more comfortable to drive.
When I looked at the new one, the additional size and reports of class-leading ride and handling, made me look again. Then they removed Skoda from my choice list, but instead I can get a high end Titanium X rather than what would have been an average specced Skoda (or Vauxhall). The interior is still inferior in terms of quality and plastics, but everything else seems a big step forward and I've ordered one.

We've owned a 2015 Focus hatchback with the 1.0l 126ps engine for 3 years now with no issues. The pre-2013 mk1 engines had issues with cracking coolant pipes which would cook the engine but the newer models are fine. I check the coolant levels weekly though just in case. I do 12k miles a year commuting and days / weekends out riding and hiking. Got a Thule roof rack for the bike which fits nicely.

45mpg on regular supermarket unleaded is about right. £20 emmisions tax per year due to the small engine. It feels faster than my old 1.6 Zetec petrol Focus with the pull (and turbo lag) of my old 1.8 turbo diesel Fiesta. £160 a year to service via our local premium garage.

It's the perfect small family car for us while the little'un is still a baby, however when we come to change it I'd be looking at the 1.6 Ecoboost estate or ST estate for the extra power and space. Would recommend but also look at the Mondeo if you need the extra space and comfort.

Drove a brand new estate 1.0 ecoboost around Portugal in 40 degree heat.

Went well, I was very surprised it was 1.0, as quick if a little peakier than vw 1.2tsi and didn't overheat, ever.

We have had a 64' plate bargain basement base model now for 4 years. I was skeptical about the 105hp, 1 litre, 3 cylinder engine but I cannot fault it, its a fabulous car.
Honestly, it is better built than the brand new Tiguan we bought last year. No bumps, rattles or squeaks & it handles lovely. The interior materials are way better than the Tiguan, which shocked me given VW's supposed high quality.
Done 33k now. Feels solid on the road. MPG isnt great, it's my Wife's car (she's a Community Nurse so it genuinely is the worst kind of stop start driving all day), & it does about 35mpg. On a run, 45+ with no issues. On the motorway its fine, we've done plenty of 3hr runs in it.
Other drivers might have noticed this but off the line it has an initial surge from the turbo that belies its low power. As said, ours is the lowly 105hp model so its not going to blow anyone away, but hand on heart, its perfectly drivable.

Negatives, I do struggle to get comfortable in it, but as said, it is a base model. Nothing wrong with its ergonomics & driving position, just the seat padding. Rear vision is woeful, its awful to reverse. If the seats were harder it would be near on perfect. A higher spec model would probably be excellent. I can see us keeping ours for many years, we both love it. The Tiguan will hopefully be going next year...

Had a 65 plate 1.5 diesel Titanium X as a company car for a year and 32k, found it a really comfy drive and very easy to live with. 🙂

We have a late 2015 Estate, 1.0L 126ps. Bought new, now done 33k. Goes well, almost as good as our previous 2004 1.8TDCI Mk1, just a bit less torque up hill. Over 50mpg on motorway runs, nearly 35mpg with 4 adults, crammed with gear & two open canoes. Bigger on the outside but about the same space inside as the Mk1 Estate, I assume due to more protection to the cabin.

One major fault; the clutch suddenly started slipping and it was undriveable, but back to normal by the time the rescue van arrived. A year later there was a bang and no drive, the clutch had destroyed itself. Clutch and bellhousing replaced under warranty. It must have happened to a few, as a year later there was a recall, with a software fix to avoid the stress that caused it; no problems since.

1.0 EcoBoost,

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/106367/are-ford-ecoboost-engines-any-good-

Read the good and bad on that site of that car and engine - seems that long term the 1.0 is a bag of spanners with huge bills to maintain, not just fix.

I used to have a Focus and then got a Mondeo. The Mondeo was a better car in every way and no more expensive to run

1.5 TD titanium here. I'm looking to get rid at the end of the year. In 3 years the car has broken down twice and had all 4 tires replaced.

I think the break downs are due to the diesel engine, so you'll be dodging those issues. However that and the crappy ford dealerships handling of it all it's really made me doubt buying ford again.

The overheating coolant exploding story is nonsense.
It was an issue in 2012 and ford issued a recall.
If you are buying a ford check out the etis website and it will tell you if it had the recall carried out or not.

I’m on a 2013 focus estate 1.6 Ecoboost petrol and it’s been fantastic.
I had an issue where a turbo pipe cracked and it cost £43 to repair / replace the pipe.
Has not a single issue other than that.

I don’t do high mileage though and my one is sitting at just over 20k

We had a new Focus 1.0 125 turbo back in 2012 to 14. Liked it very much tbh. Comfy, smooth, quiet, reasonably nippy. I'd have another if I was in the market for that type of car.

klunky,
I will of course accept your "nonsense" verdict based on what ford have admitted, over my experience of (twice) opening the bonnet on a non recalled car and thinking "where is the coolant", and "why is it suddenly so warm?"
prick

Touched a nerve?
Try maintaining your vehicle or ask your husband to do it for you and these issues won’t happen.

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For reliability I’d recommend the mk1, had mine since 2003 and it’s still going strong 😀

Can’t help but feel that a 1.0 engine is going to struggle one way or another with a car that big. Either it’ll be underpowered and need thrashing,

I don't think you understand how turbo charging works in a modern car. You set it up so that there's loads of boost at lower revs so they pull pretty well. Better to drive normally than a NA car with the same HP in my limited experience.

Not driven a 1.0 focus, but have been a regular passenger in one. As a car it is very comfy and refined, more so than my Golf V derivative. So from that point of view I would be happy to have one. However. The engine I just could not believe had a turbo, at least not connected to the engine! It was very peaky, not good full consumption because it needed a lot of ‘loud pedal’. This really was a loud pedal as the position seemed only to control noise and not forward thrust. If you like the Focus get one but get a different engine.

The engine I just could not believe had a turbo, at least not connected to the engine! It was very peaky, not good full consumption because it needed a lot of ‘loud pedal’. This really was a loud pedal as the position seemed only to control noise and not forward thrust. If you like the Focus get one but get a different engine.

That's the opposite of my experience, having had one for the last 4 years; I suspect there's something wrong with that car. The Mk1 TDCi I had before it was a diesel that had to be driven like a petrol engine, because it would cut out at low revs to protect the DMF. The 1.0 Ecoboost is a petrol engine that behaves like a diesel; it keeps pulling at low revs, but if I do put my foot down I get comments from passengers who can't believe it's only 1.0.

klunky,
Yes, yes you did touch a nerve!

Fords 1.0L ecoboost design cost me two engines totalling about £7,000 a few years ago and had a huge knock on effect on my families finances from which we have yet to fully recover. (Hence my exposed nerve).

But you are very sure the problem doesn't exist (or is my own fault) so thats reassuring.

You are obviously an internet expert. Have a biscuit.

But you are very sure the problem doesn’t exist (or is my own fault) so thats reassuring.

It looked like he was agreeing that there was initially an issue that you encountered, however it's been fixed under recall.

Molgrips,
Yup, there was definitely an issue that led to a recall.
But my car was not recalled, (so apparently had no issue?) but died anyway (twice) from catastrophic coolant leaks.

So basically hes talking about things he doesn't understand.
Taking pride in "touching a nerve" with his lack of knowledge.
And then implying that I'm a woman as an apparent attempt at an insult.

I'll stick with my initial impression.

EDIT: For all that, I did like the car, but I have developed an aversion to small turbocharged engines, and Fords generally 😉

Fords 1.0L ecoboost design cost me two engines totalling about £7,000 a few years ago

I've been looking into that issue, and is seems that Ford changed the design in 2014. What you might like to follow up is a letter from Ford to the Parliamentary Transport Committee, in 2018, where they say they will pay for repairs due loss of coolant. Whatever they told you at the time, in the light of that policy it's worth at least a letter asking them to refund you retrospectively.

Don’t VW Golfs need the cam belt changing much more often? Every 4 years?

Mine lasted 100k miles before it took out the pump. You’re meant to change it every 60k though. Cost me about £400 for cam belt and pump changed which wasn’t terrible.

Door seals come unstuck from about 2013 onwards. I've seen lots with the rubber hanging out since my mum had to have hers repaired.

Cheers Greybeard,
Sadly in reality that seems to only apply if Ford dealt with the issue at the time. If you were scared off by their "We'll have to see the car but we'll charge you to look at it and it's out of warranty so we probably won't help you" spiel, and paid to have it fixed privately then you're boned.
C'est la vie..