USED Ford Focus C-MAX MPV (03 - 07)

My car

I obtained a C Max to replace a Citroen Picasso as a mobility car for myself and my friend who needs a wheel chair now and again we both need a car with high access and this is fine although we both find the seats hard and my friend uses the cushion from her wheel chair to make it better, so far so good. performance good and fuel consumption average 35 miles per gallon. However we were on the motorway in the outside lane when we were forced to stop with what sounded like a major failure in the front wheels. We managed to get onto the hard shoulder and were recovered back to the main dealer. I got the car back yesterday and was told that the problem was that the gearbox had lost all its oil this is in a car 6 months old with 9500 miles on the clock, Was this a one off or is it a regular problem. Our confidence in the safty of the car has been shattered.

My car

Having been initially pleased with the car (bought 12m old in 2005) we are now finding more things wearing out. Last service (15k miles) needed new brake pads AND discs, now, still less than 25k the front pads need replacing again. Also alternator has just gone as per last review - are they all wearing out about now? Seems to be high wear and tear given low mileage. DVD player and radio now malfunctioning after fixing alternator, so...back to the dealer...

My car

I bought this C-Max used from the Car People in June 2008 - £9500 for a Feb 2007 model. The car buying experience was excellent with no hassle & a straightforward deal.

The car is excellent, it is a Ghia model so has plenty of equipment (heated seats, cruise control, puddle lights on door mirrors). I find the driving position excellent & very comfortable, I have selected 'comfort' steering setting in town but in the country use the 'sport' settings.

The kids (10 & 12) love the space in the back & it has more storage spaces than my previous car a 307SW.

The 1.8 TDCi engine is excellent, 32 mpg is lower than I had hoped but my 7 mile drive to work is all town driving (used to get 24mpg in 2.0 litre petrol 307SW). On longer journeys it gives better mpg.

A couple of niggles - no ESP as standard even on a Ghia, the centre console is loose - requires lock nuts in the mounting bracket, the passenger headrests are not adjustable (either down or fully up).

Overall an excellent car.

My car

Following up my review of 25/8/06 it is time to say goodbye to this C-Max. Failed alternator was the last straw, and after 20,000 miles and 3 years I'm buying Japanese again.

Since my report 2 yrs ago (dropped passenger door, EPB failure, motor wiper recall, selt belt failure fixed under warranty) we have suffered central locking failure, electric window failure and now the alternator has failed.

What a shame for Ford; this car is fabulous to drive and ticks every box for my young family except the most important one: RELIABILITY!