USED Ford Focus Estate (04 - 11)

My car

There's too much turbo lag, the car is not as economical as it should be, as well as too much road noise and a strange damp smell from the air-con once it's turned off.

Otherwise, though, it's a very competent car to drive. I will choose the 1.6 Duratec diesel next time, because it's a much smoother engine without the lag of the 1.8.

My car

Bought my 1.8 TDCi Ghia Estate from new and been pretty pleased with it. Cruise control is great and the seats are really comfortable. Radio (Sony) has a superb sound. Boot is spacious. Approx 42mpg around town

Problems I’ve had, for some strange reason they’ve done away with the boot release inside the car you can only open it with the remote key. One day couldn’t open the boot had take it back to the dealer they had to climb inside remove rear boot panel to fix it.

Took it back rear door intermittent sometimes wouldn’t close properly, dealer replaced boot switch, perfect now.

The worrying fault I had pulled off the drive went to drive away steering locked warning on instruments STEERING FAILURE stopped turn engine off re started steering fine. Back to dealer they found electrical fault on engine management.

My car

A fantastic car to drive, even better than the previous version of the Focus estate. Excellent legroom up front for someone who's 6'5", even though there's not much behind me. I have an extremely heavy right foot and regularly get 26-28mpg even though this engine is supposed to get around 40-odd mpg, very vocul in the upper revs. Excellent handling even at speeds round corners.

Problems are that the windows attract more road dust that the previous model meaning the washer fluid can be gone (all 3+litres of it) on a long distance drive and that the drivers seat squeaks which is partially my fault for enjoying it so immensely.

Overall a fantastic car with a big boot too!

My car

Had this car 3 months from new and it’s had the AA out because the clutch pedal had stuck down and would not come back up - not good in rush hour at a junction! This has now happened twice, the brake pedal pressure goes hard until you pump the pedal and I have lost faith in driving this car for business use. The car smells of burning oil in heavy traffic and makes you feel sick. I’ve driven Nissan, Vauxhall, Saab and 2 previous focus models and for £16,000 this car is rubbish. Cabin style is cheap and plastic, fuel economy is poor for urban driving (450 miles per tank) and the body styling is awful - people slated the Vauxhall vectra for the front end styling but this is the same shape but because its Ford its acceptable. It’s not its truly hideous and I’m now looking to opt out and buy my own car that’s more value for money than a Ford!