USED Ford Focus Hatchback (04 - 11)

My car

Just acquired a Focus 1.6 zetec 5dr auto on motability scheme, abit awkward to get into after a C-Max, also abit under powered as this is a 1.6 after a 2.0 hopefully things will get better as time goes by, might go for a new C-max next time.

My car

well where to start iv owned the focus st for 6 months from new it broke down in the first week with a sensor fault and its been down hill since then the gear box has had a vibration in second gear since new the dealer has said that ford considers the vibration as normal and last week to failed compleatly its been in the garage ever since now they say that the replacement gear box is faulty ?? im selling it this month iv had it with fords if you buy one good luck and hope it dosent go wrong because the dealers havent a clue

My car

I have owned this car from new in June 2007 and it now has 66K miles of mainly motorway driving and it has averaged 51MPG. This car does what it says on the tin and carries my 2 children and I around although as I am 6ft 3ins and my 2 kids are growing fast neither of them find it comfortable behind me. The cabin has stood up well and nothing has broken, the stereo is reasonable, ride good and handling good. The engine although reasonably economical is not its strong point and is noisy and has pronounced turbo lag when pulling away from low speed or standstill. Get the 1.6 or 2.0 as they are newer and far more quiet. Servicing and main dealers are the worse thing about the experience. They are not cheap and I got the feeling that not all service items were ever done.Diesel filter needed replacing between servicing when it should have been replaced at previous service.Front pads lasted 62K, front tyres (17in) 15K, insurance reasonable. You will lose money as its value will plummet like a stone. Its very boring so I have traded it in for a Skoda Octavia VRS estate with the petrol engine. Life is too short so its time to enjoy my motoring again.

My car

It is a shame that this car scores so low for me. Many aspects of it are very well thought out, space, design and so on are all quite good.

But the road noise that this car generates is intolerable. I play in a band and the sensation on the ears after driving this is akin to a loud night on stage. There is something wrong with the design and the acoustic transference of road noise seems to bring a pressure on the ear not unlike listening to drum and bass for a few hours. To be hones, every time I have driven it any distance, it gives me a headache.

Also what is interesting to note is that I also have a 14 year old rubbish heap of a BMW 325i that hasn't been serviced in years. On the longer journey that I do, the fuel cost is very marginal between the two cars. This car is fairly fuel efficient up to about 65 then it drops right off. At 80 plus, the BMW is more efficient.

But unless I was only ever driving in town, I would not buy this car and I can't wait to get rid of this one. The road noise and the frequencies it generates are intolerable over any length of time, you feel really beaten up.

A real disappointment. Ford, buy yourselves a decibel meter!