Ford Focus

newballsplease

Havent really a notion bout cars but can anyone tell me the main differences between a Focus "style" and a "zetec". Looking to buy a 08/09. Which would you recommend?
thanks for any advice.

Henry Ford III

Zetec is a higher spec.

hobochris

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Zetec is a higher spec.

What he said.

Style is the poverty spec model with slightly nicer trim.

Zetec has better engine +nicer trim more features .

The step up from the Zetec is the Ghia.

The step up from the Ghia is Titanium(rarely seen in this country except for brand new focus's)

Leonard Hofstadter

Style is poverty spec, which is why they are the most popular model, since most people in Ireland like buying the worst possible version of a car:rolleyes:.

Having said all of that, the 2010 models are good for equipment because they were run out models. A 2010 Style has all the basics, including Bluetooth. I'd even argue that is so well equipped there is no need to go for the higher spec models. But before 2010, Styles were poverty spec.

Zetec is mid range and therefore better than the Style. A/c, trip computer, alloys, fogs and a few other niceties (2010 Styles have all of this though and Bluetooth).

Then there is Ghia, that has auto wipers (no need for them), fake wood (no need for that either), auto dimming rear view mirror (brilliant feature) and a few other things that I've forgotton. Titaniums are the same but an alloy look dash and a better Sony radio. I think some Ghia/Titanium have bluetooth thrown in as well.

hobochris

hobochris wrote: »

Zetec has better engine .

Does it?

Leonard Hofstadter

RoverJames wrote: »

Does it?

Nope, the poverty 1.4 engine is available in both:D:eek:!

The Mondeo Zetec Mk3 had better engines than the LX though, especially the diesels (115 PS for the Zetec diesel, only 90 PS for the LX diesel) in Ireland. Elsewhere you could order the LX and Zetec with the 2.0 petrol and TDCI 130 but this is backward old Ireland, so we couldn't!

captainspeed

captainspeed wrote: »

Nope, the poverty 1.4 engine is available in both:D:eek:!

The Mondeo Zetec Mk3 had better engines than the LX though, especially the diesels (115 PS for the Zetec diesel, only 90 PS for the LX diesel) in Ireland.

I thought that, many folks do reckon the Zetec models have better engines, I reckon this comes from the days of the Fiesta Zetec.

I had one of those LX diesels for a year

Leonard Hofstadter

Of course, the "Zetec" engine that made its debut in the Fiesta back in the 90s is not actually the correct name for it either, it's actually the Ford Sigma engine or the Zetec-SE, now called the Duratec.

The Mk1 Mondeo was actually the first Ford to have a "Zetec" engine, but it is totally unrelated to the "Zetec" engine in the Feshty. That has Ford's Zeta engine or the Zetec-E.

God bless Yamaha.

newballsplease

Cheers for the replys. Anyone know what the Tax on a 08 would be like compared with say a 07. I.e the emissions and what not?

bazz26

newballsplease wrote: »

Cheers for the replys. Anyone know what the Tax on a 08 would be like compared with say a 07. I.e the emissions and what not?

Tax on a 2007 Focus is based on the engine size so 1.4 is circa €340 and the 1.6 is €447. On 2008 cars registered here from 1st Jan to 30th June had the option of being on the old engine size based system or the new emmissions based system, the owner had the choice of which ever was cheaper. Anything registered after 30th June had to be on the new system. 1.4/1.6 petrol Focus both cost the same to tax on the new system which was around €445 afaik. Most petrol Foci were registered here before the switch over as not many people fancied paying €445 tax on a 1.4 petrol. If fact in mid 2009 Ford dropped all petrol engines from the Focus range due to lack of demand. The diesels cost €156 on the new system btw.

bazz26

Just to add, in late 2008 the Focus Style got equipment upgrades which included alloy wheels, bluetooth and air conditioning making it slightly better equipped than the Zetec.

If you are looking at a 2007 Focus then I would go for the Zetec Connection which was a special edition before the facelifted model arrived in 2008. On top of standard Zetec equipment the Connection model also got keyless entry, electric windows alround, 17" alloy wheels, voice activated bluetooth, digital climate control, dusk sensing headlights, rain sensing wipers and auto dipping rear view mirror.

Henry Ford III

Zetec and Titanium models also have sports seats and uprated suspension.

newballsplease

cheers Bazz.. so would i be better going for something like a 08 focus 1.6 TDCI considering its cheep tax? and not bad milage for diesel.

Or a 08/07 zetec?

R.O.R

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Zetec and Titanium models also have sports seats and uprated suspension.

They put the Zetec seats in the Style (3 "leather" strips on the backrest) eventually. Don't think it was as soon as they put the rest of the equipment in, but it wasn't too long after that.

If the Style had an armrest it would definatley be the one to go for. I really need an armrest for my driving and it's a pain not having one in the Focus style.

LittleBlondie

Sorry to come in late on this thread...

Does anyone know how reliable the 2009 Zetec Hatchback is? 1.4i model.

Im going to buy one and hope it will last for at least 6/7 years. Need to know that there are no engine issues, got burned badly with a 2004 Astra.

David09

There aren't any issues as such and the focus is as reliable a car as you will get.

The only thing really is that the 1.4 is a tad underpowered and a little heavier on fuel than the 1.6.
If you are using it mostly urban, go for 1.4. For motorway driving the 1.6 is better suited.

colm_mcm

Everyone's getting diesel focuss since 08. The 1.4 is very slow, you'll never last 6 years

'twould want to be about €3000 less than a 2009 diesel to be worth buying really.

bazz26

Just to add that a 09 1.4 petrol Focus costs the same to tax as a 09 1.6 petrol Focus - €447 per year. So there isn't even a motor tax advantage to choose the 1.4 litre over the 1.6 litre. I could not imagine living with that 1.4 litre engine for 6 or 7 years either.

rodeowreck

Hi all, newbie here. I have a 2002 1.4 petrol zetec focus that I picked up for my son. I bought it private because the timing belt had broke. Does anyone know if this is a non-interference engine and could I get away with just replacing the timing belt and resetting the timing , or do I need another engine. Thanks in advance for any help.

senordingdong

Don't mean to resurrect, but see no need for new thread.

My 07 focus style was stolen recently and pending my insurance pay out, I'm going to go for a slight improvement. Figured a 08 for the tax but the thing is, my 07 had a few features, that this thread have said to be extras, such as Bluetooth, fog lamps, a/c. It was a UK import however.

So considering what has already been said on this thread, if I went for the 08 style, I'd basically be getting a like for like replacement? Rather then having to fork out for the zetec?

bazz26

An original Irish 08 Focus Style didn't have bluetooth as standard. In fact it fairly basic - plastic wheel trim, no air con. The Irish spec Style didn't get bluetooth or air con until 2010.

Noccy_Mondy

Realistically, an 08 car is 7 years old now, the price gap between the style and zetec will be very marginal. Tbh, the gap between them two specs was never massive, it's jumping up to titanium that shoots up the price. You should be able to source a zetec for similar money to that of a style. Any minimal difference will be worth it, in order to get the few extra toys.

senordingdong

bazz26 wrote: »

An original Irish 08 Focus Style didn't have bluetooth as standard. In fact it fairly basic - plastic wheel trim, no air con. The Irish spec Style didn't get bluetooth or air con until 2010.

Yeah, it was a UK import.

Anyway, thanks for clearing it up.