Ford Focus TDCI opinions

Stevie Dakota · 13-07-2008 08:55PM #1

The mother is looking at getting a new 2008 diesel Focus, the 2.0TDCI. Seems to get good reviews but she has no experience of the Focus, does anyone have any insights? She does quite a bit of motorway mileage so is concerned about the Fords reputation for poor refinement and suppression of road noise, is this a real problem?

And what are Ford dealers like on aftersales?

colm_mcm · 13-07-2008 09:07PM

Most people would go for the 1.6 TDCI.

bazz26 · 13-07-2008 09:29PM

I have a 05 Focus TDCi but it is the 1.6 litre PSA HDi version. I find the road noise is a little more noticable compared to my previous car. I'm not talking about diesel engine noise either, I'm saying that you notice you doing 70mph on a motorway in the Focus alot more whereas you didn't in my previous car. But to be fair my last car was from the Mondeo class so maybe sound proofing and general cabin refinement are just better on bigger cars. Also I have the Focus a year now and it has given zero problems with 93,000 km on the clock.

OP I would recommend if your mom is doing a bit of mileage that she consider stretching for the Ghia model for more comfort on long journeys. The upgraded velour seats are more comfortable, you also get toys like cruise control, auto lights & wipers, etc. I found the seats in the Zetec to be more firm, this plus the lowered sports suspension setup of the Zetec model would be less comfortable over long distance driving imo.

BTW I think the 2.0 TDCi is only available with Ford's auto box and we only get the 110bhp version. The 1.6 TDCi is no longer available in the Focus afaik and the 115bhp 1.8 TDCi is Ford's inhouse unit.

BrianD3 · 13-07-2008 10:23PM

We've had petrol 05 and 07 Focus Mk2s and yes the road noise/refinement is poor and not just at motorway speeds either. The ride comfort is also not great. But perhaps the latest Focus improves in these areas.

Re: reliability the 05 had several issues but the 07 has had none.

An oil+filter service at a main dealer cost 150 at one main dealer and 95 at another (both outside Dublin) Based on this I would say that Ford servicing costs are cheaper than average but as you can see there's a big variation

maidhc · 13-07-2008 11:40PM

Have a 03 TDCi. It hasn't given any trouble in 92,000 miles bar a camshaft sensor that was replaced by the previous owner under guarantee. This is a Mk1 obviously. No money has ever been spent on the suspension, and there are no odd noises yet.

Fords generally have a pretty firm suspension set up, and definately won't be the most quiet or comfortable. Personally I prefer this to a relatively soft set-up, but one pays their money and takes their choice.

Gary ITR · 13-07-2008 11:59PM

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

The mother is looking at getting a new 2008 diesel Focus, the 2.0TDCI. Seems to get good reviews but she has no experience of the Focus, does anyone have any insights? She does quite a bit of motorway mileage so is concerned about the Fords reputation for poor refinement and suppression of road noise, is this a real problem?

And what are Ford dealers like on aftersales?

I had the 1.8tdci focus lx for a while and currently my fiance is driving a 1.6tdci lx (both company cars and both 2006) We would both do fairly big miles and both cars had nothing but problems. My seat base needed replacing twice and my fiance's was replaced once (fair enough i'm a fat sh1te but the missus has a perfect figure

)

Fiance's car had a turbo problem among other things I can't remember and my own had a brake problem along with a clutch problem and a few other things. Saying that I did put 70,000 kms on the car in less than 12 months and the missus would be doing around 40,000 per annum.

As far as refinement goes, well I had a TDI Golf Baseline before my focus and pined for it again, after my Focus I went back to a TDI Golf (1.9 TDI) and it's far superior in every way to the Focus IMO and my Fiance is of the same opinion

The dealers can vary like any other marque. I find Tallaght Ford, Airton Rd to be fantastic while South Dublin Ford Centre are atrocious, I mean really really bad. Wouldn't know about prices as it was all done through fleet companies

pburns · 14-07-2008 09:42AM

I'm surprised at the quite negative tone of comments, especially regarding refinement.

If we were to believe the motoring jounos the Focus is virtually faultless. Looks like real-world users are a little less enamoured of the firm set-up than handling-obsessed hacks...

Stevie Dakota · 14-07-2008 10:35AM

It's beginning to look this may not be the car for her, pity as there was a good deal on a UK 2008 2.0TDCI Titanium with 5000 miles for €20K landed. Kind of hard to resist.

Henry Ford III · 14-07-2008 10:38AM

Interesting to note a few things concerning this thread. Firstly 2.0TDCI engine isn't available here. 1.8TDCI is the only option on a new car currently. It's an older block (cast iron with an 8v head) but it's competitive in every area. Economy, refinement, power and torque.

Onkle what weight are you? Perhaps you broke both seats? It's not an issue generally with these cars. I'd disagree with you on engine refinement. The 1.9tdi VAG lump is well off the pace, and is overdue for replacement.

Bazz's comments are pretty much spot on. Fair. Zetec's have uprated (sportier) seats and suspension. Firm but not hard. Handling for a mass market hatch is top class.

Perhaps a couple of impartial views might help here:-

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/ford/focus-hatchback-2005.aspx

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=1219&

Neither reviews report any issues with lack of refinement, or an overly hard ride.

BrianD3 · 14-07-2008 10:50AM

Henry Ford III wrote:

Secondly it's interesting to see the "Pro Renault League" starting this and commenting. Smacks of sour grapes

It's also interesting to see that the "Ford Employee and Family Member discount" and "owned 10 Ford Focii in a row" fanboy brigade have now gotten involved.

edit: OK you edited that bit out but you still said it.

Henry Ford III · 14-07-2008 11:26AM

Grow up.

maidhc · 14-07-2008 11:34AM

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

It's beginning to look this may not be the car for her, pity as there was a good deal on a UK 2008 2.0TDCI Titanium with 5000 miles for €20K landed. Kind of hard to resist.

Go for it. They are a superb car. Realistically if you want something more comfortable and quieter you need to go up a class to the mondeo.

Gary ITR · 14-07-2008 11:35AM

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Onkle what weight are you? Perhaps you broke both seats? It's not an issue generally with these cars.

I'm not *that* heavy and I don't drive my o/h's car

Henry Ford III wrote: »

The 1.9tdi VAG lump is well off the pace, and is overdue for replacement.

Agree with that but the car overall is head and shoulders above any Focus I've ever driven. I challenge anybody who has driven both of these cars to tell me that the Focus is better, without lying. I have no reason to be biased either. Currently I'm not driving a Golf as I changed company and was given a bloomin Citroen C4

Henry Ford III wrote: »

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/ford/focus-hatchback-2005.aspx

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=1219&

Neither reviews report any issues with lack of refinement, or an overly hard ride.

I'm going on personal experience whoch I value more than reviews

Henry Ford III · 14-07-2008 11:42AM

Onkle wrote: »

Agree with that but the car overall is head and shoulders above any Focus I've ever driven. I challenge anybody who has driven both of these cars to tell me that the Focus is better, without lying.

Focus is miles better

Stevie Dakota · 14-07-2008 11:55AM

Let's not turn this into a slagging match please. It's a pity the 2.0TDCI is not available here, nor is the 1.6TDCi, as the reviews say it lighter, smoother and more economical than the 1.8TDCi and only marginally less powerful.

Have not given up on the 2.TDCi yet, I'll get her to drive a 1.8TDCi to try and get a flavour for it.

Gary ITR · 14-07-2008 12:06PM

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

Let's not turn this into a slagging match please. It's a pity the 2.0TDCI is not available here, nor is the 1.6TDCi, as the reviews say it lighter, smoother and more economical than the 1.8TDCi and only marginally less powerful.

Have not given up on the 2.TDCi yet, I'll get her to drive a 1.8TDCi to try and get a flavour for it.

You sure about the 1.6tdci isn't available here? I'm pretty sure my o/h's car is the 1.6 and it's a 100% Irish car

RobAMerc · 14-07-2008 12:37PM

Onkle wrote: »

Agree with that but the car overall is head and shoulders above any Focus I've ever driven.

There is not one car in the Volkswagen range a match for anything Ford is currently producing bar perhaps the soon to be replaced Fiesta, and why people still think they are buying a premium brand in a Volkswagen when Ford's outclass them almost everywhere bar re-sale (looks are too subjective) is beyond me.

I respect your opinion - but I cannot fathom what your basing your criteria on.

Henry Ford III · 14-07-2008 12:42PM

Onkle wrote: »

You sure about the 1.6tdci isn't available here? I'm pretty sure my o/h's car is the 1.6 and it's a 100% Irish car

It was available in 110bhp and latterly 90bhp forms, but now has been dropped.

It maybe reappear in the Econetic model I think.

Gary ITR · 14-07-2008 02:15PM

RobAMerc wrote: »

I respect your opinion - but I cannot fathom what your basing your criteria on.

Being a sales rep and spending 8+ hours a day on the road.

Any other rep I know wouldn't have a focus either. I was in a team of 12 people and 11 of us chose the golf over the focus after test driving each.

Saying that it was Baseline Golf v lx Focus, both very basic when it comes to spec

I know the Focus might be a tad quicker but in the real world that's not what matters. In normal driving conditions the golf is just a much nicer place to be and I have done thousands of miles in both

Henry Ford III · 14-07-2008 02:30PM

Fair enough dude. A lot of people (a lot more based on sales figures and various reviews) would tend to lean the other way however.

RobAMerc · 14-07-2008 03:09PM

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Fair enough dude. A lot of people (a lot more based on sales figures and various reviews) would tend to lean the other way however.

+1

Funny - I just read honest John agrees with me !

Exert from a Kuga Road test - I was just reading.

"It’s biggest problem is the snobbish British class system that still rates VWs as somehow superior to Fords even though they have tailed the blue oval in terms of ride, handling, build quality and reliability for at least 10 years."

Stevie Dakota · 14-07-2008 03:12PM

I'm going to drive one later, being very familiar with Golfs over the years I look forward to seeing how the Focus compares.

bazz26 · 14-07-2008 04:14PM

According to the price list on www.Ford.ie you can buy the 2.0 TDCi although it only comes with an automatic gearbox.

1.6 TDCi in 110bhp form is well suited to the Focus imo. I am averaging around 52mpg at the moment and getting about 620 miles from a tank of diesel. It's a shame really this engine has been dropped from the range but considering under the new Co2 system the 1.8 TDCi is close enough to tax and VRT there probably is no point anymore.

Gary ITR · 14-07-2008 04:26PM

RobAMerc wrote: »

+1

Funny - I just read honest John agrees with me !

Exert from a Kuga Road test - I was just reading.

"It’s biggest problem is the snobbish British class system that still rates VWs as somehow superior to Fords even though they have tailed the blue oval in terms of ride, handling, build quality and reliability for at least 10 years."

I'm not trolling, Badge snobbery isn't my thing either, just basing my opinion on my own experience. Only thing I can say is go and drive an lx focus and then drive the equivilent golf. Tbh in normal day to day driving the difference in handling is negligible. In my experience the golf has been more reliable.
I do find the ford dealers better to deal with in terms of general manners etc, although it is the one particular guy in Tallaght Ford who is a gent and very straight talking and easy to deal with

RobAMerc · 14-07-2008 04:37PM

Onkle wrote: »

I'm not trolling, Badge snobbery isn't my thing either, just basing my opinion on my own experience. Only thing I can say is go and drive an lx focus and then drive the equivilent golf. Tbh in normal day to day driving the difference in handling is negligible. In my experience the golf has been more reliable.
I do find the ford dealers better to deal with in terms of general manners etc, although it is the one particular guy in Tallaght Ford who is a gent and very straight talking and easy to deal with

I have driven both as hire cars and can safely say the golf struggled to make any good impression on me after driving the Focus - It kicked off with a massively cheap looking plastic steering wheel and finished with being blown away by the fords responsive chassis and steering feel.
I was amazed by the fluidity and composure the Focus had through a set of bends, which allowed me to make up for the small engine on board.

I also found the 1.4 golf to be seriously underpowered and the engine note to be harsh to the point where I thought the car had developed a fault.

Sorry Onkle but in the real world the focus kicks the golfs a** for driver enjoyment at least, and it's a large enough gap that there is no need to go to the track to figure that out.

Gary ITR · 14-07-2008 05:02PM

RobAMerc wrote: »

I have driven both as hire cars and can safely say the golf struggled to make any good impression on me after driving the Focus - It kicked off with a massively cheap looking plastic steering wheel and finished with being blown away by the fords responsive chassis and steering feel.
I was amazed by the fluidity and composure the Focus had through a set of bends, which allowed me to make up for the small engine on board.

I also found the 1.4 golf to be seriously underpowered and the engine note to be harsh to the point where I thought the car had developed a fault.

Sorry Onkle but in the real world the focus kicks the golfs a** for driver enjoyment at least, and it's a large enough gap that there is no need to go to the track to figure that out.

Sounds like you had a higher spec focus, the lx also comes with a crappy plastic steering wheel

maidhc · 14-07-2008 05:16PM

Onkle wrote: »

Sounds like you had a higher spec focus, the lx also comes with a crappy plastic steering wheel

I thought the 08 poverty spec one has a leather as standard

Stevie Dakota · 14-07-2008 05:37PM

Well just drove a 1.8TDCi, impressions are good, quite a lot of poke although the power delivery is quite abrupt when the turbo kicks in. Couldn't judge road noise as it was a commercial (all they had). Felt solid enough, no rattles, the interior was OK, a bit bland but nice dials. Steering and road feel where very nice, felt like a car that would be fun to drive.

The dilemma now is a 1.8TDCi Ghia here for €22K
(Cruise control, 2 year warranty)
or
a 2.0TDCi Titanium (UK with 5K miles) for €20K....?
(Sony CD head unit, privacy glass, 2.5 year warranty remaining)

daRobot · 14-07-2008 09:50PM

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

Well just drove a 1.8TDCi, impressions are good, quite a lot of poke although the power delivery is quite abrupt when the turbo kicks in. Couldn't judge road noise as it was a commercial (all they had). Felt solid enough, no rattles, the interior was OK, a bit bland but nice dials. Steering and road feel where very nice, felt like a car that would be fun to drive.

The dilemma now is a 1.8TDCi Ghia here for €22K
(Cruise control, 2 year warranty)
or
a 2.0TDCi Titanium (UK with 5K miles) for €20K....?
(Sony CD head unit, privacy glass, 2.5 year warranty remaining)

Go for the 2.0 for sure. Longer warranty, better more enjoyable engine and the ability to get a user removable remap ( dreamscience or bluefin) and get it running about 165bhp if that's something you'd be into.

Having had both the 1.8 tdci and 2.0 tdci in the new mondeo for a month each, the 2.0 is a much nicer engine.

maidhc · 14-07-2008 10:32PM

daRobot wrote: »

Go for the 2.0 for sure. Longer warranty, better more enjoyable engine and the ability to get a user removable remap ( dreamscience or bluefin) and get it running about 165bhp if that's something you'd be into.

Having had both the 1.8 tdci and 2.0 tdci in the new mondeo for a month each, the 2.0 is a much nicer engine.

Is the 2.0 in the mondeo not a completely different engine to the one in the focus? Methinks it is. As far as I know the 2.0 ford unit cannot fit in the focus engine bay and accordingly they fit a PSA 2.0 HDI to the focus.

I think you can bluefin the 1.8TDCI if that is your thing.

Having said all that Id prob go with the 2.0 from the uk.

Stevie Dakota · 14-07-2008 10:51PM

It is the PSA engine as far as I know, and that engine is a fine unit. The UK car is looking like the way to go.

Ford Focus TDCI opinions

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