Good family estate car with plenty of space (Ford Focus Estate 1.8 TDCI)

Member Name: arrnoosa

Product:	Ford Focus Estate 1.8 TDCI
Date:	04/06/09 (63 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice to drive and economic

Disadvantages: Some common faults as with all cars

I bought a 5 year old Focus last year and on the whole it has been very good and is a nice drive. The boot space is a great size and ideal for my extending family!

Since buying the car I have had to spend a fair amount on things getting fixed. However, it had done 100,000 miles when I bought it so it is always to be expected when a car has done such high mileage. Firstly the clutch master clinder needed replacing for a cost of £115 (Ford stock these on the shelf and are a common fault with these cars). Next, I had to get the pulley assembly replaced and because that wasn't working properly it had damaged the alternator! The pulley assembly is also something that Ford stock and is another common problem. The assembly and alternator cost £500 all in all (non Ford garage). I now need to get the fuel rail sensor replaced which is £140 + fitting from Ford (again they stock it and is another common problem!!!).

You'll probably be wondering why I haven't given this car a 1/5 by now, but I think that things like this go wrong with every single car on the market and I'm just hoping that I have now replaced ALL the common problem parts on the car!

Fuel economy is excellent (50mpg + on duel carriageway type driving). It drops a little when in traffic as with all cars.

I have the Zetec 98bhp version. It is quick off the mark, but not lightening quick. Its a family car though so I don't do much drag racing around town! It does 0-60mph in just over 11 seconds which is very good I think.

One annoying thing about it is the headrests at the back. I often use the car to take garden rubbish to the tip and I want to use the full boot. In order to put the seats down, you have to take off the headrests which I always find very annoying as its never an easy thing to do for some reason. Would be far better if you could just fold them down.

Cheap tax - £120 (dropping to £110 from next year). I enjoy driving this car very much and I think it looks quite nice for an estate.

Summary: Good drive with cheap tax and good mpg

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