hello

right the gf needs a new car after crashing hers about an hour or so ago. she quite likes the old focus and is after one for about 5-6k with cd player and ac if possible hopefully with warranty aswell.

anyone got any history with these cars at all ???

They use them as fleet cars here, and I've yet to hear of one letting someone down. There probably is quite a few ex-lease ones about at good prices, some of which might be tidy, some of which might be a bit knackered, though probably most without warranty due to age - they do keep their price surprisingly well for a Ford.

Pretty good cars, I liked the diesel one I drove once as a hire car...

Rob.

I've driven quite a few as "pool" cars and I just love getting back into the Octavia.....trust me!

They are definitely "girls cars" as the doors and boot seem very light indeed.

The road holding is not all it's cracked up to be IMHO.

I once drove back from Aberdeen to Cumbria in one during a windy/rainy night and had to slow it down to 50mph on the open stretches as it really didn't feel at all reassuring. I honestly didn't think that I was going to make it home that night :(

I know they get a good write up, but I think that it's a bit like the Emporer's New Clothes: no-one really wanted to criticise the car.

The "pool cars" are all TDCi's and are brand new, well maintained, but I honestly prefer the sense of weight and safety my Octy gives me. I know for a fact that if I'd had the Octy on that journey back from Aberdeen I would have probably only slowed to 80 mph (maybe!) but in the Focii I felt very unsafe at any speed in those conditions.......

Just a final observation: I attend RTA's on a regular basis and I am constantly amazed at the way the A pillars on Focii seem to "split" away from the roof: I've seen several fatal head injuries caused by the A pillar penetrating into the driving compartment. Perhaps this is just a few "one-off's"? I'd hate to give the wrong impression, it's just that I can't recall seeing this on other modern cars...........

Please note: the above comments are purely personal observations and there maybe are good Focii out there, just as there must be bad Skoda's somewhere.

Ps: I attended an RTA not so long ago where an Ibizia had rolled umpteen times after leaving the road: the driver had a few cuts from the broken screen and windows but not another injury!!! I'd recommend an Ibizia to anyone after seeing that

have a look on www.ffoc.co.uk/forum

you sure you were riving a focus and not a tractor?

i owned one for nearly a year and the brother has had his for about 18 months. awesome cars!! personally found mine and my brothers to be nicer more rewarding drives than my octavia. and why do you think the handling was rubbish? i found the handling absolutely great, better than my 4x4 but then again i had 17's with low profile tyre's and lower/stiffer suspension but it didn't half hold the road, very nice car to drive. not quite as smooth as the octavia and a little louder but very nice to drive, if i could have made mine faster (only a 1.6) for respectable money then i would still have it now. he found the receipt for the brothers tother day about

I had a Focus Zetec TDCi hire car.. it only had 130miles on the clock.. I had it a week before it refused to start...

Ok car but poor build quality.. and common as mock! and not posh as fook!

Ohh Patsss!

..

All Scary spice!!

Ta

Dazz

..

Its ome time!

ta lads she likes the look of them so i think it will most probably be one altho she hasnt tested one yet.

any others that you can think of to look at ?

a3's are very good prices nowadays. good cars both of em

Focus is not a bad car at all - and like with all makes (including Skoda) there are bad ones amongst them.

There are loads out there, they DO drive well, and are generally well-built. Not sure how the Octi compares as I have not driven one. It did drive better than a fair few other hirecars however, it must be said

any others that you can think of to look at ?

What sort of criteria are there?

Rob.

The Focus is undoubtably 'best in class' for handling: they're lovely to drive quickly. However, the spec can be a bit mean: ABS is a pretty rare feature on a Focus!

Be careful when looking: a lot of second-hand ones will be mistreated fleet or hire cars. Don't buy the first one you see: there are plenty to choose from!

I don't think you'll go far wrong if you buy a decent one. I'd recommend the TDCi, it doesn't quite have the punch of the Fabia vRS, but it's a fair bit smoother.

erm 5-7 k really low mileage, warranty, not too big no too small, economical, not too shabby on the motorway, low insurance, would like ac if possible oh and look fairly nice and not be anything from korea or any of those asian countrys altho japan is fine

Vauxhall Astra might be worth a look - not a bad motor by any means, and you can get ones like the 2.2 Bertone Coupe for less than

for 5-7k you won't find any Focus sized car in warranty, although you will have more luck in the super mini or even repmobile sizes.

on the other hand, have you bothered to look at the auctions?

you sure you were riving a focus and not a tractor?

i owned one for nearly a year and the brother has had his for about 18 months. awesome cars!! personally found mine and my brothers to be nicer more rewarding drives than my octavia. and why do you think the handling was rubbish? i found the handling absolutely great, better than my 4x4 but then again i had 17's with low profile tyre's and lower/stiffer suspension but it didn't half hold the road, very nice car to drive. not quite as smooth as the octavia and a little louder but very nice to drive, if i could have made mine faster (only a 1.6) for respectable money then i would still have it now. he found the receipt for the brothers tother day about

even standard mine seemed to handle well, but much better with low pro tyres and lower suspension, and my bro's being a zetec it has firmer seats and suspension as standard anyway. if i could afford it i'd have loved an RS but to rich for a lowlife council worker i'm affraid

As someone who suffered Latin at school I can advise that the plural of "Focus" assuming it's a Latin word is "Foci" - but since it's the name of a car and not "A point at which rays of light or other radiation converge or from which they appear to diverge, as after refraction or reflection in an optical system" I'd suggest the correct plural is "Focuses" which is the anglicised alternative...

As someone who suffered Latin at school I can advise that the plural of "Focus" assuming it's a Latin word is "Foci" - but since it's the name of a car and not "A point at which rays of light or other radiation converge or from which they appear to diverge' date=' as after refraction or reflection in an optical system" I'd suggest the correct plural is "Focuses" which is the anglicised alternative...[/color']

:confused:

i've gotta say, bengie's octavia does have more body-roll on bends/roundabouts than my focus does and his seats seem to hold you less than mine do

for 5-7k you won't find any Focus sized car in warranty,

Howevere 9k will get you a brand new old shape foucs with plenty of toys

Have you considered buying an ex-rental car direct from someone like Hertz ?

I brought a Focus 1.8 Zetec a few years ago from them, kept it for 2 years and never had a problem.

They are currently selling 04 plate 1.8 Zetec 5drs, with a/c and heated front screen (excellent for these cold mornings) for

i would never buy an ex-rental car as i know how i have treated them aswell as how others have treated them. if you break it you get it for free don't you?? :confused:

Not everyone has a hire car with the sole intention of trying to wreck it.

There are lots of garages out there selling nearly new cars which are ex-rental but their new owners normally don't find out until they've parted with their cash.

By going direct you know exactly what you're buying, you've got the benefit of the remainder of the 3 year warranty and saved around a grand compared to forecourt prices.

It's always worth keeping an eye on Ford dealers around September/October -that's when the holiday season ends in the Channel Islands, and a lot of the hire cars are returned to the UK, with low mileage, and they've never been thrashed, as the speed limit's 40!

Phil