Hi everyone

Has anybody driven a Focus 2.0 tdci and compared it to a Vrs?

It seems that for similar money the Focus would be a better buy (no stutter or fraying seats) Thanks for any comments

Driving the focus is like playing a playstation game. It's all very nice but very unrewarding and unconnected.

I had one as a courtesy car for two days and it was very easy to drive but completely boring.

Focus is a joy to drive! Lovely pin sharp go cart handling and the TDCI engine is more like a big N/A engine in the way it delivers, compared to the more nothing/all punch of the PD lump.

Go drive both and see which you prefer

Chris

^ ^ ^ I agree with both of the above, at work I drive the 1.8/9? tdci (115bhp) Focus all the time. They're much more sure footed than the vRS, better handling (less roll). However nowhere near as much fun. Seem much slower, haven't actually compared the two head-to-head.

Totally agree with the comment that the TDCI's feel like a large N/A unit, much smoother power delivery.

Interior is nasty in the ford (IMHO), only thing I like is the glove box opening

I used to have a Focus, only a 1.6 zetec but the handling on those cars is fantastic. I didn't find it unrewarding at all, it used to out handle many cars that were faster in a straight line, which i found very good fun.

I prefer the interior of the Focus to my octy too, even the Mk1's still look very fresh and modern inside IMHO compared with the conservative interior of any Skoda i have been in.

I have heard that the TDCI's are not as reliable as the old TDDi engines and are not as light on the fuel either. Thinking of a TDDi estate for the wife and kids to run around in.

You could always check out the Focus Owners Club for some answers too:thumbup:

Rob

My wife had a Focus Zetec Titanium 55 plate which I thought was awful, typical Ford build quality.........things fell off almost at will...........:thumbdwn: Sony 6 disc head unit was continually going wrong..........It was a dog of a car...........

Had my Fabia for 7 months and with the exception of the EGR gasket and the squeaky brakes.....much better IMHO.......

Thanks for the quick response guys

I have driven a Vrs for a couple of hours test drive and was impressed by the in gear power. I'm hoping to test a focus next week and if I walk away with the same smile that I did after driving the vrs then I think the focus will probably be the way to go

By the way whats a N/A engine?

in simple terms n/a means non turbo :P

Normally Aspirated

naturally aspirated... no turbo or supercharger

Simple terms are what I need! lol

Not so happy now Ive read neebstas reply

to be honest as a whole Ford and Skoda are probably on par together...one persons experience of a car is not the same as someone elses experienc in the same car, it's like a lottery really, you just hope to god you get a decent one!

Ooh this dilemma sounds kind of familar.

TDCi's are known for faulty injectors and for being not too good on the fuel as a result.

Then again they are a smoother unit off idle and chain cam so no cam belt to ever change/ snap.

The Fabia will be more fun in the fact it's fun through being imperfect. You'lll reach the limits of its abilities a lot sooner without having to push really hard like in the Focus which is more like a go-kart.

I've had sharp handling cars in the past and found them to be a little boring after a while as they're so predictable and precise. It's more fun to go round corners riding an axe than a scalpel if that makes any sense?

It's nice to have something a little quirky.

My CRX was more fun than my MR2 because it rattled more and handled worse. It did have more power in a straight line but a worse driving position and all those things made it special to me. The MR2 was a little too 'clinical'. It was very good at what it did but less fun overall. My last BMW was also boring apart from when it snowed......

I found the seats in the mk1 focus ghia to be very un-supportive and most uncomfortable, some of bits of the car felt pretty cheap as well.

I can't comment on the TDCi engine but the 2.0 petrol unit feels under powered and on the motorway no where near as good as the Fabia vRS.

I've only had a quick go in a Focus mkII and it was a only 1.6 lx but it felt much better than the ghia all round.

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Focus against fabia

- Build the focus wins IMHO

- Handling the focus walks all over the fabia.

Very direct steering, sticks to the road, doesn't roll into corners.

- Engines well thats interesting and I would say that the 2.0 TDCI is lovely, bags or torque low down (more than a PD130) and puts out loasd of power. It is the same engine as the PSA 2.0 HDI 136.

The 1.8 TDCI is ok but really lacks very low down torque, but goes like anything when you get up to about 1800rpm, and I haven't driven the 1.6 TDCI. The PD130 is less rapid than the 1.8TDCI at speed IMHO, but much better around town due to it's extra torque.

That plus the focus MKII isn't going to be replaced in the next couple of months.

If it was me, I would get a 2.0TDCI focus, over a furby VRS, but then that puts you into octavia money, which opens the question right up.

Am I odd, in that I prefer the pin sharp handling?

Of course not, that's purely my personal preference.

You can't always drive like you're on a race track though...the roads are too busy and it's simply dangerous half the time. The Focus will need to be pushed much harder before you start to test its abilities whereas the Furby will get to that point earlier.

In other words you wont have to drive like a complete loon risking life and limb in order to get your heart racing.

I've seen many a sharp handling car in the ditch because they inspire TOO much confidence in a driver. 306's etc....all sent sliding after the rear end snapped out and the driver didn't know what to do. That's what happens when you have to push on harder.....the risks of it suddenly going wrong are much greater.

Take that new Lambo on TG this week. Utterly mental car, that you can push and push and then all of a sudden WHACK, you're spinning off. Same goes for the V6 Clio apparently. It fills you with confidence so you keep on pushing and then it suddenly lets go.

If you're interested in getting from point A to B quickly and effectively, specifically on windy roads and you want a clinical clean way of doing it (and you can't afford an Evo ), get a Focus.

If you're not so much interested in the time but want a grin on your face anyway (as a Furby will test your abilities more as a driver due to the fact it wont do all the work for you) then the Skoda is the one to choose.

Also remember, if the 2.0 TDCi is really the HDi 136 (it didn't used to be in the Mondeo...it was a Ford unit with terrible injector problems) then your mpg will be worse than the 1.9 PD as it's common rail and the pressure is slightly lower. Also, the tax banding is higher due to increased emissions.....in fact a fair bit higher IIRC....they also used that engine in the Mazda 6 136 TD and that's like a band E or something, complared to a C for the Furby. Wierd how they can get the emissions that high from a weasel. :eek:

Not good when you're trying to appeal to company car buyers.....

The 2.0 HDi 16v also uses overboost which means that top power of 136bhp will only be available for short bursts such as when overtaking. You keep it flat out any longer and it will take away the boost a smidgen. According to Top Gear who tested the 407 HDi 136 a while back (remember, Richard Hammond using it as a pace car?) they said it was good but the turbo lag was awful, as in too much of it.

My missus has a pug 306 HDi and to be honest the engine's not bad at all. There's more vibration felt through the cabin from the engine than on the Skoda, but the engine is quieter.....less clatter. The power delivery is quite linear and more petrol like...none of that all or nothing shove you get from the PD. Hers has to be revved a bit to make it go and doesn't like high gears at lower speeds that much. It labours at 30mph in 4th gear......you need 3rd to stop it vibrating the car. It's also not that good on fuel really. It's only 90bhp and only manages to get what my Furby gets (about 46mpg) and she has less fun doing it. :P

Personally I bought a diesel so that it wasn't like a petrol. I wanted that all or nothing shove. I've had petrols where they needed to be revved and it bores me. Bags of torque low down is why you buy a diesel in addition to higher mpg and lower tax.

If a diesel is not that good on fuel, needs to be revved and not brilliant on emissions, why buy it? Remember, you need to buy a diesel that works out to be cost effective as the fuel itself costs more to begin with. It doesn't need to be just ok on fuel, it needs to be excellent as the car costs more in the 1st place than its petrol equivalent and the fuel is more pricey at the pump.

My neighbours have a Focus MKI 1.8 TDCi and it's not a bad car at all. The interior is dated though and the engine sounds like a bag of spanners half the time. But I've raced it up a m'way slip road (when I had my 318iS) and it didn't do that badly (but still lost ).

You would need the 2.0 to make it worthwhile IMO. 115bhp is no longer enough to keep up with the big boys on the motorway. Even 130 struggles sometimes when you've got 150bhp Vectras and stuff kicking about.

But wanyway, that's just my opnion. No-one go taking offence or anything....it's Friday!

I'd go for the vRS - tried the Focus a few times as a hire car, and felt the Mkii focus has lost its looks (just my opinion) and to be honest, the interior reminded me of that in my old 1988 Rapid when I used to have one, not good and a total step backwards.

Yes theTDCi's have a more linear power delivery, but they just don't seem to have the outright punch to make the Focus fly along. Focus handling though does still punch above it's weight, although I would comment I think they've gone a little GM these days and the cars did feel a touch stiffly suspended compared to Focii of old!

I'm a little passionate about the vRS - it plays as a much bigger car than it has any right to, although I'm not of the opinion it'll blow anything off the road. It'll have a fair go though!

Hi everyone

Has anybody driven a Focus 2.0 tdci and compared it to a Vrs?

It seems that for similar money the Focus would be a better buy (no stutter or fraying seats) Thanks for any comments

i test drove the ST170 and the mondy ghia x before deciding on the mondy -

the st lacked any "wow" factor, i couldnt get used to the damn great big hole where the centre pillar for the gearbox/dash usually is.... the cornering on the mondy was better... i wasnt impressed - i was dissapointed - everyone said how great the focus was - i thought it was poor.

i believe the NEW ST (the one i drove was abut 4 years ago) is improved, but to be honest, give me the mondy.

edit - give me the mondy - so i can sell it for the vrs and have twice the fun

If you do a lot of motorway driving, check the noise levels. I've only driven a few Focuses (Foci?) and while a very nice car, they tend to be quite noisy inside compared to my experience with VW group products. Maybe it's my imagination.

Ooh this dilemma sounds kind of familar.

TDCi's are known for faulty injectors and for being not too good on the fuel as a result.

Then again they are a smoother unit off idle and chain cam so no cam belt to ever change/ snap.QUOTE]

i'm sorry Chrispy but you are wrong , all the new Focus diesel engines , 1.6,1.8 and 2.0 have a cam belt

the 1.6 and 2.0 litre engines are PSA group engines and have a long service interval for the belt iirc 100k miles , the 1.8 is the old Ford unit which has been updated with the latest emissions kit etc

these engines are generally pretty good , except for EGR valves going faulty , the usual DMF/clutch faults , DPF faults on the newer versions, poor Ford engine management/electrical problems

me personally , i would get the Fabia VRS , because the fuel system on it is basically foolproof , and you can add the bits to the car to make it handle , i.e. Jabba rear ARB , Eibach springs

the ride will never be as good as the Focus , but lets face it , the Fabia will put a smile on your face for sure

The TDCi has both chain and toothed belt......I cannot remember which belt does what tho. I'd put money on the belt on the cam and the chain on the other bit I can't remmeber.

Ooh this dilemma sounds kind of familar.

TDCi's are known for faulty injectors and for being not too good on the fuel as a result.

Then again they are a smoother unit off idle and chain cam so no cam belt to ever change/ snap.QUOTE]

i'm sorry Chrispy but you are wrong ' date=' all the new Focus diesel engines , 1.6,1.8 and 2.0 have a cam [b']belt[/b]

the 1.6 and 2.0 litre engines are PSA group engines and have a long service interval for the belt iirc 100k miles , the 1.8 is the old Ford unit which has been updated with the latest emissions kit etc

these engines are generally pretty good , except for EGR valves going faulty , the usual DMF/clutch faults , DPF faults on the newer versions, poor Ford engine management/electrical problems

me personally , i would get the Fabia VRS , because the fuel system on it is basically foolproof , and you can add the bits to the car to make it handle , i.e. Jabba rear ARB , Eibach springs

the ride will never be as good as the Focus , but lets face it , the Fabia will put a smile on your face for sure

Sorry I wasn't clear enough. The Ford TDCi's used on the Mondeo and Focus MKI had timing chains and faulty injectors. If the new ones are realy PSA HDi's then it will have a belt and the injectors will be fine.

My dear old mum has an original Focus 1.6 Zetec. I don't like it. The interior is very fussy, the handling is vague. And it doesn't feel at all quick or even remotely fun to drive. And it's her second; Ford basically refused to fix a serious electrical fault in the first one and in the end she was forced to trade it in against another at a huge loss.

The TDCi has both chain and toothed belt......I cannot remember which belt does what tho. I'd put money on the belt on the cam and the chain on the other bit I can't remmeber.

the 1.8 TDCI has a belt and a chain , i knew that of course , i was just pointing out that all the diesel engines in the new Focus have cam belts , which they do

the chain on the 1.8 TDCI drives the fuel pump from the crank , another pulley on the fuel pump drives the cam shaft via a belt

plus the 1.8 TDCI is the same engine that was fitted to the 1st generation Focus just with more emissions based cr@p fitted to it