2002 Ford Focus LX review from UK and Ireland

Blown brakelight bulb.

I took this car over from another employee last year, and it's been a good relationship.

The car is superb, apart from the horrible old 1.8 turbodiesel (designated TDdi) engine which dates back to the 1992 era Escort. If you're spending your own cash, PLEASE go for the TDCi engine - it's in a different league.

Performance is actually OK, with the usual massive turbodiesel midrange, but it clatters and vibrates like an old Transit van at idle, and sends a horrible boom through the cabin as soon as the revs pick up. It's frugal though and can easily crack 50 mpg.

Reliability has been good too. Nearly 45000 miles in just 11 months and nothing has gone wrong mechanically. Just a bulb that cost a whopping £1.40 to replace.

The Focus is superb in all other respects. Comfortable, well made, superb to drive and with reasonable standard kit. It's fun to throw about on a twisty lane, and has probably the best power steering setup of any car I've driven. It oozes feel, and is very well weighted. The gearbox is slick (and I use it often to keep the din from that tractor-like engine to a minimum) and the seats are all-day comfy.

Dealer has been brilliant with courtesy car provided when asked for, and the work completed to a high standard.

Says a lot for the overall car that, despite the small matter of hating its truly woeful engine, and the fact that I do nearly 1,000 miles a week, week in, week out, I still love driving it, and wouldn't hesitate to buy another.