Faults:

Fitting around one of the rear license-plate lights corroded.

One of the ignition coils failed at 52500 miles (only fired on 3 cylinders when this happened).

Leak from power steering pump - pump will have to be replaced as the seal cannot be purchased separately.

General Comments:

Great, zippy performance both in urban areas and on the open road - always first away from traffic lights, overtakes confidently on motorways.

Great stylish, roomy interior - every passenger has commented on this on getting into my car for the first time. I have found interiors of friends' cars (BMW 320i, VW Golf) drab in comparison.

Very responsive handling - driver can really 'feel' the car as steering and gearshift are both very smooth and solid.

Zetec model has several nice aesthetic touches including 'Focus' scuff plates on door sills, silver dash dials, silver handbrake and gear-knob, chrome exhaust trim, sports seats.

As my first car I will always have fond memories of this great motor when the time comes to sell her on :)

Faults:

Been a very reliable car over the last two years with three small niggles, each fixed by the dealer without charge:

- Knocking noise from air-recirculation motor on ventilation system. - Motor replaced.

- Corrosion in the rear license plate bulb lenses. - Lenses and bulbs replace, and new gaskets.

- Drivers seat material pulled away from the forward release handle (3dr) - Drivers seat cover replaced.

General Comments:

A fantastic drivers car that gets much better the more you push it.

The steering communicates everything to you.

Nice roar from the engine when pushed, and very responsive for overtaking.

The seats on this model (Zetec) are fantastic and really hold you.

The Ford CD player is one of the best sounding systems I've heard in a car from the manufacturer.

Very reasonable costs to service at a dealer.

I've driven a range of good performing cars - VW Golf TDI PD's, Vauxhall Astra SRi's, Peugeot 307's and even BMW 5 series, and every time I want to get back in the Focus!

Faults:

Inside looks a little shabby now. The previous owner smoked heavily for the first 80,000 miles. Little bits of plastic trim have come away from the interior.

The timing belt change at a main dealer was not completed correctly - several bolts had not been replaced, leaving tensioning pulleys loose. The rubber sheared off the belt, and the job needed doing again.

I'm a bit too tall to drive comfortably for hours at a time. In fact my old Astra was better in that respect.

No intrinsic problems though. Generally reliable.

General Comments:

Good performance for a standard model (i.e. not RS or modified car). Accelerates well up to about 80mph. Ford quote 0-60 in 9.2secs, which I can concur with. Achieved 120mph, but I slowed after that as it was a little scary! Very stable on the road, and traction control provides a little extra safety feature useful if the drivers is too hasty.

Lots of room inside, useful for moving house. Can't split the rear seat pad, only the rear seat backs, so this could be more flexible.

Air-con is effective, and the audio is pleasant to listen to.

Can see why it won so many awards, and has been imitated elsewhere.

Does about 32mpg when driven enthusiastically. Get about 36mpg on the motorway at 85mph.

Faults:

Trim fell of head rest.

Crankshaft oil seal failed.

Needed rubber bushes to be added to front coil springs to prevent noise when cornering.

Passenger vanity mirror cover fell of.

Instrument panel not central between doors.

Numerous rattles from instrument panel.

Engine roll restrictor banged against floor pan on acceleration and gear change.

General Comments:

This car was the worst car I have ever had the misfortune to own. It spent most of the time I owned it in the dealers.

One fault could not be fixed because it was a design fault.

Eventually after numerous phone calls and dealer visits and also the possibility of an appearance on watchdog the car was bought back from me at a loss.