2001 Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 Zetec

Summary:

Excellent car

Faults:

Nothing at all. Excellent car.

General Comments:

The car turns heads, handles well and there is loads of room for the size. A good buy.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th April, 2001

2001 Ford Focus Zetec 3 door SE 1.6 16v petrol

Summary:

If this is what the standard Zetec is like, I can't wait for the Focus RS or the ST170!!!

Faults:

Nothing yet (fingers crossed, touch wood, etc).

General Comments:

After one long weekend of driving around motorways and small roads in the mountains I have a big smile plastered across my face.

The drive is beautiful... silky smooth. Handling is very sporty on the Zetec. I'm able to drive 10 to 15 mph faster around bends than in the old Punto.

Looks fantastic with the partial dress-up kit (especially with black metallic paint).

I didn't think much of the quickness when I first pulled the car out of the dealership. Then I noticed that I had accelerated up to 80mph in no time at all (up hill). Overtaking is a comfortable, silent and quick operation in the 1.6.

Brakes (ABS) are very responsive. That took some getting used to but I like it.

Extremely comfortable to drive. Loads of room. I've a bad left knee and I have loads of room to stretch and get the kinks out.

6 CD changer/remote control is excellent. Not a single skip on the CD's after driving over pot-holed roads all weekend. The sound is great. Tape is superior to the Blaupunkt I had in my old Punto. The remote is conveniently placed and is quite solid.

Only complaints:

Boot needs to be firmly closed to shut it properly.

Biting point on the clutch is a bit high. I prefer it to be lower.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 19th February, 2001

4th Mar 2001, 10:13

Don't be fooled, it will go wrong. The Ford garage you brought it from will not want to help in any way to put it right. You will be left wishing you still owned that Fiat.

10th Mar 2001, 15:04

That comment is a bit negative, isn't it? Ford, though it has far higher quality than its foreign competitors (or European/Japanese if you're not in the US), will have its lemons - but as carsurvey.org shows, this years model has fixed the most notable lemon-problems.