Faults:

Only thing so far is there are 2 rattles coming from the rear of the car.

One is the rear seat mount. The other is the rear hatch.

General Comments:

I had to think very long and hard before buying another Ford POS.

The last Escort I owned was brand new and was rusty on delivery.

Twelve months later Ford were still refusing to fix it and never did.

Against my better judgment I bought a Focus, mainly due to price.

So, did I do the right thing or get ripped off again.

Well, so far so good, apart from rattles, this is a good all round family hatch.

The 1.8 engine just gives that little bit more power than the 1.6 with similar MPG.

It handles very well with a good set of brakes.

The seats are not that comfortable.

They could be better with adjustable lumbar support as standard.

The heated front screen is great in the winter, clears frost in seconds.

I think after 3 months ownership I made reasonable choice.

Faults:

Stereo did not work from new.

General Comments:

Having been given a budget for a new company car I was not really keen on getting a Focus as there are just so many on the road. However, after taking a look at the Focus Edge (basically a Zetec with 16" Alloys and a few other extras) I was quite impressed with the way it looked. It was also great value for money compared to rivals like the Megane & Mazda 3, as air conditioning and CD player came as standard. Now having owned the car for 7 months I feel I definitely made the right choice.

The thing that really took me by surprise was the handling. To sum it up in one word, incredible. The sports suspension and low profile 205/50 tires make sure that the car stays planted firmly to the road with minimal body roll. This does however have two drawbacks. Firstly the overall ride is not that refined and secondly it makes you drive like a complete hooligan at every opportunity.

I was a little disappointed with the performance of the car when I first had it, but as the engine has loosened up it has become more responsive. It does still lack punch at low revs and needs to be thrashed to get the most from it, this is probably part due to the very long gear ratios which I feel for a 1.6 engine are far too long. If your budget can run to it go for a 2 litre model.

The interior is quite funky and feels very well put together with no rattles so far. The seats are supportive and the driving position in near on perfect.

I can't really comment on dealers as the car still hasn't had it's first service. What I can say though is that they were extremely helpful when I took the car to my local dealer as the CD player didn't work after it was delivered. A mechanic came straight out and fixed it within minutes.

If you're on a budget, love exercising your right foot down country lanes and need the space of a family car, then this is the one for you.