Faults:

Nothing yet thankfully!

I had a minor accident involving black ice and a kerb. The car went sideways into the kerb and bent my Hub and suspension, costing £677 to get fixed, my local Peoples garage is pathetic.

The only other niggle is that my Air-conditioning is smelling, I tried some treatment spray, but the smell is there just not as strong.

General Comments:

I had owned a Focus before (a 1.6 Zetec reviewed in 2002 section) and wanted more power so just got the 1.8 which you can feel the difference.

The Focus handles really well as most of the owners have written about. I am just about to get some lowering springs and new Alloys so hopefully it should handle even better with wider tyres.

I am still enjoying the power and have found that Peugeot 206s and Citroen Saxos like to try and race you. Other Focus drivers I have talked to have noticed that as well.

I can beat VTRs on everything except cornering which they seem to do well at.

I can also stay with most other cars and I have found that another car needs to have more the 140bhp to keep away.

The Focus still looks good after 5 years of production, especially in 3 door.

Mine is Panther Black which is a hassle keeping clean, but is the best colour in my opinion.

I won't be keeping the car standard for long as I have Alloys and Springs on the way. More mods to follow in time for summer. I can't wait!

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.