2005 Ford Focus LX review from UK and Ireland

Nothing has gone wrong with this car in 15 months I've had it, just minor irritations (see below). Ford seem to be miles ahead compared to the cars they put out 10-15 years ago. But they still have a bit left to reach the top.

This is my company car and I did not have much of a choice since they did a fleet purchase and I must admit I was sceptical. But the car is better than anticipated, I had some ill-fated experiences with Fords in the nineties. Although this car is well put together and so far has no problems with it, I'll rate it miles below VW and Audi or Toyota for that sake. The code word is attention to details or lack of it, for example the Ford is many steps behind my Audi in the quality department. Some examples:

-- Why have they used the cheapest possible plastics many places in the interior

-- The ESP is not very responsive and it seems it takes the computer a sec or two to realise that the car is skidding

-- Although the heater in this car in ultra effective the AC is not and it struggles to keep the car cooled in a hot summer day. Takes ages to cool the car down.

-- The outside temperature indicator is 2-3 degrees off and is useless when the temp is around freezing

-- When you shut the luggage compartment door it's not with a reassuring thud, but more with a is-it-falling-apart? sound.

-- The window washer design is less than optimal and it's difficult to get the window 100% clean

-- The rain sensor controlled wipers, well they do not work especially well. Either too much or too little.

-- The suspension sqeaks when driving over speed bumps

-- But the main irritation point is the noisy and uncultivated engine they've put into this car, it just ruins the driving impression and I've had passengers that think I'm driving a diesel.

I'd rather spend a quid or two extra and get a fully kitted Golf.