2004 Ford Focus Ghia from UK and Ireland - Comments

Currently, nothing.

The best thing about the car has to be the peformance of the engine. It is absolutely terrific particularly under 70mph. It feels like you are driving a BMW 330Ci Manual. Fantastic diesel engine, well done Ford.

I find the driving position nowhere near as comfortable or and roomy as, say a Mazda 323F. The interior plastics also lack the quality of this sister car. I'm sure I will get lots of people commenting on this claiming this not to be the case, but I feel the driving position, seats, cabin space and interior plastics let it down slightly. Also, dont expect any exclusivity.

Interesting comment on the performance comparison with the 330Ci. I initially posted this reply to take the mick, but thinking about it, the torque figures on the two engines actually justify this comparison.

BMW: 290 Nm @ 3,500 rpm

Focus TDCi 115: 280Nm at 1850 rpm (using the inbuilt transient overboost function)

Assuming gearing isn't radically different, this will generate similar accelerative forces in both cars, the slightly less torquey Focus being assisted by being about 300 kg lighter. However, as the Focus has only half the power, it will be comprehensively thrashed by the BMW in pretty much in any situation apart from top gear "roll on" comparisons.

Not as daft a comparison as it first appears though, particularly as you were just talking about how it feels rather than how it is.

The focus is a beautiful car, so what about the plastics, every car company cuts costs somewhere along the line, even BMW and Mercedes.

From the original writer of the review:

I agree the Focus is a very good car- I'm not saying otherwise. However I find the interior plastics not as solid as expected given the hype of the car. Re: the engine comment, I agree the BMW 330i would thrash this car on the motorway (or above 60mph) but I think 0-50mph you will find little difference, particularly with the Focus' amazing punch in 1st and 2nd gears.

I have a 115PS TDCi and there is no way in any situation that it would be anywhere near as quick as a 330i.

Can I suggest that to prove that there are performance similarities that you drive both cars between 0-50mph, meaning you will be using only 1st and 2nd gears and then hopefully my point will be proved. Also, perhaps your TDCi 115bhp is faulty?

Even between 0-50 the 330i would still say bye bye to the TDCi, oh and the subject of my TDCi being faulty it has been rolling roaded at 131bhp standard and ill be more than happy to show the graph.

Excuse me people you lot sound like you know a lot about cars. I was wondering is it worth me gettin the foucus 1.6 or the focus 1.8tdci (99) bhp or the focus 1.8 tdci (113) bhp? Can't make up my mine!

Go for the 1.6 if you want refinement, smoothness and no horrible diesel smell.

The 113bhp diesel however is incredibly quick, it really is, as well as being over 10mpg more economical.