Hi All,

I usually drive vauxhalls but am being tempted back to the blue oval by a rather nice (for year) focus that i have seen.

Its a 1.8 16v and its a five door in blue. Its got 110k on its clock with two owners from new.

Does anyone know what the performance is like and also what is a fair price. I would appreciate also if anyone can let me know what are common faults to look out for.

Thanks very much. I hope i can add to the community.

Cheers
Col

 

Also can anyone let me know if the 2.0 is much better and what the mpg is please.

Free gift to person with most replies.

 

Hi mate, i test drove a 2.0 Focus Zetec with 58k on the clock in mint condition with a full service history and i agreed to buy it imediately because it was a bargin at Ł1750 but unfortunately when trying to follow up my insurance quote later on they put the price up 2k from the online quote making it unafordable this was apparently because once its 2.0 it just goes sky high.
So long story short i ended up with a Focus 1.8 Ghia, not a bad thing because it had 38k on it, one owner, fully HPI clear and full service history, and was only a TINY bit more. The only thing i didnt like about it was the Ghia wooden dash and grey interior but i can EASILY forgive it that for the car it is.
Anyway to the point.
The gearing is slightly shorter on the 2.0 than the 1.8 and the rev limmit slightly lower on the 2.0

With the 2.0 doing:

1st: 31mph
2nd: 49mph
3rd: 70mph
4th: 93mph
5th: 126mph

Max rpm: 6175

And the 1.8 doing:

1st: 33mph
2nd: 54mph
3rd: 81mph
4th: 110mph
5th: 124mph

Max rpm: 6424

The 2.0 didn't feel noticeably quicker, if any on the test drive compared with what my car feels like now, and i did take the 2.0 on a nice piece of road that i knew well and do regularly in my 1.8.
There are obviously differences in performance between the 2.0 and 1.8

2.0: 130bhp @5500
131lb/ft @4500
0-62mph in 9.2
Max speed of 126

1.8 115bhp @ 5500rpm
118lb/ft @ 4400rpm
0-62mph in 9.9
Max speed 124

So as you can see the differences arent really worth the big difference in insurance, extra fuel, extra road tax and larger tyres (the 2.0 tend to have larger alloys).

Im not saying the 2.0 is worse or i wouldnt have one, im just saying for my money the 2.0 doesnt justify itself considering the 1.8 does everything so well.

My experience with my Focus 1.8 has so far (touch wood) been nothing but problem free and incredibly enjoyable. It is a stunning car to drive, great handling, great road holding (especially with the Pilot Exaltos i put on mine) and deals with bumpy British B-roads with ease and always feeling planted, meaning you can use every bit of its 115bhp ALL of the time, making it in my experience pretty hard work to keep up with for people even in much faster cars on the right bit of road.
The only things i didnt like about my car was the pedals are very poorely adjusted for heel and toe downshifts (solved that with special pedals) the brakes as standard werent up to the job of hauling it down from B-road speeds repeatedly for sharp corners (solved that with EBC discs and Green Stuff pads) and im not keen on my interior but that really is it.
I cant comment on common problems because i havnt had any and im not sure what common problems there are with them i will also be interested to find out.
A reasonable price for a car of that milage would probably (depending on service history, condition of tyres etc) be anything up to Ł1000 but im not sure.

I hope this helps you out. All i can say is i LOVE mine, its my pride and joy. The performance is fine, its not a fast car and a bit more poke would be nice but it shifts when you want it to.

 

if a good 2l comes up i'd get that personally, only cos i've got one lol.

drove my mum's 1.8 for 2 years and went well. 115bhp and 10sec to 60 so average but the chassis more than makes up for the lack in power and that was on 104k when some bloke ran into the back of me and it drove like new. my 2l is on 105k and drives excelent too.

2l is 8.9 0-60 and feels generally nicer to drive as its no heavier but got more power and torque and mine pulls right from 1k even with full system including 4-2-1 manifold which decats too.

very similar mpg, within 2 or 3mpg max

insurance aint a problem (Tom, should shop around more mate). i insured mine for Ł660 fully comp all mods declared, aged 21 with 3 points, 2 years ncb and 4 years driving. thats with admiral and the renewal just came through and they only want Ł530 now but i'll get that down by shopping around.

 

Ye its probably because im 19 and have 3 points (most rediculous points ever). I think once you get to 21 2.0 doesnt make a difference, but i as told by the insurers that at my age anything over 1.9 and it just jumps up massively. I dream about the day i can insure anything for Ł660 lol
My insurance atm on the Focus 1.8 is Ł2100 and it was Ł3700 for a 2.0 last time i checked
Its not Ł1600 faster lol

 

fook me Ł2100 pounds!!! must be to do with where you live mate as thats rediculous on a 1.8 (average) family wagon!!!

 

Haha tell me about it, its no laughing matter!
If i had to pay it i couldnt afford to run my Focus!

 

haha arent parents wonderfull things 8)

 

Ha ye they have their uses i guess