Hi all,

My current 306 is tarting to get a bit ropey, and as I'm doing
about 20k miles a year I was considering getting a second-hand
Focus TDi due to their supposed reliability and economy.
However I have noticed that there are a lot of high-spec 2.0TDi
mondeos going cheap because they have done ~100k in a very
short time, presumably because they are ex-sales rep cars.

They would seem to make an ideal car for cruising up and down
the motorway, and you can get a lot of car for your money.
According to the figures, they should be pretty much on a
par with the focus for economy, as well as having the newer
TDci engines

They've all got full service history, so the question is
how reliable would they be after that sort of (ab)use, and
are there any common problems that they suffer from?

    -Mark

> They would seem to make an ideal car for cruising up and down
> the motorway, and you can get a lot of car for your money.


Yes. High mileage, high volume rep-mobiles have always been the bargain of
the second hand car market, with their massive depreciation. I've bought
several myself. There is also a huge supply, whilst smaller "family" cars
generally hold value better (being cheaper to run, hence more desirable), so
are worse value second hand.


> They've all got full service history, so the question is
> how reliable would they be after that sort of (ab)use, and
> are there any common problems that they suffer from?


Just like any second hand car, really. However, they are usually in better
condition, as the miles will largely be motorway ones and they are usually
relatively young. They are usually well maintained by the lease companies,
too. And reps can't afford to thrash them all the time like they used to, as
their livelihoods depend on their licences.

Christian.

"Mark Rae" <mrae@AUTO> wrote in message 
news:430dc897$0$14348$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...

> Hi all,
>
> My current 306 is tarting to get a bit ropey, and as I'm doing
> about 20k miles a year I was considering getting a second-hand
> Focus TDi due to their supposed reliability and economy.
> However I have noticed that there are a lot of high-spec 2.0TDi
> mondeos going cheap because they have done ~100k in a very
> short time, presumably because they are ex-sales rep cars.
>
> They would seem to make an ideal car for cruising up and down
> the motorway, and you can get a lot of car for your money.
> According to the figures, they should be pretty much on a
> par with the focus for economy, as well as having the newer
> TDci engines
>
> They've all got full service history, so the question is
> how reliable would they be after that sort of (ab)use, and
> are there any common problems that they suffer from?
>
>    -Mark
>


Sorry i know its not answering your Q, but where you purchasing from and how 
much? sounds like something that would be ideal for me. is there somewhere 
that specialises in stocking the above?

"Colin Mckechnie"  writes:

>"Mark Rae" <mrae@AUTO> wrote in message 
>> However I have noticed that there are a lot of high-spec 2.0TDi
>> mondeos going cheap because they have done ~100k in a very
>> short time, presumably because they are ex-sales rep cars.

>Sorry i know its not answering your Q, but where you purchasing from and how 
>much? sounds like something that would be ideal for me. is there somewhere 
>that specialises in stocking the above? 


I haven't found anywhere in particular, I've just started browsing
through the adverts in autotrader trying to decide what to buy
in about a month or so when I get another years NCB and a new
MOT for my current car.

I've spent the last couple of days looking at prices, and
here is what i've found if it is of any help to you.

Taking the WhatCar/Parkers prices as a guide for a 51 plate
2.0TDi Zetec Mondeo vs a 1.8TDi Zetec Focus gives the Mondeo
being about 1k more expensive for average mileage.
However the mondeo depreciates at about 600 pounds per 10k
miles vs 400 for the focus, so they break even at about 80k

But when it comes to available cars, the focuses seem to split
into high mileage low-spec estates which are probably ex
field-engineer's cars, and low mileage high spec private
cars. Which is why I was thinking about the mondeo as they
have much better kit as standard, it's just depends on
whether the amount saved on getting a +100k mondeo is likely
to be eaten up by repairs later on.

I'm not sure that really answers your question either, but
no doubt someone else will have some extra advice.

    -Mark

"Mark Rae" <mrae@AUTO> wrote in message 
news:430e149c$0$32652$da0feed9@news.zen.co.uk...

> "Colin Mckechnie"  writes:
>>"Mark Rae" <mrae@AUTO> wrote in message
>>> However I have noticed that there are a lot of high-spec 2.0TDi
>>> mondeos going cheap because they have done ~100k in a very
>>> short time, presumably because they are ex-sales rep cars.
>
>>Sorry i know its not answering your Q, but where you purchasing from and 
>>how
>>much? sounds like something that would be ideal for me. is there somewhere
>>that specialises in stocking the above?
>
> I haven't found anywhere in particular, I've just started browsing
> through the adverts in autotrader trying to decide what to buy
> in about a month or so when I get another years NCB and a new
> MOT for my current car.
>
> I've spent the last couple of days looking at prices, and
> here is what i've found if it is of any help to you.
>
> Taking the WhatCar/Parkers prices as a guide for a 51 plate
> 2.0TDi Zetec Mondeo vs a 1.8TDi Zetec Focus gives the Mondeo
> being about 1k more expensive for average mileage.
> However the mondeo depreciates at about 600 pounds per 10k
> miles vs 400 for the focus, so they break even at about 80k
>
> But when it comes to available cars, the focuses seem to split
> into high mileage low-spec estates which are probably ex
> field-engineer's cars, and low mileage high spec private
> cars. Which is why I was thinking about the mondeo as they
> have much better kit as standard, it's just depends on
> whether the amount saved on getting a +100k mondeo is likely
> to be eaten up by repairs later on.
>
> I'm not sure that really answers your question either, but
> no doubt someone else will have some extra advice.
>
>    -Mark
>


Apologies for being a lazy git but for a 51 plate 2.0 TDI Zetec whats the 
going rate (if you have the info at hand)

"Colin Mckechnie"  writes:

>Apologies for being a lazy git but for a 51 plate 2.0 TDI Zetec whats the 
>going rate (if you have the info at hand) 


The advertised price would be about 7500 at 40k miles from a dealer.

    -Mark

"Mark Rae" <mrae@AUTO> wrote in message
news:430dc897$0$14348$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...

> Hi all,
>
> My current 306 is tarting to get a bit ropey, and as I'm doing
> about 20k miles a year I was considering getting a second-hand
> Focus TDi due to their supposed reliability and economy.
> However I have noticed that there are a lot of high-spec 2.0TDi
> mondeos going cheap because they have done ~100k in a very
> short time, presumably because they are ex-sales rep cars.
>
> They would seem to make an ideal car for cruising up and down
> the motorway, and you can get a lot of car for your money.
> According to the figures, they should be pretty much on a
> par with the focus for economy, as well as having the newer
> TDci engines
>
> They've all got full service history, so the question is
> how reliable would they be after that sort of (ab)use, and
> are there any common problems that they suffer from?


The early TDi's are cheap because they are alot less desirable than the far
quieter and more responsive TDCi.

Find one of those would be my advice.

Tim.

In article <430dc897$0$14348$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk>, mrae@AUTO says...

> Hi all,
> 
> My current 306 is tarting to get a bit ropey, and as I'm doing
> about 20k miles a year I was considering getting a second-hand
> Focus TDi due to their supposed reliability and economy.
> However I have noticed that there are a lot of high-spec 2.0TDi
> mondeos going cheap because they have done ~100k in a very
> short time, presumably because they are ex-sales rep cars.
> 
> They would seem to make an ideal car for cruising up and down
> the motorway, and you can get a lot of car for your money.
> According to the figures, they should be pretty much on a
> par with the focus for economy, as well as having the newer
> TDci engines


This is all *IMO*, but when I had a Focus Zetec loan car, I hated it.

I was expecting something as well put together as my (2 year older, 29k 
miles more) Mondeo, but it wasn't.

The 1.6 engine was totally gutless, the interior wasn't put together very 
well, the high up driving position and flabby suspension made it feel top 
heavy and felt like it was swaying around.

The seats were uncomfortable.

IMO, it was not much better than the Ka I had as a loan car before it.

Go for the high mile 2.0TDCi Mondeo, in a Ghia spec if possible. YKIMS.

Pete.

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NOTE! Email address is spamtrapped. Any email will be deleted
Remove the news and underscore from my address to reply by mail

"Christian McArdle"  wrote in message
news:430dda61$0$13702$ed9e5944@reading.news.pipex.net...

> Yes. High mileage, high volume rep-mobiles have always been the bargain of
> the second hand car market, with their massive depreciation. I've bought
> several myself. There is also a huge supply, whilst smaller "family" cars
> generally hold value better (being cheaper to run, hence more desirable),
so
> are worse value second hand.


AOL! Ex-fleet cars can be an excellent buy. One minor point to bear in mind
is that the resale value is likely to be a fair bit lower - this isn't
really an issue if you plan to keep the car for any length of time though.

Pete Smith wrote:

> 
> In article <430dc897$0$14348$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk>, mrae@AUTO says...
> > Hi all,
> >
> > My current 306 is tarting to get a bit ropey, and as I'm doing
> > about 20k miles a year I was considering getting a second-hand
> > Focus TDi due to their supposed reliability and economy.
> > However I have noticed that there are a lot of high-spec 2.0TDi
> > mondeos going cheap because they have done ~100k in a very
> > short time, presumably because they are ex-sales rep cars.
> >
> > They would seem to make an ideal car for cruising up and down
> > the motorway, and you can get a lot of car for your money.
> > According to the figures, they should be pretty much on a
> > par with the focus for economy, as well as having the newer
> > TDci engines
> 
> This is all *IMO*, but when I had a Focus Zetec loan car, I hated it.
> 
> I was expecting something as well put together as my (2 year older, 29k
> miles more) Mondeo, but it wasn't.
> 
> The 1.6 engine was totally gutless, the interior wasn't put together very
> well, the high up driving position and flabby suspension made it feel top
> heavy and felt like it was swaying around.
> 
> The seats were uncomfortable.
> 
> IMO, it was not much better than the Ka I had as a loan car before it.
> 
> Go for the high mile 2.0TDCi Mondeo, in a Ghia spec if possible. YKIMS.
> 
> Pete.


I have no experience of the Focus, but read rosy test reports when it came
out; some said it was the best car in its class. So I'm quite surprised
that it should turn out to be a duffer. Makes you suspicious of glowing
test reports for big-name cars.

> I have no experience of the Focus, but read rosy test reports when it came
> out; some said it was the best car in its class. So I'm quite surprised
> that it should turn out to be a duffer. Makes you suspicious of glowing
> test reports for big-name cars.


I've been driving for more than 40 years. I've owned and driven *lots* of
cars - new, old, everything in between. I have never previously kept a car
longer than a couple of years.

I've had my Focus from new. It is March 1999 registered and I have no
intention of changing it. Earlier this year I thought I'd check out whether
other manufacturers had caught up. I had test drives in a few. The only one
I thought might be OK was the MK5 Golf, so I hired one for a weekend. What
a disappointment! I couldn't wait to get back in my Focus. I'd buy another
in an instant if this one got stolen or wrecked.

The OP who hated the hired Focus he drove must surely be in a minority. 

Chris

-- 
Remove prejudice to reply

"Chris Whelan"  wrote in message
news:nZEPe.4019$b4.1557@newsfe4-win.ntli.net...

> > I have no experience of the Focus, but read rosy test reports when it
came
> > out; some said it was the best car in its class. So I'm quite surprised
> > that it should turn out to be a duffer. Makes you suspicious of glowing
> > test reports for big-name cars.
>
> I've been driving for more than 40 years. I've owned and driven *lots* of
> cars - new, old, everything in between. I have never previously kept a car
> longer than a couple of years.
>
> I've had my Focus from new. It is March 1999 registered and I have no
> intention of changing it. Earlier this year I thought I'd check out
whether
> other manufacturers had caught up. I had test drives in a few. The only
one
> I thought might be OK was the MK5 Golf, so I hired one for a weekend. What
> a disappointment! I couldn't wait to get back in my Focus. I'd buy another
> in an instant if this one got stolen or wrecked.
>
> The OP who hated the hired Focus he drove must surely be in a minority.


Not anymore so than you being in a minority because you disliked the Golf.
Thank god we all have different tastes or we might all being driving around
in brown Allegro's.
Each to their own. Personally I hate the styling of the Focus. It has bland
written all over it.

Steven.

..

>> > I have no experience of the Focus, but read rosy test reports when it
> came
>> > out; some said it was the best car in its class. So I'm quite surprised
>> > that it should turn out to be a duffer. Makes you suspicious of glowing
>> > test reports for big-name cars.
>>
>> I've been driving for more than 40 years. I've owned and driven *lots* of
>> cars - new, old, everything in between. I have never previously kept a
>> car longer than a couple of years.
>>
>> I've had my Focus from new. It is March 1999 registered and I have no
>> intention of changing it. Earlier this year I thought I'd check out
> whether
>> other manufacturers had caught up. I had test drives in a few. The only
> one
>> I thought might be OK was the MK5 Golf, so I hired one for a weekend.
>> What a disappointment! I couldn't wait to get back in my Focus. I'd buy
>> another in an instant if this one got stolen or wrecked.
>>
>> The OP who hated the hired Focus he drove must surely be in a minority.
> 
> Not anymore so than you being in a minority because you disliked the Golf.


Quite possibly. BTW, have you driven either?


> Thank god we all have different tastes or we might all being driving
> around in brown Allegro's.


No, That would mean we all had *no* taste :-)


> Each to their own. Personally I hate the styling of the Focus. It has
> bland written all over it.


< choke - cough - splutter>

What! Rewind to 1998. Remember the Escort. Golf MK4. Astra. How on earth
could the styling of the Focus be seen as bland in that context?
Controversial perhaps. Maybe ugly. Bland? No!

Now, the New Focus could be mistaken for almost anything I'll grant you.

Chris

-- 
Remove prejudice to reply

"Chris Whelan"  wrote in message
news:O3GPe.4027$b4.2099@newsfe4-win.ntli.net...

> .
> >> > I have no experience of the Focus, but read rosy test reports when it
> > came
> >> > out; some said it was the best car in its class. So I'm quite
surprised
> >> > that it should turn out to be a duffer. Makes you suspicious of
glowing
> >> > test reports for big-name cars.
> >>
> >> I've been driving for more than 40 years. I've owned and driven *lots*
of
> >> cars - new, old, everything in between. I have never previously kept a
> >> car longer than a couple of years.
> >>
> >> I've had my Focus from new. It is March 1999 registered and I have no
> >> intention of changing it. Earlier this year I thought I'd check out
> > whether
> >> other manufacturers had caught up. I had test drives in a few. The only
> > one
> >> I thought might be OK was the MK5 Golf, so I hired one for a weekend.
> >> What a disappointment! I couldn't wait to get back in my Focus. I'd buy
> >> another in an instant if this one got stolen or wrecked.
> >>
> >> The OP who hated the hired Focus he drove must surely be in a minority.
> >
> > Not anymore so than you being in a minority because you disliked the
Golf.
>
> Quite possibly. BTW, have you driven either?
>
> > Thank god we all have different tastes or we might all being driving
> > around in brown Allegro's.
>
> No, That would mean we all had *no* taste :-)
>
> > Each to their own. Personally I hate the styling of the Focus. It has
> > bland written all over it.
>
> < choke - cough - splutter>
>
> What! Rewind to 1998. Remember the Escort. Golf MK4. Astra. How on earth
> could the styling of the Focus be seen as bland in that context?
> Controversial perhaps. Maybe ugly. Bland? No!
>
> Now, the New Focus could be mistaken for almost anything I'll grant you.


Yeah I've driven both. My dad has the focus and I'm not that overly
impressed with it. Don't get me wrong I don't hate it or anything but I just
think it is a run of the mill car and fail to see why it gets so many
"great" right ups. My mate has a golf and I'm much more impressed with that
compared to the focus. But at the end of the day it is just different
tastes.

As for your statement "What! Rewind to 1998.............." I think you
answered your own question there. 7 years ago yeah the focus might have been
different. But things have moved on and for me it just blends in with
everything else.

But what do I know about looks, I drive a 5 year old Laguna :o(

Steven.

In message , Pete Smith 
 writes

>
>This is all *IMO*, but when I had a Focus Zetec loan car, I hated it.
>
>I was expecting something as well put together as my (2 year older, 29k
>miles more) Mondeo, but it wasn't.
>
>The 1.6 engine was totally gutless, the interior wasn't put together very
>well, the high up driving position and flabby suspension made it feel top
>heavy and felt like it was swaying around.
>
>The seats were uncomfortable.
>
>IMO, it was not much better than the Ka I had as a loan car before it.
>


"IMO" noted ;)

I've had my Focus for 6 years now and it has been brilliant. Build 
quality is superb and it looks and feels like new inside. Its a 1.6 too 
and its certainly not gutless. The suspension is first class. I've got 
the LX which has got softer suspension than the zetec and I don't have 
any problems with mine.

As for the Ka, the missus had one of them for 5 years and there is no 
comparison with the Focus. When I bought another car for myself, we sold 
her Ka and she got my Focus.


-- 
Paul Giverin

British Jet Engine Website    http://www.britjet.co.uk

> 
> Yeah I've driven both. My dad has the focus and I'm not that overly
> impressed with it. Don't get me wrong I don't hate it or anything but I
> just think it is a run of the mill car and fail to see why it gets so many
> "great" right ups. My mate has a golf and I'm much more impressed with
> that compared to the focus. But at the end of the day it is just different
> tastes.
> 
> As for your statement "What! Rewind to 1998.............." I think you
> answered your own question there. 7 years ago yeah the focus might have
> been different.
> 

I wasn't attempting to ask a question! I was challenging your statement that
the design of the Focus was bland. To my mind, that is the last criticism
you could aim at it.


> But things have moved on and for me it just blends in with
> everything else.


Yes, of course! It was so outstanding at the time of it's release that all
the other manufacturers have had to catch up!


> But what do I know about looks, I drive a 5 year old Laguna :o(


<Shakes head in wonderment> :-)


-- 
Remove prejudice to reply

> I've spent the last couple of days looking at prices, and
> here is what i've found if it is of any help to you.
>
> Taking the WhatCar/Parkers prices as a guide for a 51 plate
> 2.0TDi Zetec Mondeo vs a 1.8TDi Zetec Focus gives the Mondeo
> being about 1k more expensive for average mileage.
> However the mondeo depreciates at about 600 pounds per 10k
> miles vs 400 for the focus, so they break even at about 80k


Here's a tip.  The guide prices are a guide, and a guide only, and can be 
well out.  Get yourself registered on AutoTrader.co.uk, and do nationwide 
searches for cars.  Get one in the best condition that you can at the best 
price.  If you *particularly* want a higher spec one like a Ghia X, then 
only look at the adverts for them.  Also consider that the 1.8TDi Focus 
might be a bit crap.  It's not a *bad* engine perse, but in several 
different engines of that type I've heard of the oil cooler cracking, which 
is a big PITA as most people will tell you that it's the head gasket, and 
then later quote you about 2k to fix it, leaving you with the bill for 
taking the head off, leaving you with a non-running engine, when putting 
washing powder in the coolant along with lots of flushing would have cured 
it.  Only get the TDCI ones, but if you're considering a TDI Focus, either 
get the TDCI Focus or a Golf TDI, as the engines are immensely better. 
Golfs will be more pricey though.


> But when it comes to available cars, the focuses seem to split
> into high mileage low-spec estates which are probably ex
> field-engineer's cars, and low mileage high spec private
> cars. Which is why I was thinking about the mondeo as they
> have much better kit as standard, it's just depends on
> whether the amount saved on getting a +100k mondeo is likely
> to be eaten up by repairs later on.
>
> I'm not sure that really answers your question either, but
> no doubt someone else will have some extra advice.


Mileage needn't be an issue if it's something that's not known for having 
problems at high mileage.  Find out if Mondeo TDCIs have any issues at high 
miles (150-200k) because that's the sort of mileage you'll probably be 
running it up to.  Have a look at the "user reviews" type section on 
parkers.co.uk and also at peachorlemon.co.uk.  This'll give you a good ideas 
of generally which models are problematic and which ones tend to be trouble 
free.  Stack the odds in your favour and get something that's got a rep for 
being trouble-free.  If that's the case, then high mileage isn't an issue, 
but don't fall into the trap of paying over the odds for it.  The vast 
majority of cars out there are way overpriced because there are mugs out 
there who pay those prices, or who genuinely believe that their J reg Sierra 
they're wanting to part-exchange really is worth 950.  Do a nationwide 
search on autotrader for a few different models, and use the lowest price 
there as a target price to pay.

With cars as common as Mondeos and Focii, you may well get it just as cheap 
(or possibly) cheaper by hunting out the lower priced private ads, and with 
a private sale you've got the advantage that if you deem the seller to be 
honest, you know exactly how reliable it's been, and what's gone wrong, etc 
etc.

-- 
Peter

"You're not a real UKRCMer until you've had your big end bearings go."

> No, That would mean we all had *no* taste :-)
>
>> Each to their own. Personally I hate the styling of the Focus. It has
>> bland written all over it.
>
> < choke - cough - splutter>
>
> What! Rewind to 1998. Remember the Escort. Golf MK4. Astra. How on earth
> could the styling of the Focus be seen as bland in that context?
> Controversial perhaps. Maybe ugly. Bland? No!


Yes, and right now we're living in 2005, where it *does* look bland, because 
other manufacturers have caught up in terms of styling, and against them it 
doesn't look anything special.  Plus, there are so bloody many of the things 
out there, that the effects of anything particularly ground-breaking about 
its design have been well and truly numbed.

-- 
Peter

"You're not a real UKRCMer until you've had your big end bearings go."

"AstraVanMan"  writes:

>Here's a tip.  The guide prices are a guide, and a guide only, and can be 
>well out.  Get yourself registered on AutoTrader.co.uk, and do nationwide 
>searches for cars.  


Yes, I've been doing that. I was only using those as examples
because they are probably the most comparable models, and the 
parkers prices mostly match up with the prices listed in autotrader.

I would probably end up going for a top condition LX model
as they are pretty well specced anyway, and are quite a bit cheaper.
A few of them seem to have added extras as well, without the 
extra price of the Zetec or Ghia badge.



>Only get the TDCI ones, but if you're considering a TDI Focus, either 
>get the TDCI Focus or a Golf TDI, as the engines are immensely better. 
>Golfs will be more pricey though.


To be honest, having driven 3 different types of focus in the last
year, I can't really say I'm a great fan. But when weighing up the
various options, it seemed to be the best choice from a practical
point of view. 
But after seeing the mondeo prices, and finding out that they wouldn't
be much more expensive to insure, it seems to make a much more
attractive option.



>also at peachorlemon.co.uk. 

I didn't know about that one, I'll have a look. Thanks

    -Mark

In article <nZEPe.4019$b4.1557@newsfe4-win.ntli.net>, 
cawhelan@prejudicentlworld.com says...

> > I have no experience of the Focus, but read rosy test reports when it came
> > out; some said it was the best car in its class. So I'm quite surprised
> > that it should turn out to be a duffer. Makes you suspicious of glowing
> > test reports for big-name cars.
> 
> I've been driving for more than 40 years. I've owned and driven *lots* of
> cars - new, old, everything in between. I have never previously kept a car
> longer than a couple of years.
> 
> I've had my Focus from new. It is March 1999 registered and I have no
> intention of changing it. Earlier this year I thought I'd check out whether
> other manufacturers had caught up. I had test drives in a few. The only one
> I thought might be OK was the MK5 Golf, so I hired one for a weekend. What
> a disappointment! I couldn't wait to get back in my Focus. I'd buy another
> in an instant if this one got stolen or wrecked.
> 
> The OP who hated the hired Focus he drove must surely be in a minority. 


It's all relative & subjective.

It's an order of magnitude better than my old Yugo, or Mk 5 'scrote, but 
compared to my Mondeo Ghia, it's not as nice.

It was plasticy inside, I could see bare metal around the doorframes, and 
the seats weren't as comfortable and supportive. They were just like normal 
Fiesta seats (as seen in my gran's old 1991 Fester "Popular", compared with 
the almost-bucket ones in my car.

All the buttons, vent controls & things have chrome effect trim in mine, 
but the Focus was all just plain plastic.

The doors closed with a "clang". The Mondeo ones shut with a "Thud"

Regarding the "gutless". I'm used to the performance of the TDCI 130, so of 
course a 1.6 will appear gutless! The gearbox also sounded like the same 
whiny one they put in the old Fiesta (the one that you could tell it was a 
Fiesta without even seeing it).

The ride height seemed to be higher, which I didn't like, and I *really* 
didn't like the centre console.

I could have had a real Friday Afternoon car, but this is the 2nd one I've 
had, and they didn't seem dramatically different).

Pete.

-- 
NOTE! Email address is spamtrapped. Any email will be deleted
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Johannes  writes

>
>I have no experience of the Focus, but read rosy test reports when it came
>out; some said it was the best car in its class. So I'm quite surprised
>that it should turn out to be a duffer. Makes you suspicious of glowing
>test reports for big-name cars.


My mate has Focus 1.6, and I ride in it every other week.   He is 
delighted with it and the only reason I chose a Mondeo was for the extra 
safety and comfort of a larger car.   The Focus is a much firmer ride, 
especially over the infamous road humps.

His Focus seems to have plenty of zip for normal use, and when he 
swapped his Astra for it he got a rebate on his insurance.
-- 
Gordon Harris