Ford Focus...2001 onwards

[spaced]

I am thinking of buying a ford focus (2001 reg). I am a fleet manager, unfortunately we do not have a focus in our fleet but have been advised that they are fantastic cars. What are your thoughts on the Focus, would you recomend one?

Plus, what is the best site for used card road tests??

[djaychela]

Best car you'll get for the money, in my opinion. Owned two of them, a '99 diesel estate, and an '01 saloon. Really good cars - excellent, non-tiring drive, comfortable, practical, cheap to run, and a really good handling car - even the diesel with a good extra 100kgs of cast iron in the front. Good time to buy them at the moment as the prices have dropped quite a bit. I'm a big fan of the diesel engine, and in the '01 you'd be looking to get the later, more powerful TDCi model, which is an improvement on the TDDi model. Certainly didn't have any real problems with my cars apart from the diesel one which blew the small ends (something which has happened to 3 people I know, all at around 90k).

Size wise, you can pack a fair bit in, 4 large adults in comfort, 5 who know each other, and I actually had 7 in mine once, but that's another story.

Downsides? Can't think of any straight off the bat, apart from there having been some issues with electrical connectors, on the lights and alternator on both cars. I'd buy another one, for sure, if I break my one again - that or an 01 on Mondeo, which is an even better car, but may be a bit large....

[Lonnie]

I am on my third one now, great car, easy to drive, and have found it trouble free, the only thing i'm not too happy with, is the all round visibility, but if your a good driver, you compensate, the on;y other car i've had that could compare, going back a bit, was a MK11 Cortina, you won't go wrong with a Focus.