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Original poster

Anyone drive a ford focus, what is it like?

30 replies

Blandmum · 25/04/2007 17:20

Specifically,

How much room is there if you have two kids? Enough/ not enoug/ lots?

How is it on longer journeys? If find the fiesta very tiring as it is so noisy

How manoverable is it round town?

Is the boot big ebough for holiday type packing?

Any pros or cons?

Ta!

OP posts:
NKF · 25/04/2007 17:29

I want to know the answer to all these things too.

bea · 25/04/2007 17:30

we have a focus... and i love it to bits... driving it is lovely and zippy.... with two kiddies... it should be just right.... the back seat is great for two and good for three... (although three in car seats it doesn't do...) the boot is niot huge but does the job... depends on how you are at packing.... and the styling and design of the interior is really lovely (shallow... i know but it pushes the right buttons for me!

love it to bits.... oh yes the indicator makes a nice soft clicking sound!!!!!

Original poster
Blandmum · 25/04/2007 17:33

LOL at the indicator click being just right!

Thanks for that.

Anyone else?

OP posts:
NKF · 25/04/2007 17:33

Sounds good. Running costs? Reliability?

NKF · 25/04/2007 17:34

Motorway driving? Comfort for long distances. I expect to be driving a lot this summer so am hoping for some comfort.

FioFio · 25/04/2007 17:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

brimfull · 25/04/2007 17:36

have a focs estate and have been very pleased with it.Slightly dull though

bea · 25/04/2007 17:37

we've had it for 5 years now (s reg so it was one of the first ones!) and apart from mot it's been fine.. running costs?... eek! erm... £35 to fill up with unleaded... lasts fir about a month (its the run around town sort of car... diesn't get to do the long journeys we leave that to the zafira (we have 3 kiddies!) - a much more boring run of the mill car and doesn't get the ahhhh factor which my focus does!

bea · 25/04/2007 17:38

nkf... very nice and comfy!

Original poster
Blandmum · 25/04/2007 17:38

I have a fiesta and dh has a mondeo.

When dh gets to the point that he can't drive any more, we will turn them both in, and get something else.

The fiesta is too small for the long trips that we do (4-8 hours sometimes).

We are not sure if we should go for another mondeo or a focus. The focus might be easier for me to drive and manouver, but I'm wondering how well is goes on longer, motorway drives.

OP posts:
Mumbojumbo · 25/04/2007 17:44

I've just got a second hand Focus C-Max and I love it. It's very comfortable, has plenty of room for passengers (got 2 boys), seating is very versatile and the load space in the boot is generous. It's a diesel, so we get about 40mpg which is a vast improvement from my previous vehicle!

DH has a Mondeo estate which is also v roomy and v economical as well has having a mahoosive boot!

Original poster
Blandmum · 25/04/2007 17:45

Ohh, that is the one we are looking at. How does the Cmax boot compare to the mondeo on a practical level?

OP posts:
joash · 25/04/2007 17:52

we have a focus Ghia and its brilliant for long motorway trips - we do around 1000 trip every six weeks or so and its brilliant!!!

joash · 25/04/2007 17:52

that should be 1000 mile trip

Original poster
Blandmum · 25/04/2007 17:54

excellent that is what I wanted to read.

I can (and do) drive the mondeo, but the focus would be a bit smaller and easier fot me. OTOH, I need something that is comfortable for longer trips as well as the about twon stuff.

thank you for the feed back, most helpful

OP posts:
laughingduck · 25/04/2007 17:56

I have a c-max and at one point we had two at the same time (dh just traded his in) - I love mine. We have had three kids, luggage and buggy/travel cot for a family holiday, without problem. It is nice enough to drive and can cope OK with both the school run and longer journeys. The one we originally had which dh drove, was a 1.8 LX, which was better on the motorways but mine is a 1.6 (also an LX I think but has a newer type of engine) and I prefer the way it drives to our older one as it seems nippier and is certainly more economical. Servicing is also cheap and our dealer is really nice which is the main reason we stick with Ford.

Mumbojumbo · 25/04/2007 18:00

I'll find the brochure we got on the Mondeo and C-Max and post the relevant specs. Just tried the Ford website and it's not working properly.

The C-Max doesn't feel like a "small" car - bit of a Tardis! Also, I find that when you get in it you step to the side and not down into it, so it's a bit higher than the Mondeo (not explaining myself very well!). Will post specs later on!

MARGOsBeenPlayingWithMyNooNoo · 25/04/2007 18:01

I have a focus saloon and it's got a very big boot. (I can fit a buggy and 2 households shopping in the boot)

Clayhead · 25/04/2007 18:02

Dh drives a C-Max (he used to have a Mondeo) 100 miles each day. It has been great and we have been on holiday in it with 2 kids.

I think the boot space is not too dissimilar to the Mondeo but taller and squarer IYSWIM.

I personally prefer driving and parking the C-Max to the Mondeo.

HTH

Clayhead · 25/04/2007 18:03

I agree with Mumbojumbo - the C-Max is tardis like - feels so much bigger than it looks!

Taylormama · 25/04/2007 18:03

Specifically,

How much room is there if you have two kids? Enough/ not enoug/ lots?
I have one DS in baby seat and tonnes of room (we have a focus ghia 4 door)

How is it on longer journeys? If find the fiesta very tiring as it is so noisy
long journeys - excellent - very smooth have bombed down the motorways a lot in it. economical on fuel but when we get our next focus (we like it that much) we will get diesel

How manoverable is it round town?
power steering excellent, easy to park and good visibility

Is the boot big ebough for holiday type packing?
yep - we get 2 suitcases - large and small - you can stuff things in round them as well

Any pros or cons? Brill car - spent nothing on it except for servicing - last year we had to spend about £300 on something which went but that has been it

Ta!

Original poster
Blandmum · 25/04/2007 18:03

Brilliant!

I don't like parking the mondeo much!

This is all very helpful

OP posts:
GrumpyOldHorsewoman · 25/04/2007 18:05

I switched from a Mondeo to a Focus and love it. It is zippy and manoeuverable and, most importantly, fits very nicely into parking spaces in poxy car parks. In the Mondeo I used to have to let my passengers out before I parked in Lion Yard car park in Cambridge as the spaces weren't wide enough to open the doors on both sides of the car! I have a TDCi and find that there is room enough for me, DH and our two girlies. I do miss the boot space of the Mondeo, which was gargantuan and could fit even our post-USA holiday luggage in it (no mean feat). This is a bit more modest, but still capable, and I can always take the tray out of the back to allow for a bit more height in storage. I am pleased I have it.

Boco · 25/04/2007 18:05

We have one too, and very pleased with it. Plenty of room, - (i'm learning to drive in ours, and my instructor drives one too as it's supposed to be one of the best cars to learn in)

Just asked dp why he likes it, and he said because its a good lay out and doesnt' feel too heavy.

NKF · 25/04/2007 18:18

Why diesel rather than petrol?