Faults:

I've only owned the car a month and can report few problems.

After being stung before, I got an RAC check (something that I would definatly recommend). It showed that the car was fine apart from a faulty fuel gauge (£170), an exhaust bracket (£10) and worn brake discs.

I know several other people with Foci and they have had a reasonably trouble free time.

General Comments:

The styling is still cutting edge, despite seeing them at every turn.

The 1.8 zetec isn't a super-quick engine, but it's pretty economical and it's very smooth with very few flat spots in the rev range.

My main complaint with the Focus is the seats, which give me chronic backache as they've got no lumbar support.

The Focus is great fun to drive with amazing handling considering it's a front wheel drive runabout.

Faults:

Front torsion link bar needed to be replaced 150 miles ago.

Squeak when raising the driver's side window.

Rattles from the tailgate area.

General Comments:

My first Ford and I love it.

The 1.8 engine is a little rev happy, but goes like a train from 4000rpm.

Problem with wheel spin in the wet.

Boot space could be bigger.

Faults:

First of all, the boot hinge was very rattly on picking the car up. Then the heater made a clicking noise a week later. After that the rear seat back vibrated. Fixed it myself with a large block of Blu-Tack in the seat back clip.

Shortly afterwards the alternator began screeching! Would you believe it? Took 10 days to fix! Tried replacing the belt, spraying WD40 on it but to no avail. Eventually the (useless) dealers traced it to a duff idler sprocket.

The gearbox feels like a bag of bolts when changing gear! It is so clunky you can hear the gears bashing when changing gear!

Now there are clunky noises in the suspension and steering. The car is out of warranty now! They charge £69.00 per hour plus VAT just to examine it! Then it's the additional cost of parts and labour! Ford charges are totally scandalous! And the dealers don't give a monkeys when it comes to customer care.

The latest defects? The exhaust is now vibrating, the aircon is now smelly and the dashboard vibrates.

I HATE Fords. I just bought a Toyota Celica which I'm picking up on Saturday.

Best of luck to the bloke who is buying this heap once I pick my Celica up!

Faults:

Tailgate rattly: re-adjusted hinge.

Noisy heater valve: replaced.

Screetching alternator belt: needs changing.

Clonking from steering: spring realigned.

Alternator recall: carried out.

Gearchange sometimes clonky: Character in all Focuses (confirmed by my dealer).

This car was nearly-new with 12k on the clock when I bought it.

General Comments:

A great car let down by such tiny little niggles

Faults:

Alternator, door latches. Both problems were manufacturer's recall situations and were dealt with promptly by the dealer.

General Comments:

My work takes me countrywide, this car has stood in queues on hot days on the M25 and got me safely over mountain roads in horrendous winter weather in the highlands of Scotland,and never let me down. It's a pleasure to drive.