2000 Ford Focus Ghia TDDI 1.8 turbo diesel

Summary:

It didn't win the award for the best car of the past 25 years for nothing!

Faults:

Front coil snapped.

Central locking not working on front passenger door.

Out of shape tyres due to cheap tyres...

Fan belt squeals in the cold (very common).

General Comments:

I wrote off my previous Focus after somebody pulled out on me, so needed another car quickly.

I went to the local car auctions and took a risk picking this car up for £282 with no MOT or history. Oh boy am I glad I took that risk. It's a metallic blue Ghia saloon, which I'm told is very rare to come with the diesel engine. Some people don't like the saloon; I have grown to like it. It's powered by Ford's old but well proven 1.8 litre turbo diesel engine. This engine is the older direct injection unit, and while it's not as refined or powerful as the newer common rail units, it's much less problematic. They are not trouble free however, as they still suffer with fuel pump failures, but this is much cheaper to put right if it does happen.

Being the Ghia, mine has electric windows, part leather seats, CD auto changer, A/C, heated front and rear screens, electric seats etc. However amazingly this model didn't come with alloys as standard. I have since fitted some Zetec alloys to it, which in my opinion suit the saloon better than the hatch.

This car is now 15 years old, but it still drives like a much newer and younger car, and amazingly this example is rust free save for 2 small scabs near the chrome strip on the tailgate. It drives beautifully and gives a consistent 45-50 MPG no matter how it's driven. There's a reason the mk1 Focus won the award for the best car of the past 25 years; it's because it's bloody good!

The only major issue I have had in the 6 months of owning it is a snapped coil spring thanks to our appalling roads.

I intend on keeping it until it dies, and considering my friend has an LX estate with the same engine that's just hit 200k miles, I'd say it's got a while yet.

The best car Ford have built, fact...

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th December, 2015

8th Jan 2016, 23:32

I suspect you are right about older Fords - I had a C-Max Diesel from 2012-15 (see the review on here) and that was a proper dog. Fuel filters lasted only 10k miles (service intervals 12.5k miles - handy) gearbox went, electrical gremlins - 3 years of dross.

The more mechanical nature of the older car is more the level Ford operate at, hence your superb example.

I note that for some on here the Focus experience is underwhelming - you have to understand what the recently departed Escort and contemporary Astra, Rover (remember them?) 200, Nissan etc drove like and the Focus was a revelation. Anybody stepping from a newer car back into yours would not be overly impressed because the original Focus dragged all the other manufacturers up to their level in the ride/handling stakes that were previously Peugeot's domain.

If not the best, then surely one of the most influential cars of its time?

In reply to 8th Jan 2016, 23:32

16th Jan 2016, 00:02

OP here.

I agree with the comment about the newer stuff. If your C Max was a diesel, then it would have been fitted with a Peugeot/Citroen engine as Ford are in alliance with them. Fords now suffer with the usual DPF problems and dual mass flywheel failures. I previously owned a 2007 Focus, and while it was more refined and generally better put together, it lacked the pin sharp handling and driver feedback the mk1 gives. Also my mk2 Focus was a 1.6 Sport petrol, and my mk1 is the older 90 BHP direct diesel, yet because it weighs less, it feels quicker than the mk2.

I agree with the comment about it setting new standards; I used to own a mk3 Astra, and whilst it was phenomenally reliable, it was very dull to drive. Read the article on Whatcar about the mk1 Focus.

2000 Ford Focus Ghia 2.0 petrol

Summary:

Easy to drive, average car - nothing to shout about but nothing to really complain about either

Faults:

Oil leak at rocker cover gasket - dealer promised to fix, but when I later took it to a mechanic for a service they said it was still leaking so I had to pay to have it replaced again.

All filters had to be replaced because they were full of oil (because of leak).

Water gets into the boot if you open the boot too quickly when it has been raining.

Rust on boot lid above number plate.

Traction control kicks in when I need to pull out quickly onto a fast road, causing the wheels to spin (this is embarrassing and makes me look like I can't drive).

Doesn't like starting in the cold, tends to cough and splutter and spews massive amounts of blue smoke out of the exhaust for about 5 min after starting.

Battery light comes on if I have the heater, radio and headlights on in peak hour traffic.

Interior fogs up in rainy weather even if I have the heater/demisters on - end up having to use the aircon which of course uses more fuel.

Drivers seat not very comfortable - get a sore lower back and numb left leg if I'm in the car too long.

General Comments:

The car was 8 years old when I bought it and it was quite cheap so I don't expect it to be perfect - I don't think any of the above problems are really that serious, although it did cost me £260 to get the rocker cover gasket and all the filters replaced, and the engine degreased.

Quite a comfortable and easy car to drive, sore back notwithstanding.

Have owned a Ford previously and I find the interior columns significantly obstruct my vision - eg when making a sharp turn to the right, I can't see where I'm going because the right hand column completely covers up what I'm trying to look at.

Doesn't seem to have a lot of power - just about everyone beats me off the mark at traffic lights, but I didn't buy it for that reason. I wanted something comfortable, easy to drive and anonymous for exploring the UK and this seems to do the trick.

Haven't had any contact with Ford dealers and don't intend to - the thing isn't under warranty so I will just take it to the local mechanic. With one exception - I wasn't given a spare key when I bought it so will have to go to a dealer to get one coded for me - I understand this is very expensive so am waiting for my next pay cheque first!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd November, 2008

21st Aug 2010, 14:00

Further comment - I have decided this morning to get rid of it.

Current state of car: Boot leaks, have had to drill a hole in the floor of the boot, otherwise my spare wheel sits in a lake all the time.

Somewhere else is leaking as there is a constant smell of musty carpet.

Power drain issue continuing.

Had to get it a new battery this time last year. Made no difference to the power drain issue, just meant I could actually start it without having to call out the AA.

Clutch master cylinder fell to bits last week (it's made of plastic), had to get it replaced and clutch pedal lug welded back on.

Drivers side front CV joint broke this morning.

Both wing mirrors broken - not the actual mirrors, the plastic assembly. Both held on with sellotape.

The only lock that works is the passenger side front lock. All others have worn and do not unlock with the key.

Goes through petrol like nobody's business.

Heavy clutch has left me with a recurring lower back ache.

Had enough. Won't be getting another Ford. I expected better from a car that is barely 10 years old and supposedly from a decent manufacturer. I just spent £250 getting the clutch fixed, and it now needs new tax, new insurance, new brakes, new CV joint. I am just about to spend twice as much on it in a week than it is actually worth. It will be off to the wreckers as soon as possible.

In reply to 21st Aug 2010, 14:00

23rd Aug 2011, 09:35

Some people should not own a vehicle. You state the car overheats while climbing hills, yet you keep driving it. If it overheats, then shut it off right away and have it checked/repaired. Cooling systems need to be flushed and maintained too. Lack of proper maintenance is what causes many of the issues that people are having. You can't just drive a car and not maintain it. Your explanations were not that bad, but some of the other reviews are just insane. People who should not be driving in the first place.