Faults:

Tailgate became hard to latch - dealer adjusted it and then it leaked. Took four further attempts to repair satisfactorily.

Scrubs the outside edges of the front tyres in about 7,000 miles despite three dealers and two independent tyre fitters checking the suspension alignment and proclaiming it to be "spot on"

Rattle from glove compartment.

CD player (model 2006) developed a loose connection in its security panel and would turn itself off over bumps.

Various creaks and squeaks inside.

Both rear wheel bearings replaced at 22,000 miles due to noise. This apparently affects many 01/02 MY Focuses according to the dealer as the hard wearing coating on a batch of bearings supplied to the factory was faulty.

General Comments:

What I like:

The engine is punchy and eager, the handling and ride are first class and the looks are still striking despite 5 years of being a common sight on our roads. It was clearly set up and tweaked by someone who loves driving, and was prepared to spend a lot of time tweaking and getting the feel of the steering and brakes spot on, just like the quality of the gearbox. They could have squeezed out another dull box like Vauxhall or VW with all the controls being light and easy, but they chose not to. Despite all my gripes with the car, I still consider this a hell of a plus point.

What I dislike:

Unfortunately, pretty much everything else. The dealers suck, the build quality is poor, the reliability below average, and the residual values a nightmare. Don't be fooled by the glossy front of the modern Ford dealership, nothing has changed. When you have a problem (and if this car is anything to go by, you will), they still won't want to know.

If you want a Focus, buy a 3 year old one for £5k and it makes a lot more sense. Buying new does not guarantee anything in terms of reliability or support, and you'll be stung big time when you try and resell it.

Faults:

Nothing!

General Comments:

I wasn't sure about the Focus first of all because everyone seems to have them. That said now I have one I can see why. First class handling and ride, superb seats and refinement.

Only gripe is the standard Continental Eco-Contact tyres seem to crack.

Overall I would recommend anyone who wants a car of this size just goes to their Ford Dealer rather than waste other dealers time my looking at their cars. Renault, Peugeot, Rover sorry, but the Focus is top dog.

Faults:

So far nothing has gone wrong with the car other than the relay for the rear windscreen wiper, which is hopefully being sorted next weekend.

General Comments:

This has to be the best car I've owned so far. Its extremely comfortable, owing to it's heated leather seats and the wonderful driving position.

Faults:

Auxiliary belt squeals for a minute or so after a cold start (worn belt - will be sorted at the next service).

Blown brakelight bulb.

General Comments:

The Focus needs no praising from me in light of the rave reviews it has had from every magazine on the planet, but suffice to say they are all right. Even in "boring" TD estate form, it handles superbly, steers with feel and accuracy that some sports cars would kill for, and performs more than adequately.

The old 90PS TDdi lump is getting on a bit now, and it is a bit gruffer than the modern common-rail units, but you really can't argue with what it does. Boost comes in at just 1500 RPM, and the wave of torque (200 Nm of the stuff) shoves the car hard right through to 4750, 250 RPM into the redline incidentally. This is a huge useable rev range for a turbodiesel powerplant, and means the Focus is rarely found wanting for power in real road situations. I've driven a 1.6 petrol version of the same car which is said to develop 100PS, but the diesel variant would leave it for dead.

Onto the more boring aspects - the load bay with the seats down is vast, and the car copes well when laden. On a recent run to the dump one Sunday, it swallowed a lounge and dining room carpet, complete with underlay and six large binliners full of rubbish in one go with room to spare, and the fuel economy refuses to drop below 45 mpg whatever it is used for, and however it is driven. With a light right foot, 50 mpg is easily achievable.

Being a later model mine has the revised grille with the projector style headlamps. Finished in Panther Black metallic and with the optional 15" alloys, it's quite a looker as estate cars go. Inside, it's comfortable, and the funky looking dash has the usual excellent Ford control layout with everything in a logical place. Well made too - nearly 60,000 miles and it doesn't squeak or rattle, and cleans up as new.

So to summarise it's a good looking, practical, reliable and comfortable car with decent performance and superb economy. Where it scores over it's rivals is that it can still entertain when the roads and the mood dictate. Having driven a 306 for two years, this was an essential requirement, and although the Focus isn't quite as agile, it is a lot more driver focused (no pun intended) than any current rival. I recommend the car to anyone.