Ford Focus

[niky]

Eh... short trips are always bads for gas consumption, and the Focus has poor consumption in the first 5000 - 10,000 kms because the engine is still "tight".

The Focus, like most 2.0 AT Compact cars, gets 7-8 km/l in the city, depending on conditions. An uncle with the Civic 2.0 (first edition, the special pearl white one), complained that it was a guzzler, even a Honda VP we talked to admitted it was a guzzler, with the caveat that it was fun to drive to meetings... especially when he was late...

Didn't stop my uncle from trading his 2.0 in for the new 2.0 Civic.

As for the 1.8 Focus? Don't even ask. It's better to get the 2.0, because you at least have some power to justify the fuel consumption.

[orly_andico]

i'm afraid to ask about the 1.6 :D

i noticed that the 1.6 Trend AT is exactly the same price as the mazda3 hatch (849k) and the 1.6 Trend MT is exactly the same price as the mazda3 S (799k). parang better buy yung mazda3 ah.. is the NVH on the ford really that much better?

[mazdamazda]

The NVH of the Ford Focus is really something.

Plus the suspension is just right for Metro Manila streets and rides like a big mid-size sedan.

Btw, the Trend comes only with M/T AFAIK. So it should get better fuel economy than the power-sapping manumatic tranny that the upscale variants.

[baludoy]

The NVH of the Ford Focus is really something.

Plus the suspension is just right for Metro Manila streets and rides like a big mid-size sedan.

Btw, the Trend comes only with M/T AFAIK. So it should get better fuel economy than the power-sapping manumatic tranny that the upscale variants.

errr...what's an NVH?

[niky]

Tama si M2, the Focus Trend's 1.6 does get better fuel economy. C! tests it at 14-16 km/l on the highway (forgot which) and in the UK, it gets good numbers, too.

The NVH is awesome. Despite the relatively low-rent interior of the 1.6 Trend, just sitting in the back, feeling the muted thump of the suspension over potholes and rough roads, enfolded in the silence, the heavy, Germanic feel of the doors, and the novelty of the rear-seat airconditioner, you can almost imagine you are in an Audi. And it drives great, just like a German car, good steering feel (slower steering than the Civic, but much MUCH better feedback), poise and solidity.

Just don't touch the plastic on the doors... it'll ruin the illusion... but aside from that gripe, the Focus 1.6 Trend is easily the cheapest European car around. Heck, if you could justify buying an A4 1.6 or BMW 316i for almost 2 million bucks, the 800k for the Focus 1.6 Trend is a downright bargain.

The base Civic has more power and good economy, yes, but it doesn't feel as solid as this. In fact, nothing at this price range does.

[OTEP]

NVH is noise vibration harshness. Kalaban ng mga manufacturers.

[number001]

The NVH of the Ford Focus is really something.

Plus the suspension is just right for Metro Manila streets and rides like a big mid-size sedan.

Btw, the Trend comes only with M/T AFAIK. So it should get better fuel economy than the power-sapping manumatic tranny that the upscale variants.

Ford released an a/t version for the 1.6L Trend for Php 50,000 more than the m/t variant.

[orly_andico]

*niky,

wala nang 2M na BMW 316 ngayon. Nasa 2.5M na yata. For 2M what you get is a 118i or perhaps a volvo S40 (which is *cough cough* an upscale-ized Ford Focus).

so it would seem, relative to the mazda3, the ford focus' main value proposition is really the NVH? how does it compare to say an Altis G? in my limited experience, the G-spec Altis has much better NVH than the J-spec..

[niky]

I haven't got enough experience of the G to say for sure, but I'm betting the Focus is much better. The Altis's I've ridden have had a stiff and springy ride, much like my Lynx, even though I'm riding on stiffer springs and thinner tires.

The Focus is also stiff, so it thumps over the odd hole, but... well, that's it... it thumps... just like a big car... it doesn't go klumpf or krumpf... it doesn't sway in the corners, but it doesn't feel like you're jumping around when the road gets rough... it's controlled stiffness... firm yet supple... much like a midsize car feels.

And, again, the way those doors close feels very special. Very solid... every time I go for a service appointment at Ford, I open and close those doors just for fun. (Yes, I want a Focus, but I'm waiting for the 2007 Diesel model... ...yes, it is coming.)

To be fair, though, at the World of Toyota, I felt that the latest models of the Vios and Alits felt like they had very good noise suppression, but the sophistication of the suspension and chassis stiffness just isn't there, no matter what you do.

[mazdamazda]

in short... the Focus feels like a lovechild between the Altis (comfy ride) & the Mazda3 (superb handling).

[orly_andico]

one thing i did notice about the altis J is that, in spite of its being a more than a decade younger, the suspension (particularly from the backseat) still isn't as good as that on the 626. must be the torsion beam..

i'm willing to bet that diesel focus will cost north of 1M
at that price, it's just gonna be a slight reach to the CRDI Tucson.

oh BTW: when you say "Focus" you mean the 1.8 or the 2.0 right? baka naman significant reduction in rent (and NVH level) going to the 1.6 version..

[Josh0027]

i have a friend that owns a 2.0 ford hatch.. haha after a month of using it, they complained for the gas consumption. sabi pa nila.. mas grabe pa daw ito kumain ng gas kaysa sa crv nila. haha nakikipag swap nga sya sa barkada namin na 06 1.8s civic.. straight swap daw.. panu butas na butas na daw bulsa nya sa gas, considering di nila nilolong drive un.. bahay tapos shop lang un.

For a 2.0 what would you expect especially an A/T. Tapos hindi pa long drive. Talagang magastos yan sa gas.

Focus Trend ba ang tawag sa Ford Focus 1.6? And it does 14-16 km/l??? Hindi kaya medyo exaggerated ito? Maniniwala pa ako pag 10-12 km/l. Nagcheck ako ng Focus 1.6 dati sa MOA and guess what kung ano engine nito? It's the venerable Z6D... engine ng Lynx and successor ng B6D ng Mazda Familia.

[niky]

The official government test, I think, was around 12-14.

14+ is doable. It isn't the weight per se of the Focus that kills fuel economy (though it does hurt), it's the stupid automatic transmission.

The engine isn't exactly the same as the old 323 engine, but yes, it's based on that... if the engine were exactly the same, the fuel economy would be horrible, considering the car's weight. My cousin regularly gets 10 km/l in his daily commute on the Mazda3 1.6.

RE: NVH, the 1.6 Focus has the same amount of insulation. They saved money on the leather seats (none in the 1.6) and the interior materials. That's why it feels so sluggish. If it had less insulation, it would probably feel a little more peppy, like the Lynx did (the Lynx's relatively poor sound insulation, compared to the other compacts of the time, helped make it feel more exciting. )

[Josh0027]

Oh I see... anyway wish I can get one hehehehehehe

Back to topic... sana pinaayos nalang sa casa yung focus... sayang sobra.

[orly_andico]

both the mazda3 1.6 and the focus "trend" use the MZR-Z6 if i'm not mistaken. mazda-derived nga yun (B6D) pero they added sequential valve timing.

yung 2.0 naman na mazda3 has the variable-length intake runners (a la FS-ZE).

[Biggs]

(Yes, I want a Focus, but I'm waiting for the 2007 Diesel model... ...yes, it is coming.)

Source please?

[baludoy]

medyo ot uli: i was at the ford casa yesterday and you guys are right, they are really pushing the focus' nvh and its 2 year extended warranty as their main selling points.

btw, curious lang ako. where does one fill up w/ fuel mixed w/ ethanol?

[orly_andico]

some shell stations such as the one on buendia/edsa and the one at rufino/pasong tamo sell E10 mix.

[niky]

Source please?

;) Sales manager at Ford Alabang. She was a sales agent before, and we got our car from her. Kinukulit ko siya about the Focus ST (test drive lang po! Pleaaaaaassseee?!?) and she said that sadly, the ST isn't on their model list for 2007, but the 1.8 Hatchback (yup, 1.8...) and the 2.0 turbodiesel (hatch din daw) are.

[eggman]

Hmm Focus 1.8 liter hatch at 2.0 Diesel?Hmm ok yan ha at least the Focus variant here would be more interesting next year.