ford focus consideration...

[hawk01]

hello everyone!

i am in the process of considering to buy a ford focus 1.6AT sedan. i hope any of you already happy (or otherwise) owners out there could shed light on what i could expect (or lament) about this platform.

if ever, i would also be interested on feedback from owners of the focus 2.0 sport and the 1.8AT sedan as well. i do realize there's several reviews out there but nothing certainly beats an owner's honest, raw opinions.

i would be most interested to find out specifics on fuel consumption, performance, and overall impressions. looking forward to hear from you people out there!

ciao!

[niky]

Not an owner, but as a Ford club member, I've driven several of each.

The 1.6 has a plain interior compared to the 1.8 and 2.0. The plastics are hard and kind of cheap, but nowadays, even Honda and Toyota use cheap plastics in their cars, so it's not much different from anyone else's.

I like the interior of the 2.0 best. It's dark, with mixed fabric/leather seats that look very european.

The legroom of the Focus isn't as good as some other modern cars, but if you're coming from an older one, it'll seem pretty good.

The Focus steers better than anything else out there. The Mazda3 and the Civic have quicker steering, but the Focus's steering feels as solid as an Accord's, and it's very trustworthy. Tires are the noisy Eagle NCT5s, but the Focus's sound insulation is terrific, so you don't actually notice. It handles very well, but you'll need to swap out the stock tires for better rubber if you like going to Baguio or Tagaytay.

The suspension is firm but very supple. So while it might seem "matigas" over the first bump, you soon realize that it absorbs those bumps better than other cars.

The one thing I don't like about the Focus is the automatic. It's sluggish and heavy. Along with the heavy body, it gives you so-so fuel economy in traffic. Drive it smoothly and moderately and you can get between 8-10 km/l in traffic (11 or 12 up on the highway... 16 on the NLEX). Get stuck in stop-and-go traffic and that can go down into the 7's. I suggest if you're looking at the 1.6, get the manual version. Saves you purchase money and saves you some gas.

Overall the Focus 1.6 isn't the best car in its class overall (the weak engine and transmission see to that), but it's got the best sound insulation, ride comfort and brakes (awesome brakes) in its class. It's a solid, safe car. And it's got rear airconditioning, too. Something you won't see on any other sedan that costs less than a million bucks.

[kyle618]

i think its one of the best 1.6L cars in the market right now, very european ride. its not sluggish kasi alam ko manual lang yun 1.6L. dont get the automatic since mahina masyado un 1.6L for the heavy body. as niky said, nvh is very good for a compact car. i think its a wayy better buy than the dated altis that they are still selling.

[hawk01]

many thanks for the very informative input!since you both have a common opinion of the 1.6AT variant on the heavy and sluggish side, is the 1.8AT variant a better (value wise) option for the marked price increase?? i'm really leaning towards a sedan with the convenience of AT with modest, acceptable performance. i suppose my benchmarks, expectations for performance would be several notches lower than you guys for being an owner of diesel vehicles for almost 10 years! i have an isuzu pickup with 2.8liter turbo-diesel which by my reckoning gets me around with modest economy and according to some friends pulls like a typical 1.3 sedan with driver only on-board. of course with this platform i also enjoy the same pulling power even with a heavily laden truckbed!some folks are also convincing me to just get the focus 2.0 liter variant or even consider the mazda 2.0 sport version. they claim that spending close to 1M for a sedan in this class i would be better off maxing out in the high end versions and getting the best performance it has to offer!oh well, i would likewise be interested to get your thoughts on the 2.0 versions of the focus and mazda3 sedans as well. again, i'd rather not get so much from the sugar-laced reviews and opt for real (independent) driver experience and feedback. looking forward to your replies! thanks for your patience!

[alwayz_yummy]

di mo na maantay yung 2.0 duratorq?-CRDi equipped focus hatch?

[afrasay]

2.0 hatch. ***y. ;)

[AG4]

hello everyone!

i am in the process of considering to buy a ford focus 1.6AT sedan. i hope any of you already happy (or otherwise) owners out there could shed light on what i could expect (or lament) about this platform.

if ever, i would also be interested on feedback from owners of the focus 2.0 sport and the 1.8AT sedan as well. i do realize there's several reviews out there but nothing certainly beats an owner's honest, raw opinions.

i would be most interested to find out specifics on fuel consumption, performance, and overall impressions. looking forward to hear from you people out there!

ciao!

If you want to get an A/T Focus, I suggest you go for the 1.8 or 2.0 litere models.
The 1.6 liter engine is too weak for the A/T considering that the Focus is heavier than the Mazda 3(added insulations etc).

Another thing, the local Focus 1.6 does not use the same engine as the euro market Focus 1.6 which delivers more torque. The 1.6 liter Duratec used by the european Focus is based on the Ford Zetec motor which offers more torque.

RP market Focus 1.6 and Mazda 3 1.6 engine
Displacement: 1598 cc
Bore & stroke: 78.0 mm x 83.6 mm
Compression ratio: 10.0
Max Power: 105 PS * 6000 rpm
Max Torque: 145 Nm * 4000 rpm

Real 1.6 liter Duratec engines used by the european Ford Focus 1.6 models
Displacement: 1596cc
Bore & stroke: 79.0 mm x 81.4 mm
Compression ratio: 11.0
Max Power: 100 PS * 6000 rpm
Max Torque: 150 Nm * 4000 rpm

1.6 Duratec Ti-VCT
Displacement: 1596cc
Bore & stroke: 79.0 mm x 81.4 mm
Compression ratio: 11.0
Max Power: 115 PS * 6000 rpm
Max Torque: 155 Nm * 4150 rpm

*only the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.3 liter 4-cylinder Ford Duratec engines share their blocks with the MZR, the real 1.6 Duratec of Ford is based on the previous Zetec motor.
I assume this was cost cutting on Ford Philippines part, since they would have to make 2 different 1.6 liter engines that don't share the same blocks.

o kaya you wait for the New Lancer... or next year... Lancer Sportback.

The 5-door Lancer Sportback might be for europe only...

[kevinp]

I'm quite happy with the Focus kahit I haven't driven the 1.6. Overall, the only downside I can think of is poor rear visibility (isn't this true of all hatches nowadays). Taas kasi nung rear window so it's quite hard to estimate how far you are from the car behind you if you're backing up into a parking spot or parallel parking.

The 2.0 TDCi Duratorq engine is smooth and well refined for a diesel. It pulls like a train and the gearshift action on it's 6-speed box is nothing short of fantastic.

If you get the chance, go for a test drive in a Focus ST. That car is a hoot to drive.

[AG4]

...and its P2.2M at the gray market dealers(standout motors)

[orly_andico]

dunno if it's just me but when i took out the focus 1.6 over some humps and bumps (and those raised bumpy lines in fort) it did not seem any quieter than the mazda3.

that said, i think the focus 1.8 is the better buy. yes it's 945k vs 850k for the 1.6 AT but, ford is very aggressive with the discounting now, lalo na linalangaw yung 1.8 (everybody's buying either the 2.0 or the 1.6).

actually the 1.6 is not bad, complete na siya eh (1 airbag, ABS..) and the "remote open or close all the windows" is a hoot.

but the 1.8 adds digital climate control, one more airbag, fake leather (it's alcantara i think, not "real" leather), power folding mirrors (more gimmickry!)...

pero that said, the focus 1.6 is probably the absolute BEST DEAL you can get ngayon. they discount VERY heavily, sobra... 3 months ago it came down (for me and my wife) to the mazda3 hatch vs the focus 1.6 AT. halos pareho lang SRP nila (850K focus, 900K mazda3 limited ed hatch) pero mga 10% lower yung amortization sa focus (halos pareho din ang down).

malakas talaga mag discount si ford.

[AG4]

but the 1.8 adds digital climate control, one more airbag, fake leather (it's alcantara i think, not "real" leather)

As far as I know the Focus 1.8 Ghia uses Beige Leather seats.

[SIZE="1"]-pics from Motioncars[/SIZE]