Ford Focus Mk 1 or Mk 2?

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David Hearn - 04 Mar 2008 10:52 GMT

Yes, it's me again asking more questions about which car to get!

Having pretty much settled on getting a used Ford Focus (probably petrol
due to my (irrational?) fear of dual mass flywheels!), we've noticed
that occasionally we'll see a Mk2 Focus pop up in our searches.

Can anyone comment which is the better one to buy (assuming identical
mileage/age)? I'm thinking things like, reliability, engineering,
comfort etc - plus any other reason I've not thought of. Future resale
value may be something to consider, but we tend to keep cars until the
have little value - so unless we find it really isn't for us, we don't
plan on reselling.

Couple of things - the Mk2 is supposedly slightly larger, so more
space/headroom in the back seats (something which I think some reviews
commented on for the Mk 1), and a slightly larger boot (something which
would be useful). I also believe that the workshop CDs you see on eBay
etc won't cover the Mk 2 as they're now online only (with a £2k signup
fee), and a quick search of Haynes suggests they haven't done a Mk 2
book yet. I've made lots of use of our Peugeot CDs and Haynes manual
for servicing and diagnostics etc.

I also like the Mk 2's little display under the speedo etc which can
show MPG etc... but that's not a justifiable reason to go for a Mk 2... ;)

Thanks

David

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Chris Whelan - 04 Mar 2008 18:17 GMT

> Yes, it's me again asking more questions about which car to get!
>
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>
> David

It's more than a little larger; it's the width of a Mk2 Mondeo. This may not
trouble you, but I wouldn't comfortably be able to get it in my garage.

Another perhaps trivial complaint is the location of the handbrake. This
seems not to have been converted for the RHD market, and so is
significantly offset to the left.

Chris

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Iridium - 05 Mar 2008 00:00 GMT

> Yes, it's me again asking more questions about which car to get!
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> I also like the Mk 2's little display under the speedo etc which can show
> MPG etc... but that's not a justifiable reason to go for a Mk 2... ;)

The Mk1 has that too in the higher spec levels - at least, my mates 2.0 Ghia
has it heh, and that's a T plate (or maybe a W plate actually...).

FWIW - 2 of my mates have Focii - one a 1.6 Zetec, 51 plate 5 door, one a
2.0 Ghia W reg actually I think it is, 5 door. Both are ample roomy in the
back, indeed we've done the 80-90 mile round trip cinema trip to York 5 up
(and none of us are particulary small) a few times with no real dramas. The
1.6 is often filled with a full bands worth of PA system as well. Neither
have broken horrifically yet - beleive the 2.0 did a water pump but that
wasn't an expensive fix.

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Dan
Clio V6

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SteveH - 05 Mar 2008 00:03 GMT

> Yes, it's me again asking more questions about which car to get!
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> I also like the Mk 2's little display under the speedo etc which can
> show MPG etc... but that's not a justifiable reason to go for a Mk 2... ;)

*shrugs*

It's a Focus.

Doesn't matter which one you get, it'll be desperately dull.

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Paul Giverin - 05 Mar 2008 06:25 GMT

>*shrugs*
>
>It's a Focus.
>
>Doesn't matter which one you get, it'll be desperately dull.

Cos Ford paid off all the European motoring journalists to say it was
really good and to convince all those millions of punters who bought
one, didn't they Steve?

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Adrian - 05 Mar 2008 09:29 GMT

Paul Giverin (Paul Giverin <paul@giverin.co.uk>) gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying:

>>*shrugs*
>>
>>It's a Focus.
>>
>>Doesn't matter which one you get, it'll be desperately dull.

<pause-two-three>

> Cos Ford paid off all the European motoring journalists to say it was
> really good and to convince all those millions of punters who bought
> one, didn't they Steve?

<clicks stopwatch>

Blimey, but this is getting very predictable. From both sides.

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Nick the Greek - 05 Mar 2008 07:41 GMT

>> Yes, it's me again asking more questions about which car to get!
>>
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>
>Doesn't matter which one you get, it'll be desperately dull.

I'm sure David finds this very helpful, thank you.

-Nick

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Doki - 05 Mar 2008 14:18 GMT

> *shrugs*
>
> It's a Focus.
>
> Doesn't matter which one you get, it'll be desperately dull.

WTF are you on? I've never driven one, but I suspect the huge acclaim for
the Focus chassis isn't pure marketing bull. ISTR they poached a lot of
Peugeot engineers, who know a thing or two about making a car entertaining.

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