Ford Focus - 1998 was a particularly special year for me as my first son was born. It was also a particular special year for Ford who launched the new Ford Focus. Since then the Focus has been the best selling car in the UK every year and in fact 1 in 20 cars sold in the UK are indeed Focus’s. It was also HRH Prince Williams’s first car as well as being currently used by the AA Driving School as their fleet tuition vehicles where it has been subjected to 3 million driving lesson and covered 54 million miles.
What is the secret behind Ford Focus success especially amongst the female’s buyers? Well for starters, value for money must enter the equation with prices starting from just £11,945 for the Style rising up the ranks to £20, 000 for the sportier ST-3 - a car aimed at families with attitude - being so powerful. Then there is the huge choice although Ford has cut this from 107 variants to just 82! So a Focus to suit all customers. Ford are renowned for their large dealership network across the UK meaning customers have the reassurance of popping back to thier ‘local’ dealer if anything goes wrong. But here is where the Focus really shines, as they are so totally reliable and for us females, we need that in our car. When do you ever see a Focus broken down? I have yet to experience such an event. They also achieve great fuel economy, are equipped with high level of safety equipment and score consistently well in the NCAP ratings.
What is the secret behind Ford Focus success especially amongst the female’s buyers? Well for starters, value for money must enter the equation
So as this third generation of Focus celebrates her tenth birthday, what do you give them? While my son is hinting on a repetitive note for a mobile phone, Ford decided her exterior needed modifying so re-styled her fontal looks making her a prime target for the catwalk at the 2008 London Fashion Show. Then Ford decided to give customers a wide range of both three or five door family saloons or estates on various petrol and diesel engines mated to either five or six speed manual gearbox or automatic transmission including the all-new-dual-clutch PowerShift automated gearbox, to appease us ever demanding buyers.
Keeping in line with the value for money, Ford has equipped entry level Studio with such specifications not normally seen on this low price tag. Standard is ESP, ABS, four airbags, curtain airbags, electric front window, CD player, central locking, height adjustable drivers seat, 60/40 spilt rear folding seat and Easyfuel capless refuelling system. Prices range from just under 12K to 15K.
Moving up a peg and the Style gains air conditioning, remote audio controls on the leather covered steering wheel, remote central locking, front fog lights and enhancing her looks, bigger wheel, plus coloured coded doer handles and door mirrors. Prices here start from £13,445 to £16,895.
The Zetec is expected to be the most favourable of trims for those wanting a sportier feel in their family car. Zetec offers customers the advertised Quickclear heated front windscreen, upgraded centre console, alarm, 16-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, sports seats with the drivers having lumber adjustment, and the rear spoiler normally an optional extra. Prices range from £14,695 to £18,695.
The Focus Titanium is the flagship of the range for those wanting more creature comforts so in my opinion could possibly pip the Zetec at the post for customer favourites. What I think will sway buyers is the privacy glass, a ‘becoming an essential option with my children at the moment’, CD sound system, electric windows, cooled glove box, whist helping the driver are automatic headlights, rain sensing wipers and an auto-dimming rear view mirror. There are more choices on this trim hence the larger price range from £15,445 to £19,445.
As in true keeping with Ford, there is a massive choice is factory fitted optional extras mainly electrical or navigational but in fairness, the standard equipment on all the trims is pretty impressive.
The six different petrol engines are all Euro 4 complaint and if we take the popular 1.6 Duratec a manual transmission, we see the top speed of 112 mph, a modest 11.9 seconds to reach 62 mph and a penny saving fuel consumption of 42,2 mpg on a combined cycle. CO2 emissions stand in at 159g/km. By comparison, the 2.0i Duratec is obvious quicker off the mark at 9.2 seconds and has a top speed of 128 mph. But fuel consumption is not far behind achieving 39.8 mpg on a combined cycle and CO2 emissions at 169g/km. Further money is saved with relatively low insurance groups starting from 4E for the Studio to 10E for the Titanium 2.0 litre.
Ford are predicting a 65% spilt for petrol with 35% diesels which quite surprised me as I would have thought anything to help saving money would be a priority to the UK motorist. The five diesel variants all achieve very economical fuel consumption with the 1.6i Duratorq winning first prize with 62.7 mpg on a combined cycle and CO2 emissions slashed at 119g/km. Insurance groups are around the same as you would expect.
So what is the price difference? Lets take middle of the road 5-door Zetec mated to the 1.6 petrol engine costs £15,295 for the five speed, £16,295 for the automatic or £16,795 for the diesel. So we have £1500 difference. With fuel prices escalating out of all proportion, my money will be on the diesel long term.
I know Ford Focus has never been the life and soul of the party but more the wallflower watching from a distance. Reliability may appear to some people boring, but with reliability comes dependability which is the essence of the Ford Focus and why it will continue to be Brition’s favourite car for a many year s to come.
FemaleFirst - Jackie Violet