Help me with Focus purchase

[Dazza_Ford]

I am going to buy a Focus CL with smooth pack for 22,888 driveaway. Can you tell me whether I should haggle further and ANY PROBLEMS that you guys have experienced with the basic CL version. It is advertised at Byrne Ford and Torque Ford in Brisbane

[Nappa]

that sounds like a pretty good deal, consider that if its a manual its worth about 24 900 on the road and if its an auto about 27 on the road, what colour is it?

[Dazza_Ford]

It is manual and is available in all the colours that are available ($300 for the premium colours). What I would like to know from anyone is the really good things about the model and the annoying things that you only find out after the purchase. Thanks

[WASP]

Our 05 Zetec is a beautiful car to drive and very solid on the road.

Things I like:
Solid feel
Engine performance at higher RPM
Ride and handling
Boot (hatch) is fantastic
Good looks (being a Zetec)Optional alloy scuff plates and gear knob look trick.

Things I'm dissapointed with:
Build quality and paint finish (we've had ours fixed now)
Some engine ECU faults (reflashed ECU program -fixed now)
Fuel consumption average 9/100 (getting better slowly)
Road noise from 17" tyres
Clutch is absolulte crap (shudders without revs on take off). Get the auto IMO
Off line engine response
Nowhere to put CD's and sunglasses
Damn beeping on start up drives me NUTS!!
Has the most annoying horn I had very heard
Under appointed for the money being a Zetec. No 6 stacker, seats and dash are almost the same as entry model

Will I buy another one? Not likely..ok well I'll at least try an XR5T..lol

Clutch is absolulte crap (shudders without revs on take off). Get the auto IMO
Due to hydraulic clutch. Id love to have a cable clutch

Off line engine response
From the electronic throttle, it makes about a 1/5th of a sec for putting the foot down to engine power.

Nowhere to put CD's and sunglasses
I've ended up throwing everything into the door pocket

Damn beeping on start up drives me NUTS!!
I'm going to ground the cable going into the seatbelt. THere is a method posted on the UK forums but I have yet to find a SA built car that this works on.

[guym]

If you do the seat belt up first it doesn't beep. Its a safety feature.

[silverfocusstar]

Dazza_Ford I bought a Focus CL with a smooth pack just 2 and half months ago. I have already done 4,500 plus kms and it just keeps getting better! My fuel economy is down to 8.3 per 100 (which is almost spot on to what the sticker had) and the drive to work everyday is very enjoyable.

I haven't encountered any problems as yet. I've just had my first complimentary service at 3000kms and nothing had to be changed. The only niggling thing I have noticed in my focus and my dads focus zetec, is that the brakes tend to make a lot of noise, especially when parking. You can hear the discs grinding against the rim. I'm not sure if this is a widespread occurence, but my brother who just received delivery of his black LS focus (beauty!) says at least you know the brakes work! By the way my CL is a silver beauty!

Originally Posted by guym

If you do the seat belt up first it doesn't beep. Its a safety feature.

Most people reverse out their driveway.

[WASP]

Originally Posted by BlackLS

Most people reverse out their driveway.

Bingo!!:1syellow1

[kiwijohn42]

You can't reverse with a seatbelt on?

[WASP]

Originally Posted by kiwijohn42

You can't reverse with a seatbelt on?

My wife reverses to get through the roller door and past the gates, and then needs to get out to close them. Not much point in putting the seat belt on for that distance is there.

I mean seriously there are warning chimes and then there’s WARNING Beeps! A simply chime like a get in the GT would be tolerable, but loud beeping that actually distorts in the speaker is ridiculous. It’s like the car is yelling at you before you have even got you're butt comfortable in the seat! Reminds me of a few people I know...lol:

[kiwijohn42]

MMM'k point taken. :

It's as not as bad as a jap import speed warning when you get over 110km/h, they're a real pain in the .

[commonman00]

Clutch is absolulte crap (shudders without revs on take off). Get the auto IMO
Due to hydraulic clutch. Id love to have a cable clutch
Is there any benefit of hydraulic clutch over cable?

Off line engine response
From the electronic throttle, it makes about a 1/5th of a sec for putting the foot down to engine power.
I would have thought electronic throttle is more responsive than cable. Is it not the case?

[mitch_lx]

some electric throttles are said to be far superior to cable. but focus and fiesta are probably a little too cheapish for ford to really put all their technology(usually stolen from someone else) into.

Electronic throttle is said to improve economy and also be more reliable and maintenance free than cable (re tensioning throttle cable, calibrating WOT with foot flat on the floor etc etc)

[theBlake]

Originally Posted by Dazza_Ford

I am going to buy a Focus CL with smooth pack for 22,888 driveaway.

just a couple of questions
is this for a 05 or 06 plated model (if 06 what month)?
does it include the safety pack?

thanks

[Dazza_Ford]

just a couple of questions
is this for a 05 or 06 plated model (if 06 what month)? unsure of which months but definately 06 models

does it include the safety pack? Includes smooth pack. Unsure of other features yet. You could email directly through www.torqueford.com.au for answers I assume

[yum]

definitely haggle. u could hit them up for up to 3k off that price

[Bomberfan]

Dazza_Ford
I have recently bought a Silver CL Focus and think it's great. The wife drives it everywhere and she loves it. Getting about 9L/100km at the moment and slowly getting better. Even the CL looks great when compared to other cars in the same class.
We purchased ours as a Silver Manual with Smooth pack, Safety pack, Headlight protectors, Alloy gear shift, Alloy Handbrake, carpet mats and chrome door sills. Cost us $24000 drive away. I found that dealers weren't always happy negotiating price too much but didn't have a lot of trouble haggling about extras. Try to get as much as possible thrown in, especially little things like chrome door sills, alloy bits etc. If your's is a special deal then it may not make too much difference, but we also found we got a much better deal going in on the last day or two of the month, and telling the dealer we will pay deposit that day if he gives us a good enough deal. As for good and bad, plenty of good and a few bad but nothing major. Very similar to what CDAA had to say. On the CL, interior storage isn't really good enough and I am ready to take a hammer to the goddam annoying little beeper, as soon as I can find the module that generates it!! Clutch does shudder a tiny amount but give it enough revs and off you go. Once it winds up, the performance is excellent. Enjoy your car.

[theBlake]

Originally Posted by yum

definitely haggle. u could hit them up for up to 3k off that price

are you sure? $3k is a lot of money off a low budget car thats already been reduced. There are 05 Focus CL's advertised around for $20k drive away but thats without the smooth and safety packs.

[theBlake]

Originally Posted by Dazza_Ford

Includes smooth pack. Unsure of other features yet.

FYI I got a quote from a broker through and as yet unknown dealer in Brisbane for $23486 including Smooth pack, option pack, scuff plates, mudguards, boot guard, and full tank. (normal paint and plated less than 3 months), in all thats about $2850 below RRP

honestly i thought it would have been a bit cheaper so i also might get a quote on a Ghia. might be more room on that for a discount.

[Dazza_Ford]

Quick questrion for theblake - is the Option Pack "Abs & Front Side Airbags"

[Zetec20]

Originally Posted by theBlake

honestly i thought it would have been a bit cheaper so i also might get a quote on a Ghia. might be more room on that for a discount.

Ghia only comes in auto....

[theBlake]

Originally Posted by Dazza_Ford

Quick questrion for theblake - is the Option Pack "Abs & Front Side Airbags"

yes . From the Ford website....(sorry i meant to say Smooth and Safety options - doh)

Smooth Pack - with 15'' Alloy wheels (9 spoke) with 195/65 R 15V tyres (set of 4), Power adjustable body colour external mirrors, Cruise control with leather wrapped steering wheel ($990)

Safety Pack - with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Side airbags (front only) ($1,190)

[theBlake]

Originally Posted by Zetec20

Ghia only comes in auto....

is there a relevance to negotiating the price with it being an auto?

[Zetec20]

just pointing that out if you were after a manual, they also might try and keep the price up as the auto is normally a $2000 option

[plee]

Well we've had our Blue Print Focus CL since the start of February, and have had no problems at all, steering and handling are great, and the manual gearbox is 1000 times better than the T5 we had on the XR6 beforehand.

Just had 3,000 service with nothing to report. Fuel consumption is averaging about 7.8 at the moment using 95 Unleaded normally. Found that performance on 91 is a bit iffy.

Regards

[Zetec20]

go for 98! you wont regret it!

Originally Posted by commonman00

Is there any benefit of hydraulic clutch over cable?


I would have thought electronic throttle is more responsive than cable. Is it not the case?

Hydraulic is good for varying leverage if you have a heavy clutch. It also helps less NVH into the engine (which is stupid on the Focus due to the lack of insulation at the back of the car = effin loud road noise)

Electronic throttle is less responsive in the Focus and Fiestas, but I personally think that the ECU can learn and vary the throttle opening depending on your driving.

If you want to be wierded out by the electronic throttle, put cruise control on at 75 and go down a hill that your speed would increase by gravity. Mash the throttle down and you won't accellerate very fast. Turn off cruise and you get planted back in your seat.

Like Issac said use at least 95octane, I get pinging if I use 91.

[blacksapphire]

BlackLS...

How 'X-Files' is that? I too had an Argon EF before upgrading to an LS LX Sedan in Black...