My new baby focus

mixo · 29-12-2006, 02:51 PM

I just bought this new focus for the misses to get around.I love it as well.Man do these turn on a dime!.I nearly love driving it as much as my xr6.

here are some piccies

The car seems better but together than my falcon xr6.
It drives very well, quiet, xr6 is quieter while driving.

Things it should have, is auto headlight on/off.

Trip computer doesnt stay where i had left it last.So when i switch it back on i have to scroll to the menu i like most(fuel economy figures).

I filled it with vpower.I cant really notice any difference from 91 octane stuff.

Brake pad dust is a pain.

Thats all i can think off now, only had it a week.

Anyone got suggestions on how to improve the little focus?
Its got nearly every option available.
Anyone got new tyres for the thing.TTF quoted 145 for hankook, 240 for bridgestone and 300+ for yokis.Anyone put a lower profile on their wheels?

Mixo

#Russ#Es# · 29-12-2006, 09:25 PM

Great to see abother sedan on here! Looks very nice!

I run 95 unleaded, but have never run 92 to see the difference. I have also run 98 a couple times and the results have been very good for me. I usually try to use Mobil premium.

mixo · 29-12-2006, 09:29 PM

I had a look at the hatch, and really the more i saw it the more i didnt like it.The previous model the hatch looked much better and the sedan was a shocker.Plus the misses wanted a big boot and the salesman who was over 6 foot jumped into the back of it, well you should have seen the misses face!!!

Also when you start the car does it rev for a sec????.Its like someone has floored it.

As for the pretrol issue I am taking notes of every fill.After a few months I will see the difference.So far I cant tell and the trip computer aint telling me anything different.

mixo

Quote:

Originally Posted by #Russ#Es#

Great to see abother sedan on here! Looks very nice!

I run 95 unleaded, but have never run 92 to see the difference. I have also run 98 a couple times and the results have been very good for me. I usually try to use Mobil premium.

photn · 29-12-2006, 09:30 PM

nice car mate.....looks really nice, love the Rims.....and the color....

#Russ#Es# · 29-12-2006, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mixo

I had a look at the hatch, and really the more i saw it the more i didnt like it.The previous model the hatch looked much better and the sedan was a shocker.Plus the misses wanted a big boot and the salesman who was over 6 foot jumped into the back of it, well you should have seen the misses face!!!

Also when you start the car does it rev for a sec????.Its like someone has floored it.

As for the pretrol issue I am taking notes of every fill.After a few months I will see the difference.So far I cant tell and the trip computer aint telling me anything different.

mixo

Mine revs for a sec too just after I start it. I think its just how its programmed in the ECU, its the same for all LS Foci's.

Also, where did you get those headlight brows?

mixo · 29-12-2006, 09:35 PM

I feel in love with it as soon as i saw it.I went to the dealer to see a titanium coloured ghia but it wasnt there, but this one was.

It had everything i wanted as an extra and more.Rides a bit hard with the lowering but man does the thing turn...Its more sports car than luxury ghia now!.the missus loves to drive it, not to keen sitting in the back, expecially going over rail line tracks at speed!

And yes the rims, I spend 3 hours taking them off the car, washing , polishing and sealing them.the break dust was giving me the shits.Now all i do is was it off witht he hose every few days.No chemical no fancy sprays.

mixo

Quote:

Originally Posted by photn

nice car mate.....looks really nice, love the Rims.....and the color....

mixo · 29-12-2006, 09:38 PM

Glad to hear that , i though there was something wrong with the car.

Mate is came with the car(headlight brows).I have no idea where the previous owner got them.The dealer told me it was an ford employee who had the car previously.The guy took car of it thats for sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by #Russ#Es#

Mine revs for a sec too just after I start it. I think its just how its programmed in the ECU, its the same for all LS Foci's.

Also, where did you get those headlight brows?

#Russ#Es# · 29-12-2006, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mixo

Glad to hear that , i though there was something wrong with the car.

Mate is came with the car(headlight brows).I have no idea where the previous owner got them.The dealer told me it was an ford employee who had the car previously.The guy took car of it thats for sure.

Are they vinyl or plastic?

Also, where abouts are you based?

mixo · 29-12-2006, 09:43 PM

I got no idea what there made of.I would take a guess and say plastic.

I am in melbourne.

mixo

Quote:

Originally Posted by #Russ#Es#

Are they vinyl or plastic?

Also, where abouts are you based?

#Russ#Es# · 29-12-2006, 09:50 PM

Thanks Mixo.

Enjoy the new ride, especially in the corners

XR5-Boy · 29-12-2006, 10:26 PM

Wow, looks good dude. Awesome colour ;) I don't mind the sedan version. It's heaps btr than the old model

mixo · 29-12-2006, 10:28 PM

Mate i just got myself an xr6.But i tell you what, the focus out corners the falcon by miles.Just the falcon is pure silk with the new 6 speed gear box.I keep thinking it hasnt changed gears!!!

mixo

XR5-Boy · 29-12-2006, 10:32 PM

haha yeh. I was following the old man home the other night in my cougar. I kept right up with him in the corners. He killed me in the straights with the turbo though :( Gotta love the euro car handling. I haven't taken a focus for a spin yet, wouldn't mind though!

mixo · 30-12-2006, 08:44 AM

Well coming from a daewoo and a vt commodore, it was a shock to drive something that actually had some sort of responsive steering!!!!.I just got my xr6 it seems a lot more heavy(steering) than the focus, but time will tell.The ride is certainly harder in the focus.

Mixo

FOCUSonTHIS · 30-12-2006, 10:57 AM

Mixo and Cougar-Boy.....I think you guys should come on a Eurofordclub cruise in Melbourne when we organise one. Also we have a car comp called Small Ford Sunday coming up in Feb if you would like to bring your car along. Welcome to the forums guys and all the best with your cars.

XR5-Boy · 30-12-2006, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOCUSonTHIS

Mixo and Cougar-Boy.....I think you guys should come on a Eurofordclub cruise in Melbourne when we organise one. Also we have a car comp called Small Ford Sunday coming up in Feb if you would like to bring your car along. Welcome to the forums guys and all the best with your cars.

Sounds good dude. I'm on the EuroFordClub forum too. I've been looking for details on the next cruise but nothing up yet. Can't wait

:eclipsee_

mixo · 30-12-2006, 11:24 AM

Love to come along, where do i get detail about your club.

mixo

FOCUSonTHIS · 30-12-2006, 12:01 PM

we have EuroFordClub section on this forum and there is also www.eurofordclub.com

02-01-2007, 01:23 AM

Beautiful LS mate

BrisVegas · 04-01-2007, 11:04 PM

nice pickup mixo. I looked at the Ghia and was considering it with the Zetec wheels (I'm not retired yet, so couldn't hack the stock alloys!).

Looks great. Very Jetta.

mixo · 05-01-2007, 01:15 AM

There is no way I could afford to buy a new ghia, there like a 1000 dollar option then your looking at 1000 for tyres.But if you have the money why not!

This one has been lowered, I think it has king springs in it, correct me if i am wrong.Its got harder suspension than my bf xr6.But I love it!!!!!!!!!!

I looked at the zetec but i aint a fan of the new hatch.the older model hatch was much nicer in my opinion.

mixo

BrisVegas · 05-01-2007, 10:42 AM

We've had a hatch (Corolla) for 10 years and the practicality is too hard to go past. Our choice came down to VW Golf, Mazda 3 and Focus Zetec. The Focus is the biggest inside and the best looking in my opinion.

Having shifted single beds, couches, timber, Ikea flat packs, sofa-beds, wheelbarrows etc etc in the hatch, as much as I was keen on the sedan I knew it wouldn't be long until we needed the load space of a hatch.

mixo · 05-01-2007, 10:45 AM

The hatch has a bigger opening so you can fit that sofa in the back!
But if you read the spec the sedan has more space in the boot than the hatch.The downside is that the sedan has a small opening for putting in bulkish items.

I might have mentioned this before, but the salesperson 6 foot 3 got into the sedan boot.Now that was a sight to see!

mixo

BrisVegas · 05-01-2007, 05:37 PM

oh definitely, the sedan boot is bloody huge! Bigger than a Falcon I think. And a more useful, deeper shape too.

mixo · 05-01-2007, 09:13 PM

Well i would not go as far as bigger than the falcon, but very close.

Just come back from a drive to the beach, i just love it more and more..the xr6 is just sitting there waiting for a turn!

mixo

Lagom · 06-01-2007, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrisVegas

oh definitely, the sedan boot is bloody huge! Bigger than a Falcon I think. And a more useful, deeper shape too.

6 litres larger to be precise.

The annoying thing about the Falcon is that it's floor isn't a flat shape and there is an annoying little well around the spare wheel. Just looks unprofessional, but I know they put that in there so they can say "hey, we have more than 500l in our boot!".

mixo · 06-01-2007, 09:15 PM

Well it will be perfect when i put the falcon on gas in the next few years!

Took the xr6 for adrive today, very nice, much smoother than the focus, the 6 gear box certainly has changed the way a falcon drives.

But its a huge mother!......

Still i reckon the focus is just a nose ahead!

mixo

dasheight · 09-01-2007, 09:31 PM

Very nice looking ghia sedan, mixo. I have the same model, with the 17" wheel option but without the spoiler. I've had it since July 2005 - I think it must have been one of the first available as I didn't have to wait for delivery.

I think the car looks really smart from just about every angle and handles like a dream. I always look forward to taking it out for a spin. The car is so good that, unfortunately, its shortcomings tend to stand out for me all the more...
- on coarse surfaces (which is almost every road I seem to drive on) the road noise is really, really intrusive. I'm so sensitive to this now, that it will be the first thing I look (listen!) for when replacing this car
- lack of curtain side airbags as an option is a real shame
- no rear door pockets (they look very cheap)
- another cog in the autobox and I would be in heaven
- trip computer lacks functionality (like instantaneous fuel consumption) and the small graphic text can be difficult to read in strong sunlight
- speakers on the sound system are not up to scratch (my previous 2000 Golf was a concert hall by comparison)
- the other day my glove box shut never to re-open... will need to get it seen to by the dealer at next service

But I still love it! Go figure....

Lagom · 10-01-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dasheight

Very nice looking ghia sedan, mixo. I have the same model, with the 17" wheel option but without the spoiler. I've had it since July 2005 - I think it must have been one of the first available as I didn't have to wait for delivery.

I think the car looks really smart from just about every angle and handles like a dream. I always look forward to taking it out for a spin. The car is so good that, unfortunately, its shortcomings tend to stand out for me all the more...
- on coarse surfaces (which is almost every road I seem to drive on) the road noise is really, really intrusive. I'm so sensitive to this now, that it will be the first thing I look (listen!) for when replacing this car
- lack of curtain side airbags as an option is a real shame
- no rear door pockets (they look very cheap)
- another cog in the autobox and I would be in heaven
- trip computer lacks functionality (like instantaneous fuel consumption) and the small graphic text can be difficult to read in strong sunlight
- speakers on the sound system are not up to scratch (my previous 2000 Golf was a concert hall by comparison)
- the other day my glove box shut never to re-open... will need to get it seen to by the dealer at next service

But I still love it! Go figure....

Your comments I reckon are spot on.

The only other thing I'd add is that the Focus needs better quality plastics. The South Africans could paint the cars better and align the bonnets better too (seen a lot of Focuses with misaligned bonnets).

dasheight · 10-01-2007, 09:54 PM

Lagom - On my sedan it's the less than perfect boot panel fit with a bit of dodgey paint work. I never look at the boot much, which is probably why I forget to mention it.