Ok not the new new new one, but a late 60 plated one.

Just borrowed one from work for a few days, a TDCi Titanium 5 door hatch. Never driven a Focus before.


20 mile drive home first negative thoughts:

1) Not the fastest cat to be driven out of Gaydon... That diesel has a power band of.. Not quite sure really, couldn't find it.
2) Who stole the 6th gear?
3) "New car" A-pillars make navigating gentle village right handers pretty suicidal
4) What is it with Ford and their hatred for a left-foot rest? Even the Kuga hasn't got one and it's not small!

Now for the better stuff:

1) Nicely specced - lots of toys!
2) Soaks up the bumps nicely, comfy seats
3) Handles bloody flippin brilliant!!

Seriously, handles country lanes absolutely amazing - traction/stability control work really well too. (Although I may have burnt out the traction light on the dashboard )

Still prefer the new fiesta by far - and I own neither.


Perhaps a pointless post now that I've come to the end of it.. It's been a long day.

You're right about number 4 - I have an '06 Focus. It is the first automatic I've driven without somewhere to put your left foot comfortably. It gets quite tiring on a long run - I'm seriously considering fitting a rally-style left-foot rest.

I prefer not to hack my "real car" around though - I save that for the toy car!

Was gonna say, surely it isn't that hard to fabricate a foot rest if you've got space. It's worse in an auto as it can lead to bad habits regarding driving with both feet (There's a time and a place).

I thought this was going to be about how ugly the new new one is and how from everything thats been released so far it's shaping up to be a pretty rubbish car for driving enthusiasts (Though I say driving a rubbish car can be more fun sometimes as you can find the limits within fairly safe perameters.).

The main question is - why didn't they fit one in the first place? I've had a number of auto cars, and driven a few more, and they all had a rest for the left foot. Even a couple of manual cars I've owned had a bump in the tunnel that was just right for parking your foot.

Had a quick look while the ice was thawing on my windscreen this evening probably not too hard to fabricate something, but maybe a challenge to make it look nice. The project commences...



[Edited on 18/3/11 by David Jenkins]

In contrast my manual T-reg Micra has nicely spaced pedals and a full dedicated foot rest... how do they manage it?

I agree with comments on chassis. Great car in that respect. Really agile.

I wanted a ST a few years ago as I had the same engine in my Volvo 850 T5. Stunning motor. Didn't get it though as I couldn't fit a towbar unlike the rest of the range. (For getting a few hay bales for sheep - not caravan). That Volvo was maybe the best day to day car I've owned. I still regret selling it and imagine it is still going strong today.

Now have a Golf GTD. Again handles very well but not perhaps quite as sharp as the Focus for it's type. Over 3 months of very mixed driving have averaged over 50mpg . The focus ST would not match that!