PSpirine
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| posted on 18/3/11 at 06:50 PM |
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New ford focus
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.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 18/3/11 at 07:15 PM |
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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!
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morcus
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| posted on 18/3/11 at 08:26 PM |
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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.).
In a White Room, With Black Curtains, By the Station.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 18/3/11 at 09:18 PM |
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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]
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PSpirine
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| posted on 18/3/11 at 10:04 PM |
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In contrast my manual T-reg Micra has nicely spaced pedals and a full dedicated foot rest... how do they manage it?
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martyn1137
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| posted on 18/3/11 at 10:07 PM |
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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!
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