Thinking of buying a Ford Focus

[Geriatrix]

Maybe an 1800 or 2 liter. Nothing older than 2007.
Is this a good car to buy?
Seems to be a pretty decent car according to most reviews I've read. But I've got no idea how much services cost. Also, are there any general problems that I should know about before buying one? Like a tendancy to need a new clutch or gearbox every year? I don't want to buy a car thats going to cost me tens of thousands every year.

How much do you pay for Focus services and which service centres in the Northen subs of Joburg should I avoid?

 

[supersunbird]

Focus's are solid cars but Ford service is sucky... (the lightly scratched my dashboard :-/ - eagle ford and similar stupid stuff)

 

[Geriatrix]

Yeah I heard they suck at servicing. Hmm. Any idea how much the average service costs?

 

[killadoob]

Well over 2k.

My fiesta 1.4! is over 2k for a standard service so i don't even wanna know what a focus would be.

 

[Fazda]

What amazes me is that these idiots actually feel justified in charging 2k for something that at most costs about R250 in parts out of their pockets. Pure and simple daylight robbery!

 

[Geriatrix]

Well over 2k.

My fiesta 1.4! is over 2k for a standard service so i don't even wanna know what a focus would be.

WHAT!? Crap dude! Thats crazy! For a 1400?

 

[Quantum Theory]

Stay away from Ford. Great cars, until things go wrong. Support from the dealerships were shocking (I tried 3 different ones). I believe they #@%$ed up my car even more and then charged me for it. Went all the way to the escalations manager at HO, but couldn't get them to admit. My car was with them for a month at one time. I will never buy a Ford again.

 

[Ou grote]

Top Gear seem to like it.

 

[syntax]

Well over 2k.

My fiesta 1.4! is over 2k for a standard service so i don't even wanna know what a focus would be.

My tdci fiesta was R1.1k ??? not a major service but still??? not sure why urs was that high?


Phone and ask ford for the price of the average service and for major.
The focus is a great car but the 1.6 is underpowered.

You should get a decent deal if you get a pre facelift model now, but if possible try get the facelift SI version..

And you are prob gonna find someone somewhere has had crap experiences with the focus, its bound to happen. Eveyrtime you buy a car its a lottery. Just hold thumbs and hope its not a lemon. But overall its one of the cars that is saving ford, so you could do a hell of a lot worse.

 

[Geriatrix]

Stay away from Ford. Great cars, until things go wrong. Support from the dealerships were shocking (I tried 3 different ones). I believe they #@%$ed up my car even more and then charged me for it. Went all the way to the escalations manager at HO, but couldn't get them to admit. My car was with them for a month at one time. I will never buy a Ford again.

Hectic. May I ask what was wrong with it? And what model was it?

And you are prob gonna find someone somewhere has had crap experiences with the focus, its bound to happen. Eveyrtime you buy a car its a lottery. Just hold thumbs and hope its not a lemon. But overall its one of the cars that is saving ford, so you could do a hell of a lot worse.

Yes thats true but from my day of research so far it would appear that its the norm for Ford services and customer care to be crap. Hmm.
I had a car before that kept on needing major fixes and I'm in no mood to go that route again. Maybe I should rather look at the Auris...

 

[Sting]

I bought the 2006 Ford Focus SI (hatchback) - new, with motorplan.

Have had no problems at all.

 

[EvilDarkElf]

I have a 2007 Ka, the first service was R700, no second service yet - 20 000 km service intervals One or two microscopic problems appeared, but they were sorted out free of charge under the warranty. I have no complaints about Lazarus motors in Centurion, but I have not confronted them with anything really challenging. They're not great, no courtesy car or coffee while you do the paperwork etc. but my car always come back as I expect it - clean and fixed and they talk me through everything they've done to it.

 

[Geriatrix]

I bought the 2006 Ford Focus SI (hatchback) - new, with motorplan.

Have had no problems at all.

2006, so that means the motorplan has run out by now. Or did you get an extended one. How much are your major services? I know I can phone a dealer but I'd rather hear from actual customers. It tends to be more acurate.

 

[hyperian]

I heard that the ford badge used to be round, but over time became an oval because of how ford owners tend to slam the bonnet down on them so regularly

 

[Smooth Criminal]

Well over 2k.

My fiesta 1.4! is over 2k for a standard service so i don't even wanna know what a focus would be.

You sure that's not a major service?

I pay around R2k for a major service and R700 for a normal service on a Polo.

 

[Celine]

i know you want to buy a ford but i found some really cheap new toyotas for you. i'm sure you can afford these at these prices .

 

[Sting]

2006, so that means the motorplan has run out by now. Or did you get an extended one. How much are your major services? I know I can phone a dealer but I'd rather hear from actual customers. It tends to be more acurate.

Extended - have not paid a cent yet!

 

[rorz0r]

Also have a 1.6Si (2007). No real problems and haven't paid for any services yet. (Only had 2, once a year because I don't do much mileage)

 

[Sensorei]

Get a used Golf 5. I know each one to his own but the Golf 5 is an awesome car and has much better resale value than the Focus. I test drove the Focus Diesel and Golf 5 tdi dsg and the Golf imo is a much better buy. The Focus is a nice car though. I've been driving the Golf 2 years now hassle free and still love it.

 

[kevinswan007]

I own a Ford Focus 1.6 2007 model.

I did not buy it new, which I regret, because I fear it was not treated well.

I have had endless clutch/gearbox issues with the car, which nobody seems to be able to diagnose or fix. Even though it has an extended warranty.

The Focus is a wonderful car, the new model even more so. The TDCI I hear is incredible.
But the problem is Ford are horrible at the idea of customer service and services!!
Its like pulling teeth when I give them a list of complaints.

My car just did its 80 000km service. I dont pay for anything, but I have checked the invoices, and no service has ever been over R1500.

My luck, when the warranty is over (100 000km) they will REALLY start charging. But Ill be taking my car to Bosch Auto Serv by then.

If I had to do it all over again? I would have stuck with VW. A polo 1.9 TDI or better yet, a golf 5.

My car is going back next month to check problems with the engine (noisy engine at cold morning startups - sounds like a diesel) and the shocks, which are leaking oil and Ford conveniently did not pick it up, even though I requested a shock test. (which btw, a shock test to them, is a visual check)