[delimaputih]

Hi there everyone,

I'm totally new here and always at the fiat and alfa forum and i would
like to enquire on behalf of my friend at my work place on the things to
look out for when buying a used ford focus. What are contras? I know
the pros already... Is spare parts be any problem? Is there a lot of
garages to go to to do up the car and such...? Mainly on maitenance
info.

This is due that he is buying his first conti car and had ask me about
the same thing on alfas (i'm riding a 155). Hope you guys can give
some enlightenment on this matter. Thanks in advance. Have a nice
day

[johanbrian]

wei delima, turning away from being an italian stud huh? mana bleh ini
macam.

[delimaputih]

yup...

[ashabmy]

white delima,

I've owned my Focus for 2.5 years now. So far, no major problem.

Normal maintenance/changing oil should be no problem. Recommended service
interval is 10,000KM, instead of 5,000KM. Oil filter ~RM35.00.

So far, I haven't change any part. For spare part, as far as I know, Ford
has to order it from UK & will take ~ 1 month & the price..... it's Conti
CBU, so don't expect it to be as cheap as Jap car!!!

What I like most about my focus:
1) The design..... no other car in its class can change my mind!
2) Handling... I like to drive fast at straight & corner. So, this is the car.
3) Suspension... tuned to sport feel, slightly "hard"
4) Build quality.... built to CBU Conti spec!
5) Safety... Traction control, 4 air-bags, build-in heater for front & rear
windscreen & side mirrors, 4 disk brakes with ABS & more...

Negative:
1) sound intrusion from engine compartment at low gear
2) expensive parts, 1 month shipment from UK
3) locally, limited after sale x'corries & performance part.

Till now, very happy & proud to have it. Really feel the "exclusive", coz
not many on the road. Even some Beemer drivers will look back to my Focus


*******************************
Focus yr mind, drive Focus!
Planning an escape? drive ESCape!

[ashabmy]

white delima,

One more thing.... build with fully integrated engine & electronic
management system. Anything problem related to electronic, really advise
bring to Ford SC, coz any problem can only be detected by diagnostic laptop.

For ketuk2 job, I think normal workshop can do it!


*******************************
Focus yr mind, drive Focus!
Planning an escape? drive ESCape!

[johanbrian]

sounds like alfa and fiat already. all diagnose with laptop.

anyway, if you are looking for bodykits for your focus try www.x-tune.com.
they carry most aftermarket kits for most conti cars. check out their
website.

[abedeng]

Actually, all EFI cars are diagnosed via laptop/special computers
nowadays. Gives them more clout to charge us more for service.

Really can't understand why Ford no longer wants to bring in Focus, esp
the Sedan model. I would've bought a Focus Sedan anytime, irrespective of
price provided it's below RM 150K.

ashabmy,

Got any problem with overheating or not? Some CBU cars, esp BMW and Merc
are notorious with such problems, especially after negotiating the KL jam.
This does not happen to the CKD versions, though.

[ashabmy]

Abe Deng,

Diagnotic laptop for Focus & Escape is not a gimmick!!. Few incidents:

1) Last year I got problem with my remote control, which initially I though
the battery was dead. After replaced it with new battery, still un-solved.
Luckly, with Focus I can use manual locking/unlocking with key. Puzzled
with the problem, I brought my Focus to Ford SC. Diagnotic laptop detected
the receiver was loose. Secondly, coz I have used manual locking/unlocking
for some time, I need to re-programme my remote control using the diagnotic
laptop!!

2) friend of mind, forgot to re-connect air-bag cable, after installing
cushion cover & found the air-bar warning light kept flashing. He though he
was having air-bag malfunction.... but with diagnostic laptop, just plug-in
the cable, it tells you the problem!!!

3) with diagnostic laptop also we can change engine & electronic setting to
increase performance (just like F1 car). Unfortunately, the mech in Labuan
has not gone to the course.... but we spoke to one mech in Ford Miri who
can do that. Me & friends planning to go to Miri & have a try, but
gonna takes few days for re-setting & testing.

Regarding over-heating....BOTH my Focus & Escape haven't give any problem.
Only thing happened was RPM slightly high when I drive after > 2 hour
engine & air-cond running with car static in the ferry (Labuan - Sabah
Mainland). I didn't switch-off the air-cond as my kids slept in the car
during the ferry ride. But slightly high RPM was only for few KM, I guess
the electronic system was re-tune after > 2 hour static in the ferry. This
situation is FAR WORSE than traffic-jam!!!. And both my Focus & Escape can
handle it


FYI, Focus & Escape using same engine family... Zetec.

****************************
Wanna escape?, be in ESCape!