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Focus, Focus, where are you?


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#1
hamsitlau

Posted 10 May 2003 - 09:39 AM

hamsitlau

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anyone in labuan wanna sell of their ford focus? pls reply!

#2
ashabmy

Posted 10 May 2003 - 07:33 PM

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hamsitlau,

very difficult to get 2nd hand Focus ah..........

It's very nice car, you will be lucky if you get one. Ford is not bringing Focus anymore.

BTW, I am pretty happy with my Phanter Black Focus...

#3
multipla

Posted 10 May 2003 - 09:23 PM

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ashabmy:

Can u enlighten me , give a short review of the Focus , cos i am very
interested to get one for my wife (so that i can drive it too.). Other
cars' seems dull (that's why i got myself the Multipla).

The interior is somewhat interesting! The design is "garang" from all
side. Believe me, i'll plonk in 17 inchers.

Please, a long review will even be better!

Anyway, is it true i can't get a brand new one? Then how much is a used
unit (any year will do, it's the car i want, not the year it's made).

#4
ashabmy

Posted 11 May 2003 - 07:32 PM

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multipla,

If you like multipla interior design, especially dashboard, you will like focus interior. I
watched Multipla in Astro's Sensai Auto, the interior design is so nice....similar to Focus.
It is difficult to describe.... what I can tell you the interior is futuristic design, all
rounded/triangle, not square & I've driving it for 2 years... still like it. Not like other car
which interior design looks dull.

The strong point why I choose Focus was the design.... exterior & interior. It's not look
luxury, but futuristic & surely "evergreen", just like TX3 which has been in the market for
~10 years but still look cute & different than others.

And don't forget, Focus was awarded Europe's Car of The Year!!!

Bare in mind also, Focus 1.8 Hatchback is built for SPEED. B'coz it's design for speed, you
can expect these:
1) A bit lack in comfort (if you compare with normal sedan). Suspension set-up is a bit
hard, but not as hard as lowered spring. Auto window for front doors only.

2) Ford is well-known for Superd Handling & this is what Focus offer you. It may not as
good as BMW, but surely outclassed most of japanese cars & some conti cars. Bare in
mind, most of future Ford cars will be based on Focus chasis (which can tell you how
best is the chasis!)

3) Focus 1.8 Hatchback, to be frank, is designed for bachelor. I would not recommend it
if you consider it for driving long distance with family. In city, short distance would be
nice. I drove once with my wife, 2 little kids, just not comfortable. That is why I bought
Escape for this purpose. Focus is for city driving with family OR when I feel like to rev
hard.

4) Focus is packed with safety features:
- 4 airbags: front & side for driver & front passenger
- fuel auto shut-off, in case of big impact/accident
- 4 disk brakes & ABS
- built-in heater for front windscreen & side mirrors (surely clear view & no mist on
windscreen & side mirrors)
- heat shield (aluminium) between exzos pipping & chassis
- traction control : very usefull when cruising > 100km/h & conering at high speed.
- high tech & fully integrated immobilezer & engine electronic system. Ford SC provided
with diagnostic laptop computer (like F-1) which can detect any malfunction.

5) Zetec 1.8 engine (manual) for me, is quite reponsive, willing to rev hard. I tried rev it
to 5000 RPM at 4th gear to 160KM/h (can't go further, Labuan road is short & lots of
traffic). Very good, engine did not give loud sound, aerodynamic design gives me quite
driving (I switched off aircond, audio but kept my window closed).

need more...?
what I can tell you, I've been driving it for 2 years, though lots of new models came in
e.g; Sentra, Altis, Civic, Lynx etc, but they are not good enough to change my mind from
my Focus. I still remember when Ford Labuan was still selling Focus, the cars not even go
to showroom, but direct to JPJ for registration (booked).

BTW, you have 2 options.... normal Focus 1.8 with 15" rim & Focus RS came with 16" rim
& nice bodykit, but powered by same engine. I would recommend you go for RS b'coz you
won't get the accessories in the shop. I think RS will cost you extra RM10K.

It is almost confirmed that Ford will not bring in Focus anymore. The reason, it's CBU &
heavyly taxed, and not many M'sians willing to buy RM130K, when the Labuan price is
only RM64K (so tax is > RM60K). In my last post, someone replied that Ford Penang still
got one unit Papper red colour, but it was few months ago. So, better check with Ford.




#5
skynet8

Posted 12 May 2003 - 12:47 PM

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The Papper red is no more already...is already registered and driven by
the Ford Manager in penang....so...no more focus already....too bad,......

#6
multipla

Posted 12 May 2003 - 06:07 PM

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ashmaby;

Thanks for the reply..really appreciate it..come along end of this year,
i will hunt for a used unit..better still if it's panther black..last
choice is the red.

For comfort and family, i hv the multipla. Nice to include a semi-sports
car in my house (Focus)! (i just don't wanna buy "my neighbours" kinda
car!

Thanks once again.

#7
ashabmy

Posted 12 May 2003 - 07:50 PM

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multipla,

Good luck for your "hunting", hope you will find it. I think, we have same taste when it
comes to car. I got Escape for my long distance driving with my family, or during
week-end.

BTW, there was also 1 used papper red focus RS, >2 years old for sale, advertised in this
web. The price was ~ RM103K (if not mistaken). But again, it was few months back... try
to search if it still in "used car for sell" in this web.

#8
puck

Posted 13 May 2003 - 11:39 AM

puck

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ashabmy & multipla,

One other thing about the Focus 1.8 Zetec, the engine is fantastic. When
you are revving it had, it will actually hold the revs for a sec or two
while you are changing gears. So it basically helps maintain high revs
when you driving it like a bat out of hell. I had one when I was in UK
studying and did not bring it back because I thought I would be able to
get parts for it over here.

Now being married and all, I can only think back about that wonderful
car. Well, an Escape will be good enough for me since my wifey and I are
already thinking about starting a family.

BTW, I think I saw a brand new Focus at the Ford dealership in Old Klang
Road. This was a few months back...not sure if it is still there. Can
check for you if you are still interested.

Now if only I can test drive the Focus RS!!!

#9
ashabmy

Posted 13 May 2003 - 07:39 PM

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puck,

You're right about Zetec 1.8 for Focus. I did it several times.... I rev accelarator hard
~4000RPM b4 I shifted gear from 3rd to 4th, or from 4th to 5th gear, I didn't lost any
speed, I meant RPM while shifting the gear! Just love it.

Other thing about Focus, stock audio quality is very good. Lots of my friends who got
into my Focus first time will searching for Power-M, they though I hide it somewhere. I
didn't installed any Power-M, just an equilizer, but sound quality is just great.

My Regional Technical Manager, British, is also love Focus very much. He told me Focus
RS in UK is powered by COSWORTH TURBO, better suspension & the price is only UK$19K.
My Director, who is based in Aberdeen has 2 Focus, for his wife & son. Wow.......Cool

#10
puck

Posted 21 May 2003 - 03:07 PM

puck

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ashabmy,

The engine is still a Zetec but it has been tinkered with by Cosworth and
yes a turbo has been included. I just drove one last week. Well, I was in
UK for a meeting and I took Saturday to walk into a Ford dealership and
asked for the keys.

All in all, fantastic acceleration, incredible grip but the ride is
extremely harsh. May not necessarily be the best daily car to be used. In
fact, it looses some grip when it hits some ruts on the road. More like a
track vehicle then your everyday Evo. I guess you cannot have everything.

If you think about it, we used to have something similar to a Focus...the
TX3. I wonder if Ford will ever bring that back....not the bug eyed ugly
version which was the last incarnation of a TX3. Well, one can only hope