Hump dinger

I'm thinking of buying a Ford Focus hatchback. But which series, and which engine? I live in west London completely surrounded by speed bumps. I will mostly use the car for short trips. So the suspension choice is a key issue. The Ford website is not informative on this subject. While we're on the subject, is there a comparable car that deals more effectively with speed bumps?

Asked on 7 February 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
Focus 1.6TDCI 110, not just for the economy but because this is the nicest all-purpose Focus engine. It's best on 15" steel wheels with Michelin 195/65 R15 tyres, so shrugs off speed humps (see video test at hjuk that shows this) and also handles surprisingly decently on the taller rubber. But you do need to set the steering feel to 'sport'. The new model Renault Megane has best in class steering feel and suspension compliance, but handling is not quite as good as a Focus.
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