October 2013
Im looking to buy a 2008/9 petrol focus. I currently have a I.6 Astra but do a fair amount of motorway driving so was thinking about a I.8 Focus. Are there substantial advantages in the I.8 over the I.6?
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Close inspection of the latest UK website published data (October 2013) for the 1242 cc '120 gm/km' 60 PS and 82 PS Ford Fiesta engines strongly suggests that customers are being taken for an expensive ride. It appears that the 'entry level' models for each level of trim are only available with the low power engine even though the 'standard' (higher power) engine is (probably) mechanically identical to the low power version and only a different engine management mapping (and maybe some restriction to partially 'choke' the airflow into the low power version) separates the two. That is to say they are charging £500 extra for a different software or firmware mapping in the ECU. The data show that the low power 60 PS (artificially 'limited' engine) offers much slower acceleration and lower top speed but identical official government fuel economy and CO2 figures so there is no VED advantage for the low power version. However the performance (and £500 price difference) is sufficient to bump up the insurance group from 4 to 7 for the 82 PS version. This pricing policy has an impact on driver safety and a large impact on popularity and therefore resale value – so in fact you are being bullied into choosing the high power engine since nobody wants the low power version. Therefore the adverts that say 'From £xxxy' etc are grossly misleading – why can Ford not be honest, stop messing about and just offer one engine variant namely the original standard engine and adjust their prices accordingly?... Read more
This is called marketing, all manufacturers have been doing it since Adam was a lad in one form or another.
They advertise an "entry" level model that no will will ever buy and no dealer will ever stock just to have a low starting price and get you into the showroom....
I am a freelance graphic designer looking for new clients if there is anyone on the forum requiring the services of one. I am currently updating my website which can be found here Thanks, Lee Read more
Didn't mean for it to come across as spam.
Hope to be an active member of this forum. Well, for as long as I have my ford Focus
This warning light shows periodically, there is no obvious engine problem and Ford dealers can not solve this problem.
It also happens on my wife's 2005 petrol Focus Titanium... Read more
No such think as a 1.9 Focus Diesel. They come in 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 variants.
Obviously does not affect the fault lamp....
No mention of the importance of the right tyres for driving in snow regardless of whether it's a 4x4. Read more
Why no Tesla Model X!!!
Just changed address on the driving licence and vehicle registration number,
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It's probably cheaper to put the leaflet in all envelopes going to a Welsh address than it is to pay someone to discriminate which addresses to include based on a tick box.
Remembering with a friend a few of the liitle things that used to make us smile when cars came in for fixing.
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A young apprentice was told to check and fill the oil on a moggie minor. So he removed the oil filler cap and filled it - brim full!
Hi
At my last MOT I was given an advisory with regard to wear in the Wishbone/Anti-roll bar bushes. I can hear no clunking etc front the front of the vehicle when driving over rough ground. Any thoughts on this matter please ! ... Read more
They do not always clunk when they are worn drop links tend to make a noise but wishbone bushes even when worn tend to give no noise.I do not know if you can get bushes for the
wishbone seperate generally its better to get the unit complete with bushes already installed antiroll bar bushes are generally bonded to the metal bar but if you can get them seperate its an easy job to change them..You do not say whether it is front or back the fronts are a bit more problamatic then the rear.
2 and 4 are even numbers.. Read more
Hello,
81,000 miles clocked up, should the toothed belt be changed? Is this the same as a timing belt?
What is this likely to cost?
Many thanks in advance for any advice offered,
John Read more
'Toothed belt', also known as Cam belt.
As has been said, it's good practice to change the water pump at the same time, and also the 'toothed belt' tensioner pulley, as if either of these fails shortly after the belt has been changed, the job will have to be done again. If the auxilliary belt (drives the alternator, power steering pump, air conditioning pump) has to come off to do the job, then it's a good idea to replace that too.
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As always with questions like this, it depends on the type of driving that you're going to do.
If you normally drive quite slowly, or mostly in towns, then the smaller engine will do fine. But if your motoring is more varied and you like to get a move on, go for the bigger engine. You won't need as much throttle opening to make decent progress, so that there will be little if any penalty with fuel consumption.