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I reckon the new Astra looks better - the front and rear of the Focus are too fussy, and the interior isnt to my taste at all.
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The interior looks like a better version of the new Astra. It is the first Ford interior of the last few years that I would not mind sitting in for 50,000 miles a year.
The outside is a bit fussy but it may age well, something I don't think the new Astra will do very well.
Overall it seems that Ford are moving away from imitating the VW Golf (Mk2 Focus) and introducing their own look with the Mk "4" (3 is it not?).
This can only be a good thing.
Sadly I'll bet the boggo 1.6 diesel LX will not look as good as the one in the pictures. To me that is a key problem with Ford as the gulf in looks between a boggo Golf and an expensive Golf is less than the gulf with a similar Ford.
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Overall it seems that Ford are moving away from imitating the VW Golf (Mk2 Focus) and introducing their own look with the Mk "4" (3 is it not?).
Yes - I thought HJ agreed that the revised Mk 2 would be called the 2.5 or similar rather than the mk 3 in a thread last year. Did a quick search but couldn't find it.
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I've never liked the look of the Focus, but this is certainly a considerable improvement in my opinion.
One more to consider when replacing my ageing Mazda6 in due course.
Clk Sec
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Looks like the front of Mondeo and the back of a Fiesta. At least it appears to have a handbrake. Hope they remember to swap it over for RHD, unlike Volvo.
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I've never liked the look of the Focus ........
I'm not bothered what cars look like, other than the colour should be easily seen by other motorists. I'm interested in the specification, comfort, performance, function, durability, and price.
Edited by L'escargot on 12/01/2010 at 12:35
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>> I've never liked the look of the Focus ........ I'm not bothered what cars look like other than the colour
I've always thought this is one of life's contradictions. People spend a lot of time and thought about choosing a car which they like the look of.
But when you are actually in the car yourself, you can't see what it looks like, so does it really matter? (unless you go slowly cruising past shop windows to look at your reflection).
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>>But when you are actually in the car yourself, you can't see what it looks like, so does it really matter? (unless you go slowly cruising past shop windows to look at your reflection).
I'm not knocking the Focus. I'm well aware of it's high regard on this site and that's as good as any recommendation in my book.
However, if I find two cars that offer me the specification, reliability, etc, that I'm looking for, but one is more aesthetically appealing than the other - then that's the one for me.
Now, where's that mirror!
Clk Sec
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I'm interested in the specification comfort performance function durability and price.
I'll add .......... the closeness to our house of a franchised dealer.
Edited by L'escargot on 12/01/2010 at 14:15
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That interior is horrific. It looks like the inside of Darth Vaders jockstrap Helmet
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I agree the interior looks terrible. The press release blurb says they are using the finest quality materials, blah blah...I don't see any evidence of it from the photos.
I still think the best Focus interior is that of the Mk1 Zetec and Ghia trim levels, very good quality, hard wearing and stays looking brand new if looked after.
But I think with the Mk2 and Mk3, they reduced the quality of the plastics quite considerably compared with what the Mk1 has.
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I agree the interior looks terrible.
But aren't the pictures of the American Focus, and possibly different to what we'll see here?
BTW are you looking at henry's gallery pictures? I can't see those at the moment.
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It is meant to be the same model for worldwide production. Traditionally Fords have been different for U.S. and Europe spec, but this seems to be the first Focus which will be the same for all countries, and I assume that includes the interior?
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same for all countries and I assume that includes the interior?
I assumed it doesn't but you could be right
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From a financial newspaper today:
"As with Ford's recently relaunched Fiesta, the underlying architecture of the Focus will be common around the world, with the "top hats" or visible parts of the vehicles changed to reflect local regulations and consumer preferences."
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>>But I think with the Mk2 and Mk3, they reduced the quality of the plastics quite considerably compared with what the Mk1 has.>>
Having had extensive use of the mark 1 focus and owning a mark 2 can't agree with that, I think the mark 2 plastics are superior to those in the mark 1 as is the interior quality in general. With regards the mark iv, the front reminds of the Kia Cee'd which is no bad thing as the Cee'd is not the worst styled car on the road. This is the first focus (where in the pictures at least) I prefer the look of the saloon to the hatch. I just hope Ford have spent money on improving the some of the niggling issues that have bugged the current generation focus.
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I feel the same way, Jcoventry. My mk1 Focus interior felt like it was made to a high standard, and considering my cars get well used, it stood up to punishment very well.
When the mk2 came out, everyone (including Hammond on TG) said the new models interior was much improved with better quality plastics. After trying one at the time I disagreed, but alas, now I have a mk2 and am very fond of the interior, although it's too soon to judge how hard wearing it is.
The new interior looks crud, but maybe it'll grow on me.
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I like the look of the saloon more than the hatch.
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"I'm interested in the specification, comfort, performance, function, durability, and price. "
That's fair enough but it's horses for courses.
Cars should have all of the above along with good looks.
Sadly I live in the world of driving sub 25k company (4 doors and tin roof) cars.
Therefore I don't care about durability and price but do want something a wee bit different from the class norm.
This Ford is one of the few that may be attractive to those existing in my type of bubble as most recent Fords aped VW, Vauxhall/Opel don't seem to care about looks and the only Japanese manufacturer that appears to covet good looks is Mazda.
That said, I noticed that the new Focus dash has piano black inserts.... v. cheap looking
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Sadly I live in the world of driving sub 25k company (4 doors and tin roof) cars.
I wish I had your problems :-)
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I did hurt my back today :0)
I know it sounded bad so I am sorry
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I know it sounded bad so I am sorry
Not at all - only pulling your leg.
EDIT: and get well soon :-)
Edited by Focus {P} on 12/01/2010 at 17:58
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>> Sadly I live in the world of driving sub 25k company (4 doors and tin >> roof) cars. I wish I had your problems :-)
Me too.
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I'm not sold on the styling - it looks fussy. The current Focus looks better and just as modern.
The original Focus had a nice overall shape but was spoiled by silly detailing and panel sculpting. The current one got over all that but the next one looks like a return the silly panel sculpting.
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Appears to be a conventional TC automatic rather than dual-clutch
What makes you say that ?
The current DGS and conventional auto focuses look the same inside.
.
Keith
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Interior looks as if it were designed by someone who'd previously been working on those oversize "gaming" PCs I see in PC World.... the ones that look like robot heads.
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"the only Japanese manufacturer that appears to covet good looks is Mazda." The Mitsubishi Lancer is not a bad looker. I'm sorry, but from the pictures, the new Focus is a masterpiece of over fussiness. I thought the Fiesta rear end was fussy but this takes it to a new level. I hope it looks better in the flesh. I'm sure it will sell in its millions and probably deserves to but were it me looking to buy in this sector it would be Mazda 3/Mitsibishi Lancer/Alfa Guilietta.
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It seems to be an amalgam of the current European and US Focus models and it is a big improvement on the US version. I hired one in California last year and the "SRS" version was well equipped (heated seats, electric sunroof and climate control) but also old fashioned, with one column stalk for everything, basic trip computer (buttons set way down out of sight and dot matrix display like an old Vectra) plus some truly wacky touches like illumination of footwell and cupholders (six shades available, including violet). Horrible slushbox, too. It looks as though orange rear indicators may be appearing at last, perhaps to allow for rear foglights to cut through the smog.
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