TopBanana

Just got back from Sardinia, where we hired an Alfa 147 JTD for a couple of days and the Focus for one. Any here got a Focus TDCI? Great engine, ride, handling. Most un diesel-like

PG

SCOSaltire has not long got one. I will point him in this direction.

DMC12

A work colleague has one. Very nice. My A3 TDi sound like a bus by comparison.

logiclee

Was it the 115bhp version?

IMO the TDCi Focus is the best small diesel car on sale. It may only be 115bhp but its nearly 180lbft of torque with an overboost facility that pushes out over 200lbft on full throttle.

The big advantage the TDCi unit has over the VAG PD diesels is that the Ford is very rined and the whole rev range is usable with a smooth and linear power delivery. Makes the competition feel unrefined with narrow powerbands.

I have them as hire cars often and with the 31mph/1000rpm top gear you would think motorway pull would be non-existant but the TDCi still pulls strong at motorway speeds without changing down.

The next generation TDCi will be out next year and is supposed to push things even further and virtually eliminating diesel knock on tickover. There will also be a 2.0 version of the new diesel for the new Focus. Its supposed to have around 140bhp and 250lbft of torque while averaging 60mpg on the Combined cycle.

As for the handling balance there isn't a small hatch that comes close to the Focus IMO.

And No I don't own one just drive them alot.

Lee

SCOSaltire

cheers for the link Paul

Yeah - i got one!
115 TDCi
very nice!
I agree with what has been said so far.
I drove a golf / ibiza / octavia and the focus.
The difference in usable power and refinement is amazing really.
Gotta love that handling too... I was always thinking 'aye right' about it - until i owned this car... love it... involving and surprises me often how well the car performs on corners.
On my route to work, i sometimes have to pull out onto a dual carriage way with traffic doing motorway speeds - the focus is so free reving and quick through the gears that i am up to speed without trying! gotta love the overboost

had a couple of probs at the start of ownership - but ford sorted them so thats good.

i like my TDCi

Stuart Taylor

I've also got a 115 tdci.

Went from the scooby to it and havnt looked back. Ok the performance isnt in the same league but its very respectable especially on the motorway. I drive mine quite briskly and still get 45-50 mpg. And as said above the handling is very good, but the tyres do squeel quite a bit.
Awsome brakes aswell.
I have done nearly 12000 miles in 8 months with no problems. The interior quality is alot better than my Classic and it has a few extra toys.
And with the money I'm saving I've got myself a Westfield for the twisties.

Stuart

IWantaScoobyNow

i have a tdci focus as a company car, very nice to drive. although mine must be the odd exception to the rule. its only 6 months old and has spent most of the time in the dealership as it runs on 3 cylinders sometimes. even ford cant figure out why. time for a new engine i think.
other than that when its working its great and definetly quieter than the vw/audi diesels. but not sure if its as reliable.

SCOSaltire

the problem with mine was a check engine light coming on.
i made sure that the dealership knew i wanted it fixed

and so they replaced the ECU - they call it the PCM (Power Control Module)

Ford changed the type of ECU in the TDCi in the focus this year. Maybe that ecu has bugs in it...?

Id push for new 'PCM' if i were u.


[Edited by SCOSaltire - 8/15/2003 4:34:38 PM]

PG

Phil,

I told you,
All they did was take the bulb out of the warning light

SCOSaltire