JamesTheCat

Just wanted to post a quick sorry to all those who have PM'd me and are still awaiting a Privilege price. Have been literally deluged with requests in conjunction with a heavy workload - end of the month AND end of most important quarter of the year! Things have settled down a bit now and I'm starting to work my way through the backlog, I'll have your price for you as quick as I can. Thanks for your patience James

Errr... They already are out!

Not as good as Golf but MUCH better than Astra. When I went to Ford for the New Focus launch there was a short speech by a guy from CAP. He said they were anticipating the Focus would only be around 3-4% behind the Golf which itself was about 11-13% in front of Astra/Megane/307 etc. I think if I was buying I'd avoid the ST1, when you consider how little extra an ST2 brand new is I can see ST1's being rather undesired as used cars. A bit like trying to sell an old or new shape Zetec with no air-con/heated front screen. No-one wants them as they're are plenty of better spec models around.

I did a little experiment earlier and thought that some might be interested in my findings. I Rang a VW dealer to find out what a 3dr Golf GTi with the following options (I picked these to make as fair a comparison as possible with what a 3dr ST3 would cost): Metallic Paint Xenons Leather Trim (Not Recaro) 6 Disc-CD (No MP3 capability) 18"Wheels OTR £23540 (Was also assured by salesman that there was "absolutely no chance" of any money off.) The list price of an ST3 which with the exception of metallic paint would have all the above as standard anyway PLUS Sony audio with MP3, Recaro le

Mines a 1.6Tivct Titanium in Machine Silver. Sorry no pics, havn't got a digi camera :oops: . (It's identical to Smeems anyway) Seriously DO get a metallic colour (but avoid green). You might think your saving £350 by not having it. You'll LOSE £500 when you trade it in so it'll end up costing more in the long run. Solids don't look as good IMO anyway. My faves for the new Focus are: Jeans Magnum Grey Tonic

Dunno if this'll be any help but I currently have a choice of 2 new shape Focus 1.6TDci LX estate in stock, moondust silver, 05 plate. One has 22k miles, the other 19k miles. Both at £11499 - thats a saving of nearly £3500 against new list price.

It's an all new Galaxy. Check the Frankfurt Motor Show section on www.ford.co.uk

:oops: Sorry, I just re-read the question! Yes the actual nuts will fit. It's the keys that are different. ie - you cant use pre 2005 keys on a 2005 car and vice versa.

Good job your mum isn't in a hurry! As I write, not 1 single used Focus diesel auto has been registered in the UK. Ever! (There may be a VERY small number of CMAX though). As the 1st brand new ones might not be turning up until March 2006, she won't find a used one until this time next year at the earliest. And even then there isn't going to be much choice in the way of spec or colour. Up to you of course, but it's going to take a lot of patience!

With the Iosis concept (STUNNING!) Ford are talking about their design direction for all new models - these are simply facelifts. You can see a lot of the thinking from the SAV concept in the new Galaxy. I like it. The car inside and out has a much more contemporary look, and it moves it further away from the re-badged VW look (not that that's ever done it any harm). Differentiation is becoming more and more important and I think it achieves it without alienating it's core market. I think the Fiesta is an improvement - externally at least. I'm not too crazy about the interior - from a d

I'm a Ford salesman and your not too far away, maybe you should come and have a chat with me?! :lol: :wink: He is talking a load of cobblers. The ONLY automatic diesel is the Durashift CVT. The Durashift CVT does have a "manual mode" where you can change gear without actuating the clutch yourself but you can also just leave it in "D" and drive as per a normal auto. The 6-speed manual doesn't have any sort of auto provision at all. So your right and he is wrong! :roll: There is currently a supply constraint on the diesel CVT, we are not expecting any to arrive until the end of thi

Good to hear a tale of Ford getting it right! Really pleased for you. :D

They WONT fit. The 2005 locking nuts have a sort of extra ingress cut into them.

If they build a new RS, it will DEFINITELY be 4WD. With 300+BHP, theres no way they'd try putting that through just the front wheels.

Glad to hear your enjoying it :D There is a rather technical/complicated way you can permanently disable the belt-minder, but I think it's a dealer job as it involves plugging the car into WDS (I think). As a quick fix tho, if you plug and then unplug your belt 3 times in quick succesion it will disable the belt minder but only for 1 ignition cycle :?

This would not suprise me one tiny little bit. :roll: Crikey I'm getting cynical in my old age...... :lol: Be prepared to pay £25k + for any potential RS tho..... :shock:

I really am not that bothered if a car can do the 0-60 sprint in 6.1secs or 6.5, think the package as a whole makes the best car, not just how fast it can go in a straight line. Guess best thing to do is just wait and see who takes the title for "king of the hot hatches" then! That's gotta be good for consumers as a whole, competition is healthy. I buy stuff too ya know! I personally feel its a showdown between Golf GTi and Focus ST, don't rate the Astra VXR at all and Civic Type-R is too far away yet. Don't worry about upsetting me, I'm a car salesman! Believe me - you'll have to do

There ya go then! The power's available lower down and that's gonna make feel like a faster car.

Just checked - its 240PS not 240BHP. Can't find where in rev range the peak torque output is. Anyone have any idea? So? It's a rumour, nothing more. I can only deal with facts - we know what the Astra VXR/Golf GTi have and Ford have made an OFFICIAL announcement regarding the ST's specs. Everyone knows how good VTECS are tho, Honda seriously know how to make a great engine and I'm sure the new CTR will be a great car.

Don't know what your dealer's letter says but here's an extract from Vehicle Sales Action Notice (Serial PN579) - 8/9/05: Presell Offer Period - Prodrive Focus ST Experience Day To ensure that all opportunities are conquested a Presell period will run from October 1st 2005 until the dealer launch weekend on 14th January 2006, and offers customers a chance to enjoy their new Focus ST at the exclusive Prodrive Test Track for a unique Focus ST Experience Day. The Focus ST Experience Day includes driver training, on road awareness and a host of track activities designed to show the dynamic pe

I don't work for Ford, I work for Gates Group Ltd. Yes I do have an interest in promoting and selling Ford cars but if you do a search on all the threads I've ever posted on this forum you will see that I'm a massive Ford fan (they're all I've ever bought with my own money) and have a genuine interest in helping people and offering advice. I don't get paid to post on here or offer advice and you'll find that I have often backed people up when I think either Ford or their dealer is trying to stitch them up. Sorry, I still fail to see how this qualifies as Ford having "wasted" a good engi

Ford Credit Europe (FCE) are yet to make any announcement regarding MGFV's. MGFV's are usually calculated after lengthy discussions with CAP and a thorough assesment of where they expect the used car market to be in 2-3years time (not an easy job!). I understand from reading a few posts from elsewhere on this site that some people have already placed orders (or think they have!). I can categorically state that Ford themselves are NOT accepting any orders from their dealers until 1/10/2005. Those that have placed orders will simply have left a deposit with their dealer, and their dealer wi

Unfortuantely the information I have says the "Pro-drive" track day will be for retail sales ONLY not privilege.

Ford are looking at more than just sheer power here. The car has to be one complete whole, not just a big BHP figure. Remember they have been driving the thing to death for more than 12 months, and have to strike a balance between performance and handling, there's no quaife torque biasing limited slip diff here! Will making it more powerful up the insurance group and therefore make the car less attractive when compared to the competition? What if they eventually decide to go ahead and build an RS? The gap between the ST and any potential RS must be a significant one. What about the torqu

Here's what I would be going for.... (please note I say WOULD not will - contrary to popular belief car salesmen are not all filthy rich schisters!) 3 door ST-3 in Performance Blue + Side Stripes, DEATC, Parking Sensors, Auto Wipers/Lights, Premium Bluetooth. Bargain! 8) :lol: