chriscatt

Hi, the 100bhp engine is more that adaquate, Ive just come back from a 600 mile round trip of motorway and 'A' roads and it was fine. It seems to me that the gearing is much better as it doesn't seem to bog down as much as the old one did especially when pulling away up hills when the old car needed more revs, also it doesn't seem to notice the air con as much... ChrisC

Yes you might be right there as they haven't rung me today to say there are in. Seeing as we've only had the car for a couple of weeks and I pointed out the fault to the salesman, if I don't hear anything by weds the salesmanager will be getting a letter from me... ChrisC

Hi, I can't see how anyone sees this as a problem really, if a a thief wants your stereo he, or she, will take it whether it's lit up or not as most of these are stolen to order. Kinda meaningless in my opinion as it's a bit like stating why don't Ford's provide us with the option to quickly remove the alloy wheels as they are too attractive.... ChrisC

Hi crockett, when I collected the car they did say that the parts usually arrive the next day, might be looking at early nest week, we shall see... ChrisC

Hi, well what a joke, rang me to say that they've not got the parts in stock and I'll have to bring it back. So in fact all they've done today is replace 5 pence screw, jeez... ChrisC

Hi, I agree with you 100% hpman I worked on these figures from parkers guide Ford Focus Hatchback 1.6 Zetec 5d (01) 2002/02 Average mileage: 30,000 miles Cost New ('02) £ 12245 Franchised Dealer £ 5520 Independent Dealer £ 5200 Private Good £ 4830 Private Poor £ 4000 Part Exchange £ 4510 This was from WhatCar Dealer £5,495 Private £4,895 Part Ex £4,645 Trade £4,445 I got £4800 as a part exchange which, if you take those figures, was about the same as a private deal and I didn't have the hassle of waiting for phones calls, dealing with enquiries, valeting the car or

Hi all, well the car went in this morning, a mechanic took it for a test drive whilst I was there and aknowledged that there was noise from not only the tie rod bushes but also the top mounts. So hopefully all will be eradicated when I collect it later in the day... ChrisC

Hi, if you have no signs of wheel damage I suggest you take it back to the dealers and state that the tyre wear is unacceptable. If what you are saying is true, and it has been checked by a Ford dealer, then something is quite obviously wrong with the front end aligment and no way should how the wheels are steered have this kind of result. BTW, whizzpoppers have electric racks as well and they don't have this issue... ChrisC

Hi, any roundabout will give you hard tyre wear if you drive the car hard around them, likewise heavy braking or accelerating will give you the same. However tyre wear on the inside or outside edges, or both, are either down to aligment being incorrect ot tyre pressures... ChrisC

Hi, 12k and creaking, infact I did over 600 miles in ours over the past four days and they were still creaking when we got home. It's going in on thurs, although I've little confidence in the local Ford dealers as they've asked me to demostrate it, my answer is just sit behind the bloody steering wheel and turn, clearly audible and a vibration is felt up through the wheel. Perhaps I should be a Ford mechanic... ChrisC

A result!!! Just had a call from the salesman, we've got the next service free and they'll do the work to the window and seal. As my partner likes this car, and she is the boss, I'll not persue the matter of the VCT and put it down to a learning curve to get things in writing. Case ended thx for all your help.... ChrisC

Hi Kevin and thx for your reply, well we are going to go into the dealers on mon on our way up to Suffolk if we don't get a call and see if we can get some kinda response, jeez all I want to do in honour their side of the agreement. I just think there're are being a tad childish about the whole episode really. Do you think it's worth trying Ford Customer Relations or do they only deal with used cars. There is a head office in eastbourne, I wonder if it's worth trying them as well. Interestingly this salesman has been promoted up to a business manager, some kind of business!!! ChrisC

ok, now this is getting worse, we've found scratches on the N/S passenger window and the rubber trim is loose. My partner went into the showroom, some lackey came out and had a look and promised the salesman would call back, no such call. My partner rang again and once again was promised a call back, which I doubt will happen. Has anyone got any similar experiances that they could help me with, aside from going up there and shouting me mouth off about trading standards? ChrisC

Hi, just got a Focus Zetec Climate in that colour, I thinks it unusual and because Ford no longer do it on the Focus adds value to the car... ChrisC

Hi, rang him, reception said he'd ring back, oh no he didn't.... ChrisC

Hi again, well I rang him and spoke about all of the misleading the saleman had taken us on, the cheeky bloke asked me what I think he should do!!! I've been waiting a call back now for three hours. Looks like I'll have to go higher up the chain if I don't get a satisfactory response... ChrisC

Hi, workshops price themselves now at a fixed cost, the price you are quoted is for the work that is specified, anything else is charged extra. However I'd have said, if I was the workshop manager, to let it go for customer relations. However perhaps it is the norm these days only to look at the short term picture and not worry about customers coming back because they feel valued.... ChrisC

Ok thx crockett, I tried to ring the sales manager today but it's his day off. I'll try again tomorrow and let you know how I get on. Thing is my partner really likes this car, she's paid for it, so I know she'll be reluctant to change it. However I'm looking more long term when it comes to changing it in three years cos I know that a TI-VCT will be more attractive and possible of more value... Chrisc

Hi, we didn't actually ask for anything, we were told that all the cars were VCT 115's.... ChrisC

Hi, but you don't get a full V5 until a while after you've actually purchased the vehicle, you get a temporary slip, V5C/2, to prove you are the owner. All ours say is 1.6i Zetec Climate, CO2 161.... ChrisC

Hi and thx for all your replies, no there is nothing that leads me believe it is a TI-VCT, even the engine bay has the air cleaner pipe going through the exhaust manifold, unlike the one in the picture. All we were told by the salesperson that all the cars were the TI-VCT, he even agreed with me whilst I was road testing that this version had greater urge than the 90ps one. As I said it's my word against his, but then I should be able to trust Birchwood -Ford. Anyhow I'm going to phone the sales manager tomorrow and let him know quite clearly we are less than satisfied with the service we hav

Hi, it now seems that, unlike what I was told, we've been supplied a ordinary 1.6, not a TI-VCT that the saleman told us they were. It'll probably be down to my word against his, but where do I stand??? ChrisC

Hi, picked up our 2005 1.6 Ti-VCT yesterday and were're very pleased with it apart from one thing. Upon collection the salesman informed me that they didn't service the car as it had a 12,000 mile service in Oct, the car's only done 40 miles since then. However they performed a 'health check', whatever that is, but they are willing to send me the service sheet for all the work they've performed from there workshop. Obviously they are keepng to the correct Ford specifications on servicing and intervals, and the service book is stamped, but would you expect your car to have a service before you

Here chaps http://www.wrc.com/page/BreakingNewsDet ... 99,00.html hope the link works ok.... Chris C

Hi, well I've had a good look around different manufactures card in the local Sainsbury's car park and I can catagorically state that if you look hard enough the majority of them have paint mismatches. I've also looked at a new Mondeo in the Ford showroom and that was a different colour. I'm not saying that you are all wrong, in fact I'd say that the new Focus is slightly worse and more pronounced, however I can live with that..... ChrisC