2005 Ford Focus Mk2: What's it like after 19 years?

[@igordugonjic]

I love my Focus 2007 gasoline 1.6, 150.000 km up to this moment, I absolutely have no reason to buy a new car. Just a regular minimal maintenance and that is it. Thank you Ford, perfect car! No rust, garage all the time.

[@denisnyagua8490]

I have a late 2007 Focus mk2 1.6 tdci currently on 234000 miles (mostly motorway miles). It is still going strong. I hope I haven't jinxed it by mentioning the miles it has achieved lol. I do all the repairs and servicing myself.

[@gimble447]

@@denisnyagua8490 I have a 2007 1.6d Volvo v50 on about the same miles ( same floor pan and engine) but also have a 2007 focus 1.8tdci that I’ve owned from new 👍

[@gimble447]

Owned my 2007 Sea grey 1.8tdci Zetec Climate SportsPack from new, 17 years on and it’s not going anywhere ( I mean that it will always be part of my varied fleet, I don’t mean that it’s broken down 😂)

[@ttv_switcher260]

I think this is a car that I would love. I love naturally aspirated engines with all of their power high up on the revrange, and if the cornering gives as much confidence as you say, I think that this may be a perfect car for me

[@RobGMyMX5]

I really was surprised by how well this handles. I've had a lot of French cars and this feels really planted on the road by comparison, it's great. And that's after 19 years and 115,000 miles

[@gimble447]

@@ttv_switcher260 nothing beats a ford from 2000 onwards in the front wheel drive handling stakes, both the focus and mondeo revolutionised the entire market sector with their control blade suspension technology 👍

[@keithingram44]

I’ve got a 2007 57 plate 20l petrol ghia had it 12 years brilliant car and quite quick done 104 000 love the car

[@marclaw4511]

I own a 1.4 2007 and a 1.6 zetec estate and are great cars.Have to keep an eye on sills for corrosion and use a suitable treatment.Regular oil changes are the secret to keeping them going.

[@Dikkekrimmen]

Got a 2005 1.6 tdci with 125000km. My first car and I really love it. It handles very well and it has great space to carry stuff and people around. The seats are quite comfortable for longer drives. It’s not a fast car indeed but perfect for beginners AND it has pretty decent mileage!

[@RobGMyMX5]

Excellent! Enjoy 😊 Plenty of miles left in her still!

[@rickybaskerville4489]

Just bought the st3 version of this pre facelift car, epic to drive!

[@carfreaknazz]

I bought a 2nd hand 2006 Focus MK2 1.8 Ghia Sedan in 2016 in Malaysia, it was already 10 years old at the time.. Now it's 2024, the car is still solid.. And because it's such a rare car in this part of Malaysia, it quite a head turner too..

[@RobGMyMX5]

Excellent! And I would imagine rust is less of an issue there than here in the UK where they throw salt all over the roads in winter

[@Case_]

Yes, the high clutch bite point is a Focus thing. They're all like that, so rest assured there's nothing wrong with your car :)

[@RobGMyMX5]

Good to know, thanks! 👍 My plan was just to keep driving it until it started slipping anyway, so nice to know it's probably got plenty of life left

[@hard2600]

​@@RobGMyMX5mine 2006 focus with 1.6 TDCi has this issue too, and I also thought it has some clutch issues, but then I watched "JayEmm on Cars" review about focus and he said these cars had this issue even when they were new. He said he learned how to drive on these and he always had a fear of stalling the car. Pretty interesting stuff

[@bradsinnott1445]

I have a 2006 focus sport 1.8tdci less then 120k on the clock, 2 focus owned and absolutely love them, Ford all the way for me but my hearts for the mk2 focus

[@garry_potta]

I have a ford c max MK2 and it's basically the focus but bigger. It's so much fun to chuck around. You've talked me into buying one of these too for work. Thanks 😃

[@RobGMyMX5]

Excellent! Haven't tried the C Max but it has the same suspension so I'm sure it drives really well

[@nicolasansom2681]

I've got an MX5 too and looking for a cheap daily which is still fun. You might have solved my problem!

[@RobGMyMX5]

Yeah the MX5 has spoiled me - since I got it almost every other car is disappointing to drive! But surprisingly this Focus still manages to put a smile on my face, so I can definitely recommend it. The only thing to note is, as with any old car, things will need working on from time to time. But most jobs have been pretty easy so far. Fingers crossed!

[@kandoit7527]

I still have the 2005 zetec in the same tonic blue colour, I'm still smiling the value when I bought it for 8K, only grumble is 5 gears no sixth so noisy in long distance driving. I love this classic soon.

[@RobGMyMX5]

Yes I agree, 6th gear would be great for motorway cruising, as would cruise control. Apparently this can be mapped into the ECU if one has the right steering wheel with the controls on it. Might look into this as a future project

[@DC224gb64]

​@@RobGMyMX5 thats correct. You can even fit just the keys plus the mapping

[@gimble447]

Car looks moondust silver to me, certainly not tonic blue like yours is 😂

[@gimble447]

@@RobGMyMX5that zetec petrol engine doesn’t have the torque in that tune to pull a decently geared 6th speed back in those times, obviously now tho as tech and costs have changed through technical innovation have changed all that, in 2005 though there was a reason that only 2.0 zetec engine and 2.0tdci only had 6 speed box 👍

[@gimble447]

I bought my sea grey zetec climate sports-pack 1.8 tdci brand new in 2007, still got it, so I reckon above what anyone else says that they must be good before that’s the case as I’m a pretty savvy motorist and owner, and trust me I have owned and still own, quite a varied array of vehicles lol , yet still she’s here 👍 😆

[@user-mk9nh2hi2i]

iv tweaked this car up to 150hp beast

[@bigaljack56]

I loved my Mrk 1 focus. Actually had 2. A three door 1.6 zetec and an estate of the same. Missed out on the Mrk2. Really didn't like the look of them. I'm on a mark 3.5 now st and I really like this one. Love the looks of it.

[@RobGMyMX5]

Yeah, I love the Mk1 too, they really are excellent cars. The mk2 was definitely the most conservatively styled one, definitely marmite looks! They regained some of the punch again with the mk3 and 3.5, really nice looking cars.

[@alfienaylor1587]

I’m not a huge fan of the pre-facelift’s interior, as the blue makes it feel a bit Citroën or Fiat-like to me, but I think the facelift had a great interior to go with its stunning looks. I drive a 2011 1.6 TDCi a few weeks ago and was amazed at how rapid it was compared to a Golf 1.6 TDI. However, that particular car let itself down as being the Sport model, it had the fancy enhanced radio, the wiring on which was buggered so that every time it cut out, the engine lights momentarily came on. And the sat nav moved on its own, so it was telling me what to do when I get off the motorway just as I was getting on it. It was still a hell of a lot more fun than the Mk3 1.6 petrol I drove a few weeks later. That was just gutless and boring.

[@RobGMyMX5]

Still need to try a TDCi, but the low down torque from a common rail diesel definitely makes it pretty nippy in urban environments

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

Hello Rob, at the time I also thought the Mk2 was bland and so I deliberately opted for a second hand Mk1. However today I appreciate the Mk2's design more than I ever did back in 2006. I hired a few Mk2s from Hertz at that time and I found it a more relaxing and comfortable long distance drive compared to the Mk1. Of the two Focus models I prefer Mk1 as I know I am driving a brilliant design which will become a modern classic.

[@RobGMyMX5]

Having driven both, I also definitely prefer the refinement of the Mk2. But you're right, I don't think it will ever become quite as desirable as a classic as the mk1 - it was a safe bet rather than a radical one. But I think in time people will still come to appreciate the Mk2, it represents one of the last modern cars which was still relatively unencumbered by overbearing technology.

[@michaelKOTD]

I just bought one and after i got home i realised its not the same one as in the photos from the ad 🙂 i was so tired after work and a long bus trip to the guy that I totally missed that it said ”style” on the back instead of ZETEC like in the pics

[@RobGMyMX5]

Ah damn! Well the good thing is they all drive pretty much the same, the zetec just had a couple more styling enhancements and toys

[@keithingram44]

The clutch does bite high mines a duel mass flywheel and I had it done last November and it’s still bites high

[@gimble447]

@@keithingram44 they are like that from new, bought mines brand new in 2007 and still have it 👍

[@Marcellus_Brown]

I have a 2010 Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec. Rust is s big problem and had springs done on all corners. At 116,000 miles it drives well. Also had to have the whole exhaust replaced as the flexi had a hole in it.

[@RobGMyMX5]

It's interesting how sometimes they seem to rust badly but in other cases they seem quite resilient. Mines is relatively rust free, but friends of mine had another one of exactly the same age and the entire subframe was like swiss cheese.

[@MonkeyHunch1]

@@RobGMyMX5 some people just do not look after cars and think cleaning the underside is not something needed.

[@RobGMyMX5]

@@MonkeyHunch1 I definitely think that's part of it, yes. Especially a car like the Focus which for most people is just an appliance

[@MonkeyHunch1]

@@RobGMyMX5 i have always treated all my cars with care even the most basic ones. I made a Nissan Micra last 23 years of daily use :). I still drive an old Toyota that is 26 years old and fairly rust free. Even my old focus is 20 years old and still fairly solid.

[@michealhaskell7258]

I have a Mk1 focus 2door - with an 1800cc engine. The car has done 170000miles and doesn't burn oil and can manage 40 miles per gallon on long runs!!

[@РинатМингазутдинов-н8с]

FOCUS🔥💪😁👍💥🚀

[@Billylondon88]

Hi mate im about to buy the automatic mk2 for a first car 😄

[@igordugonjic]

powershift is not a good option mate, read about it before buying

[@Billylondon88]

@igordugonjic no its the 4 speed auto 🙂

[@Billylondon88]

​@@igordugonjic im still debating after today as ive seen the kia seed auto 1.6

[@anthonyrichardson7240]

I have a 1.8 ztec 2006 its done approx 110 thousand miles is my daily driver ...its been a great car so far ..nothing major ...ooops probably jinxed it now 😂

[@RobGMyMX5]

Hope it continues to be reliable for you!

[@Wolly9102]

I sold my 2005 focus with 125.807 miles on it not too long ago. Indeed mechanically the car would feel like it could go on forever. But rust was starting to get to it.. :/. It's wasn't worth fixing it.

[@RobGMyMX5]

Yeah there's a bit of rust starting to creep in on mine too. Should be saveable though I think

[@Wolly9102]

@@RobGMyMX5 If you get to it in time it will. It got the point where my rear brake would rust shut everytime I drove through rain/wet road. (And if I left the car for 2 days after that). I got it fixed once but It only lasted for 6 months

[@MonkeyHunch1]

@@Wolly9102 erm your brakes rusting are not a rust issue lol. IT is just old brake drums needing replacing. Could be fixed for 60 quid . Oh how the mechanically inept waste money selling perfectly good cars.

[@johnc9228]

We're did you get the trim level spec pictures

[@RobGMyMX5]

I downloaded a copy of the brochure. You can find it pretty easily with a google search

[@simonelsey]

suspension is different 10 mm lower on zetec

[@agaafear]

Focus Mk2 looks were as dull as ditchwater. 2.5 was better but neither matched the MK1 which, in my view, still looks great. I had one for a few years and loved it, even with the ‘plastic fantastic’ interior.

[@RobGMyMX5]

@@agaafear Each to their own I guess 😊 The mk2 was definitely more conservative, but personally I prefer it now. But there's no doubt the mk1 was a masterful design. And they're both fantastic cars overall.

[@elaxel1469]

I had the mk2 1,6 100hp focus and ended up selling it mainly becuse of the excessive fuel consumption and poor performance. Also the combination of heavy weight and firm suspension wasnt pleasant at all.

[@RobGMyMX5]

Interesting, I get pretty good consumption on mine, normally about 39mpg - I think that's quite reasonable for the age

[@christopherfallguy592llang7]

Had 2002 mk1 zetec mk2 2007 zetec 2015 style diesel now have 2016 titiuman diesel😅

[@jewels3895]

Homer Simpson design