No Budget Reviews: 2004 Ford Focus Mark I 1.6 Zetec Automatic - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting

[@ianoconnell8678]

4:00 that compartment would be where the trip computer would be on the Ghia models sir

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you, sir! I thought it was something like that.

[@karlwood2268]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting correct, was included on all the 2 litre Ghia models I’ve owned, have also seen it on a TDCi Ghia model too.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@karlwood2268 , ah yes, sir! We don't talk about those TDCi versions on the channel, though, do we?

[@karlwood2268]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting oops no sorry 😁

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@karlwood2268 , well done, sir!

[@Mr_Chris__]

Now that's my kinda car! I own the Estate version Ford Focus Mk1, registered in 2000. I bought it in 2015 for £600. It's a nice easy car to drive, their is no hi-tech overkill unlike its modern counterparts. It's nearly done 168,000 miles and still in good working condition. Also, these cars were manufactured in very high numbers, therefore it's not too difficult to find spare parts.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, spare parts are still easy to find, even if numbers are dwindling now. People loved these cars in the day, and many still love them now. I did enjoy it, had not driven one in about five years.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

I'm hopeful the original Ford Focus will reach collectability levels like it's predecessor the Escort.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I think that they probably will, particularly as numbers decline and values start to rise.

[@MattysCars]

Fantastic cars. I particularly like the 3 door version as well which is rear for me

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

They aren't the most common as a three door these days.

[@andrewmorton3177]

Excellent review I bought a 1.8 Zetec in 2000 & specced it with climate pack & a sunroof the salesman thought I was odd 🤣🤣 Great car to drive but it tended to form a water feature in the passenger footwell when it rained, that the dealer had 5 goes at fixing🙄 Gave up on it & traded it in within 18months.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Oh dear. That sounds like quite a problematic car. Perhaps the sunroof was the thing which was letting it down. The dealer sounds like a bit of a nightmare as well.

[@markonmotoring]

We had a brand new 2004 Ka which had the same issue with the front passanger foot well filling up and saturating the carpets. We had it fir seven years and never resolved the issue.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@markonmotoring , oh dear, sir!

[@dkelly7159]

Mine did that and it turned out to be the pollen filter. Once I replaced it and the seal problem solved!

[@karlwood2268]

Excellent review Joseph, and yes cost well under £1000.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you again for offering it for review, sir, I did enjoy it very much!

[@karlwood2268]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting no problem!

[@markonmotoring]

I recall these launching very well. Ford really moved the game on for cars of this segment with the focus. It was millions in R&D well spent. Just like the Ka and Puma the steering was precise, chassis control was outstanding, nice accurate gear change. The styling as you correctly said was a bit out there for the time but ford absolutely nailed it with the MK1 focus. The Zetec engines were punchy, in fact the 1.6 was said to perform lime s 2.0 of the era. Cabin quality was also praised as being very much in the sane class as a VW Golf. Ford really did get it right and as good as the later generations may be, non have really represented such a leap as what the origional did.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The 1.6 is actually Mr Coleman's favourite, as the cambelt and clutch are relatively easy to change in them. Rather like the Mark I Mondeo, the Mark I Focus had a lot spent on it, but it seems to have paid off. The chassis is still very good, even on an example like this, and these probably will become classics at some point. The cabin quality is good, I would have to sample another Mark IV Golf to tell you which is better. Certainly, the Ford has the better gearbox.

[@roygardiner2229]

It's surprising how one's preconceptions can be changed. I have never really fancied one of these Fords but I really warmed to this car. It seems to tick a lot of boxes....

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

They are very good cars, and at the moment there are still very cheap ones available. This situation will not last for too long with the Mark Is, as most will have disappeared within a few years, and then they will start to rise in value.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Great review as always Sir, this takes me back to when I had my own Mark 1 Focus Zetec Climate, which I admit got slightly modified with bigger wheels, bucket seats, exhaust and sound system, another one of the cars I would have back in a heartbeat through I would keep it standard.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Oh yes, sir! Lots of modified Mark I Focus models out there back in the day. I agree that Mark Is these days should be kept standard.

[@petert3343]

I had an 2006 Focus MK2 1.6 zetec petrol auto - did 180k miles in it. Very good, if not exciting, car. These are also available for very modest sums. Can't really think of anything that went wrong with it other than through sheer mileage. They are ULEZ compliant.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Some of the earlier Focus Mark Is are not Ultra Low Emission Zone compliant, but pretty much all Mark IIs are, and some later Mark Is. We have a Mark II coming up in a couple of days time, and a video on the Ultra Low Emission Zone tomorrow. I made my first video about it in 2018...

[@TheGreatestPlayerInTheWorld]

I owned one of these the automatic version as well , nice review as always

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We aim to please, sir! More affordable Fords coming on the channel soon...

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

Good afternoon. Just to say that the heated front screen was being fitted to certain Mark 1 models (maybe sometimes it was an extra cost option) from at least 2004.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you ever so much indeed for watching and commenting! Yes, must have been available on some of the very last Mark Is.

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting you must be correct. I owned two models (both manufactured in 2004 at the Valencia plant)

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

One was an LX the other a Zetec. Both had heated front screens. Both purchased as used vehicles from a Ford main dealer

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@alexmcwhirter6611 , I think the owner of this Focus had had five or six Mark Is before.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@alexmcwhirter6611 , trying to remember as well whether the Mark II I tested the same week (linked in the description below) had a heated front screen...

[@dazlad1972]

Posh ibis had a trip computer where the coin tray was. St170 had the extra 2 guages oil pressure and temp

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you, yes, I drove a 2.0 Ghia Automatic Estate last year which had a lot more in the way of equipment.

[@alansimpson835]

I think this mid 90s to 00s period has to be my favourite era of Ford. The Focus really moved things on in terms of styling and handling when it launched and the Ka and Puma also had that mix of interesting styling and chuckability. It was my favourite era of Fiesta too. This Focus looks in great condition and obviously has an owner who appreciates it. I'm going to guess from the registration it came from Peoples Ford who, bizarrely, had branches in Edinburgh, Liverpool and the surrounds but nothing in between. Might suggest why a Scottish reg car turned up in the north west of England.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Not sure where Sean got the Focus, I do know People's Ford as they are beloved by Mr Franks. Ford of this era certainly were distinctive and drove really well. It now resides in North Wales.

[@jsaxby6561]

The milleniums were the bright yellow ones.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Indeed sir, with a leather interior and special alloy wheels.

[@jsaxby6561]

The gold colour was called harvest gold I think.

[@alaricbragg7843]

Interesting review! I believe that was the first Focus we got in New Zealand after they stopped making the Ford Laser! They are still common in my country. A workmate of mine had one, unfortunately her oil sump got torn out after hitting a pothole on the Pahiatua Track, resulting in a small fortune in repairs. For those not in the know, the Pahiatua Track is like All Creatures Great and Small meets the Targa Florio... The local car club used it for a hillclimb once!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, if you are Mr Coleman, then these are ideal cars for all sorts of purposes, both for low cost racing and for everyday transport, if you can still find a decent one.

[@alaricbragg7843]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Sorry Sir, who's Mr Coleman? Have you replied to the right comment? No offence intended!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@alaricbragg7843 , you can't have watched all these videos properly, sir, and not known who Mr Coleman is... Look at the Citroën C3 episode of No Budget Reviews and The Rubbish Mechanic channel if you genuinely don't know who he is....

[@alaricbragg7843]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Sorry will do!

[@alaricbragg7843]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Just saw the Citroen video. Now I get you! Yes, granted I was watching the Focus Video late at night after a busy time at work and I fell asleep during the initial bit sorry. I find these videos a great way to take my mind off work. So little phone data, so many great videos, that's the problem! 🙂

[@David_H-73]

Overall very good cars Joseph and a brave design for the time. As you may recall I nearly bought a 2007 Focus saloon if it hadn't been for the amount of rust on the sills and rear arches. Same engine as my Fusion I think, its a pleasant unit if not spectacular in performance or economy. You will be pleased to know that the Cambelt and clutch have been changed on mine.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Very good, sir! The Fusion sounds very good. Got to stay away from rust if possible! The Zetec-SE engines are excellent, if not perhaps the most characterful.

[@RetroAndRusty]

I had a 1.4 Estate (2002) Focus for about 7 years. Was great! bought it with 136k and scrapped it at 204k about 6 years ago. Only scrapped it as it needed a timing belt and the exhaust fell off haha! Thinking of buying another one for daily duties .

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Well, funnily enough we have a review of a Mark I Focus Estate on the channel now, which was uploaded a couple of months ago. That was a 2.0 Ghia Automatic, and it was absolutely fantastic.

[@RetroAndRusty]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting I’ll check that out. I need to get a modern car again soon (currently driving a Capri & Escort mk3). Are they still reliable enough to use for decent miles etc? Or would it be worth going more modern ?

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@RetroAndRusty , it's a very difficult question to answer. I actually have reviews of a Mark III Escort and a 1982 Capri 2.8 Injection four speed on the channel as well, funnily enough... There's not really any hard and fast way of quantifying what a classic car is, or really what someone's expectations of reliability are, or even whether any example of an individual car will be reliable or not. All these things come down to personal preference and what someone is used to, I think.

[@seancooke7332]

Great car, great petrol engines, great interior. Makes a MK4 Golf look so plain. As you say Sir, nothing comes close. What the Focus helped to bring forward was the great Vauxhall Astra H from Ellasmere Port but it still never drove like a Focus.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We covered the Astra H in 2019 and we filmed it not far from Ellesmere Port. A lot of them around, definitely No Budget Reviews territory.

[@davidclarke9783]

Iv got the same car but light blue ,, but Iv had 25 cars in my life and I got my focus at a 123'000 miles ,, all I did was change the water pump and belt, put on better tyers and the car is like new, goes very well for 17 years old got it for 500 euros .keeping it 45 MPG 3000 revs at 75 thats cool enough for me.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We do like these Mark I Focus models! For a car on the low end of No Budget Reviews money, this was actually pretty good, although the owner no longer has it. Changing the cambelt is quite important on this Zetec engine, I am sure that it us running wonderfully now!

[@davidclarke9783]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting I took of all rubber black trim off the doors and chromed them up it looks much less dated and smart,,, I must say the Automatic transmission is very smooth and the tork is a surprise the 1.6 is pretty nippie and a nice cruiser..

[@edwardtrickett1983]

I have just yesterday bought a 2nd example of this vehicle for myself, the same model but a newer year The 1st model I bought in 2011 was a black 5 door 1.6 LX on a 52 plate, and despite routine maintenance encountered only a few issues: offside front brake calliper, rear fog light unit and clutch - the vehicle had 186,000 miles when I bought it... so fair play to it The 2nd vehicle I have just bought is a 04 plate, exact same model but in silver and it comes with ABS as standard (which the previous model didn't): The vehicle has marks and dents indicative of its age but otherwise drives absolutely great..... I just need: rear headrests and the air con looked at because it doesn't work Otherwise the vehicle has been looked after, it has 57K on the clock and has been serviced by the same garage for 17 years I do not foresee many issues with this car Focuses of this era are BULLETPROOF if looked after

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Well, I have also reviewed a 1.8 Zetec Manual three door and a 2.0 Ghia Estate with an Automatic gearbox in the last few months. Rust aside, if you look after these, they tend to be pretty good, although the clutches on the manual models and the cambelts do need changing at fairly frequent intervals. The Ghia had working climate control, which was amazing considering it was 31C when I filmed the review. These have quite a following now, definitely a modern classic.

[@edwardtrickett1983]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting I totally agree that this model the mk1 Focus is becoming a modern classic I'm glad I've managed to get a good low mileage example

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@edwardtrickett1983 , I would hold onto it and enjoy it in that case.

[@trabali5168]

some one's been using the time machine again by the looks of it!!................is it euro 4?

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I don't know, sir, you will have to use the Ultra Low Emission Zone checker and find out for me...

[@hoddy121john]

Great review Joseph, that car is in great condition, kudos to its owner.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Karl has owned a lot of these and really likes them. I completely understand why.

[@PlanetautoUK]

These as soon as they launched didn’t grab us, sooo different to the Escort, mind you today the first gen is arguably the cleanest design, it’d be nice to grab one sometime.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It is funny how opinions have changed about these in the last 20 years or so. I was never keen on them myself either at the time!

[@PlanetautoUK]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting it is,

[@willswheels283]

I prefer the Escort to the first gen Focus, the interior is interesting to look at, certainly not bland, but externally I’m not so keen, especially the rear end, if I bought a mk1 focus I think I’d go for the 5 door saloon variant or the estate. I’ve driven a mk1 Focus hatchback and it was a satisfying drive, good handling and comfortable. Great review again Mr Lloyd.👍

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The saloon variant is one which I quite like as well. It has to be a Ghia as well, with a beige leather interior. You are right about the driving experience, that is one of the main reasons to buy a Mark I Focus.

[@tz6414]

I know it sounds weird but the angle of the dashboard above the radio just jars with my eyes and makes me feel queasy. That dash is design over function. No doubt it was a huge leap over the worst escort design ever( last version). I have only been in a couple and was amazed by the interior noise level being so high. A good budget buy, no doubt.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The dashboard looks a bit weird without the extra Ghia and above features to break it up a bit, which is probably why they wanted people to upgrade. The Mark VI Escort and Mark I Focus were very different cars, but the engines were actually quite similar.

[@jdnrotterdam2150]

I had this car also the 1.6 zetec but than the stationwagon. Man that was a bad en expensive experience… didn’t trust the car. So if i had to go far away back than i made sure that i had a other car with me. Everything was broken.. a/c.. katalysator… censors… motor error light was always on.. weird sounds from the engine. And it had just 170.000 km on it. But felt like 300.000 km. But maybe other focus were better.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The mileage was over 100,000 miles, so I am not surprised a lot of things were not working very well. Most other Focuses were probably a lot better.

[@jdnrotterdam2150]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting well my prius got 200.000 km on it now. And nothing is broken. Ik had that focus 3 years. Bought it for €3000. 3 years later. Even the radio stopped working. So pretty much everything felt apart. Than the safety check came. They said. All the repairs are more expensive than the car itself. I give you €700 and than you leave it here. So i was like ok….

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@jdnrotterdam2150 , the classic one is when the car fails the MOT (inspection) and it costs more to fix it than the car is worth. Lots of cars have that happen.

[@paulridley3184]

Hi i just like to say i own a 1*8 focus zetec and I've got heated front screen and electronic mirrors and ive had my car. about 14years and it was first registered 2001🚗👍

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you, Paul! Hope you enjoyed the video, these Mark I Focuses are getting rare in good condition now.

[@flycorvus]

If you own a rust-free Mk1 Focus, use it with pleasure. A perfect, reliable daily driver.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

My favourite Mark I Focus was the 2.0 Ghia Automatic Estate which I tested on No Budget Reviews back in the summer. It even had working air conditioning!

[@Pmjs]

My Dad had 2 Focus 1.6 Zetec Autos & I had a Focus 1.8 Zetec mk1.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Was your Mark I Focus a good car?

[@Pmjs]

The Focus was always good to drive liked the 1.8.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@Pmjs , probably a good balance of power and economy.

[@BigGent22]

Hi there! I know this a old video on the channel but was hoping you would respond to a question I have? Just about to buy a mk1 1.6 petrol auto on 66k miles. For £700. Do you know when the transmission fluid needs changed?

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Well sir, when I get comments, they all come through in one feed, so it doesn't matter how old the video is in that respect. According to the Internet, looks like it is every three years or 30,000 miles.

[@frothe42]

Very similar to the US Focus! Ford was building vehicles for the global market, although trim levels in the US were different. All in the US were 2.0 litre Ztec 4, NO FORBIDDEN FUEL VEHICLES EVER. Even the interior is similar to the US versions! Although I believe on most models air conditioning and full power windows were standard. I do remember some LX models coming with "keep fit" windows. And I believe Prince William passed his driving license test on a Ford Focus!

[@frothe42]

We never received rear head restraints until much later models.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, Fords were very popular with driving schools at about this time. The Focus in America had two 2.0 litre engine options which were completely unrelated to each other.

[@johnmackay5784]

Great cars, love my 54 plate 1.6 Zetec auto estate 👌

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We had a 2.0 Ghia Automatic Estate on the channel last year, actually. That was fantastic! Thank you for watching.

[@johnmackay5784]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting my pleasure

[@richardhowlett9424]

Great cars to drive , the formula has been diluted with each generation since.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Well, sir, the test of the next generation is coming up very soon indeed!

[@trevorsanders5303]

My 2004 cooper s had a quick clear screen so it wasn’t a Ford exclusive

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Interesting, yes, I have just reviewed an R53 Cooper S on the channel, funnily enough.

[@ThatLeeNoble]

Love my MK1 Ghia *thumbsup*

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you ever so much indeed!

[@colinhicks4174]

I have to admit I did not like the styling of the mk1 Focus when it was released. I still do not really like the interior design. We had these and MKIV Golfs as company cars. The Golf was much more classy inside and more comfortable but the Focus drove rings around it. Even powered by the….er….TDDI engine. You can still pick these up cheap. I was idly looking at cars (as you do), Max Miles 30k. I found a 2L Ghia with a supposedly genuine 21000 miles on it was listed for £1495…with a beige leather interior!! Escorts with a similar mileage seem to be picking up in value; £2 to 4k now.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

You can indeed still pick up a Mark I Focus relatively affordably, although I don't know how much longer this will last. The Mark IV Golf may have had a slightly nicer interior, but they are just as tatty and rusty these days, if not more so, and their interiors do fall apart as well. Just don't mention the forbidden fuel, sir....