(Re-Upload) No Budget Reviews: 2004 Ford Focus Mark I 1.8 Zetec (Climate) - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting

[@frothe42]

Nice to see that this is very similar to the US Focus which was introduced for the 2000 MY. Even the controls are similar! We don't talk about forbidden fuel because we never had them! All were 2.0 litre Zetec, which also powered the Contour/Mondeo and Mercury Mystique. Excellent review!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The 2.0 Zetec was also accompanied by a 2.0 based on the old CVH engine for a short time at the beginning of American Focus production, I believe, but the Zetec was the most common engine option. Thank you again, sir!

[@michaelarchangel1163]

I recall a pal, who used to rent out a lot of cars, giving me a go of a couple of mk 1 Focus. The 1.8 was a far sprightlier drive than the 1.6. With a motorcycle, the difference in low to mid range torque is very apparent, say comparing a 350cc bike to a 550, but I was quite surprised that 200cc was so noteworthy with vehicles weighing in at over a ton.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The 1.8 does feel a bit different, and it did certainly appeal to Karl, as this is his sixth Mark I Focus, and apparently it is the best one he has had. I liked his 1.6 automatic, but I do prefer this one. Thank for watching!

[@alaricbragg7843]

Thanks for this review! They are still common in New Zealand - even though the Mark 1 arrived a bit late as we still had the Mazda based Ford Laser in the early 2000s. Many are free from serious rust.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

That is interesting that they don't rust too badly in comparison with over here! Karl has now treated the rust on his door.

[@alaricbragg7843]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Indeed. I can't help notice the high placing of the tail lights, similar to those on Volvo wagons and hatches of similar vintage. Was that because of Ford's ties with Volvo back then? I also see that the Renault wagons back then had similar rear lighting, but I think that was convergent styling.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@alaricbragg7843 , the high set rear lights are nothing to do with Volvo, as Ford did not own them until 2000. The first car to have rear lights like this was the Renault 5, all the way back in 1972.

[@alaricbragg7843]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Thanks! I forgot about the Renault!

[@alaricbragg7843]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Good that the rust has been treated! A caryard in New Zealand would be able to sell that car for $5000!

[@paulwatts4286]

Really good cars the old focuses Ive had a few over the years never had an issue with them . Keep up the good work sir

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Well, when the owner of the Focus I filmed last year offered me a go in another one with a larger engine and a manual gearbox, I simply jumped at the chance!

[@seancooke7332]

Very very clean example of a Mk1 Ford Focus. Two of my Brothers had Zetecs, one 5 door like this and the other a pre facelift, both 1.6s and both very comfortable over distance and very sharp steering. Almost feeling like a rear wheel drive car. They seemed to have a very good paint finish too. The only negative was crusty door bottoms over time but I suppose doors are easily replaced if need be. Very very good cars and definitely one to start collecting. Thank you Sir.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

That's right, clean ones of these are going to be worth a bit in years to come, I think. Very good handling, excellent steering and also seems comfortable too. Those crusty door bottoms reared their head again on this occasion, but Karl has just treated them.

[@alansimpson835]

Really enjoyed meeting this car last weekend and its owner. It has worn its miles very well and I think looks better as a 3 door than a 5. Ford got it so right with the 1st gen Focus though. It looks great. Peoples Ford, the supplying dealer, had a weird spread of showrooms. They had I think around 3 in Merseyside and then a cluster in Scotland with Edinburgh, Livingston and Falkirk but nothing in the middle

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

That's right, sir, Mr Franks bought a Focus from Peoples Ford in Edinburgh about five years ago. Karl has had absolutely huge numbers of Mark I Focuses (Foci?), and does love them. I think this is the best one he has had. Thank you again for joining us last weekend!

[@adamtoms2726]

Another excellent review. I had a 2000 in white with a 154k on the clock with same 1.8 engine in zetec trim, I paid £500 for it teaching my mother to use a manual in 2015. It was good until the subframe got too crusty. Unfortunately they do like to rot, this one seems quite good.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

They do indeed like to rust, sir! Mr Coleman used to know these cars like the back of his hand. This 1.8 seemed pretty good, to be honest, Karl has treated the rust on the door.

[@mwheatley2365]

From memory a heated windscreen as well(?) - really useful feature on a low budget car. I had a 1.6 petrol “chic” edition - a bit lethargic but perfectly adequate…about 3 months after I bought it I was sitting in traffic and discovered the drawer above the 12v socket on the dash - the £1/£2 coins that were in it offset the purchase price of the car by a pleasing amount!!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, this particular car has the heated windscreen, although the car I drove last year did not. That little drawer is very handy, isn't it? Glad I actually covered all those special editions!

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Excellent Review Sir, was really nice to see this car in the flesh at the social, this is a very clean example and nice to see a focus that is standard and on its original Zetec Alloys. Still a great looking car today, makes me miss my mark 1 I had way back in 2006.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

That is right, sir, Karl brought it along the day after I filmed it, and he has improved it a bit since then too.

[@deanwebb4809]

I have never ever driven a focus. I have escorts fiesta mondeo but never a focus

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Why do you think that is, sir? Lots and lots of other Fords, it seems!

[@deanwebb4809]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting after I had a xr3i I got in to seats

[@deanwebb4809]

I love a seat like you love a beige interior. Lol

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@deanwebb4809 , do you mean Seat as in the car brand, sir?

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@deanwebb4809 , the first ever car we had on the channel was the Seat Toledo we owned at the time.

[@johnbartley3563]

How much does the consulting in this bracket cost I want one of these models but no nothing about csrs?

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you for watching and commenting, John! The best thing to do is to contact me via e-mail (my address would have been shown on screen within the first minute of the video), and then we can discuss that further.

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

The car your driving is just a Zetec, the zetec climate was only a model on the MK2s

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you, I am assuming that the Climate pack was an option in that case.

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting yep it certainly was!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@usuallyfixingtinkering , excellent, at least I was right about something.

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

Most significant auto Ford has probably ever designed for the European market considering the Focus followed the dull (in the later years of its life) Escort. One KZbinr called the Focus "a design masterpiece." Having driven a 1.6 and 1.8 variants I can tell you that the 1.6 feels somewhat lacking in torque when pottering around but the engine is quieter and smoother than the 1.8. The latter is nosier and more tiring on a long distance drive compared to the 1.6 which, to my mind, is better for motorway driving as it's so smooth. Older 1.8 engine feels more powerful and has more torque. Gearing on both in high .... at 3,000 revs you would be over the legal limit at 75 mph.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, the 1.8 Zetec-R in this car is completely different from the 1.6 Zetec-SE engine in the last Mark I Focus I drove. There is more torque in this, but the Zetec-SE lasted much longer (I think until 2017 or something like that in 1.25 form) in Ford's cars due to being quieter and smoother and more adaptable for the emissions regulations. The Zetec-R was replaced in the Mark III Mondeo and the Mark II Focus by a variant of the Mazda L Engine, I believe.

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Yes. Quite correct. The Zetec-SE engine is smooth and quiet but some Ford fans might say it lacks character compared to older Ford engines !

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@alexmcwhirter6611 , it's a lot better than the Ecoboom, sir...

[@trabali5168]

was that a parrot?, i do love a parrot from back in the days! a rare car in 3dr form but in great condition.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, an old Parrot Bluetooth kit from back in the day! Karl has had six Mark Is Focuses over the years, and this is his favourite, apparently.

[@steve-r-collier]

Ford Focus 1.6i 16v LX 5dr (98 - 05) Registration number: FA04NYT Mileage: 77,400 Fuel type: Petrol Engine size: 1596 cc Body type: Hatchback Colour: Blue Transmission: Manual Date of first registration: June 2004...offers?

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I don't quite understand what you are trying to achieve, I am afraid...

[@roygardiner2229]

I simply don't like its shape, its appearance. You can't win 'em all 😏

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

There were quite a lot of people who did not like the styling when the Mark I Focus was launched in 1998, hence why the Escort continued in production alongside it until 2000.

[@FatherJack-73]

Had a couple of these and more recently a ST 170 which I wish I had kept hold of as it was a decent solid example and they're only going to go up in value 👍

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

They do rust, unfortunately... Those ST 170s are getting rare and valuable, aren't they?

[@anthonyeverett1391]

Shame it didn't have the new 1 liter ford engine.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I don't think that those came out until 2010/11 from memory.

[@CortinasAndClassics]

I must admit that I never liked this car. I found it rather ugly and I still do. I hate all the angles and the jelly mould appearance of it and the name Focus put me off even more. Wonky glasses would make it look better so I would be quite happy to see this car go the way of the Dodo.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

There were quite a lot of people who did not like the styling when the Mark I Focus was launched in 1998, hence why the Escort continued in production alongside it until 2000. I think the saloon was better looking, personally.

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

"Jelly mold appearance" ? Surely not the Focus ... it's too sharp for that. Maybe you were thinking of the original Ford Sierra which was nicknamed the jelly mould car because of its aerodynamic design which produced a drag coefficient of 0.34. (This figure is provided by Ford motor company)

[@CortinasAndClassics]

@@alexmcwhirter6611 Nope, definitely not confused. The first focus is so ugly the name fits. Glasses needed.

[@nickyboy.]

5th

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Very good, sir!