SECONDHANDSENSE:FIGURES JUST released by Ford in Ireland confirm that the Focus 1.6-litre diesel is now its most popular car, thanks to the VRT changes. But the success of the Focus diesel is not all that new - it has been very popular car with drivers for years and the 1.6-litre engine has represented a good balance for those in need of economical driving, writes DONAL BYRNE
The Focus has been around since the late 1990s and, while it marked a revolution for Ford when launched, it has not aged that well, thanks to Ford's conservative facelifts. But this doesn't bother many drivers.
However, the model launched in 2005 was a big improvement - its interior was considerably smartened up and it had a fresher, although familiar look. The 1.6 also improved and still compares very well when compared to diesel cars from Volkswagen and Opel.
Most importantly, the 1.6 will give you over 55mpg on a combined cycle and it will do so with adequate power and not too much clatter from the engine. Pulling power at lower revs is not impressive, but you get over it, and when the engine opens up it is a very good performer. It has excellent dynamics, precise steering and a practical design. You can seat five comfortably and the boot is generous. Practically everything else about the car has been cleverly designed.
The Focus has an excellent reliability record and a maximum five-star rating in the Euro-NCAP test. You will also get anti-lock brakes and four airbags as standard.
The questions is: How does the car compare with today's more modern diesels? The newest one has been tweaked for lower CO2 emissions - the older model does not benefit from the same tax breaks. There is also the matter of price - diesels have a premium and often tend to have high mileage when sold second-hand.
A 2006 hatchback (which is much smarter looking than the saloon) with 65,000km on the clock is on offer at one garage for €11,950. Another 2006 car with 54,000km is on sale for €15,900. This gap illustrates the problem with valuing a car in today's market. A 2007 saloon with 28,000km is on offer for €15,950.
- STAR RATING:7/10