Ford Focus, why are they so popular?

MrsE_2

goldspanners wrote: »

is your vitara not rear wheel drive when its not in 4 wheel mode?

Permanent 4WD

MrsE_2

pgilc1 wrote: »

No i dont have one, but i've driven one. One of the reasons why i wouldnt own one is because of the handling.

Relative to handling and drive, there are very few 4x4s that will match a focus - and the Vitara isnt one of them.

I don't know what the older models are like - except for a soft top bone shaker we hired in Turkey once:eek: Typical hire car:mad:

But the new shape are susposed to be very different cars to the older models they've had over the years.

tomstickland

A high vehicle is always going to struggle relative to a lower one. I found this when I followed a quad exhaust piped X5 through mid Wales in my old BMW 318iS. The X5 just couldn't go round corners at the same rate due to its extra mass and height.

vikingaero

Inactive wrote: »

Strange how everybody managed in far worse conditions, and before the introduction of FWD.;)

Before 4WD, most cars where RWD. But they weren't the 2 tonne + monsters we have today. And they didn't ride on phat 19, 20, 21 inch rims to impress Nigel in Sales and your next door neighbour.

Also tyres in pre-1970 were more like mud and snow tyres of today rather than the high performance, directional, asymmetric summer tyres of today.

Inactive

I agree with all of that other than perhaps the weight, many older cars weighed a huge amount due to their chassis structures, but yes, modern cars have been designed with " style over substance " no argument with that at all.

tomstickland

Since at least the early 70s production cars have been monocoque i.e: no chassis.
Weights went up from then until the early 2000s, some modern cars are finally plateauing on weight.

photome

mark5 wrote: »

Its probably a Focus style your driving as said its very basic.

I like the Focus personally, never owned one but driven a few.

If its new it will be the studio not the style. The Style has leather steering wheel and radio controls, the studio doesnt.

Does the Op have really short arms, so cant reach the stereo?

Edit at 5ft 4 prob does and prob cant reach the stereo, you shouldnt drive with seat right forward and upright or the airbag could be very harmful in an accident because of how close you are (applies in any car)

RobertoMoir

Inactive wrote: »

Strange how everybody managed in far worse conditions, and before the introduction of FWD.;)

When the winter weather was bad as a matter of routine then people had more practice at driving in the snow. And RWD wasn't coupled with stupid rims and lowered suspension.

kolin_2

I think it's because they are fun to drive. I've got a 1.8 TDDi LX 03 focus, it's quick, handles extraordinarily well, has a lot of space, and everything just seems to be in the right place, for a diesel, it feels quite light as well.

MrsE_2

Got my car back:j:j:j:j:j:j