Soft top heaven for cool dudes

September 23rd, 2012

ONE person’s dream car is another’s nightmare, so which of those is this to you?

WHEN FORD’s innovative little Ka was first unveiled there were gasps of derision, and many observers believed it would retire to an early grave.

Looking not unlike a mobile teapot, it proved to be a car ahead of its time, and when we got used to the look of the thing its finer points began to be appreciated.

A master of packaging, and a driver’s delight, those who were brave enough to take the plunge were well rewarded.

Now such cars are almost the norm. Indeed, in comparison to truly wacky stuff such as Suzuki’s Wagon R, the Ka seems quite tame.

What is perhaps most surprising of all, however, is that the Ka is now about to achieve cult status with the arrival of the cabriolet Ka.

Designed to become the ultimate rag-top for cool dudes, the Ka lends itself to the open-top styling concept brilliantly, and as the most afFORDable of all convertibles, it will have particular appeal to younger buyers.

It costs just £12,495 in standard form, or £13,645 for the so-called Luxury version, with leather upholstery and air con.

However, whilst there is no denying its obvious attractiveness, there is the little matter of the new smart Roadster Coupe, and also Daihatsu’s trendy new Copen to contend with.

Whose dream car?Absolutely anyone who wants the very latest head-turning convertible car at what is currently the most afFORDable price of all.

Whose nightmare?Those wishing to carry more than one passenger, and possibly a suitcase to boot.

Posted in KA | Comments Off

Totally focused

September 21st, 2012

IT MUST be difficult for FORD to stay on top of the best-seller game, but with its latest advances in technology the Focus has even more to offer fleet owners.

For FORD has realised the impact it has on the company car market and introduced FORD Fleet Telematics.

This state-of-the-art system was fitted to the two-litre Zetec model supplied for the test drive and boasts a whole range of advantages by providing accurate vehicle location information.

Basically using the latest cellular telephone technology with satellite systems and an on-board black box communication unit, fleet managers can monitor a vast range of information from their base on a computer.

This information includes constant tracking of the vehicle, assisting drivers with time sheet reports on start, end and delivery times, street mapping, stolen vehicle tracking and vehicle alarm monitoring.

On top of these latest advances, the Focus still epitomises great value for money.

At £13,350, the test model performed extremely well, was comfortable, all-round visibilty was excellent, and it felt totally reliable – something you can always bank on with a FORD.

The Focus is available in three, four and five-door models, together with estate versions, and there is a choice of five petrol and three diesel engines to select from.

The Zetec comes complete with a host of top quality items including power-assisted steering, sports style seats, sports suspension, 15-inch spoke alloy wheels and an attractive graphite-effect instrument cluster control system with red pointers.

Safety and security are issues that have been addressed too, with impact crumple zones and a steel safety cage design to protect the driver and passengers, airbags and immobiliser.

It is a roomy vehicle with plenty of leg room, storage space and an amply sized boot that can easily hold a family’s suitcases.

The car is ideal for single, family or business usage, which explains why the Focus has proved such a resounding success since its introduction.

The company describes the Focus as ‘a car that does what you want, when you want it’ and in fairness they are spot on with their assessment.

FAST FACTS

FORD Focus 2.0 Zetec 3-dr

Price: £13,350

Mechanical: 130bhp, 1,988cc 4 cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-spd manual gearbox

Max speed: 125mph

0-62mph: 9.2 secs

Combined mpg: 32.8

Insurance group: 8

CO2 emissions: 204g/km

BiK rating: 24%

Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 12yrs anti-rust

Posted in FOCUS | Comments Off

Ford’s focus on the sporting life

September 19th, 2012

DESPITE high fuel costs and increasing speed restrictions membership of the hot hatch sector continues to expand.

The FORD Focus ST is the latest name in the frame created to tempt buyers seeking decent pace, superb handling with plenty of driver satisfaction coupled and a good helping of day-to-day motoring comfort and practicality.

This latest example of FORD’s ST brand – which translates as Sports Technologies – is designed to maintain the combination of performance and afFORDability pioneered by the Blue Oval since those heady days of the FORD Escort Mexico, XR3 and RS Turbo.

On sale from January 1, three trim levels are available – ST, ST2 and ST3 – each with progressively more generous levels of standard kit.

The entry level ST includes air con, electric front windows, electrically operated and heated door mirrors with integral indicators, powered tailgate release, six-speaker sound system with CD, six airbags and ABS braking with electronic brake force distribution (EBD).

The Focus ST2 adds an MP3-compatible Sony radio with CD, heated front windscreen and an electronic stability programme (ESP)while the flagship ST3 also includes full leather trim, electric ten-way adjustable front seats, plus a Sony six CD autochanger.

Unlike one of its main rivals, the Vauxhall Astra VXR, FORD’s latest hot one is offered in three or five-door guise and, in either form, is comfortably spacious in all parts. The boot is hugely accommodating.

Neither is it a stripped-out road-runner. The Recaro-style front seats are comfortably supportive and the driver’s manual seat height adjust in ST1 and ST2, combines well with the reach and rake of the steering wheel.

The dash and centre console are neatly laid out and there is an extra trio of dials housed in a pod above the facia.

To get noticed from the outside, some vibrant colours are on offer including Performance Blue, Panther Black, Colorado Red, and Sea Grey – colours which can also be specified for matching seat inserts.

The jury is still out over the so-called eye-catching Electric Orange which may become an acquired taste.

The ST is distinguished from the regular Focus with a larger front grille on top of a distinctive air intake flanked by front fog lamps, a roof-mounted rear spoiler, twin chrome-trimmed exhaust pipes and ST motif. This is a muscular performer which signals its sporting intent with a lowered ride height and 18-inch cast aluminium wheels shod with wide, low profile tyres.

Whichever trim level you choose, under the bonnet is a powerfully persuasive 2.5-litre turbo five-cylinder petrol engine originally developed by another part of the FORD empire – Volvo.

Paired with a well-ratioed and slick six-speed manual gear change, the engine uses its 220bhp to good effect, responding sharply to throttle movement to deliver some effortlessly fast and refined progress.

Capable of the 0-62mph dash in 6.8 seconds with a top speed of 150mph, the Focus ST is also user and environmentally friendly, returning, an average of around 30mpg over the combined driving cycle.

The standard Focus is already arguably the ace hatchback in the art of handling and, with stiffer springing, reworked dampers and rally car-type bracing in the front suspension, the ST takes the performance level a stage further.

It eagerly responds to the communicative, pin-sharp electro-hydraulic power steering to provide even more athleticism with fine balance and grip when linking together a series of twisty bits while the larger brakes with high performance pads prove equal to the task of reining in the power when required.

Overall, the Focus ST is a fine performance car which hasn’t lost sight of the fact that there are likely to be more occupants on board than just the driver.

Pricing for the three-door range opens up at £17,495 and the five-door starts at £18,095 with a £1,000 premium over the entry level models for the ST2 and ST3 in each category, which should make the Focus ST extremely competitive when facing up to quality rivals such as the VW Golf GTI and the Vauxhall Astra VXR.

Posted in FOCUS | Comments Off

Designer label for Mondeo man

September 19th, 2012

HERE IT IS – the car reps all over Britain have been waiting for … the next generation FORD Mondeo.

And the car which coined the phrase “Mondeo man” now comes with a designer label.

These are the first pictures of FORD’s all-new repmobile which will take to the roads next year and they reveal an exciting and dynamic new family look which has been created under the direction of the company’s new British design director Martin Smith.

Labelled “kinetic” design, this new corporate look was first revealed in the stunning iosis concept coupe which was Smith’s first design project for FORD after joining the company from General Motors last year.

And the stylish new Mondeo features many key design elements from that concept.

Ultimately this ‘kinetic’ look will be carried through all new FORD models to give Blue Oval products the same distinctive family appearance as those of Audi.

In the new Mondeo, the main feature of this new design language is the deeply sculpted and angular front end that will set an approaching Mondeo apart from any of its rivals.

FORD will reveal the third generation Mondeo to the public at the Paris Motor Show next week but, significantly, it will be seen initially in estate form because this is the model the company considers to be the most eye-catching, with its swept-down rear end topped by a sporty roof spoiler.

However, the cutting-edge design theme will be carried over to the hatchback and saloon models, all of which are expected here before the end of 2007.

The new Mondeo will be built in Belgium alongside the S-Max and Galaxy models as part of FORD’s Shared Technology programme in which common parts are used to reduce costs.

When the new cars arrive they will be the latest incarnation of a range that has attracted four million buyers throughout Europe, become a favourite with British reps and business users and even coined the phrase “Mondeo man”.

It will herald the introduction of several new technologies in a FORD car for the first time including a new generation of infotainment system with what FORD calls its Human Machine Interface.

This system uses the same steering wheel toggle switches as those already seen in the Galaxy and S-Max but adds a large LCD screen with full colour graphics.

At this stage the company is revealing few specific details of the cars but is hinting that they will be even roomier than the current models, which are already among the most spacious in their class.

There will be a full line-up of engines including FORD’s two-litre TDCi diesel and also a high-performance 2.5-litre turbocharged unit to enable top-of-the-range models to compete against prestige German rivals from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

There will also be entry-level models offering less expensive 1.6-litre petrol power plus a 1.8-litre diesel that promises exceptional economy for a large family model.

FORD says it is determined to raise the stakes as far as quality is concerned with the new Mondeo, which will be competing against worthy rivals such as the Toyota Avensis, Honda Accord and Vauxhall’s much-improved Vectra.

It represents a European investment of half a billion pounds at a time when the company is facing major problems in its native America and is being forced to undergo a massive restructuring programme that will impact upon its UK operations too.

And, as John Fleming, chief executive of FORD in Europe, points out: “The new Mondeo is critical to the FORD of Europe business.”

Posted in MONDEO | Comments Off

Mondeo man’s still on to a winner

September 11th, 2012

ONE person’s dream car is another’s nightmare, so which of those is this to you?

I have just parted company with a car that is one of the UK’s most popular – or common – depending upon your point of view.

It was a FORD Mondeo, which I must admit was one seriously impressive piece of kit. The Mondeo has been a much maligned motorcar for many years, mainly because it is a victim of it’s own success.

There are so many around that they are dismissed as repmobiles – a fate which could be awaiting BMW’s 3 Series, which now out-sells the FORD.

The huge advantage of the Mondeo is that as a consequence of its high sales and low image, they are plentiful on the nearly-new market at afFORDable prices, and cost relatively little to run.

The one I had was a 1.8-litre SCi Ghia with a sticker price of £17,690, and a real-world transaction price of about £2,000 less.

Let someone else suffer the new-car depreciation, and after just a few months there is a further £2,000 off, giving you a magnificent family hatchback for a mere £14,000 or so.

This is fantastic stuff, but it gets even better with the diesel, which is the best Mondeo of all. Opt for the impressive 113bhp six-speed Zetec hatchback at about £15,000 and you have a car for life.

It is roomy, well-built and handsome, with a brilliant combination of 120mph performance and 50mpg economy. Pound for pound, absolutely nothing gives you more.

Whose dream car? Families looking for the most metal for the money, because little else comes close.

Whose nightmare? Individualists who like to think that their’s is the only car of its type on the road.

Posted in MONDEO | Comments Off

Fiesta tops charts in September rush

August 20th, 2012

CAR industry chiefs are celebrating better-than-expected sales in September – even though fewer cars were registered than in the same month last year.

Although sales were 0.7 per cent down, they were considerably higher than industry expectations fuelled by an increase in fleet sales and a strong private market.

“September registrations were some 20,000 units higher than we expected and this has got the 56 plate off to a racing start,” says SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan. “Traditionally an exciting time for buyers, September private registrations were on a par with last year’s volumes. In respect of the overall market to date, although fuel price increases have eased, their volatility, along with concerns over possible interest rate rises, continues to affect customer confidence.”

The Ford Fiesta was September’s best seller – its first time at the top of sales charts since March 2000 – knocking its stablemate, the Focus, off the top slot for only the third time in the past six and half years.

It was a good month all round for superminis, with five models in the top ten and volumes up 10.4 per cent to ensure net growth over the year-to-date. The only other sectors showing growth this year have been luxury saloons and MPVs.

Posted in FIESTA | Comments Off

Silver’s the new Red

August 13th, 2012

IN WHAT will probably go down as one of motoring’s oddest marketing ploys, Ford has launched a new special edition model called Red … which is only actually available painted in silver, black or grey.

The new Streetka Red gets its name from the fact that the interior is specially finished with red leather on the seats and trim.

Just 500 of them will be available at £13,995 on the road and, as well as the leather, each features £200 worth of extras – a “Quickclear” heated front windscreen, cockpit windbreak and Streetka-branded carpet mats – as standard.

Posted in STREETKA | Comments Off

Fiesta love affair carries on

July 2nd, 2012

LONG in the tooth maybe, but the Ford Fiesta still has a lot to offer those with very specific requirements. If you enjoy driving you really will love the Fiesta. It is a wonderfully direct device that has loads of grip and very fast, yet accurate steering. Throw it into a corner and it will take you safely out the other side.

Around town it is at least responsive as the ride is firm and over rough tarmac you will feel every bump. The 1.3-litre engine has been around for a very long time and can still do its stuff but it is painfully slow, so you might like to consider the more up to date 1.25, though you will pay more for it.

UsedCarExpert.com list ten recalls and 16 common faults to look out for and avoid when buying. Here are three key points:

Check 1: Spark plugs (1.3 engines only)

Examine the paperwork for the last service to establish if the spark plugs were changed and/or copper greased. If technically experienced, gently try to remove a spark plug, keeping the spanner completely straight. If the plugs are not removed once per year and copper greased, they stick in. When removing them, the slightest angle with the spanner can result in them snapping. The head then has to be sent away to have them removed.

Check 2: Bulkhead leaks

Inspect the front carpets to see if they are wet or smelling of damp. Wet front carpets is normally due to a leak between the windscreen and bulkhead, where there is insufficient sealant. Ford provide an additional plastic cover that fits under the bonnet on the nearside of the bulkhead.

Check 3: Electrics

Check that the switches on the dash and steering column all work. In particular check that the dashboard and sidelights work, when turned on. When the switchgear fails, headlights and indicators often work, but the car loses dashboard and headlights.

The 1.3 remains one of the cheapest cars to run with group 4 insurance and the sort of simplicity that keeps servicing costs to a minimum. According to Wisebuyer’s Car Price Magazine a 1.25 LX 5-door from 2001 is £3,000.

NOTE TO SUBS: Please delete data for the areas in which you have no interest

1997 P Reg Ford FIESTA 1.3, £595, 90,000 miles,

Lyons Cars Limited, (01260) 276088.

1998 S Reg Ford FIESTA 1.2, £1,695, 28,000 miles,

Ashbank Garage, (01782) 302426.

1999 S Reg Ford FIESTA 1.3 Finesse, £1,995, 46,000 miles,

MRM of Fenton, (01782) 317657.

2001 Y Reg Ford FIESTA 1.3 Fun, £1,395 ono, MOA,

Gateshead Car Sales, 0191 4772340.

51 Reg Ford FIESTA 1.3, £2,990, 32,000 miles,

PeartMorots, www.peartmotors.co.uk.

2000 X Reg Ford FIESTA 1.3 FINESSE, £2,694, 50,000 miles,

Dukes Moor Garage, 0191 2135225.

02 Reg Ford FIESTA FREESTYLE, £2,995, 47,000 miles,

Roman Road, 01642 829098.

Y Reg Ford Fiesta 1.25 Freestyle, £3,495, 29,000 miles,

Linthorpe Motors, 01642 816706.

R Reg Ford Fiesta 1.25, £1,295, 67,000 miles,

Dalmatian Cars, 01642 633772.

V Reg Ford FIESTA 1.25, £2,295, 60,000 miles,

Park View Cars, 01484 455422.

1996 P Reg Ford FIESTA 1.3, £995, 68,970 miles,

Stonebridge Cars, 07786 446216.

51 Reg Ford FIESTA 1.6 Zetec S, £3,999, 47,367 miles,

Best Price Car, 0870 4134580.

51 Reg Ford FIESTA 1.3 Flight, £3,495, 14,100 miles,

Dickens Peugeot, 01244 336565.

1999 T Reg Ford FIESTA 1.25 LX, £2,495, 60,000 miles,

J M Motors, 01244 536594.

1999 V Reg Ford FIESTA 1.25, £2,695, 44,000 miles,

Chapmans, 01244 288388.

1997 Ford FIESTA 1.25 FLIGHT, £1,095, 69500 miles,

Private, 07765 258439.

2001 Y Reg Ford FIESTA 1.25, £3,495, 36,022 miles,

Penny Lane Motor Co, (0151) 7331001.

1998 S Reg Ford FIESTA 1.4 Si, £1,490, MOA,

Liverpool Motors, (0151) 2636667.

02 Reg Ford FIESTA 1.8 D LX, £3,590, 69000 miles,

Cheylesmore Cars Sales, 02476 505656.

2000 Ford FIESTA 1.25 Zetec, £1,900, 51,000 miles,

Private, 07855 637373.

2000 W Reg Ford FIESTA 1.25, £2,495, 67,000 miles,

CCC, (024) 76637111.

1999 T Reg Ford FIESTA 1.4, £2,195, 32,000 miles,

CrawFords Cars, (01527) 832321.

1998 Ford Fiesta 1.3 LX, £1,495, 77,000 miles,

Private, 07875 268014.

1996 Ford FIESTA 1.3i LX, £900, 101,700 miles,

Private, 0121 4539552.

2000 W Reg Ford FIESTA 1.3, £2,495, MOA,

Leckworth Motor Co, 029 20350340.

2001 Y Reg Ford FIESTA 1.3, £3,995, MOA,

1st Avenus Car Sales, (029) 20473474.

1998 S Reg Ford FIESTA 1.25 Si, £1,895, 63,000 miles,

Three Elms Motor Company, 07970 570242.

2000 X Reg Ford FIESTA 1.25, £2,495, 68,000 miles,

ICM Direct, 01189 574111.

2002 Ford FIESTA 1.3, £3,000, 26,000 miles,

Private, 07738 929306.

1997 Ford FIESTA 1.4 GHIA, £1,550, 44,000 miles,

Private, (0118) 9474966

Latest Ford Deals

Ford Facebook Wall

Posted in FIESTA | Comments Off

Subtle changes mask a big plus for Mondeo-man

May 10th, 2012

YOU CAN feel and hear if not see the difference in the latest Ford Mondeo SCi.

A staggering 1,500 altered parts have created the new car but it’s what you do not see that has improved it.

The new direct injection petrol engine is not only more efficient and less polluting but it needs only the lower grade unleaded fuel instead of the usual high octane unleaded.

The cheaper fuel, cleaner exhaust and approximately seven per cent extra economy combine to give both immediate and long-term cost of ownership and company car tax improvements.

It is a development of the familiar Duratec engine but with modified head and injection system developed in association with Bosch.

Ford has put a premium price on the 130 bhp 1.8-litre engine but the cost-per-mile savings mean it starts to pay for itself in 18 months. Long before then, the dedicated Mondeo-man will have appreciated the added refinements and sophistication.

With its new six-speed manual gear box, the Mondeo SCi is appreciably quieter and the gear changes are particularly smooth.

Acceleration from low speed is good if a little noisy as higher revs are reached, but cruising is an altogether calmer affair than in the familiar 1.8.

Inside, there’s more use of real wood, high grade leather and more thoughtful soft-feel plastic trim.

The new car is the first in its class to offer ‘chilled seats’ and a sophisticated Sony audio system with Blaupunkt Travelpilot coming later this year. These features join an equipment package which includes air conditioning, rain sensing wipers and the option of rear seat DVD systems.

But the latest Mondeo SCi is more than just a face lift because the nips and tucks treatment includes more radical changes.

Behind the new larger door mirrors, fog-lights, door handles and interior revisions lie more fundamental features intended to enhance driving enjoyment and ownership.

Driving one of the first Mondeo SCi models I noticed a better riding and handling car with appreciably lower noise levels at motorway speed. These benefits would be immediately obvious to owners of the current car.

The new model is a determined effort by Ford to lift the pace in the race for sales.

Behind the scenes a cut in production of 11,000 cars to the end of the year anticipates an expected European decline in sales, and at the same time should hopefully strengthen future residual values.

Whether or not the production cuts and the overall model improvements will lift values, only time will tell, but for now the Ford Mondeo SCi is a significant step down a long road.

The 1.8 SCi direct-injection petrol engine will be offered in Ghia trim from £17,500 and Ghia X from £19,700.

Fords for sale

Latest Ford Deals

Posted in MONDEO | Comments Off

The awesome Focus ST

April 22nd, 2012

ONE person’s dream car is another’s nightmare so which of those is Ford’s Focus ST to you?

IT is an awesome package on paper – a compact car with a 2.5-litre engine turbocharged to generate 222bhp.

With an asking price of £17,500 this makes for a supercar that is afFordable to many motorists with the added benefit of everyday practicality.

Unsurprisingly the performance is impressive, with acceleration from rest to 60mph in just six and a half seconds and a top speed of 150mph.

With 235lb/ft of pulling power on tap and a six-speed manual shifter the rate of mid-range movement is not to be sniffed at either.

Of course any clever dick can shove an unfeasibly large engine beneath the bonnet of anything small enough to accommodate it but that does not guarantee a good performance car.

In the case of the Focus ST, however, it works well up to a point.

The power can be exploited pretty ruthlessly thanks to a capable suspension system which manages to endow it with sufficient comfort for every day use and enough damping when winding up the power.

The trademark burnt orange colour may not be to everyone’s liking but thankfully there are slightly more subtle reds and blues to choose from.

Economy can be as low as 20mpg and then there is the insurance premium to consider, but in this world you don’t get anything for nothing. There is always a pay-off.

Whose dream car? Anyone who wants a hot hatch to eclipse the new V6 Clio RenaultSport for precisely half the price of the indecently quick but infinitely desirable new Mitsubishi Evo X.

Whose nightmare? Anyone who already has nine points on their licence.

Fords for sale

Latest Ford Deals

Ford Facebook Wall

Posted in FOCUS | Comments Off

« Older Entries