Hello all,

 

New around here but after browsing the forum I thought this might be a good place to ask a question.

I`m looking to purchase a new Ford Focus mk4, but the data on the web is so conflicting when it comes to reliability, there are a lot of complaints from the Mk3 automatic gearbox that the oweral car seems to be crappy, although I have met multiple owners of the mk3 that really loved the car. So I was wondering if the owners of the mk4 would recommend it to a new car buyer.

 

Basically if you would have the chance to buy the car again, and start over would you?

 

And if were on the subject, could any of the owners for the 1.5 182 hp share there millage with me, just to get real honest figure. Of course I understand that millage depends on driving style but then again when you poll multiple answers you get an estimate.

 

Thanks in advance ladys and gents, hope to get replies soon.

Mk3 upto late 2016 used PowerShift automatic - could be problematic, but got better in the later years (2015+) with various s/w and clutch pack upgrades.

Mk3.5 after Nov2016 (or 2017 to be 100% sure) switched to 6 Speed Torque Converter automatic. No problems here. Good gearbox. This is what I have.

Mk4 1.5 182 uses 8 Speed Torque Converter automatic. No problems reported (or expected really).

Mk3.5 1.5 182 is a four cylinder engine. Very nice, but a little thirsty around town (around 25-30mpg). This engine is a joy really.

Mk4 1.5 182 uses a three cylinder engine. No issues reported yet. If it's an improvement on the mk3.5, then should be pretty much unbeatable for this type of engine.

On all accounts, apart from some initial teething problems (s/w, speaker rattles etc), the Mk4 seems to be well reviewed, and well liked by owners.

However, they are getting pretty expensive for a Ford Focus. The higher spec versions are BMW 1 series / Audi A3 money.

 

Issue at present is you don't seem to be able to buy one. Afaik the 1.5 has been dropped, the most powerful petrol (other than the ST) being the 1.0 155ps mhev. The only petrol auto is the 125ps 1.0 (non-hybrid).

If the 155 mild hybrid was an option in automatic when I ordered my auto 182 (assuming 155ps is powerful enough) id go with the hybrid. Fuel economy is definitely a factor. 

I have one.  What Shamus has posted is a good sumup.  It's a good engine.

But you will only be able to get a prebuilt one now and there aren't many around now.  On Autotrader I can see one 182 vignale and a few 150s and that's it.  They will have been sitting in a dealer compound for a long time too   Plenty of low mileage nearly new though.

Right now there are only 2 auto Focuses you can get new from factory.  A 125bhp and the 280bhp ST.

23 hours ago, carmenmoha said:

Hello all,

 

New around here but after browsing the forum I thought this might be a good place to ask a question.

I`m looking to purchase a new Ford Focus mk4, but the data on the web is so conflicting when it comes to reliability, there are a lot of complaints from the Mk3 automatic gearbox that the oweral car seems to be crappy, although I have met multiple owners of the mk3 that really loved the car. So I was wondering if the owners of the mk4 would recommend it to a new car buyer.

 

Basically if you would have the chance to buy the car again, and start over would you?

 

And if were on the subject, could any of the owners for the 1.5 182 hp share there millage with me, just to get real honest figure. Of course I understand that millage depends on driving style but then again when you poll multiple answers you get an estimate.

 

Thanks in advance ladys and gents, hope to get replies soon.

To the non technical part of your question my answer would be no. 

Had my mk 4 st line x just over a year and tbh all in all I wish id kept hold of my 2014 MK3.

For me the paint is woefully thin already have two stone chips on drivers door and one large one just above the front grill.  

Stop start very rarely works if at all.

Too many rattles on uneven roads. HUD and infotainment screen and glove box.

Already had a new battery ar just under 10 months old after not using the car for 2 weeks.

It doesn't fill me with much hope now I'm only travelling 7 miles a day so i can see another new battery shortly once the darker months arrive.

No where near as good on fuel as the last one. Currently at 55 mpg from an easily obtained 63 mpg in the previous one.

Plus points....its looks nice ......

To be fair I've had no issues with mine in 14 months, 7600 miles.  My SS hardly works but that doesn't bother me, saves me having to switch it off.  When it does work the fact that you can control it off the brake pedal is really useful I think.

I have to say though that unless Ford bring out a decent mid-range power auto, preferably hybrid, I won't be getting another.  It's a nice car but not that nice.

.

Hei, thank you for your replies, that was helpful. But what about other issues, did you have any, some of your guys mentiones could be done under warranty

On 9/5/2020 at 3:04 PM, Wino said:

To the non technical part of your question my answer would be no. 

Had my mk 4 st line x just over a year and tbh all in all I wish id kept hold of my 2014 MK3.

For me the paint is woefully thin already have two stone chips on drivers door and one large one just above the front grill.  

Stop start very rarely works if at all.

Too many rattles on uneven roads. HUD and infotainment screen and glove box.

Already had a new battery ar just under 10 months old after not using the car for 2 weeks.

It doesn't fill me with much hope now I'm only travelling 7 miles a day so i can see another new battery shortly once the darker months arrive.

No where near as good on fuel as the last one. Currently at 55 mpg from an easily obtained 63 mpg in the previous one.

Plus points....its looks nice ......

To be fair, in terms of the battery issue it's likely you'd have problems with a lot of modern cars if you're only making short journeys.  On short journeys the battery doesn't get a chance to recover from starting the car, partly because all the extra powered gadgets and electrical systems on modern cars cost/use power.

 

I agree that it's a shame about the rattles (build quality issues) as I think the ST Line X in certain colours looks rather striking in certain colours from the front e.g. magnetic grey.

I don’t see why they (Ford) can’t fit a battery capable of powering ALL the features on the cars they’ve made. Why create something they know won’t work 100%? 
BTW throughout lockdown, before and since , short journeys only , my s/s has worked pretty much every time. 

1 minute ago, Alex.S said:

I don’t see why they (Ford) can’t fit a battery capable of powering ALL the features on the cars they’ve made. Why create something they know won’t work 100%? 
BTW throughout lockdown, before and since , short journeys only my s/s has worked pretty much every time. 

It's not just modern Ford's it seems to be the curse of many a new car these days.

 

Incidentally it's not just about battery size, even with a massively oversized battery if it's consistently being depleted each journey it'll eventually end up flat/knackered.

I’d read that. Works for some not for others regardless of the manufacturer. 

Powering s/s must be nothing compared to the batteries in electric / hybrid cars. 

Just now, Alex.S said:

I’d read that. Works for some not for others regardless of the manufacturer. 

Strangely, some people (generally) seem to not have any problems making loads of short journeys and other go through a battery every 18 months?!? 

Electric cars won’t have this issue. Maybe that’s why it’s not been dealt with in petrol/diesel cars. 

10 hours ago, Alex.S said:

Powering s/s must be nothing compared to the batteries in electric / hybrid cars. 

Full electric cars use 350+ volts and lithium batteries.  Not the crappy little 12v lead acid thing we've been using for the last 50 years.  

Hybrids is an interesting one though...most cars are going mild hybrid as a bit of a gimmick at the minute...they use 48v batteries which are more than adequate for starting the engine, but as far as I know, they all still come with a conventional 12v starter battery as well.  Being ICE, they still come with stop start, so it will be interesting to see how long the 12v batteries last on those! 

 

I think something people forget or maybe don't know about stop start, is that it won't kick in during DPF regen on diesels.  Euro 6 cars need regens more often than even Euro 5 cars, so some of these will be occurring when you come to a stop.  In fact, regen is about the only time my SS doesn't kick in!  I'd suggest the same will be true of GPF regens on the models that now have GPFs...