24 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

If it wasn’t for the suspension I’d say get the ST. 😛

There are so many hot hatches and sports cars I wish I could own but will probably never be able to.  Have always had to settle for grandad spec instead.

 

29 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

If it wasn’t for the suspension I’d say get the ST. 😛

Yes, I guess the economics won't justify it but it's a shame they can't offer a version more suitable for the average UK road surface as well as the "hardcore" version.

Hyundai originally did that with the i30n, with a "basic" version with a bit less power, 18" instead of 19" wheels and more compliant suspension. It was the better version for normal use imo, but as the salesman told me when I had test drives, most people (over 95% of sales apparently) just went straight for the Performance as they thought it was " top of the range" and therefore "the best". The standard has since been dropped, which, sadly, proves the point I suppose.

 

 

I'd have an st if it had a proper comfort mode that softened everything when the family is in the car.  But all the reviews say that the ST only has hard, rock hard and I've snapped my spine modes.

33 minutes ago, Guy Heaton said:

I'd have an st if it had a proper comfort mode that softened everything when the family is in the car.  But all the reviews say that the ST only has hard, rock hard and I've snapped my spine modes.

The problem is the ridiculous rubber band tyres...I'm sure the manufacturers are pushing it as far as they can for a laugh now...  235/35/19!?  Might as well just paint the rubber straight onto the rim.

No amount of adaptive suspension can overcome the lack of sidewall on a rough road.  That was the issue I had with the Leon a month ago... . 

 

4 hours ago, Guy Heaton said:

Yes, for me the biggest luxury a car can have is the feeling of effortless acceleration.  Which is why I like autos and why EVs interest me.

That's why I got a motor bike for the acceleration rush and a Mondeo to plod around at 45-50mph while  doing 65mpg.

Certainly a rush to 60mph in 3 secs and apparently  160mph not much longer after. That's super car acceleration territory. 

What’s left of fords medium size car range , if it were 18 months ago I wouldn’t have gone near a ford. In another 18 months I’ll be looking elsewhere. A shame cause I like the current car I have. 

9 hours ago, Alex.S said:

What’s left of fords medium size car range , if it were 18 months ago I wouldn’t have gone near a ford. In another 18 months I’ll be looking elsewhere. A shame cause I like the current car I have. 

In one word "Puma" seems to be the new car in town. 

SUV's taking over as there's now way more choice from the majority of car manufacturers.

52 minutes ago, Wino said:

In one word "Puma" seems to be the new car in town. 

SUV's taking over as there's now way more choice from the majority of car manufacturers.

Yeah, looks as if it might even take over from the Fiesta as best selling Ford, from what I've read.

On Alex's point, the current VW medium range (Golf, A3,Leon, etc) I find equally unappealing. Had a Leon and A3 in the past but wouldn't bother now.

Difference is they have a blossoming electric range which they are plugging heavily (sorry!) while Ford have .........the Mustang Mach E.

I still don't like the new Puma...thought it might grow on me but hasn't so far!

Small SUVs are definitely the way forward over traditional midsized hatches I reckon...  Most people buy them for easier child access & storage, or easier driver access due to ailments.  With the running costs and purchase price being similar it makes conventional hatches seem a bit redundant.  I considered the Renault Kadjar myself, well specced and well priced, but sadly only 100bhp TCe engine let it down for me.

Also agreed on the new Golf and Leon being pretty dull...  I tried to spec a new Golf for price difference against Focus but can't find an exact equivalent.  I can only assume the Style is roughly the same as my Match, but with less spec, less tyre sidewall and torsion beam suspension...eurgh... 

I tried the Audi A3 and could barely get in and out of it without banging my head on the door frame itself. So that was a no and didn't even bother with test drive. Q3 driving position felt odd as if you was sitting facing slightly to the left. The T-roc R-Line was slightly underpowered but it was only the 1.6TDI and part of me still niggles that I should of tried the 2.0TDI or perhaps the 1.5 petrol (150bhp) but had read about the roo issues with the petrol and would of had to pay (Shudder) for fuel at the time. 

Still keep looking on carporn (cargurus to us) so unless a good alternative comes along. It looks like the Focus is staying for a bit yet.

2 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Also agreed on the new Golf and Leon being pretty dull...  

It''s not just dullness that puts me off (though I can't say I'm thrilled), but the use of touch screens for virtually everything - at least with a Ford you can still (so far) alter the heating etc with knobs and buttons!😀 

(I did see the other day that serious safety concerns are now being raised about touch screens. Research by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) showed that being at the drink drive limit slowed drivers reaction times by 12%, while using Android Auto and Apple Car Play via a screen increased it by 57% and 63% respectively. TRL research showed that even using voice control was still more distracting than driving at the drink drive limit.

A test of 20 in-car screens by What Car?  magazine showed that they were all worse than physical buttons in terms of time taken to complete an action.

All this is an equal - or worse - problem with most electric cars also, of course.)

17 hours ago, Alex.S said:

What’s left of fords medium size car range , if it were 18 months ago I wouldn’t have gone near a ford. In another 18 months I’ll be looking elsewhere. A shame cause I like the current car I have. 

Yep, you and me both.  I'd have another of mine if they still made them.  I just don't like SUVs, the look, the drive, anything really so not sure where I'll be in 10 years time when that's all there is.

I agree with Eric too.  I think touch screens have their place but basic functions should always be manual.

4 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

It''s not just dullness that puts me off (though I can't say I'm thrilled), but the use of touch screens for virtually everything - at least with a Ford you can still (so far) alter the heating etc with knobs and buttons!😀 

I'm in 2 minds with this...  I seem to be constantly fiddling with the heater knob on the Golf due to it's lack of climate...  Never understand why they fit the heat dial on the far left either, that's the one that gets used most surely!  It's one of the most annoying things on the car for me...I'm more likely to die turning the heating up than changing track on the infotainment!

I'm kind of hoping I won't have to be fiddling with climate control... 

Aside from the screens in the Mk8 Golf, I thought it looked pretty cheap and dated inside.  Not what I was expecting at all from a complete model change.

 

 

I still find it odd in the Focus that the passenger side of dual heating only comes on and you have to manually press or turn the dial for the drivers side to come on. 

Often my feet and toes are almost frozen in this cold weather by the time I get to work. 

3 hours ago, Wino said:

Often my feet and toes are almost frozen in this cold weather by the time I get to work. 

Lol yes, I drove diesels for many years and was often still cold when I got to work. Certainly one advantage I've found with the little 1.0 ecoboost is it gets nice and toasty very quickly in cold weather😀.

9 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Lol yes, I drove diesels for many years and was often still cold when I got to work. Certainly one advantage I've found with the little 1.0 ecoboost is it gets nice and toasty very quickly in cold weather😀.

2.0 TDI should've had a PTC heater to aid cabin warm up.  Though I think it only comes on if you set heat to max.  That's partly why I'm always fiddling!  Have to set to max initially, then after a few minutes a tidal wave of heat blasts into the cabin and I have to quickly turn it down!  Of course I always go too far and it gets too cold instead...   

 

13 hours ago, Wino said:

I still find it odd in the Focus that the passenger side of dual heating only comes on and you have to manually press or turn the dial for the drivers side to come on. 

I noticed that in the Mk4 too...thought it must have been user error!  

We shouldn't moan really as we're a bit spoiled these days. My first car (old Mini) luckily had the heater which was an option when the car was new. It was recirculation only, no fresh air, so the car steamed up really quickly, and was on or off so you had to try and balance the temperature between roasting and freezing!😀

6 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

2.0 TDI should've had a PTC heater to aid cabin warm up.  Though I think it only comes on if you set heat to max.  That's partly why I'm always fiddling!  Have to set to max initially, then after a few minutes a tidal wave of heat blasts into the cabin and I have to quickly turn it down!  Of course I always go too far and it gets too cold instead...   

 

I noticed that in the Mk4 too...thought it must have been user error!  

Will have another fiddle around with it tomorrow when we go shopping. I'm almost certain that even if you leave it on and switch the car off it comes back on with passenger only as default. Almost as annoying as the Mk3 was with putting the aircon on as soon as you switched the heaters on towards windscreen 🙄

 

11 minutes ago, Wino said:

Will have another fiddle around with it tomorrow when we go shopping. I'm almost certain that even if you leave it on and switch the car off it comes back on with passenger only as default. Almost as annoying as the Mk3 was with putting the aircon on as soon as you switched the heaters on towards windscreen 🙄

 

My MK4 doesn't do that....

If I switch the blower/heater on via the illuminated button (1/7) in the centre console only the passenger side dial lights up and I have to press or turn the drivers side temp dial for it to come on. 

Are you saying yours is different Alex ? 

5 minutes ago, Wino said:

If I switch the blower/heater on via the illuminated button (1/7) in the centre console only the passenger side dial lights up and I have to press or turn the drivers side temp dial for it to come on. 

Are you saying yours is different Alex ? 

Mine is on all the time, but in any interactions with it, it's always behaved the same as my Mk3/Mk3.5.

I turn everything off before shutting down the car. Have done since the battery drained at first lockdown back in March / April.

2 minutes ago, Wino said:

I turn everything off before shutting down the car. Have done since the battery drained at first lockdown back in March / April.

If the car is working as it should it does all that itself so it won't make any difference.

The only time I had a fault with battery drain was the modem and you've no manual control over that anyway

Yeah my MK4 doesn't do that.

Anyone know how long it takes to build a car from 'segmentation'?

Been given an estimate of 6-8 weeks which seems a long time to bolt a few bits together?