Hi there, 

I have a Mk 2 2010 which is a car I use as a spare and for the purpose of limiting miles on our other cars. 

I bought it because it came up locally and was in ultra special, as new condition inside and out with only 36,000 miles. it has to be seen to be believed... 

 

Thats the car, the problem (MY PROBLEM) is: Im used to a soft, quiet ride..I know now that the Mk 2 zetec has sports suspension and there is the issue, there is nothing at all wrong with the car, its just as Ford intended and the drive is great fun when the fancy takes me to throw it around a roundabout and down a back lane. However, I am now doing a regular 90 mile trip up the A19 @ 70MPH and the same coming back and the cabin noise is too much for me. Its all tyre/road noise being transmitted through the springs into the body which again, is totally normal. One cannot have sports suspension and silence in a regular, mass market car after all..... When I bought the car, I had no idea that Zetec in a Mk 2 meant sports suspension. In fact, I didn't even give it a thought... 

 

For ref, tyres are all brand new and have now done about 1200 miles (I had them fitted the day I bought the car in March this year) they are the correct size, Pirelli 205/55/16 cinturato P7 and are all at bang on 30 PSI, the pressure recommended for 1 person and light luggage. 

Ill say again, there is NOTHING wrong here, I just want a quieter ride and I don't want to part with this gem of a car. 

So, all that said, are there recommendations on a full, off the shelf, softer suspension swap to utilise the same wheels and tyres (standard)? I expect (hope) that im looking just at springs but am prepared to do full strut swap up front and change the shocks at the rear as well as the springs... I want a new kit of parts and would keep the originals for future return to spec if required. 

I can do the work as I have a scissor lift or I can buy the parts and take to my local guy.

 

Thanks for your input

S

 

 

I sure Ford had quietly dropped the sports suspension set up from the Zetec by 2010 due to the introduction of the Zetec-S

It's noisy because it's a Zetec, not a Titanium and is missing lots of the soundproofing.

Not a lot you can do other than to drop to steel wheels which will be quieter.

31 minutes ago, DaveT70 said:

I sure Ford had quietly dropped the sports suspension set up from the Zetec by 2010 due to the introduction of the Zetec-S

It's noisy because it's a Zetec, not a Titanium and is missing lots of the soundproofing.

Not a lot you can do other than to drop to steel wheels which will be quieter.

Hi There, Thanks for that.

Not thought of the wheels really, Im happy to be educated on the how of that one if you can expand on it? I know the steelies will be lighter but would that reduce transmitted noise? If so, id be Happy to go the route. I did exactly that with a Smart Roadster a few years ago but that was for weight reduction on a fun car to make it even more fun. 

As for Zetec and Zetec S. you are totally on the ball there, ive got the brochure from 2010 and only Zetec S was equipped with the sport suspension from style to titanium ... HOWEVER Im not sure on my car because the sports suspension on the Zetec is "optional" as shown in the brochure and I think it is probably on the car. Certainly the car goes round roundabouts at high speed with zero body roll and phenomenal grip, zero steering correction once on the radius properly. It Handles like the modern mini we had a few years ago. Ive not driven a zetec S though so cant say for sure. 

Interesting on sound deadening, that may be an avenue to explore.....Or I could just change it for a titanium I suppose but that would be a shame as it is such a finely preserved example. 

 

If it was easy......LOL. 

Cheers

S

 

 

 

The Mk2.5 Titanium wasn't a quiet car either, especially if you're used to something German...

9 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

The Mk2.5 Titanium wasn't a quiet car either, especially if you're used to something German...

Ah, thanks for that, looks like ill just have to live with it then... no suspension tweak is going to help then as the titanium had soft suspension and sound dedening so if thats noisy, I cant make a 2.5 zetec less so. 

As I say, I bought it as it was just too good not to when I was looking for a spare car to limit my miles on the 2 brand new vehicles. 

Im used to a big soft tank of a 2019 Santa-fe and the wifes 2020 Zoe (serenely quiet) as well as my 2020 Renault traffic crew-cab which is itself a lot quieter than the focus on the fast A roads... Amazing but very true... 

Ill hit amazon for ear defenders instead 🙂 

 

Cheers

S

 

 

 

 

 

You could invest in some extra sound deadening such as Dynamat.  Particularly over the rear arches in the bootspace as that's where I found much of the cabin noise coming from.  It could also be the tyres, I haven't used those Pirellis myself.  Always chose 'quiet' tyres for my Mk2.

I'm sure "optional" sports suspension came with 17" wheels.

Because Alloy road wheels are light and their designs are "hollow" (spokes etc) they transmit more road/tyre noise into the body

They handle slightly better and cool brakes slightly better because heat transfers through them quicker

You can buy soundproofing and put it in the vehicle yourself mainly,

Rear 1/4s

above rear wheel wells

under rear set

under boot floor

B-Post uppers behind the trim

Most car audio specialists sell soundproofing on the roll

8 minutes ago, DaveT70 said:

I'm sure "optional" sports suspension came with 17" wheels.

I've only recently chucked out some old Mk 2 brochures (typical) but I think you're right there Dave, it wasn't just a case of different springs etc.

I don't think you would tell just from handling - I had a Mk 2.5 Titanium on standard suspension and 16" wheels and it handled very well. 

49 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

The Mk2.5 Titanium wasn't a quiet car either, especially if you're used to something German...

 Trouble is, we all have a different perception of things. I can't say I noticed it being particularly quiet or noisy, fairly average I suppose. Certainly my Audis (sports suspension and big wheels) generated more road noise than the Focus. 

34 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

I don't think you would tell just from handling - I had a Mk 2.5 Titanium on standard suspension and 16" wheels and it handled very well. 

Yes, all Focus from MK1 was great handling, something the current MK4 chassis chief engineer forgot about

32 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Trouble is, we all have a different perception of things. I can't say I noticed it being particularly quiet or noisy, fairly average I suppose. Certainly my Audis (sports suspension and big wheels) generated more road noise than the Focus. 

Audi's don't count, they're made for cruising perfectly smooth autobahns, not UK roads!  Suspension on my A3 'Sport' was awful.

You are right though, some of us are much more easily irritable than others! 

 

Problem solved 🤣

Well, thanks everyone.. Ive learned a few things there. 

Primarily, ill leave the car well alone and wear ear defenders. its too good to mess with so ill just leave it alone and put up with it. 

Thanks everyone for your words of wisdom, comic and factual, all most helpful.

Cheers

Al

 

 

We went from a Mk1.5 Ghia estate to our Mk2.5 Zetec hatch so not comparing like-for-like but the Mk2.5 is very noisy, suffering from tyre noise, engine noise and wind noise. I think the Mk2/2.5 bodyshell was just a poorer design from the noise standpoint even allowing for the reduced soundproofing. Our Mk3 Titanium estate is much quieter.

On 7/21/2021 at 11:30 AM, mjt said:

We went from a Mk1.5 Ghia estate to our Mk2.5 Zetec hatch so not comparing like-for-like but the Mk2.5 is very noisy, suffering from tyre noise, engine noise and wind noise. I think the Mk2/2.5 bodyshell was just a poorer design from the noise standpoint even allowing for the reduced soundproofing. Our Mk3 Titanium estate is much quieter.

Many thanks for the detailed info there. Im using the car now for a regular long journey and getting used to it. Im actually thinking of getting a much newer Mk3 and putting this 2.5 in a storage bag in  garage for 10 years.... I dare not let it deteriorate and wont be able to use it in winter for this reason. 

37 minutes ago, Slowly said:

Im actually thinking of getting a much newer Mk3

Hello Al, if your thinking about a Mk3 and you want 'quiet' then its worth trying to find a Titanium X they have more sound proofing and a softer ride.

17 hours ago, unofix said:

Hello Al, if your thinking about a Mk3 and you want 'quiet' then its worth trying to find a Titanium X they have more sound proofing and a softer ride.

Hi there, many thanks for that. Ive set up a search on auto trader and am looking.  So the regular titanium is of lesser sound deadening then? 

 

Currently im debating if I should change the timing belt on the 2.5.... So many opinions and conflicting info but thats another story 😉 

 

One here with low miles (15000) but no parcel shelf and the dealer has had to apply for the V5 as it wasn't included, spells neglect to me so I didn't bother going to look at it. Cant remember if that one is Titanium or titanium x

Cheers

 

 

30 minutes ago, Slowly said:

Hi there, many thanks for that. Ive set up a search on auto trader and am looking.  So the regular titanium is of lesser sound deadening then? 

 

Currently im debating if I should change the timing belt on the 2.5.... So many opinions and conflicting info but thats another story 😉 

 

One here with low miles (15000) but no parcel shelf and the dealer has had to apply for the V5 as it wasn't included, spells neglect to me so I didn't bother going to look at it. Cant remember if that one is Titanium or titanium x

Cheers

 

 

Halogen headlights & boring wheels so just a Titanium. 

I don't think the X did come with different suspension or any more sound deadening though.  It was half leather interior, xenon headlights, 17's, powerfold mirrors and park assist.  Rear tints and some wheels were still optional extras.

Titanium and X have same suspension and sound deadening specs.

X just had bigger wheels standard that affects ride, plus the other bits.

Thanks chaps, all useful info

 

test drove a 2018 titanium today at Stonacre in Darlington. A metallic maroon sort of colour. This one in fact

https://www.stoneacre.co.uk/used-cars/ford/focus/titanium/1-0-ecoboost-125-titanium-5dr-auto-nl67pzk

 

Twas very nice and fairly quiet but the auto box was a little bumpy for my liking, clearly not a proper slush box as I had expected the 6F15 to be. Car is a Jan 2018 so should really have been built after the PS boxes were all gone and therefore have the 6F15. Maybe I just need to accept that no modern box is as good as an old fashioned slush box. 

The 1 litre engine really surprised me, my concerns about 70MPH cruising evaporating in moments once I got to the A66 for a proper go. 

No rush, ill wait it out for a titanium x for sensible money with low miles, or just get a new one on a decent deal if any come up. 

 

Cheers

Al

 

 

 

 

 

 

I still think 1.0 is to small for a Focus.

5 hours ago, unofix said:

I still think 1.0 is to small for a Focus.

Have you driven one ? Ive just bought a 2012 1.0 125 Titanium as a runaround and its surprisingly nippy ... my Mrs has a Fiesta Titanium with the same engine (although only a 5 speed box) and I was expecting the Focus to be a little more lethargic due to it being heavier but in the real world it isn't.

5 hours ago, unofix said:

I still think 1.0 is to small for a Focus.

Many would agree with you there , im sure.  

I never exceed any speed limit though so seems OK for me.  It was certainly a lot more urgent feeling than my 1.6 petrol which I believe is 99 BHP compared to the 125 BHP of the 1.0 

 

Sadly, having done some sums last night, the fly in the ointment is the governments advisory fuel rate. For such a small engine, this is a miserly 11P per mile which requires better than 53MPG to avoid subsidising business driving use. From the test drive that I did, even with my driving, im not going to see anywhere near 53MPG so it looks like its a Roy Orbison at this point. 

 

11 hours ago, Slowly said:

Thanks chaps, all useful info

 

test drove a 2018 titanium today at Stonacre in Darlington. A metallic maroon sort of colour. This one in fact

https://www.stoneacre.co.uk/used-cars/ford/focus/titanium/1-0-ecoboost-125-titanium-5dr-auto-nl67pzk

 

Twas very nice and fairly quiet but the auto box was a little bumpy for my liking, clearly not a proper slush box as I had expected the 6F15 to be. Car is a Jan 2018 so should really have been built after the PS boxes were all gone and therefore have the 6F15. Maybe I just need to accept that no modern box is as good as an old fashioned slush box. 

The 1 litre engine really surprised me, my concerns about 70MPH cruising evaporating in moments once I got to the A66 for a proper go. 

No rush, ill wait it out for a titanium x for sensible money with low miles, or just get a new one on a decent deal if any come up. 

 

Cheers

Al

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's the 6F15 slush box, we have that in ours, it's not the best TBH, way, way over geared. And appalling on fuel, you'll be lucky to see 29 MPG.

If you want a reliable MK3.5 Auto, go for the 1.5 TDCi. Yes, it's a powershift, but they're reliable and better on fuel than the manual

On 7/20/2021 at 7:55 AM, Slowly said:

For ref, tyres are all brand new and have now done about 1200 miles (I had them fitted the day I bought the car in March this year) they are the correct size, Pirelli 205/55/16 cinturato P7 and are all at bang on 30 PSI, the pressure recommended for 1 person and light luggage. 

If you do decide to keep your present car then I would recommend fitting Avon tyres to it, when I had the same car as you they made a big difference to the noise and ride quality compared to the Pirelli tyres that it had from new and I also fitted as replacements a few times. As an added bonus, they also stayed in balance a lot longer.

This assumes that the Avon tyres sold now are the same as the ones available when I last fitted them, which was about 3 or 4 years ago.

9 hours ago, DaveT70 said:

That's the 6F15 slush box, we have that in ours, it's not the best TBH, way, way over geared. And appalling on fuel, you'll be lucky to see 29 MPG.

If you want a reliable MK3.5 Auto, go for the 1.5 TDCi. Yes, it's a powershift, but they're reliable and better on fuel than the manual

Awesome, many thanks. Deffo no good for me then as I would use for the occasional business trip and couldn't make it viable at anywhere near that MPG. I wonder why Ford made such outrageous claims for the MPG. Its not like they wouldn't get found out..... bizarre 

Cheers