I have a MK4 Ford Focus, I live in Bedfordshire and don't see many on the road, thought I would see more, it doesn't bother me just a little strange, when I was a lot younger I had a Cortina MK4 an they were everywhere, unless it's the popularity of the SUV now.

3 minutes ago, Nimrodmk8 said:

unless it's the popularity of the SUV now.

Probably so - according to the sales figures for this year so far the Focus didn't make the top 10, unlike the discontinued Fiesta. Puma is the big seller these days.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/consumer-news/361135/new-car-sales-september-2023-figures-graphs-and-data-pictures

The very limited and poor range of Ford engines / gearbox combinations is driving people away from Ford.

Sadly I think Ford are doomed to fail, sooner rather than later. I don't think there has ever been a time in the history of Ford where the management have made so many poor decisions. Even when they replaced the Cortina with the jelly mould Sierra they were eventually able to sort it out. The Fiesta has gone and I expect the Focus will be soon to be axed.

21 minutes ago, unofix said:

I expect the Focus will be soon to be axed.

The end of production in 2025 was confirmed by Ford as long ago as 2022. I assume the Explorer is intended as an indirect replacement but that's apparently delayed.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/new-ford-explorer-launch-delayed-mid-2024

2 hours ago, unofix said:

 

Sadly I think Ford are doomed to fail, sooner rather than later. I don't think there has ever been a time in the history of Ford where the management have made so many poor decisions. 

 

I will agree with that. Or just stop cars and concentrate on light commercial. That's my guess.

Ford in Europe will be gone in 10 years, they have effectively committed commercial suicide

I guess times change, I was around in the seventies and eighties and with XR2s, XR3s, XR4s, I always wanted the Granada, but never had one, I never grew to like the Sierra jelly moulds.

nobody has mentioned the Orion yet, well spec'd and very nippy, had one for a week after my Astra estate snapped its belt and wrecked the engine.

Orion was a really nice car, especially the first one

13 minutes ago, DaveT70 said:

Orion was a really nice car, especially the first one

Yes, it was hugely popular with "user-choosers" at my place, especially the Ghia Injection.

12 hours ago, iantt said:

Or just stop cars and concentrate on light commercial.

I agree. If you read between the lines of the blurb that comes out of the Ford Media Centre they virtually say as much.

Not many here either.  Just a couple of Mk4 Titanium's near me...  I still find the front bumper/grill/fogs as repulsive on those as when they were first released.  Thought they'd grow on me over time...   

We're not far from a Ford main dealer, so still a lot of new Ford's about.  Mainly Puma's and Kuga's.  

Mk2 Focus & Mk7 Fiesta are still holding their own here though, see several of those each day.

3 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

I still find the front bumper/grill/fogs as repulsive on those as when they were first released.  Thought they'd grow on me over time...   

Agreed, blooming awful and the last Fiestas

It's almost like there was also some global event that happened right in the middle of their production that meant people weren't driving or as interested in changing cars, or they couldn't actually get them for over a year if they wanted to.

15 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

It's almost like there was also some global event that happened right in the middle of their production that meant people weren't driving or as interested in changing cars, or they couldn't actually get them for over a year if they wanted to.

Fair point...  But there are now plenty of other new cars being sold, just not Mk4 Focii!  I even see plenty of Mk8 Golfs around here yet only ever people complaining about them!  

5 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Fair point...  But there are now plenty of other new cars being sold, just not Mk4 Focii!  I even see plenty of Mk8 Golfs around here yet only ever people complaining about them!  

I just mention it as a contributing factor, other things people have mentioned are still valid.

Ford also got affected by Russia's invasion as the Sync 4 screens were from Ukraine, so that meant they were slower than many others manufacturers at getting back to normal production times after Covid.

I'm surprised anyone is buying Mk8 Golfs, the rest of the VAG cars on the same platform seem to be better. The Golf is the runt of the litter this time, lol.

3 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

I agree. If you read between the lines of the blurb that comes out of the Ford Media Centre they virtually say as much.

As you can see as far as UK is concerned ford commercials dominate the market.