Hi folks. Just traded my VW Golf GTI MK8 in for a 2021 plate Ford Focus 1L ST line X MHEV.

Quite a change? Yes indeedy. I had the Golf for two years and it was a very rapid car and being an automatic it almost drove itself. Therein lay the problem. To get a thrill out of it you had to be travelling at three digit speeds and this was VERY easily achieved. This can easily get you in trouble and you did not need to possess a great skillset to drive it fast. I also tend to low mileages. The car had run out of warranty and having had two steering wheels replaced I was a little nervous. Finally, I have to mention the infotainment set up. I didn't mind the haptic sliders (buttons on console and steering wheel) but not back lighting the main temperature controls was madness.

So the new car. It has a little bit of lag if you are low in revs but is surprisingly nippy. It rides better than my Golf (on 18's whereas my Golf was running 19's with adaptive dampers) and I get the same levels of feedback when driving, its early days yet so will have a better idea when it is warmer. There are some nice features, having dials again for temp etc is lovely. The fact that they remember your last setting (such a simple thing) is amazing. The boot is bigger and the big grab to close boot handles are neat. The interior is slightly less well made than the Golf but is perfectly functional and logical and the car is much cheaper, so to be expected. The intelligent front lights are on a par with the Golf but not found out yet if my cruise control is adaptive (?).

So, any regrets? Not so far. The Golf was a hoot and upper tier in performance and looks. This is a bit more mainstream, but easy and fun to drive and better suited to zooming around town.

Thanks,

Mark.

 

Hello Mark and welcome to the forum. 

One statement you made really surprised me "you did not need to possess a great skill set to drive it fast" Sorry but that's down right stupid and irresponsible. 

Any 'idiot' can go fast but he Can Not Drive fast. Doesn't matter what car it is. An experienced/professional driver can drive an under powered car faster than an idiot in a fast car.

I don't mean to pee on your parade but some comments really get up my nose.

Oh I'm a very experienced driver. I drive HGV for a living and have done for 30 years. Therefore through what I've seen and experienced I'd say I'm qualified to make my comments. 

Enjoy your car. They're cracking cars the Focus and in my eyes way better looking than anything German. 

55 minutes ago, Pep2272 said:

Hi folks. Just traded my VW Golf GTI MK8 in for a 2021 plate Ford Focus 1L ST line X MHEV.

Quite a change? Yes indeedy. I had the Golf for two years and it was a very rapid car and being an automatic it almost drove itself. Therein lay the problem. To get a thrill out of it you had to be travelling at three digit speeds and this was VERY easily achieved. This can easily get you in trouble and you did not need to possess a great skillset to drive it fast. I also tend to low mileages. The car had run out of warranty and having had two steering wheels replaced I was a little nervous. Finally, I have to mention the infotainment set up. I didn't mind the haptic sliders (buttons on console and steering wheel) but not back lighting the main temperature controls was madness.

So the new car. It has a little bit of lag if you are low in revs but is surprisingly nippy. It rides better than my Golf (on 18's whereas my Golf was running 19's with adaptive dampers) and I get the same levels of feedback when driving, its early days yet so will have a better idea when it is warmer. There are some nice features, having dials again for temp etc is lovely. The fact that they remember your last setting (such a simple thing) is amazing. The boot is bigger and the big grab to close boot handles are neat. The interior is slightly less well made than the Golf but is perfectly functional and logical and the car is much cheaper, so to be expected. The intelligent front lights are on a par with the Golf but not found out yet if my cruise control is adaptive (?).

So, any regrets? Not so far. The Golf was a hoot and upper tier in performance and looks. This is a bit more mainstream, but easy and fun to drive and better suited to zooming around town.

Thanks,

Mark.

 

Hi welcome

Hi,wellcome