I've had an 09 reg Focus 2.0TDCI for over a month now. The only real problem I've found with it is that it seems to have a very narrow power band, it's pretty pathetic up to about 1500rpm (as long as it's not too high gear it will pull smoothly though, just fairly slow), takes off between about there and about 2500, then dies off again. I've never had a diesel before so I don't know if this is normal, but I hear a lot about "flat torque curve" and things which suggests it shouldn't be like this. It will accelerate nicely, but it really requires the gear changes just right.

It's got a full service history, last in September, but I've got no reciepts to know what was done. Makes me think it's either the air filter clogged (does seem a bit, quite a few leaves in the box too) or it's the turbo. No smoke or unusual noises (although not being used to diesels it's hard to tell) and only slight juddering if I use too high gear before it's warmed. Got a bluetooth code scanner and nothing showing on there.

If it takes off at 1500rpm then the Turbo is working.

Diesels are like that, narrow power bands, they tweaked the 2.0 in the MK3 to produce a 163PS version and all that does is spread the torque out further up the power curve so you don't get that fall off (but also have less lower down).

The 140PS tends to supply its power as a massive wall of torque from 1500rpm.

if you had a N/A petrol before it might take some getting used to a Turbo charged diesel. They are heavy engines but with lots of torque, it has taken me 12 months of driving and an ECU update to really get the most out of my Focus.

 

if you had a N/A petrol before it might take some getting used to a Turbo charged diesel. They are heavy engines but with lots of torque, it has taken me 12 months of driving and an ECU update to really get the most out of my Focus.

After nearly 3 years of ownership of my 1.6 TDCi, there are still occasions where I try to pull away briskly from a junction or roundabout and get the power and gear change wrong! The consequence is that you're halfway across the road screaming at it to take off!

As Alex said, diesels take some getting used to if you've only driven petrols.

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