Ford Ka 2011

I bought this car in June last year and I really don’t like it! It stalls a lot and goes like a kangaroo at times with no reason! It’s also started making a noise now when you build up speed and I have had problems with my wipers; the linkage on my front wipers have gone and the Ford dealer where I bought the car from just don’t seem intrested at all saying my warranty won’t cover me for my linkage because the weather has been cold!!! I now have to pay £245 to get it fixed and it’s not even a year old!!! Don’t buy a Ford Ka!

Ford Transit Connect 75 PS LWB 2007

My Dad had Transits, then a Connect LWB 75 bhp and he was well happy. So I purchased an 18month old one, with 23K miles on the clock from a dealer 160miles away!! I’ve never had to bother them. Only minor issues emerged after 70K miles or so, but my local Advance Pitstop know these vans inside out and Ford parts are reasonable. It’s had two biggish jobs done so far: A charging failure required a new wiring loom, which was done at a Ford dealer for £350; a gearbox rattle due to the clutch release bearing at 115K miles meant a new clutch assy needed to be fitted costing £600. These vans are rock solid load carriers. Mine is stuffed with shelving/parts/tools and carries 350KG approx every day. I do 500miles a week covering a sparsley populated area of West Ireland and half of the roads I travel are pathetic, and I’m not a slow driver! My van only sees a motorway about once a year, but of all the vans I’ve had this has the best for road-holding and comfort, delivers 35MPG and has needed the least suspension linkages changed ( Ford suspension links are dirt cheap ). However, due to 120K on poor roads, I must upgrade to a newer van and give it an easier life in its middle/old age. It will be well up to moving a few sheep around for a local farmer!! I need something slightly bigger this time so I’m hoping a Peugeot Expert is as tough.

Ford Transit Connect 220 1.8d Panel van 2004

I Bought this pre-registered 54 plate at 6 months old and with 80 miles on the clock for £9600 inc VAT. It’s now done 104,000. I bought a metal bulkhead and wolf alarm (which is specifically designed to just plug into existing wiring loom and utilise the existing remote fob. Excellent recommended!). Mine is used as a mobile car accessory sales and fitting van, covering a 50 mile radius of from base. It does plenty of town and motorway work, with economy being around 35mpg on average. Being as critical as I can and apart from servicing and a belt change at 90k it has so far needed: New exhaust at 50k (around 3yrs), a repair to faulty alternator wiring at 52k, a new ’fly by wire’ throttle peddle at 63k (cost £65.00, whatever happened to cables at around £12.00??). The front tyres last around 25k, the rear around 40k. The front discs last for around 75k. The gearbox started to get a little noisy at 50k, but it is still going strong and the noise hasn’t got any worse. The front pads average around 20k and mine is still on the original rear shoes!! The handbrake has always been spot on. The clock loses around 1 min every 15 days. There are no rust bubbles yet, but the paint finish on the roof is very thin. I am very impressed with how reliable this van is; I rely on it to run my business, which has a demanding schedule. It gets driven hard, but not abused too often and still feels like new to drive. It’s basically a Focus engined van, although because of the tools and stock I carry it doesn’t give me Focus economy :-(. I have been lucky so far! I would buy one again.

Ford Ranger Thunder 2008

Having bought a second hand 2008 Ranger I’m less than impressed! I’ve had the car less than 2 weeks and the gearbox has gone with only 31500 miles on the clock, even though it has been dealer serviced! This motor is not fit for purpose and does not do as described! I shall be getting refunded and sending the car back! For anyone else having problems with garages or dealers please refer to the ’Sale of Goods Act 1979’. I had to give the car a 1 star rating only because it wouldn’t let me rate it as zero!

Ford Ka Edge 2010

I’ve had my "new" Ka Edge for 18 months now. For the price and what it’s supposed to do, I quite like it. It has a lively engine, is easy to park, cheap to run and great fun to drive, if you drive energetically like an Italian, bearing in mind that it’s a re-bodied FIAT. It corners well and being short bodied can often leave bigger cars wallowing around sharp bends! But it is not really a car for dawdlers or for those who find driving a chore. Mine came with air con. and central locking. The bad news? It gives a punishing ride on all, but the smoothest surfaces. It also has terrible juddery windscreen wipers, even after replacement the blades and the cramped pedal positions take some getting used to. Reflections from the dash onto the windscreen can also be irritating on very bright sunny days. All in all I wish it was a bit more Ford and a bit less Fiat, but I do after all, quite like it!

Ford Ka Zetec 2009

This car is unsafe!! I’ll start with the pros: (this won’t take long) Looks pretty good, handles ok, 1.2 engine is fairly lively (but KA is tiny so it should be) and it has Fords heated front screen (unsure if this is standard). Now for the cons: The condensation inside is a nightmare! The windows steam up all the time especially if it rains and you need to have the blower or heated screen on all the time to keep from steaming up (this kills your economy), but side visibility is shocking due to inadequate blowers on the side windows. When trying to heat your feet in the winter there is only a blower from the left side meaning your right foot is still freezing. This usually isn’t an issue because you always need to have the heat directed to clear your windows! There is mould everywhere, unsure if this is due to a leak or purely down to the poor air circulation? Ok if that wasn’t enough to put you off here goes! I went out to find my hazard lights on and after trying to switch them off I found the rear wiper come on by itself and "airbag failure" and "fuel cut-off" messages on my dash display. I then found the glove box wet. On further inspection I found the fuse box inside the glove box to be wet!! I sprayed it with WD40 and waited till morning and lucky it didn’t rain during the night. The next day I got in and started it up and the screen washers blasted the windscreen until they ran dry and the wipers went nuts, at the same time water was spilling over out of the fuse box and into the glove box!! All sorts of lights came up on the dash along with the warning messages again with a few more including "steering failure". I couldn’t see out of the windscreen due to the screen washers and it’s lucky I wasn’t driving when this happened!! I got out and locked the car, the screen washers and hazard lights were still going nuts and the dash was lit up like Blackpool illuminations!! I called Ford Assist who towed it to the Ford Arnold Clark garage I bought it from in Prestwick (they’d serviced it 2 months previously). I called them and explained the problems also explaining that the car was still under warranty. They were quick to tell me that water ingress isn’t covered after the first year of warranty!! Does this mean Ford find it acceptable for a car to leak after its 12months old??!! They still have the car and won’t get to it until Monday. This is a serious design flaw, the fuse box doesn’t even have a rubber seal on it! I am going to Ford about this on Monday. I have read others similar to this on the web, one of which was identical! Avoid this Ka until this has been sorted. You have been warned!!

Ford Ka Zetec Climate

A good car all round had it new in 1998, no big issues though. It’s prone to dings on the doors due to no side rubbing strip, might consider the new shape.

Ford Ranger Thunder 2011

A great pickup! I’ve had it 3 months now. It pulls like a train and the cab is the best of the bunch. Well pleased!!

Ford Focus 1.8 Diesel Style 2008

I bought my Focus in March 2011, it had about 33,000 on the clock and still had warranty cover until the November. After about a month or so I noticed juddering so I contacted my local Ford dealer who were frankly useless. I was assured a new fuel filter would solve this problem as Focus’ were prone to this if there was any dirt in the filter. This didn’t solve the issue. I visited another Ford dealer who wasn’t my local branch. They told me the software needed to be updated and this would solve the problem. As it is now six weeks out of warranty I’ll have to pay. But! And this is the painful part, I was also told the clutch release bearings are worn and it would cost me £1200 to replace. All this on a car barely over 3 years old and with now only 35,000 on the clock. I’ve contacted Ford customer service twice now as I think this is very bad for such a young car. As I anticipated though, I’ve had no reply. I previously had Peugeots and both of them exceeded 100,000 miles without anything so major going wrong. This is my first Ford and frankly I am appalled at the standard of them. Ford are not interested in even replying let alone offering any form of goodwill. I aspired to own a Focus as my father owned the mk1 version and it’s been perfect for nearly 10 years. Even he is disgusted by what’s happened with this car and, like myself, will not be purchasing another Ford.

Responses to this review

An update on this: Ford customer care contacted me and although both people I spoke to were very helpful the bottom line is Ford deem it acceptable for a clutch to need major repair work even at 35,000 miles. And it is just classed as normal wear and tear. After forking out just under £9,000 for this second hand car I expected more. First chance I get the car will be sold and I will never touch a Ford again - Neil from Yorkshire

Ford S-MAX Titanium 2.0 tdci 2008

I bought this new and like it because it’s roomy, nice to drive, comfy and looks ok. However, the faults so far are: Power steering rack failed (under warranty thankfully); Power steering pump changed (under warranty); Handbrake fell apart (under warranty) Parking sensors - recurring gremlins; Alarm module problem design fault (out of warranty); Uneven tyre wear. All these are very common faults on the S-MAX owners website. The local dealer was very helpful, but I will not buy Ford again as, for the price I paid, I expect quality not hassle!

Ford Fiesta Zetec S TDCi 2011

What an awesome car. It handles great and looks great. It’s got heated leather seats, bluetooth and the city pack. Averaging 51 mpg around town this is the best car I’ve owned!!

Ford Focus C-MAX Titanium 2008

Bought this car new in 2008 to replace my 55 reg C-Max. I liked the previous car, but this is awesome! The 2.0 Diesel is so powerful it’s acceleration is frighening. Superbly quiet, and apart from a recall to check a hose (no fault found) it’s been perfect in every way. It easily hits 58 mpg on a long run, and it is so comfortable. A very quiet car, apart from a slight rattle that comes from the radio. Upon investigation I found that it’s the actual Sony unit that "buzzes" when the engine is cold. But, then again, you can’t hear it when the radio is on so it’s only a minor niggle. It’s now coming up to 4 years old and it’s still on the original tyres. Apart from new wiper blades its only needed its required services and still drives like new. I won’t be parting with this gem!

Ford Fiesta 1.4tdci titanium 2011

This car comes with a great package, but lots of road noise in the rear when going over slightly rougher surfaces on the motorway. Also fuel consumption is not what it’s made out to be; the best I have achieved so far is 49mpg at 60mph on a 25 mile motorway run. Around town I’m only getting mid 40’s mpg so not as expected. The auto headlights and wipers are great as is the heated front screen.

Ford Focus 2.0 tdci diesel 2011

I’ve had five focuses so far. My 2.0 litre, 6 box tdci is excellent on speed, roomy and fuel effecient. I love it and it’s my 1st diesel. Wow!

Ford Transit Jumbo crew cab 2005

 

The roof panels were not sealed during the manufacture and the rust came through in 3 years. It was repaired at the dealership, but 2 years on and the rust is through again, rust at the top of the windscreen, rust underneath and all over. I have spent thousands on repairs. One one occasion I had to brake hard; the brake and clutch servo burst off, leaving me without either. I am lucky to be alive. The van needed a new servo, a new clutch and as fifth gear was damaged, you guessed it, a new gear box costing £4000 to fix. This was the last straw and I gave the van to my dad as I can’t afford to keep it. I got a company van on lease. Guess what? Another Ford! Dad has so far had to replace the prop shaft, brake pipes and tyres. The front door top rubber seals have fallen off for the second time! The dealership reckons they are only guranteed for 12 months, what a joke! I can’t believe the Ford Transit has got so bad. Dad’s got a 1988 Transit pickup and it’s still reliable, maybe they are now being built in the wrong country where standards are non existent. Do you think I will buy a Ford Transit again? No chance, unless they come with a no quibble life-time guarantee!

 

Ford Mondeo Estate

Good to drive and looks nice as well.

Ford Ranger XLT Thunder 2004

Hi I bought my supercab 4+4 2.5 2004 Thunder diesel at 59000 miles and I have had her nearly a year. Now with 80000 on the clock it’s used as a hunting/fishing/builders truck with no problems. I use it in 4+4 mode across the fields to get to the hedges and around lakes. I would highly recommend the Ranger as a work horse and it would pay to take out extended warranty on it or look around for a cheap low milage version. I have an Ifor Williams cab on the back and I have the mesh door and the window door for the back. I have a number of dogs, which go in the back as well and I would be lost without it. Recommended.

Ford Puma 1.4i Zetec 2000

Very fun little car, sublime handling, and for a 1.4, surprisingly nippy! I did have some problems with it, mainly due to wear and tear after 181,000 miles (!), but also the headlights were woefully dim, and the seats were not massively comfy for someone of my height (6’3"). Other than that I would recommend it, I loved mine!

Ford Grand C-MAX Titanium 2011

A very comfortable car with a lot of equipment. Unfortunately the long roof aerial touches my garage door, so I will have to find a shorter replacement as Ford do not have one.

Ford Focus Saloon Ghia 2007

 

My Focus Ghia is 07 plate. I have two problems, one being the alternator stopped working and I had to be towed home and the fuel sensor has gone, so if I have a quarter of a tank in fact then my car is empty, I would not expect these faults in a 4 year old car.

 

Ford Galaxy 2007

I’m having so many problem with this car having just done 82000 miles.

Ford Mondeo Titanium x sport Powershift 2010

 

Without doubt this is the best car I have ever owned; it’s got the smoothest auto box in my opinion. I have owned two Audi’s from new, one with the dsg auto box, but this Ford is even better. The fuel consumption isn’t great, but it’s a huge car amd rear seat passengers love the room and good ride. The steering is also great for such a large car. I have tried to think of anything not so good, but I can’t.

 

Ford Transit 100ps SWB 280 Medium Roof Executive 2001

Bought mine at 80,000 with four previous keepers including a hire company. Very impressed with how these drive, smooth quiet and car-like. Has had front wheel bearings and batteries. Love it!

Ford Transit 2009

Hi all. Don’t buy one of these vans. They have just about sent me bankrupt. The back bone of this country, what a joke. It’s had: 2 fuel pumps, 3 sets of injectors and the duel mass is the worst idea ever. Not to mention the rust that’s coming through. Money, money, money that’s what Ford want from you and they’ll get plenty out of you. Buy a smiley Transit, not the fastest but they keep going. If you need something more stylish and need more power my best advice to you is don’t use Ford.

Ford Transit 2.5di 190 lwb 1997

I bought this van two years ago with 125k on the clock and have now covered another 30 thousand trouble free miles in it. It’s been fantastic! I had to get rid of my 2005 Renault Master due to lack of work and thought I’d only keep the Transit for a few months, but I just can’t get rid of it, it’s so reliable. If it wasn’t for the fact that people judge you and your trade on first impressions of how your van looks I would keep it forever. Its a shame, much better van than the Master I had.

Ford Transit T260 85 2004

AVOID! AVOID! AVOID! These vans turn into rust buckets within 2 years from new, and in many cases one year. Ford have a misguided understanding that the majority of business owners will dispose of the vehicle after 3 years as a tax loss and buy another new vehicle. Not a good mind set for any vehicle producer!!

Ford Kuga 2009

 

I have wanted the Kuga for some time now and have just part ex’d my Mondeo for the Kuga 4X4 variant. It is a fantastic car to drive and you don’t realise that it has the 4X4 capability. There are a few minor niggles which are as follows: The water washer is drained very quickly, taking into account that the head lights are washed when you function. Second is why did Ford not indicate that the vehicle is a 4X4 on the rear of the Car? I hope that it proves its worth during the winter period, particularly in snow fall.

 

Ford Mondeo Titanium x 163bhp 2010

I really don’t understand the people that say it’s the worst car they have driven. I have driven most of the premium makes, both German and domestic, and can honestly say that it is either equal to or better than most in the same price range. ALL cars have little niggles, that some people find irritating, others hardly notice. I am now on my second Mondeo, the first was a 58 plate Titanium Estate with the 18 diesel engine, (my first diesel incidently). I now have the 163bhp 2ltr, H/Back, and cannot fault it. I can only asume there must be too many bad cars escape Fords quality control. As for comparing it with the Laguna, I had one of those in 1997, and was never more happy to see a car get replaced. Comfortable it was, reliable it wasn’t. If you need a good size, comfortable and economicle car the Mondeo cannot be beaten. Buy one.

Ford Fiesta zetec s 1.6 2011

I have a Ford Fiesta mk7 2011 zetec s 1.6 petrol. I have parking sensors and folding mirrors, DAB and more. It’s also a very good small fun car. It gets good MPG, 50mpg on motorway runs at 70mph. I’ve got the 17s and 30-35mm Ford lowered springs and wow! The only bad thing is the poor rear leg room and rear door cards are very rough on your arm. Also the rear headrests come out way too far and hit on your neck. Mine is a 3 door so a 5door maybe different?

Ford Streetka 2004

I have just recently bought my first StreetKA and just love, love, love it, but there are 2 major problems with it: 1) if you have a CD changer with your radio you may find that the battery runs down over night. 2) If you have a hardtop (winter edition) it has also had problems with a connector taking juice from the battery overnight. It has taken me 11 weeks (bought car 11 weeks ago) to find out the problem with my car and I believe it is the first major problem of the CD changer playing up and working whilst the engine is turned off and it will starve the battery totally. I had 2 diagnostic tests and they couldn’t find the problem. I checked with a local Ford garage for any known problems and the 2 mentioned above were told to me. I have removed the ’plug’ from the back of the CD changer/Radio and so far so good. I actually got into my car his morning (18th Nov at 07.45) and low and behold the CAR STARTED first time without me having to use a booster, which I paid £50 for. The garage where I bought the car from doesn’t want to know but it is an historical event that has happened to many Street KA users. If you want to purchase a Street KA within the 2004 year then please ask the garage to get a Ford diagnostic check to see if the CD changer/radio and or hard top roof working properly or playing up. I hope this may help some of you drivers of the Street KA out there as I wouldn’t want you to spend hundreds of pounds trying to find out the cause of the battery draining. Kind regards to all who have read this.

Ford Fiesta Zetec 2005

I bought this low mileage lovely little car for my daughter who’s at university in Bath, for her 18th birthday 2 years ago and could not fault it until recently. It was due a service 3 months ago, but we left it a bit longer as it had passed the MOT with no faults. The oil and water were checked and it went back to Bath University. We had a call last week stating it was making a whirring noise and the oil light was flashing, so we told her to carefully drive it back the 5 miles to her home. The next call was to say it had stopped in the middle of nowhere, we drove the 100 mile round trip to Bath and back to recover it only to discover that the oil filter had rusted through at the bottom! ( I can’t believe it!) then the engine emptied out of oil and seized up. NEW ENGINE REQUIRED! A very bad design and a very upset family.

Responses to this review

So you ignore servicing the car (no way do oil filters rot through in 12 months) then advise to drive the car with oil light flashing! I’d say you got exactly what was coming and you deserved it. Hope you’ve learned a lesson - Andy from England

Your problem is not the fault of the car it seems - Ashley Law from Essex

Was it a Ford oil filter that corroded? - Kevin Simms from England

Ford Transit swb 260 110 2008

I’ve only given the van 1 star because 0 not available. It’s done 19000 miserable miles and is now on its third gearbox which is still not right. Ford refuse to fix it and their staff say all 5 speed boxes are rubbish. It is knocking whilst turning left again, but Ford say there is, no fault, it must be me with 36 yrs driving behind me! The side door came out of its runner, the engine malfunction warning comes on when its a cold mornings and Ford’s excuse is a ghost on the ecu. So it’s haunted or is it me again?! Now to a more serious problem, rust. Yes, plenty of it; rear wheel arch, all weld sections on the underside and no underseal. After a difficult warranty claim the wheel arch is to be repaired, but they are not intrested in the underside or welds. Please note!

Ford Transit 260 110 lx 2007

I’ve had this van new and had a few little problems under warranty; heated windscreen ,quarter glass, egr and the gearbox has been partly re built. It started burning oil at 44000k and I  eventually got a compression test done, which revealed cracked rings and piston. The van is serviced regularly by Ford so I’m trying to get Ford to cover this under the "goodwill warranty". Not hedging my bets though!

Ford C-MAX 1.8 Style petrol 2008

We’ve had our C-Max 6 months, a 2008 1.8 Style petrol with 42k. A good car overall in terms of space and trim, however, the fuel consumption is dire. It would benefit from a 6th Gear. I have just swapped it for a 1.6 Fiesta TDCI to cut the running costs.

Ford Mondeo 2.0 titanium x estate auto 2010

I have owned many cars over the last 35 years of motoring and can say the Mondeo is by far the best car I have ever had. It achieves 58mpg on the motorway and 45mpg around town. The auto box from 1st to 2nd gear is just detectable, but the rest are so smooth I have to keep selecting manual to read what gear I am in. If when changing up through the box in auto mode you back off on the gas you can get it to change up early, so if you drive light footed you will be rewarded with good mph. Well done Ford. This is a big car, a very big car so make sure you get one with parking sensors, you will need them as the view through the rear window is not good but this so far is my only gripe. I have now done 12500 and the first service is due. I’ve just looked at the front tyres and they seem to show no real wear; although some drivers report that the wear is poor I am confident I will get 20k out of mine.

Ford Transit Connect 2005

The negative things: The plastic bumpers fall off, it has sluggish acceleration, but solid torque if you know what I mean. The front tyres and break pads wear quickly and turbo hose splits. The alternator suddenly goes, but the van still drives you to a garage just make sure you don’t stall at the lights lol! The positive things are this is the most solid small van I have ever driven and feels like a big Transit when you drive it; I would feel safe in it even if it had a little knock with another vehicle.

Ford Transit 280 swb semi hi- roof 2000

I bought it in 2007 with 60,000 mileage and paid £2000. There was no service history so I replaced the cambelt (just in case) and have now covered a further 25000 miles and had 4 MOTs. Apart from tyres the only money spent has been on a new exhaust system. A great workhorse but Boris tells me we’re persona non gratia in London come January so it looks like the knackers yard! Call me a cynic, but I feel it has more to do with getting old vans off the streets of London in time for the Olympics than saving the planet. I’ve had a couple of 6 cyl VW LT 35s before the Tranny, they were much less noisy but not so reliable, especially on winter morning start ups. Even after fitting new glow plugs and new battery, I needed to keep a spare battery on charge and the use with jump leads on occasions. The Tranny was left standing for over 2 weeks during last winter’s snow and started first time on the turn of the key.

Ford Fiesta S TDCi

Quality interior and exterior finish, 55+mpg normal driving. 60+mpg if driving with econ in mind. Not the quickest, but it goes okay when worked. Overall, a decent buy.

Ford Transit 280 SWB 2010

I bought a new 280 SWB from Lookers, Sheffield. I will never buy from thier commercial dept again. They don’t want to know when they’ve off loaded the van, but the warranty are helpful. It’s a rubbish van, it went in for the clutch and flywheel after 150 miles, then it went back in 10 months later for a 3rd/4th gear syncro. You can get a hand massage on the steering wheel when you turn the fan on full and the radio has to be on to drown out the gearbox noise. My previous 02 Transit had done 90k. Can I have it back?

Responses to this review

I’ve got the same problem with my 2011/61 plate 140 AWD. It developed knocking from flywheel at around 1,900 miles, several Ford dealers said "no probs" or "erm we dunno mate, keep driving it". At 2,200 miles, very loud noises from drivetrain and vibration in every gear, undrivable, it’s still at Ford and probably will be when I need it for the snow! 2007/57 100T330 previously, 120,000miles drove faultlessly, whatever Ford have changed, they need to change it back, fast! - Si from England

Ford Transit lwb 2.5 diesel 2000

I purchased my 2000 smiley face lwb 2.5 diesel van 2 years ago with 99000 on the clock for £1150 on ebay and in that time I’ve had 2 faults, being the exhaust and the brake pads, which have both been very cheap to fix. I have never had any other faults and I’ve done 20k since I’ve had it, and that’s with heavy loads everyday. I’ve always had this shape Transit, which in my opinion is the best van on the roads by far. Mine is all full of rust now; wheel arches and back doors, but it wouldn’t cost that much to fix as the parts are very cheap for these vans. I was going to buy a more stylish van, but to hell with them I’m gonna clean it up and keep it forever!

Ford Mondeo Petrol 1.8 Lx 2001

I have owned both the mk1 and 2 Mondeos. Mk2 was a great car, but got written off. The 1.8 I own now is a great car, but the 1.8 engine struggles for the weight of the car. I’ve had a few little snags. The engine fault light is always on, but the car drives okay; a garage checked this out and said it needed a new cat, I got the cat fitted and the light was no longer on. A month later the light came back on! I’ve left it now. It’s only got 70,000 on it and it’s a good motor. My next car will be the last mk3 they made with a 2.2 td engine; I prefer the mk3s to the newer mk4.

Ford Mondeo 2010

There is a problem with the car stopping whilst driving, which is very dangerous. I hold Ford responsible for this design flaw. These models need to be recalled!

Ford Mondeo Titanium X Sport 200 Bhp 2011

Just bought this car in June and have done 11,000 trouble-free miles. What a brilliant car. Looked around before buying but nothing came close for value for money. Five stars.

Responses to this review

Great car, had mine 5 months now, fantastic great to drive - Andy Facey from Somerset

Ford Focus 1.8tdci zetec 2009

This is my fourth Focus and my second diesel. All have been ultra reliable and brilliant to drive. So far no problems at all and I enjoy driving it every time I go out. Diesels get over 50 mpg and considering how they whizz along this is quite remarkable. I find comments on bulid quality a bit unfair as they are often compared to VWs when thay are not in that price bracket. Buy a second hand one and you get a real bargain. You really have to take one on a quick sprint along some twisty B roads to appreciate the handling.

Ford Transit Connect l220 Lwb 75 2003

I’ve had Combo’s, full size Duratorq Transits and now this the Connect and I don’t know why I’ve driven anything else for all those miles. I love this van. It has the relaxed spacious, mile munching drive-ability of the larger big brother Transit and the fuel economy of a Combo. I do miss the power from my common rail diesels, but the reliability from the low tech turbo DI is outstanding, even 220,000 miles later! Well its’ a Transit at the end of the day; the back bone off Britain.

Ford Focus ZETEC 1.6 MANUAL 2002

I love my car to bits. It’s great to drive and only has 55k on the clock which is genuine and it’s like having a newer car. My sister has a 1.4 2007 reg with 53k and paid £7000 I paid £2,500 when it was only 44k so I think it was a steal. The only issue I have is my nearside rear bearing; I had the bearings and drum changed 10months ago and now the whirly noice has returned and another garage have said it’s another £200 for the bearings to be replaced again. I must say I’m a bit disappointed at that and I hope this isn’t going to be a yearly issue as my others are fine?! I find that odd. But regardless of that it’s a great family car and I plan on keeping it for many years.

Ford Fiesta Flight 1.3 2002

Really great first car, handles well, gets you from A to B comfortably, quite quick and handy compartments in interior, runs smoothly as well.

Ford Transit 350 lwb hitop 115 2007

I had to replace the main shaft bearing in the gearbox at 100,000 at a cost £1000. Then engine started to make a bad rattle sound when cold and then when hot. I had the fuel side checked at a cost of £160 only to be told its an electrical problem. I had this checked at a cost of £249 to be told it’s an injector problem! I feel like I’ve been taken for a ride and I’m not happy. I have always had Transits, but I think will be changing that next time.

Responses to this review

It had the same problem as you. The van never ran right since I bought it new in ’07, engine blew and the cost to fix it is 6,000euros not worth even thinking, they reckon the injectors and cause the funny noises, bring it to the dealer and tell them check it. I also had the usual jobs done EGR valves etc, it’s a costly fix when it blows, might try the Renault Master five year warranty seems interesting - Derek Smith from Ireland

My van has been with the dealer for two months as injector destroyed piston and ruined engine. Ford say that I should have known something major was wrong which I absolutely did not until the day it went, no warning lights. no smoking. The van is 08 with full Ford SH. They give a three month warranty as standard which I think is outrageous, would expect at least a year. I feel completely let down as their stance is basically that it’s out of its (three month!) warranty so I’m left with a £4,500 bill having only had the van 11 months and it’s only just done 60k! Shocking - Dan Cross from England

Ford Ranger crewcab 2003

I’ve had my Ranger since May ’03 and Ican’t complain about it. It is one of the best pickups for fuel, 33-35 mpg, and has 183k miles on it now. So far I’ve had to change the fuel pump due to a fill of dodgy diesel, both rear sets of springs at different times (not sure why they snapped as wasn’t doing very heavy work), both front shocks, and recently my radiator; a word of warning here as Rangers are known for getting the rads blocked with dust and starting to overheat, if it happens then change rad asap. One small gripe I have is that it has no low diesel warning light as I found out when I ran out of diesel! It is very easy on tyres and I am only on 3rd set now. I wouldn’t change it for anything and look forward to breaking the 200k and 250k mile barriers.

Ford Tourneo Connect LX 2003

We’ve had one of these from new (2003) and it’s now done 82000miles. Basically it’s a good vehicle, but it’s had quite a few problems and build quality issues: Rear seat folding/locking mechanism is too flimsy - got bent on the first day (and several times subsequently). O/S sliding door central locking failed at 15K - sorted under warranty. Radio volume control failed at 20K - sorted under warranty. Dash buttons packed up at 35K Aircon packed up at 40K Alternator failed at 42K - expensive fix! Exhaust rotted through, also at 42K. Mirror adjust joystick snapped off at 45K Brake master cylinder failed at 60K O/S headlight adjuster failed at 77K - entire headlight needs replacing. However, on the whole it’s been a very practical vehicle which drives well and can do long trips without complaint, and for the price it’s hard to find better.

Ford Mondeo Estate 1.8TCDI Econetic 2008

Found this 1yr old as an ex demo vehicle and I have now had it for 2 years. It has 65k on the clock and it is running fine. A much heavier, but more stable handling car than the previous model Mondeo Estate, which bobbed around so much it was dangerous. Performance wise, for me it is great, although the higher geared box is not on optimised for super fast acceleration and is not up to sportier models, but who cares? I tend to drive carefully and within the speed limit, slowing down early etc. As a result I have averaged 57mpg for the last year (35k miles) which I think for such a large and heavy car is superb! I laugh at folk in their flash sports models and think of all the road tax they are paying. Fuel prices? I’m OK Jack and easily get more than 700 miles per tank fill. I loath paying company road tax and this car pays out less to HMG (141gCO2) than if I had a standard version and I believe the newer models are even better. I regulary carry up to 500Kg loads in the back without any problems. The only niggles are a big gap (too big) between 3rd and 4th as I have the early 5spd version, again the later 6spd box / 2L engine is supposed to be much better. The gearing at 30mph is either humping or running at 2000RPM when at 30mph, which is not ideal which means drivers will tend to go a little faster and risk either a ticket or an injury to someone. No reliability problems as far as I am aware of except cruise control kept switching off after 30 minutes, but this was sorted under guarantee. The cabin inside is good and looks cool, the seats are comfy too. I have driven nonstop from Yorkshire to Inverness and also Cornwall without any back problems at all. The voice controlled bluetooth radio and climate features system is an absolute joy; my blackberry syncs in and I am totally hands free, all I do is to call out the name of my client or friend and their name shows in the display! Also when they call you can even dial by calling out the numbers four or five at a time, how does it manage it? Will be getting another (hopefully even better) one next time.

Ford Transit Connect 1.8 tddi 2006

I’ve done 89k so far and serviced the van every 5k. It is the best van I’ve ever had; Kangoo, Combo this Connect beats them all. I will never buy anything else again. It’s on the road every day and starts first time no problems.

Ford C-MAX 2004

I bought this car at 1 year old. A great car with very few problems; the bearings on rear wheel went, check engine light came on and I had it checked at the garage but they couldn’t find anything wrong. I have just sold it and bought a 06 plate Focus, only because I don’t need a bigger car anymore, but would recommend the C-Max for any family. A great drive, extremely reliable and economical (for me any way).

Ford Galaxy Ghia V6 Auto 2003

I no longer own this car thank god, but I thought I would write a review to warn you all! I bought the top range Galaxy knowing it would be thirsty but assured it would be a smooth, fast cruiser, it was none of these (except the thirsty bit). Okay, it was fairly fast but not what you would expect from 200+ bhp. The handling was poor, the engine lumpy, the auto-box was jerky, the air conditioning kept failing, the doors started rusting at 2 years old...Need I go on? Don’t assume I hate this breed of car, I had a SEAT Alhambra before this which was great. I may of course have had a lemon one-off but I couldn’t wait to get rid (I couldn’t even trade it in at most places, they wouldn’t have a v6 Galaxy at any price!)

Ford Mondeo 1.8 2003 Zetec 2003

I’ve had this car for 3 months now with only some minor faults: the front o/s spring which broke whilst on holiday and cost £120 to fix, not bad considering the car has done nearly 112,000 miles. Also the Blind spot on rear n/s. For a large car, I find it quite agile and easy to park in tight spots. No knocks or squeaks and interior like new, drives like new as well. Excellent brakes and gearbox. Fits 5 adults in comfort, even on long journeys. For the miles, the engine is in perfect running order. 42 mpg on a run is prety good and 31 round town is not bad for a big car. The boot is very spacious as is the cabin. I will drive it until it falls apart then buy another one. It would have got 5 stars were it not for the broken spring and blind spot.

Ford Fiesta 1.6 Zetec S 2009

What a great car, drives so well smooth and fast. Only problem I have had is a squeaky clutch pedal soon sorted by my Ford dealer. The car drives so well it feels like a £20k+ car and holds the road so well.

Ford Focus 2011

My petrol engine model was completely gutless from the start and after less than 2 weeks ended up in the garage. It coughed whilst driving at speed on the dual carriageway and pulling out at junctions and roundabouts became terrifying. It has been there over 7 weeks now and despite the garage trying lots of different things and being in contact with Ford engineers, it still isn’t fixed. I’d be very wary of buying one of these until Ford get their act together. I am really disappointed as it seemed a nice car, but I’m not able to drive it.

Responses to this review

Although I don’t own the new model, my 2007 Focus has just cost me £800 to change broken valves in the cylinder. Only had the car just over a year and this shouldn’t happen in a car with low mileage ie. 35k. Even Ford said this was highly unusual! My advice is to stay clear of Ford full stop, I wish I had - Sara Bignell from Hampshire

Ford Kuga 2.0 Titanium Auto 2011

 

Well, I read your reports with intrest and envy. I took delivery of my new Kuga on 1st August and only had it 5 weeks when it stopped! Not the engine, but its drive. 1st time it wouldn’t select drive from stationary. The 2nd time I was driving along at about 40 mph and it just lost power and stopped (really dangerous too) again with the engine running... No drive! It has been to two Ford main dealers courtesy of the AA relay (what helpful guys they were) and I haven’t seen it since. The dealer that has it now thinks they know what’s wrong with it but Ford won’t allow the repair until one of their ’techies’’ has seen the car. This may take between 1 and 3 weeks, meantime, I’m in a loaner Mondeo that I dislike. There’s nothing wrong with it, but I just don’t like it. It’s also unsuitable for work and has cost me several hundred pounds in lost business due to not having roof bars for a ladder. For me the Kuga has been a major disappointment and the fuel consumption is rubbish, even driving VERY gently it has only just managed 34 MPG! The Mondeo I’m in now does 47/8 at all sensible speeds and incidently, I’m told has the same power unit and auto box as the Kuga. Even with these problems, I have to give Ford a chance to effect a repair, but they seem totally uninterested, incompetent and with a sense of urgency close to ’Manana’ This is the first Ford I’ve owned and I’m pretty sure that it’ll be the last unless someone pulls their finger out. I’ve had three Jeep Cherokees, a PT Cruiser and two X-Type Jaguar estates and all of them worked perfectly throughout my 3 year contract. By-the-way, my 1 star rating is the lowest that I was allowed to enter!

 

Ford Ka style 2002

Well, my little lady Ka has to go soon. She has been a delight. 110,000 miles, minor services, same exhaust, minor MoT issues. A lovely car. The only fault is appaling rust around the filler cap cover and rust on the inner door cill. I’m looking for another car, but the new Ka has the most garish dash of any car I have tested. I like, at present, the Citroen C1vt.

Ford Focus 2.0TDCI Titanium 2008

Really bought as a "stop gap" when needing a car in a hurry and offered a good deal by local dealer, and took a Titanium as that was the only 2.0TDCI available. I find the spec rather bizarre eg. heated seats (why with cloth trim?), but no climate control, which I find unforgiveable on a supposed top spec car. General driving is ok, with reasonable performance and economy and a decent sized boot. It has a Weird seating position, which feels mpv-like even with the seat at the lowest setting. Also the vehicle seems to ride 1-2" too high as if the suspension has been raised in an (unsuccessful) attempt to improve the ride, but to the considerable detriment of the handling (too much roll, very vague steering). I have had some problems with erratic running; stalling, accelerating on shut throttle, which is rather disturbing. I took it for its first service today and was told an updated engine management software has been uploaded; I hope this helps. Overall, not a bad car (especially for price paid), but certainly not the involving drive promised by various reviews and (in my opinion) nowhere near as good a drive as earlier Focuses or the current Fiesta.

Ford C-MAX 1.6 tdci 2008

What a revelation. Great build quality. Great to drive. Great economy. I used to have a Mazda 5 which was great for a people carrier but the interior was "plastic fantastic" with cheap hard plastics every where you looked and touched. It crashed over bumps and the engine noise was horrific on any speed above 65mph. So back to the C-Max, a super car which is great for the family, cheap to insure and tax with low running costs and great to drive. ONLY get the diesel version, I had the 1.8 petrol before, but diesel drives like a different car with less noise at motorway speeds (the petrol should have had six speed box). I’d never owned a Ford before, but how things have changed. Very close to Germanic build quality. I have owned the car for two years now with no problems and average 44 mpg on 90% urban driving. I have achieved 65 mpg on the motorway at 70 mph.

Ford Kuga 2011

Having owned six 4x4/SUV’s, the last two being RAV4s I was disappointed with the latest redesigned RAV4 so looked at alternatives on the market. Driving for just over 30 yrs and owning over that period a total of nearly 35 cars I have never owned a Ford so the Kuga was the first Ford to tick all the right boxes for me and my wife. Peerless is the word I would use to describe it and the only two complaints I have are reversing into a tight parking space requires a bit of skill and manouevring, even with the parking sensors, but in time should master it, and the skinny spare wheel (yuck!). So far I have been averaging 36.1mpg, but as one Kuga owner elsewhere here stated, the car is still running in to loosen up the engine and at about 10k miles the mpg should improve to at least 40mpg. Cabin quality is nothing short of superb. Lumbar support too. Sporty styling is an additional plus although not too sure about the less than chunky tyres expected on an SUV. Mine are 19", but I suppose that is acceptable as I don’t venture off road. I can’t wait for winter to come around with lots of snow to see how it behaves and copes on frozen tarmac.

Ford Mondeo TITANIUM X 20TDCI 2008

I can honestly say this is the worst car I have ever owned. I have had many problems with this car. The main fault is the steering, which makes an awful whirring noise at low revs. I replaced the rack, reservoir and two pumps, but still have the problem. The car has only done 28000 miles, but I have been told by several repairers that these cars have many faults; flywheels, water leaks, brakes, warning lights, to name but a few. I can not wait to trade this car in for a proper car, a Hyundia i40. You may laugh, but I know when I get in that it won’t let me down. Anyone thinking of buying a Mondeo don’t do it! Despite what all the magazines say they are junk.

Ford Focus Titanium 1.6 TDCi 2010

Before buying we read various magazines and websites to qualify our choice. The 1.6 TDCi came out top. We bought a full option (leather,Sat nav, Zenon follow me headlights,rain sensor wipers etc.) model. I must admit one year on I find the road noise unbearable, the seat comfort poor on long runs and the diesel engine, in my view, is noisy during urban runs. We get 54 MPG max which is not bad? Worst of all is the depreciation of the model and the new model is cheaper even though they have applied better technology. Too many on the road they say and Ford’s part ex offer is derisory. So we are getting rid of it and although it has all the bells and whistles I will not be sad to see it go.

Ford Mondeo 1.8tdi Zetec 2009

I bought a 1.8 tdi with just under 10k on the odometer. I am a taxi owner and needed a replacement for my Skoda Superb.The Mondeo fitted the bill being a hatchback as opposed to the Skoda which was not. I had it serviced at my local Ford dealership to keep the warranty running. What a con! The bonnet catch was faulty so it was replaced under warranty. At 25000 miles the clutch started to make an embarrassing squealing noise when released, and still does. Ford say it is not covered under warranty as its wear and tear. Fair enough it works hard, but I am the only driver who drives it. If a Mondeo clutch can only manage 25000 miles before needing attention then what a poor show it is. My Skoda had 30k on it when I bought it from the Skoda dealership and they still honoured the warranty for a year. Customers are not impressed by the noise at such a low mileage and comment about not buying a Ford. What a great advert I must be.

Ford Focus Estate style 1.6tdci 2009

Fast for a 1600 diesel. The handling is okay, the interior is okay, the thing I find really bad is the road noise no matter what surface you are driving on. Even with the stereo loud the noise is still bad. Very poor for a popular car. The diesel engine is a lot noisier than other diesels, especially against the Vauxhall range. I had a Vauxhall Insignia diesel for a day and it was like a Rolls Royce compared to the Focus and road noise was very low compared to the Focus.

Ford Mondeo 2.0 zetec 140 2009

This is my 4th Mondeo, but as the car is not quite 3yrs old yet, it’s going back into Ford to have the flywheel and clutch changed after only 64000 miles. A very expensive job to have done, but hopefully the good guys at Ford are going to sort it out. Had the same problems with my 57 plate and had the flywheel changed 3 times under warranty, so changed back to the better 2.0litre. I have spent a lot of money with Ford, genuine parts, Ford services etc, but I have always had good honest advice and quality workmanship from the guys.

Ford Ka 2010

I bought my new shape Ka back in January this year I’ve previously owned two old shape Kas with no problems, however, I wish my new one was the same. From day one I’ve experienced a jerky ride and a tendency to stall in low gears, it just takes of and also fails to start so it went back to my local Ford dealer who supplied the car. They told me, in so many words, that running the aircon caused the problem and not to use it, what a joke! Once again it’s going back to Ford next week. I don’t have any faith in this car or my Ford dealership.

Ford Mondeo Ghia 130 Hp 6 Speed 2005

Hi, I bought my car of 3 years with 107k on the clock, now 168k. Nothing wrong, drives excellent, best car I ever had, done couple of trips for 4,000 miles each, superb car.

Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec Petrol 2008

Bought this car with 3,000 mile on the clock, amazing car to drive, had no problems with reliability. The engine is plenty big enough, easily enough power to overtake and pull away from junctions. Overall, a brilliant car.

Ford Focus Saloon 1.8 2008

Bought an ex-demo two years ago with 40% off the new price. Impressive handling with confident manoeuvrability, she responds well in tight corners. My wife knocked a Nissan X-Trail four months ago and burnt my pocket for tow truck and repair X-Trail front bumper. My Focus has just a scratch and dent a bit of her front tire fender. She’s really tough, it’s worth the money spent for just for her toughness. The only downside is she drinks more fuel than expected, gulping an average of 9.4L/100km (compared to other C-class segment at about 7-8.6L/100km). Overall, it’s worth buying.

Ford Ka 2006

 

I bought my car 2 years ago and initially loved it. However there were a few faults which the dealer choose to ignore: The glovebox falls out (can’t even fit a sat nav or cd’s in there); The wipers scuff along the window and make a racket- quite dangerous on the motorway as they don’t clear the window properly. Also I recently discovered the worst paint job in the world. It can not withstand a bit of bird mess. Not my first vehicle, but the first time I’ve seen paint literally blister to the shell of the car. Totally shocking. It looks an absolute mess. A waste of money.

 

Ford Ranger XLT Double Cab Thunder 2004

 

So, you get all the dealer wonderment about how these things are "bulletproof", "are the most popular truck in the Asia Pacific region" and have stated you want to tow a heavy American Airstream trailer. What you get with a brand new motor (back in 2004): Truckman top just never arrived so I was refunded after a 3 months wait and fitted the more rounded roof with roof spoiler(!) model, which actually looks better. I purchased mine in 2004 with standard warranty. In 2007 after 3 years I bought the 5 year extended warranty for £1000; full cover stated the dealer. Stated every service that the smoke was just starting to get noticed. To date I have always taken to the main dealer and had it serviced at the correct mileages. It’s never been abused in the cold and never thrashed. 6 months later I had lots more smoke coming out of it so asked to have it looked at. £1,700 for an inspection as the warranty only covers repairs! The smoking comes from valve seals or something different so they charge to find the fault, the warranty only covers fixing the fault! So on start up (at 30k miles onwards) it has belched out blue/black smoke on start up every day. With no weight or loading when you try reversing up a mild incline you get a smoke screen of fried clutch (been driving 25 years so know how to reverse), no matter how gentle you are to get some movement. Useless in snow/ice melt with the factory Duellers, all over the place on mettled roads. Do not attempt to corner at a reasonable speed in the wet when unladen, you can practice skid pan control on most wet roundabouts. I had 43K out of first set of Duellers and they still had wear left in them so they are made of wood I guess. Falken LandAir AT 110 are working well, but they change the dynamic of the handling so you feel less bumps and have a smoother ride, again the Duellers are made of wood. Fog lights on Thunder are at chip height and I have had 4 so far as they also randomly fill up with water and corrode so they can’t change the bulbs, so it’s £75+fitting+VAT if you want fogs the next year! The MPG is miserable, mainly as the design template was a brick in 2003 wind tunnel, so cruising at 70 (78 on speedo) gives a max 26 mpg un-laden, 18mpg with 200kg in the bed area at the same speed; don’t even think of going faster with a heavy load, you can watch the gauge drop as you put your boot down, plus if you are on motorway in windy conditions it’s like trying to steer a bouncy castle. Every now and then the Speedo zings around to 140mph then to zero, then back to the actual (well, indicated) speed; the Speedo is over the actual speed by 15%, so when doing 70 on the clock the GPS states you are doing 63. I have had to fit a new battery every three years (Winter and cold spell) so far as the charge was just not holding, so maybe not being charged that well. Now I have a fancy new type of battery that is so powerful the engine bursts into life, before it sounded like an asthmatic for 5 seconds before firing up. The 4WD is easy to operate, with electronic diff locks when you engage 4WD, the manual states to NEVER use 4WD if on a any mettled/tarmac road, so you are in effect buying a 2WD for road use, not a 4WD. When you do engage 4WD and turn it will kangaroo around and generally grind to a halt if you use any more than minimum lock. Good points: You can load it up to the roof of the truck top, take out the back bench seat and load that up as well and as long as you can afford 15mpg you can get about anywhere with the right tyres. The interior is a pleasant place to be, although the spings in my seat have now made their way through the padding so some after-markets on the shopping list. Ditch the radio unit and fit something average like a Sony 40+40 Watt unit with factory speakers and MP3 port and I’m happy driving from South London to the Isle of Skye with a few breaks. Also with 2004 understated looks I prefer it to the replacement 2006 that looks like it has most of Halfords bling items bolted onto it, and the stupid higher sides around the bed so you can’t transfer the truck top over from the old one unless you want even more drag. So, would I buy another one, NO. I’d probably go with a Toyota after watching Top Gear drive to the North Pole in a Hilux, the Ranger would have blown up for sure. Also, there are no real options to upgrade suspension to heavy duty like you can get on a Land Rover 130 as standard, no options for after market hubs and manual diff locks, and so I am going to get another vehicle to go to Cape Town towing the Airstream.

 

Ford Fusion Urban 4 2008

Excellent design spoilt by very bad build quality and PDI to the point that the side repeaters were different, one clear glass the other side orange. On delivery the wheels were not balanced; the side rubbing strip came off and the panel between the windscreen and bulkhead did not fit. This all in the first two weeks of ownership. Love Ford audio, Bluetooth, auto lights and wipe. Now the boot switch has failed that indicates ’Boot Open’ on the display.

Responses to this review

I agree 100%. I have similar problems myself with boot actually closed but indicating it’s still open on dashboard. Any quick (cheap) repair before taking it to local dealer? - Donald Vella from Malta

Ford Fiesta 1.25 2007

Ford Fiesta style purchased new in 2007. No problems as yet at 29,000 miles. The car is great to drive and a bit more punch in high rev range than you would expect from a 1.2. The car handles well and is very comfortable inside. 4/5 given due to the poor fuel consumption of between 35-42 mpg max on motorway journeys.

Responses to this review

I’ve had my 1.25 (82hp) Fiesta Edge since February 2011 and am also disappointed with the (lack of) economy. Granted manufacturers figures always need to be taken with a pinch of salt but a week’s driving around town gets 35mpg (in mild weather) and the best I have achieved on a run was 46mpg average on a trip from Norfolk to Surrey and back including motorways, travelling at the legal limit wherever possible, but also trying to drive economically. I had a previous shape Fiesta 1.25 (which was heavier) which would do 50mpg on same journey without really trying so was expecting at least 50mpg from the new one. The gear change indicator is impossible to use (you cannot change up between gears quick enough making anything other than pedestrian progress) and does not appear to take into account road gradient, car load etc? - Alex from Norfolk

Apart from the poor fuel economy, I have no other complaints about the Fiesta - it rides and handles well, is very comfortable, roomy (especially the boot), quiet and the engine comes alive at motorway speeds. The radio is good as with all Fords, once you’ve worked out the fiddly menu system! - Alex from Norfolk

Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 sport 2010

I am very pleased with my Ford Focus 1.6 petrol Zetec, although I am only getting 40 mpg instead of the 52mpg Ford indicate. I like the headlights, the boot space and the room inside the car; my last car was a Ford Mondeo 2 ltre, but the Focus is still very good compared with that. The car is in white, which looks very nice, the car is one year old and is soon due for its first service, I paid for the 3 year servicing so it should not cost anything. The ride is a litle harsh, but this maybe due to mine being the Sport model? I don’t know. I would recommend the Focus, but as I have said, do not expect as many miles to the gallon as Ford advertise.

Ford Mondeo 2011

Very good car but some stuff is a little cheap, like the start button, it’s plastic. Despite all this, it’s a good car.

Ford Fiesta Zetec 2011

I too hate this car. I feel conned as the car only does 35mpg. Ok I’ve only had the thing six weeks, but there’s no sign of improvement and I read of others with same problem. I have the city pack fitted, folding mirrors and rear sensors, however, the sound from the sensors is so low it’s hardly worth paying extra. The car is not that comfy and lacks covered areas to store things. I could go on. I just hate it and would not recommend to anyone.

Responses to this review

I have to agree with you about the parking sensors, they are far too quiet. You have to turn the radio down to make sure you don’t reverse into anything. They also don’t beep when you select reverse, to show they are functioning, which they did on my previous car. Ford are a bit tongue-in-cheek about fuel economy figures. My 1.6 tdci can only get within 15 miles per gallon of the alleged combined figure. Also there is no carpet on the back of the rear seats, how tight is that! - David Fenn from Norfolk

Apart from the poor fuel economy, I have no other complaints about the Fiesta - it rides and handles well, is very comfortable, roomy (especially the boot), quiet and the engine comes alive at motorway speeds. The radio is good as with all Fords, once you’ve worked out the fiddly menu system! - Alex from Norfolk

You paid for reversing sensors on a Fiesta? How the hell did you pass your driving test? It’s like match box size. I drive lorries and buses and I don’t need reversing sensors. A sign of a bad driver - David Surman from England

I assume you have the 1.25, but please forgive me if I’m incorrect. I felt the same way at the start with the 35mpg, however I now manage to average at least 42mpg, and if I’m travelling long distance, i.e 150+ miles, I can usually average 55 mpg at a speed of 68mph, it’s going over 70 that seems to make the car drink more fuel, because of the high revs, really feels like the car should have a 6th gear. However, I have to completely disagree with you on the comfy part, it is definitely the most comfortable car I have driven (that’s between an Austin Mini, Rover 214, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi L200, Vauxhall Corsa, Peugeot 307) and one of the most comfortable I have been a passenger in. Although my parking sensors are quiet, I don’t feel they’re that bad, I don’t see the problem with them not beeping when you select reverse, they’re there as a last resort, incase you are about to bump something you may have not seen. As for storage area, there’s the usual glove box, seat pouches, door cards and a little hidden storage thing to hide your phone in or something for the driver. It even has cup holders for every passenger! What car are you reviewing? I totally agree with David’s point about Ford saving money, there was no engine cover or carpets as standard in my car. Alex is right about the handling brilliant little supermini! - Garreth Evans from Suffolk

I had this car five months now and the most mpg I have achieved is 36, on a mix of roads, 37 motorway. Been into garage 3 times, same story, nothing wrong. Paid for independent check with RAC, they say same but agree with me regarding Ford and their fairy stories. Regarding mpg, Ford fail to respond to letters and emails, garage uninterested. Not a bad drive but unless you have access to free petrol, this car is not recommended. By the way, drive at a boring 55mph on motorways and keep to limits everywhere else. Any thoughts? - Hana James from Devon

Ford Fiesta Finesse 1.4 Tdci 2004

I’ve had mine since new, it’s done nearly 60,000 miles and apart from new front springs and a new exhaust (due to living down a farm track), it’s been pretty good! I did have a chugging injector problem fixed last year and some of the trim has come loose but all in all, I love my little car. The boot happily accommodates my large Airedale terrier and it is good fun to drive, so much so I’m struggling to find a replacement.

Ford Ka Titanium 2011

I have a new petrol Ka Titanium registered late April 2011. Althought the exterior is fantastic (so far), the interior is shoddy! The stitching in the drivers seat has come loose already. I have not known this in any Ford I’ve had (not even one that I had when it was ten years old). The USB I paid extra for is not compatible with my ipod touch (which was bought in Feb 2011) so that was a waste of about £300. I have written to them regarding this, but there’s nothing they can do, although they have now informed me that if I’d bought a new Ka now it would work, as they have changed the software. The start system is a good feature, but I can’t see how it saves fuel. The charts suggest 50mpg for city driving yet I’m only getting 41.8mpg. Basically I’m not happy with car.

Ford Fiesta Van TDCI PDF 2010

Absolutely faultless. A great ride that’s quiet and quick. I got the sport version so I have all the extras and because it’s panther black it just looks like a sport car with blacked out windows. I recently took it to Ford for a new door rubber and the fitter had to come back to the showroom to ask where the van was. When I showed him he said "That’s not a van!" Ha, ha. The car handles extremely well and is excellent on fuel with no rattles anywhere. It could be a Volkswagen. And now the bad points... there aren’t any.

Responses to this review

Huh...? Volkswagons are sh*t - Bigbob Wallls from Ireland

Ford Transit 115ps limited 2009

This van is a joy. I previously owned a vw and in my mind it doesn’t even compare. I have the limited 115ps, it has all the toys, not even most prestige cars have heated seats, a/c, auto lights/wipers,bluetooth, voice control and parking sensors. The driving position is great and it pulls very well, due to its sixth gear it will sit at 70 to 80 mph on the motorway very comfortably. Its very economical for a large van and if driven right I can get 43mpg on my commutes (A roads and motorways), although I’ve found if you do start taking it much over 70 mph it will become just that little bit more thirstier. The rear load space gets the 8x4 sheets in easily and it will carry a ton of sand with no problems, what more can you say? The only problem to date was a software upgrade needed for the stereo/bluetooth system, which was resolved under warranty.

Ford Transit 130 t280 GLX Doublecab 2007

I bought mine 11 months old with 2700miles on it and it ran great. The items I’ve replaced so far are: Air con pipe, window winder mech, 2 egr valves, flywheel bearing(?), 2 sets of anti roll bar bushes and an anti roll bar drop link. The other issues I’ve had are that the white paint has a brown stain just below window height, which won’t come off with traffic film remover. It has also started rusting under the arches, weld joints and inside the door rubbers. All in all I’m not impressed. It does have 86k on the clock now, but I do need another egr valve. The thing is fully Ford dealer serviced 1-2k before service date, and the clock won’t keep the time, according to Galasheils garage, due to the aftermarket alarm. Also, the door recesses in the front can fill with upto 4" of water when driving in heavy rain. open the door and it all flows out, but the same dealer told me that part of the vehicle is external to the van so that’s OK! Even though at 70mph, I can lock the van, and soak my feet in 4" of water. Needless to say that garage is not on my list of useful places to go. No rust protection and poor water seals, along with expensive egr valves. Otherwise it hauls like a steam train and is very, very comfy to drive very long hauls in. The air con in the double cab is a little weak, 35C degrees in France and it struggles to stop you sweating, even with a gas change the week before, at least that is my finding.

Ford Fiesta zx zetec s 2000

I only got the car 2 days ago. I drove all the way to Mayo and it was grand on the 3 hour drive back. Then two days later it start overheating and the water was boiling. It’s done 116k.

Ford Focus 1.6 Tdci 110bhp Titainum 2005

Best car we have ever had: 58.4mpg, handles really well, 3 door face lift version. The only fault in five years is the fuel sender which tells lies. It says it’s 1/4 full when really it’s empty.

Ford Mondeo 1.8TDCi 2007

Simply one of the best cars I have driven and certainly the best I have owned. I had the previous style Mondeo and rated that highly but the 2007 onwards one is better. Loads of space, handles like a smaller car, I get 50 mpg (most people get 38-45) quiet to drive in. I am lucky enough to get driven round in various Mercs and BMW’s and I am not convinced that dynamically they are better cars. Faults: A damper went after 2000 miles and the radio a little later, both were fixed under warranty with no quibble, and no other faults in 82,000 miles. The boot water problem can be fixed by the dealer. If you get a 2007 or early 2008 1.8 tdci make sure you have the later software added as it makes the car much easier and quicker to pull away at roundabouts and T junctions. Also beware the sports suspension and 17/18 inch wheels; the Mondy owner websites are full of people who complain of the harsh ride on those versions, stick to the standard versions and be cossetted is my advice. I am just about to order another new Mondy (with my own money) as have been so happy with this one. Ford have come a long way lately.

Ford Mondeo Zetec tdci 2002

Rubbish car that I only kept for a total of 10 months. It was bought with 72k on the clock and used as a taxi. At 75k it needed a new clutch flywheel and starter motor. Then at 78k it needed new fuel injectors at £1,200. Nice. At 87k it started leaking oil. At 95K the car blew, the turbo and injectors had gone. Had to scrap it. Never again.

Ford Transit LWB Med roof 2007

I Bought this van late last year. The starter motor failed two days after buying it, which was replaced under warranty. Other than that there were no other issues. I am aware the 2.0 lt model is gutless on motorways, I had one over the weekend to move house,  the 2.4lt, however, pulls like a train with 32+ mpg. A great van. I like the driving position and that the gear shift is on the dash. Last week the egr unit failed, this is a very common fault and a clean up does not fix the problem, a new one is required. This is an expensive part from Ford at £270. Other manufacturers supply the part for much cheaper at £150 and it seem to last as long. There is a lot of them out there so some people will get a bad one. You need to keep to service schedule to look after the engine and then you will have less problems. Good luck.

Ford Focus C-MAX 2006

Our 5 drive AUTO stopped suddenly with no warning, as if it had crashed!

Ford Focus RS 2011

What a car, my favourite!

Ford Focus C-MAX 2009

My first new car and I have loved it, up until its second service. It went into garage with no problems, but was told that the tyres needed replacing as they were dangerously worn on the front. I wasn’t sure about this so I said I would wait and see. The engine was making a squeaky noise when I got car home, and the tyres were worn. I took the car back in and was told the squeak was a ’out of warranty’ problem. Although I agreed to pay to fix it they managed to get it done under warranty anyway, also 2 new tyres were fitted and the tracking was done. After getting it home again, I noticed a knocking on the front suspension when driving over bumps (and there are plenty of them.) I took it in to be told it needed a new shocker on the front with only 20,000 miles on the clock! I was shocked (excuse the pun!) After much arguing and phone calls, Ford agreed to pay 90% of cost of replacing both shockers and now am awaiting for the dealer to phone to say car is ready, so we will see what happens from here!

Ford Focus 1.6 lx 1999

I’ve got a Focus 1999-2000 reg, petrol, five door 1.6lx, but it seems to be having problems because dark grey smoke is coming out of the exhaust and manifold under the bonnet. To be honest I’ve been looking this up on the internet and can’t seem to find advice why this is happening. I would say it’s a pretty annoying problem. The Focus is an ok car, this is the first one I’ve had. I only got it today and I’m having this problem already so it’s kind of put me off the Focus, even though I like the look and how comfortable they are.

Ford Fusion 1.4 Semi Auto Fusion 3 2003

Just bought this a couple of weeks ago with only 25,000 miles on it. Very impressed with the "manual" gear change, so smooth and the auto like wise. I do hope this is a durable set up, if it is I will be greatly impressed. I like the boot space and easy access to the cabin due to it’s height. I think the colour scheme is poor; charcoal grey outside and lighter shages inside...shrieks "BEIGE and BORING". The obligatory grey facia panel doesn’t help! I feel it is substantial and well built, solid clunk on the door closing. The mirror seems too low on the windscreen, I feel I want to be looking under it all the time incase I’ve missed something. Obtaining 5th gear in auto could be quicker to assist with the fuel economy, it is probably set up for town driving and a longer gap to get you up there on the duel carriageway or motorway. This is replacing a 1.2, 16v Corsa Club which was just a little underpowered for towing my micro caravan. I think the noticeably different pulling power of the 1.4 will make those BIG hills a doddle now. Only given three stars as I haven’t owned it long enough to make a full personal assesment. Oh before I go, the reversing sensors were a nice surprise, didn’t know they were working!

Ford Ka 2009

Bought from new 2009 plate Ford Ka. It’s been in the garage 25 times. Fuel economy is about 25 to the gallon and I’m constantly telling the garage I bought it from, but they’re not interested. Very unhappy with the car. White blemishes keep appearing on plastic inside the car and on the outside quater panels. This, the service department said, was common. I finally got an appointment with the manager of the branch, which sold me this car. The doors are very heavy. Research this car. I’m going to exchange it.

Ford Focus Estate 2004

The only problem with our 54 plate focus it the bearings on the wheel, which had to be changed a few months ago for £40. It’s been reliable for 2 years, but we’re trading it in this week for a 2007 model. We bought it from a company car dealership; there’s a lot of miles on the car, but usually only 1 previous owener and full service history. Tip: Get a second hand car with a recent MoT (within the last 8 weeks).

Ford Transit 260 100 SWB 2004

I’ve never been let down by my 2004 SWB Transit van. I bought mine getting onto 4 years ago. It has started EVERY time, in all weathers (Be it -5 or the height of the summer) without fail. I treat my van to Redex Diesel treatment when I fill a full tank of fuel. I change the fuel filter well before it needs changing (a tip from a Dagenham man, who drives a spotless white Peugeout 205 Diesel van that is very, very rare now). Best wishes to you all.

Ford Ka Zetec 2011

Hi all! I bought a Ford Ka zetec with stop and start, a new gadget so I was told by salesman saves on petrol and for peeps who don’t know what that is its when you stop at lights or whatever the car turns itself off and when you put back into gear and take handbrake off it starts again. Seems to drive very well, fairly small in boot also back seats, but after all it’s a small car. Seems to get a bit rusty quick though, the bolts to do with the suspension under the bonnet have gone rusty after just 10 days of brand new 11 plate car, but I got my covers off my Fiesta mk 4 car to put over the bolts lucky they fit the KA; wouldnt of hurt Ford to put covers over them. Had no spare wheel with car, which is bad, had that horrible wheel filler. I complained to Ford, but they didn’t want to know so I just bought 1 off a site on here, a lot cheaper as Ford was asking £160 for a spare tyre. I think it’s silly that it has no built in factory alarm, neither has it a fake alarm warning light due to nowadays crime’s on the rise, but it has an immoblisor.

Responses to this review

Hi I have just bought the Ford Ka Edge and would like a spare wheel 175x75 14 r82. Where did you get the wheel from and can you confirm it fits in boot as I’ve read a few strange reviews - Karen Smith from East Lothian (Haddingtonshire)

Ford Focus Coupe Cabriolet 2

It is ugly and not a cool car.

Ford S-MAX 2.0 Tdi 2010

Fantastic drive for a big car. Does what it says on the tin.

Ford Transit t280 125ps 2006

Bought second hand with full service history and 27000 recorded miles on clock. 12 months later with 40000 miles on clock diesel injectors failed, replaced by Ford main dealer for £1250.00+. 6 weeks after same problem, apparently diesel pump failed wrecking new injectors, another bill for £1250.00+. Rust spots all over side panels and sills appearing. Good load space and that’s about it. I would not buy another one.

Ford Transit 260swb td 2006

I bought a 260swb td year 2006 2 years ago with 27.000 miles on the clock, now done 62.000 serviced regulary, not by main dealer. The only parts it’s had are front brake pads. Excellent van, would buy another one.

Ford Transit Trend 2010

Bought brand new Transit 01 2010 nothing but flat first battery, nothing done by dealer Sanderson Ford, Scarborough. Now may 2011, fire under steering wheel, fuse had blown no 77- 5a, I had to remove the covers, van was going to burn to a crisp. I had my two young boys in the van. AA arrived, I replaced fuse 77 with a led blown fuse, I test circuits. Took van to same Ford dealers, they refuse to do anything with my van saying that the fuse was changed with 10a from 5a although fuse was circuit test fuse. I am left with new van, no electrics. By the way I am a Ford trained electrician and marine auto electrical specialist.

Ford Fiesta 1.4 16V ZETEC 2003

Had my car since July 2010 (now 83400 miles) and I’ve had to replace few consumable items - i.e. starter motor, power steering pump, water pump etc., but so far it seems quite reliable. If driven carefully I get approx 32 in town 43 mixed driving 57 if I am doing 50-55mph on motorway. Insurance group 4, but I wish road tax was cheaper currently £155 per year - wish I had new shape fiesta 1.6 tdci econetic!

Ford Mondeo 1.8tdci zetec 2008

This is my third Mondeo, but I do think they are getting better apart from had to replace exhaust as rotten with rust on brackets at only 3yr old and fitting new rear discs. Have no complaints at 55k miles.

Ford Ranger Thunder 3.0 diesel automatic 2003

I upgrade from a 2003 Ford Ranger 2.9 diesel manual to a 3.0 diesel automatic (Ford Thunder). The vehicle has two major mechanical defects that the dealer can’t solve: 1-Transmission hard shifting with heavy backlash. 2-Breaking is insufficient for vehicle.

Responses to this review

Hey man, I have the same problem and Ford call me and said they want me to come in tomorrow to fix the problem. Hope they can fix it because I am very fed up, can’t waste any more time and money on this stupidity. If you can give me a call, my number is 686-0825. We have to get together because they telling customers that is how the ABS works - Shah P from Trinidad and Tobago

Hey, I have the 2010-2011 Ranger but I haven’t had any problems YET but I keep coming on here to see what other people’s experiences are like. I hope things work out with the firm. If I have any problems, I will post them and hope you all stand up with me if I need to face them and trust me, I am willing to do anything for fairness and what is right. Please keep in touch. I refuse to be misled and ill-treated after spending that much cash - Jay Mohamed from Trinidad and Tobago

Ford Focus C-MAX 2005

This car is not at all reliable, I bought it new and had it for 5 years and I encountered: 4 times dangerous steering wheel problems, 3 times problems with the aircondition pump, and once a leakage with the coolant, always without any indication, so I had to have the car always at the garage. Unfortunately aftersales and technicians don’t help at all, it is very disappoiniting.

Ford Focus C-MAX 1600 LX 2006

Bought pre registered/new. Generally a good workhorse, no mechanical problems enginewise, but front tyres tend to need replacing fairly often. I do 10,000 miles/year. I noticed a "jiggle" coming through the seat when driving and took it to Ford dealers, but no better. I went to a small local tyre garage and they rebalanced all wheels, which were out, checked tracking, fitted one new tyre (which I knew of) and all for the cost of 1/2 tank petrol. Brill!! I do not bother with dealers anymore. I also use a smal local service garage, again brill, but of course would have to go to dealers for any failings on computer systems. I bought this C-Max after reading reports on handling, smooth rides, etc., but I don’t agree, the motorway rides are yuk. I would now probably go for a used Fiesta or leave Ford totally.

Ford Ka Zetec 2009

Interesting to read the various experiences, and to discover that others have had problems that I have also had. Notably the wiper judder and a replacement radio/cd. Apart from that, I am quite happy with my 2009 KA. I opted for the spare tyre (free of charge) and subsequently had the parking sensors fitted (£200), and I did have a couple of add-ons. Most impressive is the spoiler which makes a HUGE difference to the apperance and turns a rather naked rear end into something rather snazzy. I have had my car almost two years and done over 23000 miles (I drive for work) and it handles motorways or country lanes with equanimity. I get about 50-51 MPG even when bashing down the motorway (ordinary unleaded) and would agree that it loosened up after the first 6 months or so. I carry quite a lot of stuff about and find that the boot swallows up a surprising amount, but I do use the back seat too. However, since it is usually only me in the car that doesn’t bother me. Just ordered a new one.

Ford Fusion 2010

I just bought my Fusion in March. I love the technology. This car drives very smoothly as well!

Fwd: RTR Consumer Review from iOS - 17/05/2011 Inbox X iPhone Reports X Reply | Reall Good Domains Limited to me show details 10:48 AM (21 hours ago) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <jamiew@reallygooddomains.com> Date: Tue, May 17, 2011 at 10:15 PM Subject: RTR Consumer Review from iOS - 17/05/2011 To: irtr.consumer.reviews@gmail.com Consumer Review via iOS Make Ford Model Fiesta Variant Test Year 2008 Name R Location Test Rating 3 Review Test Bought or Leased Bought Reply Forward Invite Reall Good Domains Limited to chat Reply | Reall Good Domains Limited to me show details 10:49 AM (21 hours ago) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <jamiew@reallygooddomains.com> Date: Tue, May 17, 2011 at 1:56 AM Subject: RTR Consumer Review from iOS - 17/05/2011 To: irtr.consumer.reviews@gmail.com Consumer Review via iOS Make Ford Model Fusion Variant 2010 Name J Cworth Location America Rating 5 Review I just bought my Fusion in March. I love the technology. This car drives very smoothly as well! Bought or Leased Bought Reply Forward Invite Reall Good Domains Limited to chat

Responses to this review

But model in America is different to UK isn’t it? - Gareth from England

Ford Mondeo TDCi 2007

I have had this car from 6 months old, great except for now when changing gear going up hill the revs go high then back to normal, this happens regulary, not all the time though! Otherwise a great car, apart from turbo hose having a crack in and no turbo kicking in on motorway.

Ford Fiesta ghia 1.4 se 2004

It lacks the bhp a bit, i.e. 80, but it is ok for small runs etc. It can struggle at times with weight etc, and on hills you need to work the 5 speed gear box a lot. But a 1.4 is not going to set the world on fire... Still a fair car.

Ford Mondeo 2.0 tdci hatchback 6 speed 2003

Had this car for 3 years, got it with 90,000 miles on the clock. Have replaced front discs and pads also rear pads and handbrake cables, then dual mass flywheel at 100,000 miles. Have had no other problems, after 20,000 miles trouble free motoring including towing a caravan on a few holidays. Good mpg and plenty of power, good handling too.

Ford S-MAX 2.0tdci Titanium Auto 2008

After 3 years and 100k kilometers no real problems. Pros: Lots of space for passengers and luggage. Decent power. Smooth auto box. Good visibility. Handles well for a tall car. Has been very reliable with no repairs needed over the term apart from servicing. Cons: Thirsty - 36 odd mpg. Eats tyres and the 18" low profiles aren’t cheap. Again low profiles not really suitable for back roads and potholes, but that’s hardly the cars fault. Auto box annoyingly holds onto 5th until 65 mph when it could do with changing to 6th that bit sooner. The result is needless higher fuel consumption when traffic conditions dictate 60mph speeds. Controls for phone, radio etc a bit fiddly and confusing or maybe I’m just getting old. Lack of a spare wheel could potentially be a nightmare if you damage a tyre far from home over a weekend. Other than the few bits above I would have to reccomend it overall.

Ford Ka 1.3TDCi Titanium 2007

Further to the previous report, I finally got the wipers fixed - took nearly a month waiting for parts. I do not like tyre inflation kit and investigated the option of a spare wheel. Well, don’t bother!! Apparently they are not available and a close inspection of a rear wheel, removed, shows a pair of pins to locate the wheel on the hub. This rules out any alternatives other than "Ford" - read Fiat I suppose - and advice given was stick with the tyre kit. Not a great deal of use if you are considering motoring far from a garage. The Highlands for example. After a bit of reflection, the car was flogged and a Fiesta diesel got instead. A better kind of car all round. So, ok for not going away into the open expanse. Not for us though and to be realistic the previous model of Ka was more practical if wishing to use it in remote areas.

Ford Focus 1.6 lx automatic 2005

Bought the 1.6 lx automatic Focus in 2006 when it was a year old and for three years the car was absolutely brilliant with no problems at all. BUT it’s started to go down hill quite rapidly: The car has done 34,000 genuine miles and been regularly maintained, however, at 4 years old the offside wishbone needed replacing then at year 5 the nearside one also had to be replaced. OK not too bad so far, now the major issue is the spark plugs filling up with rusty water and causing the engine management light to flash on and off. This problem is a common fault with the Focus and although Ford knew about it and were going to recall the cars, in the end they never did anything. (and some will deny all knowledge!) The concensus of opinion is the water either comes from the badly designed water jets (which sit directly over the engine) or its water "from somewhere" getting into the core plugs. All this is expensive to try and sort out (which doesn’t always happen) so your back and forth to the garage spending lots of £’s each time. Until this nightmare developed I was very happy with the car, now I wouldn’t advise anyone to chance buying a Focus because when it goes wrong it certainly goes wrong in a big and expensive way. So beware: as long as it doesn’t rain, you don’t use the windscreen washer/wipers, don’t wash the car and most definitely don’t put the Focus through a car wash, you might be lucky and escape this common fault.

Responses to this review

I am having similar issues with my 2006 registered 1.6LX, worked wonderful for four years but has developed a fault such that it jerks and loses power on accelerating. I have had several trips to the garage to fix it, with the "heating circuits changed". It helps for a few weeks and the problem re-emerges - Shamil from Leicestershire

Ford Transit 115 hp 3500 2006

Done 206000 miles, been serviced at all the right intervals, not had any problems all apart from a water pump at 196000 miles original exahust and battery. This van pulls like a train and is nearly alway loaded with at least a ton and can’t even tell it’s in there. Amazing, much better than the disposable vans; Renault, Peugeot and Fiat, that I have had before.

Ford Streetka 1.6 Luxury 2004

We have a 2004 Streetka Luxury and both myself and my wife absolutely love driving it. . In my opinion the car is brilliant. Does exactly what is say’s on the tin - an affordable two seater with relatively low running costs. The engine is very robust and the gear change is just so good. The heated leather seats are amazing, especially on a chilly evening drive to the local beach and also hold you snuggly in its sumptuous leather. The hood - although manual, can easily be put up/down in under 30 seconds which is faster than many electric variants. (Just ensure the rear window is not kinked whilst pulling the hood down or you run the risk of the rear window cracking). Also, the hood folds into its own storage compartment so the very large boot remains the same size with roof up or down (unlike all other metal folding roof convertibles) Fuel consumption isn’t great, returning around 30 mpg around town and road tax is a whopping £245.00 per year. But, I guess if you want a 80 mpg diesel city car you wouldn’t contemplate buying a Streetka anyway. Although Ford, these cars were exclusively built in Italy by Pininfarina and the build quality seems so much better than my Sportka. When you close the door you get a satisfying VW clunk. Also, they don’t suffer from the usual ’Rust-around-the-filler-cap-syndrome’ that affects all Ford built Ka’s. Admittedly they are not without their faults, but name a car that is? Things to look out for are front suspension (check for uneven tyre wear), heating and ventilation (check heaters operate both hot and cold) Air conditioning (that the system blows icy cold), Worn steering wheels (the coating cracks and peels) and ideally, view the car when the engine is cold (the auxiliary belt tensioners tend to squeak on start-up if worn). Saying that all the above can be remedied with little cost but can aid you in bargaining a good deal. My opinion is: If you want a lovely looking sub £5k 2 seater convertible with bags of appeal then look no further!

Ford Fiesta 1.4 SILVER 2004

It is ok for short trips, but on 195/45 tyres it is a bit harsh on the long roads that we have. The the engine is only ok. Load the car and it will be hard work to press on, but it is only a 1.4 as you will find out up hills ! You need more b.h.p for a main car, mine is a town car. 80 bp is ok.

Ford Transit Connect 210 Lpg 2006

Amazing van does an amazing 25 to the gallon even better on lpg approx 20 if lucky. BAG OF C**P!

Responses to this review

You bought the petrol engine version? Why? Petrol engines are always a bad thing in vans....that’s why everybody buys the diesel! Even the Ford handbook only claims 20mpg round town for the petrol version. My Transit Connect TDCi achieves 38mpg in stop-start town driving. Sell it and buy the diesel - Martin Oliver from Cheshire

Ford Mondeo 2.0 140PS GHIA TDCI 2007

Good: Performance, economy, handling, space and practicality. Bad: Tramlining on 17 inch wheels, unprogressive brakes, water spills into boot when opening after rain. This is a brilliant car. Go on try one! Just remember to specify parking sensors...it’s huge! Economy averages 44 and that’s in town. Road noise is ok on my car, don’t know about other models. Build is high quality.

Ford Transit Dropside 2.4 TDCi 100 2004

I have a ’04 Transit TDDi dropside with tail lift on the back. Bought the van seven months ago with 87k on the clock and was going fine for the first few days. In the cold, the engine was very hard to get started, it had a major service before I bought it and had just been MOT’d. Then the instrument dials all failed as did nearly all electrics in the cab such as radio, heater, light and windows. Then driving home in the snow the engine died and lost power steering along with the brakes. I was extremely lucky I wasn’t involved in a serious collision! Got that fixed and now more recently I have been losing all power and it will not rev at all unless I pull over, turn her off and let her sit for 15 seconds, then restart it and she revved perfectly. Everytime this happened the heater light kept flashing until I pulled over and switched it off. Once I was 59 miles from home and this happened 34 times on the way back. Apart from all that it’s handy and despite the problems I’ve had, I love it! Only other complaint is the gearbox, it revs over 3700rpm when sitting at 65/70 mph in fifth gear too! DONT BUY A TRANSIT!

Ford Focus 1.6 100 Zetec Sport 2009

Bought my Focus in 2009 from Linsday Ford in Craigavon. With 33,000 Miles on the car I am far from pleased with the car. Firstly you can’t carry petrol to it, I am constantly putting petrol in it. Secondly I don’t find the seats comfortable on long journeys and tend to have a sore rear end. Also on anything but the smoothest surfaces the road noise is unbearable and you tend to be turning up the radio quite loud. Lastly the cabin quality isn’t anything to shout about, the lower dash and door panels are very scratchy and quite uninspiring to look at. Moreover, I have had a few electrical glitches where the radio sometimes wouldn’t work or the door locks wouldnt flick open. Also the heated windscreen is bit of a gimmick, the heater in my wifes 2004 307 CC demists the windscreen faster in the cold mornings. Overall I wish I didn’t buy the car, I was looking at a new Peugoet 308 or Astra and I wish I bought one of them instead!

Ford Transit 2008

I’m sorry to say but this van is gutless, nothing but problems. My latest problem is the van won’t always start straight away. I’ve had a diagnostics on it, changed the ignition barrel and lock, starter taken out, the fly wheel teeth checked and cleaned, a new fuel filter, still have the same problem. This van has spent more time in the garage than on the road, now every time I’m driving Im waiting for something to go wrong.

Responses to this review

Is it in cold weather? It could be cold start valve on pump - Pete Smith from England

I had same problem but found it to be a bad connection at switch at end of barrell. So I tied a tie rap around the wiring to pull wire to side where connection was better. It worked - Tony K from Ireland

Ford Focus Zetec 1.6d Sport 2009

Got this with sat nav, tinted windows and I love it. Never had a problem, had it serviced first time last month (on a 09 plate!) still drives like new. Sometimes a bit gutless when pulling away if you don’t quite catch it but only £30 a year road tax on a 1.6 diesel, i’ll put up with it. Overall excellent car.

Ford Transit 2.4 TDDi 90 Flat Bed 2004

I have a ’04 Transit TDDi dropside with tail lift on the back. Bought the van seven months ago with 87k on the clock and was going fine for the first few days. In the cold, the engine was very hard to get started, it had a major service before I bought it and had just been MOT’d. Then the instrument dials all failed as did nearly all electrics in the cab such as radio, heater, light and windows. Then driving home in the snow the engine died and lost power steering along with the brakes. I was extremely lucky I wasn’t involved in a serious collision! Got that fixed and now more recently I have been losing all power and it will not rev at all unless I pull over, turn her off and let her sit for 15 seconds, then restart it and she revved perfectly. Everytime this happened the heater light kept flashing until I pulled over and switched it off. Once I was 59 miles from home and this happened 34 times on the way back. Apart from all that it’s handy and despite the problems I’ve had, I love it! Only other complaint is the gearbox, it revs over 3300rpm when sitting at 65/70 mph in fifth gear too!

Responses to this review

Sounds like either your injectors are on the way out or your turbo electronic actuator is knackered - Stuart Quinn from Scotland

Is the clutch good? Also sounds like its in limp mode, check your fuel hoses are secure - J J from England

Your fuel pressure switch in the back of the pump is failing causeing the van to go into limp home mode. The light should be flashing on the dashboard, will not rev. Costs about £65 for a new one (2.4 tdci delphi system) - G.S Autos from Staffordshire

Ford Fiesta Zetec Blue (Special Edition) 1.4 TDCi 2008

I have had this car for about 6 months now, and covered about 10k in it (Borders to Edinburgh every day). Tax is good, £30 per year, insurance is about £1k/year (both drivers are under 25, so this isn’t too bad). It drives well, has some kick to it (being tdci). It’s the special edition so has low profile tyres, alloys, Sony CD player etc, it it fairly attractive. I get 55 mpg on average (about half the 3 hours spent in it per day is city driving, i.e. 30mph/less and the other half is country roads, i.e. 60mph), however the last few weeks it has been more towards 58mpg. This is with two of us in the car 80% of the time. In terms of problems, the car only had 10 500 miles on it when I bought it at 14k one of the fuel injector seals went (luckily it was still within warranty) I wouldn’t have expected this with such a low mileage, however with any luck it means that they won’t go again at 40k (as seems to be a problem many others have had). Due to the low profile tyres, you can ’feel’ the road surface a fair amount. The leg room in the front is vast, and the back is very generous compared to other small cars, three people car sit very comfortably in the back (knees don’t touch the seat in front, and it’s not too tight). It is comparable in size to the back seats in the Focus etc. I have been in the back of a friend’s Peugot 206 and it was very very tight. The boot is a good size, my dogs (a lab + a spaniel) fit quite happily. When the seats are folded flat the space is relatively enormous for a small car; I have transported fridges, rabbit cages, laminate flooring, tvs, etc with no bother at all. The interior is not particularly attractive, however it is not bad and this is down to personal taste. The seats are relatively comfortable for long journeys. It is easy to get in and out of the back seats (I have the 3dr version). Overall a good little car, and I would recommend it to anyone. So impressed that my next car will definitely be a Ford!

Ford Fusion 1.4 2 2004

I needed a car that I could use in the city for my work (lots of short runs) and be able to cover 600 miles in one go for my trips abroad. The Fusion handles both these jobs very well even though its the 1.4 model. I think part of this is how well the gearing has been thought out. Ford have such a massive engineering background and it shows in the way the car drives. To get the most out of the car I run it with the tyres pumped up to full load all the time, the trade off is a harder ride but it makes the handling and stability very good. There’s plenty of space in what is a small car and the boot especially is a good size. A Fusion is consistently one of the most reliable Fords and I, like most of the reviewers here really like it. A 5 star award because this is a tough, dependable and very well engineered car.

Ford Fusion 1.4tdi style 2006

Drove this car for a year and a half and it was fine then the problems began. First I had aj uddering when accelerating, my fuel rail was replaced this sorted the car for 5 months. Then the problem I had came back with a vengeance, this time the orange light with an exclamation mark began to flash. After 2 or so diagnostic checks I eventually had to have the fuel filter 4 injectors fuel pump and egr valve replaced to fix the problem. I got it back yesterday £1600 lighter in the wallet and that was done at a small garage, I could not afford Ford prices. What a disaster, hope nobody out there experiences the stress I have had to go through with this car. As soon as my loan is paid off I’m launching it. Would never ever buy a Ford again.

Ford Ranger Thunder XLT 2004

I’m chuffed to bits with mine 54,000 miles same clutch, 2nd set of tyres pulled caravans with it, light off roading, encountered floods, snow storms, severe ice. Cannot fault it, hasn’t missed a beat, only problem was one of the fog lights corroded inside in the chrome lens, but replaced by Ford.

Ford Mondeo Titanium X, 2.2tdci 2008

Brilliant drive with loads of torque. However, awful turbo lag at low revs means that pulling out at junctions needs to be done with care and a heavy right foot. Average indicated mpg is 40 on rural roads, good for such a big car. Has suffered from annoying electrical problems, 2 key failures (1st one on a wet afternoon...read the manual to see how to get in and drive!!) and repeated ’flat battery in key’ warnings, despite a new battery, faulty park sensors (the rear one is on permanently, the front one lets you hit what’s in front), a succession of engine management fault lights that don’t appear to have any basis. The part leather driver’s seat is showing wear at 25k miles. Overall a good car, but I’m now going VW Passat. Don’t buy secondhand unless you are prepared to have constant niggling problems, a la Renault. Oh, and I’m not impressed with my local dealer who seem mystified by most of the issues.

Ford Fiesta 1.4 Zetec TDCI 2003

Bought this car from a Ford dealer with 20,000 mile on the clock. Now has 85,000. All in all a good little car; economical, pleasant to drive, cheap to insure and tax, handles well. Problems: injector seal went at 40,000, £250 to repair. This is a common fault with this engine apparently. Clutch went at 60,000, £400 to repair. Both front alloys dented by potholes (Low profile tyres as standard), haven’t replaced them yet (£150 each). Air conditioning stopped working about 40,000. I get about 50mpg no matter how gently I drive it. Sometimes 55 on a run but no more than that. It has nice torque across the rev range and is reasonably quiet on the motorway. Legroom in the front is pretty good (I’m 6’ 2"). Would I but another one? Maybe, but I think I’d prefer something a bit more reliable.

Ford Transit swb 1.8 tdci 2005

At 123000miles boom, clatter, clatter; leg out of bed, 3rd piston, looking at the front a 2nd hand engine required.

Ford C-MAX 1.6 TDCi Zetec 2011

I have had this car for two months and very disappointed with it; poor acceleration and cutting out, flat spot in first gear. My car is supplied by Motabilty and I am keen to get the car changed, it’s just gone in to the dealer to be checked over but I don’t hold out much hope. I would think twice about having a Ford car again

Responses to this review

I am surprised that Ford still have not sorted the flat spot out. I drive an S-MAX diesel (57 reg) and have suffered this problem with the car since new. I have now done over 84,000 miles in the car and have had to adopt a specific standing start skill to avoid collisions at roundabouts when the car suddenly hits the flat spot. Every time the car goes for service, we have the same routine - they try to sort it but without any joy. If the car stalls then it makes one huge bang in the gearbox. Now after high mileage and some unavoidable stalls, the gearbox sounds like a bag of spanners, but I doubt Ford will acknowledge it has anything to do with the flat spot. I was considering a C-MAX, but guess what, not now! - Howard Hardy from Cheshire

Ford Ranger Thunder 2007

I have owned my Ford Ranger from new and followed the sevice schedule to the letter. Still didn’t stop it needing 2 new cambelts and engine rebuilds due to the premature snapping. First at 60 000 miles and second at 96 000 miles. Engine rebuild needed both times. Like a lot of other people on here who have dealt with Ford’s customer relationship centre, no help what so ever, should be renamed the ’Obstruction Centre’. Do not buy this vehicle unless you have seriously deep pockets to deal with the inevitable breakdowns and the patience of a saint to deal with Ford (sorry, we can’t help you centre.) Cambelt snapping was preempted by the vehicle shuddering at about 60 mph, be warned!

Ford Fiesta 1250 Zetec 3 door 2010

Fuel consumption first, I get readings on the computer of 50,51 when on the longer trips with just me in car. With a couple of passengers it drops to 49. Around town so far it reads in the low 40s. But the point is that this car is a brilliant drive and can really serve up some fun if you want it. If you want a boring car that will give better economy then there out there for you. If you want a small car that drives brilliantly AND has the capability of giving real driver enjoyment then this car does have that. This is my honest opinion and after thirty years driving police vehicle have I ever driven a better small car? NEVER! Try one. Hope this helps.

Responses to this review

I have recently purchased a Ford Fiesta 1.25 edge model, I am disappointed with a droning/howling noise at all speeds. The general consensus seems to indicate tyre noise. Does anyone out there experience similar problems as described or is this a common characteristic of 2010 Fiestas? Hopefully Fords can provide a true answer to my question! - Michael Murphy from Oxfordshire

Ford Mondeo 20l si petrol 1997

2l 16v zetec si with full st 24 kit. I haved owned this car for over 10 years, I have only replaced front discs, twice exhaust twice, 2 track rod end joints my fault clipped a kerb and did not get checked, 2 drop links in back suspenion, 1 central door locking, an oil cooler, 1 battery serviced once a year timing belt replaced every 45-50 thousand miles. Over 180,000 miles. I may say I dont have to put oil in between services, always geniune parts local dealer very good. I have been thinking of changing for the last 4 years wanting to buy a petrol car I think new shape too big. Looking at 20l fsi s line Audis, but cars with 20,000 miles engines don’t sound as quiet as the old Ford. I have always driven Ford not many problems cheap to fix.

Ford Fiesta Diesel Econetic TDCi 1.6 2009

I bought this vehicle on the 29/01/2010. It was an ex Ford Managers vehicle with 7,500 miles on the clock. I have been very pleased with it in all respects: its performance, fuel consumption and reliability. There have been not bodywork rattles or squeaks, or electronic problems at all. I don’t niggle over fuel consumption: it is around 60mpg. The right hand external mirror trim fell off in a car park; I put it back on myself and it hasn’t come off since. Most people do not feel moved to write a review until something annoying and expensive occurs. I have not had any faults to return the vehicle for and have done 13,500 miles since acquiring it. It has had one 12 monthly servicing. My last 1.4 TDCi 2004 did 120,000 miles driving from Cardiff to Bristol daily and never produced one single fault. Most of this is just luck, like the bad luck the other reviewers have had. Now to be really critical, I will list everything that did annoy me a bit in order of precedence 1. The useless tyre repair kit in lieu of a spare wheel , jack and wheel brace. I purchase the lot and threw the kit into my loft. That doesn’t involve loss of space. 2. The annoying feature, that when the heater fan is switched on, with the heat turned off and any screen setting is selected, the air con comes on and freezes you to death. 3.The annoying oil can symbol that warns that servicing is due, this will come on after you have had it serviced annually and not by mileage. This takes a long search on the Internet to find the multiple combination of pedals and switches to operate simultaneously to switch it off. 4. The low skirt under the radiator grill that clips Sleeping Policemen: that is unless you hit the centre of these obstructions with one front wheels in the centre of the mound. If this is all I have to worry about for 120,000 miles and no other problems arise I will consider myself very lucky. A very good car indeed.

Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCI Edge Estate 2007

I’ve normally opted in for a company car, but when I recently joined my new company, I decided to take some cash to British Car Auctions in Blackbushe. I wasn’t even looking for a Mondeo, but this one came in, in mind condition, ex lease, fully stamped and serviced just 4000 miles ago. It had done an intergalactic 118K miles, but when the hammer was about to go down at £4300 I stuck up my hand and the hammer went on my bid at £4400. It saled through its MOT (needing just a headlight adjustment which the testing station did for free) hasn’t used any oil in the last 4000 miles. I’ve had BMW’s Audi’s and VW’s in the past in all sorts of variants the best being a Golf GTI edition 30 and the worst a 320d Sport which was so hard it could knock you fillings out. But I’m here to tell you that this low spec ford it fabulous, not the quietest and I suspect the rear suspension bushes need replacing as even my 9 year old pointed out that the cats eyes in the road went up her spine! But really, considering I paid £4800 (after auction fees) + tax and MOT for a car I’d easily have to stup up £6700 for in some ropey old second hand car dealer, I’m absolutely chuffed to bits. If I drive gingerly I can get 62MPG, if I drive like a typical k**b in an Audi I’ll get closer to 43. I really think that some of those people that have given this 1 star are either bad at driving, or have experienced a duff one, but I’ve had duff BMW’s and VW’s before, and the Laguna I had was plain awful. I guess its always down to taste, while it isn’t as good as my MK5 golf GTI (that was just brilliant at everything) it’s a hell of a lot cheaper, holds and handles near as dammit as well as a BMW 3 (especially when it snows!), is massive, great all rounder. I say well done Ford, I’ll have another one when you get the Dual Cluch Auto!

Ford Transit Chassis Cab Vh 2.4 2001

I’ve worked my Transit hard for 11 years, clocking 200,000km. I have just put in a new clutch. I love my transit and I will buy another one.

Ford Puma 1.4 1998

This car was a joy to drive, I had the 1.4, it never gave any problems, was cheap for road tax and to ensure. It is a good looking car and drives nicely. I had 17inch alloys on my car, I would not recommend this as you could feel ever bump the car went over. One common problem with this car is that the parcel shelf on the boot falls down, this also happened on my friend’s and cousin’s Puma. Overall an excellent car.

Ford Ka zetec 1.2 2010

Bought in Nov 2010. So far no faults but windscreen wipers do judder a bit but seems okay so far! 3500 miles on the clock and seems to have loosened up a lot... better than when we first got it! Not bad on the motorway for a small car. Fuel economy poor though, can barely get over 40mpg on a long journey and careful driving! Rather small in the back but it is a small car. Will consider something bigger when it is time to change, but so far I like the car and it is quite fun/nippy around town.

Responses to this review

I have owned a mark 1 KA for a year now, and it required a new front spring (not a KA quality issue, just modern springs not too good, garage informed me) for recent yearly MOT. I also ain’t too impressed with the fuel consumption, doesn’t seem to do much more on a good run at 60mph max, 35-45 seems to be about the return - Adrian Butters from Leicestershire

Ford Mondeo Estate 2.0L Auto Diesel 2010

I really like this car, but the auto box has a serious fault. If you start braking to slow down and then accelerate the car gets confused and does not select a gear and you can end up coasting into an intersection. if you hit the pedal the car will kick down, the revs shoot up and then the car engages gear with a bit of a thump. Ford are aware of thsk issue but refuse to rectify the problem as they say it is atrait of the car. There is no issue if using the Sport or manual mode. Shame really for a car that is superior in a lot of ways.

Ford Galaxy 1.8 ls 2007

I would love to be able to recommend this car to everyone. It drives really nicely, especially on long journeys. No understeer going into corners and makes me feel safe. Good space inside the car and is great for family holidays. Two problems with it, when accelerating hard the engine hesitates mid-acceleration. This is really dangerous when pulling out of junctions. You need to change your driving style to compensate. The other problem is that the engine blew up at just over 60k. Bought this car from new, Ford have always serviced it and I regularly check oil level. Never needed to top up but Ford insist that I must have run the engine without oil at some point, nonsense. However, being over three years old and also over 60k they refuse any good will what so ever. Very poor £4k to replace a diesel which should last for over 150k. Ford will lose out in the long run as this will be the last new Ford I buy. No confidence in them any more. A shame.

Ford Transit Connect 200 tdci 2007

I bought this Connect to replace my aging diesel Escort van, wich never let me down. Ever. The Connect came from the John Grose dealership and was an ex rental van for them and had 7000 on the clock. The first thing that struck me was the appalling fuel consumption compared to the Escort....I can get it down to 27mpg if on the motorways at a steady 70! (Its the 75hp version) It has no go at all. Original battery lasted 1 year The build quality is nothing short of rubbish; bits drop off, the paint is falling off, plastic bumpers crack, tyre wear on the front is reasonable. I had to replace the alternator wiring at 55,000 as it gave out and was overcharging the battery yet the warning light was on. cold weather, the van is hard to start, it starts for a few seconds and then stops, new fuel filter is £42.00 from Ford dealer! Made no difference. Windscreens go, and generally it’s the worst van I have ever bought. I have allways had Fords but now I’m looking at other stuff. Van has 56500 miles on it and I have had it up to here with it.

Ford Fiesta Zetec 1250cc 2010

Bought car 1 year ago. Poor mileage, 37mpg is the best I can get using all the recognised tips recommended. Had to invest in a spare wheel etc., which of course hurts the fuel consumption. Some other small niggles, but the steering and roadholding are very good. Next one I will have will be a 1.6TDCI for a bit more poke and better mileage. It’s still much better than my previous Yaris, which you can find on Toyota reviews.

Ford Transit 350 2003

Bought brand new in 2003 used for transporting granite worktops. It’s a 350 90 psi never had anything apart from a new power steering pump done now 131000 in it. Running good, not the fastest, go everywhere about 80 on motorways, just goes and goes, don’t know when to change? Do I keep on going or change? Hear so many stories saying easy 250000 miles, dont know what to do. Still a fantastic van, would not buy anything else other than a Ford Tranny.

Responses to this review

Hi Paul, I’m considering buying a 2004 350 lwb 90bhp for my wholesale food business but for what I’m using it for, I could have it doing 1000 miles/week so fuel economy is a big point of issue when making my decision either way. I like the length and reliability of a Transit but don’t know how this model would perform on fuel. Would you have any idea of what sort of mpg you’re getting from yours? - Neil McMullan from County Armagh

Hi Neil, I had a 2003 Transit TDCi and it was the worst van ever, you name it and it went wrong! I’m an Armagh van man myself and I had to buy a new van due to the amount of problems with the Transit. So I bought a 2005 Peugeot Boxer 2.8 HDI and I currently have 150k on the clock and she never lets me down! Great vans. I would avoid the Ford - Damian Murray from County Armagh

Ford Ka 1.2 titanium 2011

I’ve owned my new Ka 1.2 titanium since March 1st, build quality seems really good for a car made in Poland, doors shut with a heavy thud rather than a tinny clang of the previous model, drives nice gearbox is brilliant and looks stunning in piste white. I traded down from a Focus 1.8 because of cheaper running costs and i’m well pleased so far, the way it goes round bends, sticks to the road like it’s on rails. Will watch out for the wiper problem mentioned by other owners. My only gripe? Why can’t Ford fit proper carpet in their small cars instead of that cheap looking felt?

Ford Maverick V6 3.0 2003

Well, let me start by saying I have just left a 2000 Freelander at the garage where I bought it from still under warranty (bought less than a year ago) had 11 previous owners, never in my hands, always broke. Just bought a v6 2003 3.0 Maverick and already I feel lucky!! Go get one if you are lucky enough to find someone mad enough to part with one!!

Responses to this review

Hi, I am thinking of buying one, can you give me honest MPG figures please and also do you still hold the same views now you have had the truck a while? Thanks for your time - Steve Rawlins from Essex

Ford Mondeo 2.5 Titanium auto 2006

Excellent car! The old model has been chosen as it was LOADED and smooth V6-es are great including the 5gr autobox. No problems at all, minimal maintenance. Fuel consumption is okay, no more then that but as expected. Ideal for long runs through Germany cruising over 120 an hour. If you don’t do to many miles per year, buy one!

Ford Focus Titanium 2010

Have tried all ways to set the steering to comfort or sport, but nothing comes up on the menu. Would like to use comfort as I use hand controls and standard gets heavy on a long run.

Ford S-MAX 1.8 Turbo Diesel 2007

I have had this car for just over 3 years from new and potentially a great car. I have done 80k, but in that time the following problems, seen so many times on Ford blogs. 1. Hesitation when accelerating, so dangerous at a roundabout. 2. New steering rack, the old one disintegrated internally but no contribution from Ford Cost over £1.1k .3. Heater Directional cable now broken, heat only on face and screen. Quoted £1,200 to fix it by local Ford dealer. Feet freezing. 4. Bonnet Cable ceased could not check Oil or fill washer bottle. 5. Blows rear bulbs for fun, must change a stop & tail bulb every 6 weeks. So bad I now change them both every time. However the car is a dream to drive, especially long distances, is very economical at 48mpg average over 5kmls, and has the carrying capacity of the Tardis without sacrificing handling. My verdict, a frustratingly, costly, brilliant,vehicle. Only buy if you have deep pockets !

Responses to this review

If you use motorcraft bulbs in rear tail lights, they don’t blow - John from Ireland

Ford Fiesta TDCI 2005

For years I drove only Volvos. I had a lot of breakdowns too. I tried a diesel Fiesta Zetec in 2002, to save on fuel costs and had 90,000 trouble free miles in that car. My 2005 diesel Fiesta Ghia now has 70,000 miles and has been faultless, it still returns 59 mpg and (touch wood) has been totally reliable.

Ford Ka Studio 2010

I bought my new KA in March last year and have owned two previously. As this was new shape was intriqued to see the difference. Firstly the price considering this is bottom of the range I consider it to be overpriced. Previously I had a C1 Citroen and in comparison it was all singing and dancing and cheaper than the KA. The car is fun to drive and whizzes along on the motorway quite happily. I do like the shape and the build, but am not impressed with things like the fact as one previous reviewer commented that you cannot even unlock the thing on the passenger side from outside and have to lean across the passenger seat to open the door. This is absolutely ridiculous from a practicality point of view and from a safety point of view. I have NEVER had a car during period of several decades of the driving that is like this. I would not have bought it had the salesperson told me this was the case. I can only assume it is Ford cutting corners (what cost a manual lock as standard?). I have also had the kangarooing, which still happens on occasion. Have had to have the wiperblades replaced as they bounced over the windscreen. However, worse than this my manual car is acting like an automatic. It will actually drive without my foot on the accelerator and will drive at a speed of 10mph even in 4th gear. Even more peculiar, it will accelerate to go up a slope. Am taking it back to Ford, Stroud this week to see what can be done. Am not impressed either by the economy but then, I have been spoilt by the C1. I shall be keeping the car for another year and then exchange it for another C1. 40 odd miles to the gallon whilst driving sensibly and smoothly doesn’t seem to make any difference.

Responses to this review

I have also recently bought a new shape Ford Ka on a 59 plate and wasn’t told about the lock situation. The salesperson apologised and said he didn’t know. I have only had it four weeks and am going through Trading Standards to see if they can help! - Tracy Woodward from England

Ford Ranger 2007

Nothing but trouble. I had it for one year and spent £2,000 fixing it.

Ford Fiesta 1.4L

Pros: Fairly inexpensive. Small. Low maintenance cost. Great air conditioning (needed in Cyprus)

Cons: Poor fuel economy (less than 500km per fill up). Slow acceleration. Poor build quality (lots of rattles and squeaks). Road noise. Doesn’t retain its value.

Ford Kuga 2011

Kuga is the best car for me because of its handling and comfort to drive. The fuel consumption is low too. I really like Kuga.

Responses to this review

I have a 2.0TDi Titanium. I have worked in fleet management and vehicle industry all my working life. This is the first real car I can say I really enjoy owning. AWD was fantastic in snow. There is the slight downer that it is probably not as good on fuel consumption as I had thought especially with the price hike. Hey, so what, enjoy - Mac from Worcestershire

Ford Ranger Tipper 2007

I loved my Ford Ranger Tipper until the cambelt tensioner failed at 24,520 miles causing extensive damage to the engine. Ford havn’t given a reason as to why their product didn’t do "what it said on the box" Even worse they can’t get the parts to repair the damage and two weeks later I’m still out of business and heavily out of pocket as this was a work vehicle and I can no longer work. I say Toyota everytime as I’ve had three consecutively which never missed a beat on an average of 200,00 miles each and sold on as runners. Alan Mulally the CEO of Ford has not even responded to my questions about his product, his e-mail is available on request. Very disappointed.

Responses to this review

Ford Fiesta 2004

Very good, but a bit loud on motorway its 1.4 petrol engine can flag on the hills too, but it’s good in town. Leather seats, air con, all the bells and bits 2004 reg, 4000 miles no probs. NICE car, but could do with a bit more waft.

Ford Ranger 2.5 TD 12 valve Double Cab pickup 2002

I bought this ’02 Ranger pickup specifically for the snow or other tough conditions we get in the hill country. As a 4x4 the car coped easily with 30 cm of snow in December, as well as mud, grass or sheet ice on a 25% forest road gradient. It has a high and low gear 4 wheel drive selector, with remote free wheel button. The remote free wheel comes into play as soon as you select either 4 wheel drive option: although you have to make sure it is not in RFW mode when slipping into 2 wheel drive. All this aside, the car is in my opinion more useful than most 4x4s, because it has a comfortable double cab and the pick up truck bay. As a light truck with 4x4, great in snow, ice, floods, mud, or off road it is hard to beat. Reliable, tough, durable and and economical, it is a powerful alternative to Toyota, Jeep, Mitsubishi, or Landrover. If you are looking for a 2nd hand 4x4 truck for winter, these cars are great all rounders and made to last.

Ford Fiesta 1.4 zetec climate 2010

My Fiesta has started making a scraping noise from the front, only since this spell of bad weather, on slow corner manoveres and pulling back down my drive, it’s like the springs! My Ford dealership have yet to find it. Also tonight have heard water slushing about somewhere, found water dripping from off the bottom of the rear passenger door. Another trip booked to the dealership tomorrow!

Responses to this review

I bought my car in January 2011, 2010 model. It’s nice to drive, struggles a bit up hills. I have used every tip in the book to obtain better fuel economy but no joy. Still can’t get past 36mpg, this is urban and motorway driving. Very disappointed as this is nowhere near what Ford says it can do. It has 1,400 miles on the clock and the dealer said it should improve by 2000-3000 miles, if not there is a device I can buy for £30 to check the driving pattern. Seems a bit ludicrous, got 45 urban and 58 motorway in my 9 year old Punto and even better when new, my driving hasn’t changed. If anyone can offer advice other than the obvious to improve consumption, it would be appreciated - Linda Douglas from Scotland

Ford Transit 280 Lx 2007

I’ve got to say this is a great van in general, however there are a few flaws. The battery is not good for cold climates, the bluetooth does its own thing and the engine can mistime while idle, but it is worth the money for the workhorse it is.

Ford Focus C-MAX Zetec 2009

Very poor traction body, too heavy for front wheel drive, and too much wear on tyres for a car; my van tyres last longer! Overall, poor all round performance for a family car.

Ford Transit 130l 1996

I had a mark 3 good bus, had it for 3 years, repair costs nil just basic servicing. I had a mark 4 good bus, had it for 3 years repair costs nil just basic servicing, very, very good plus one starter motor. I had a mark 5 good bus, had it for 5 years repair costs nil just basic servicing plus one battery, very, very good. I had a mark 6 bus, had it for 3 weeks biggest load of total c**p I have ever had! It overheated, rattled, rusted, wouldn’t start wouldn’t stop unless I stalled it, leaked all over, was always full of water, engine was the noisiest I have ever heard sounded like a tank! I apologise to a tank because the engine was worse than that, the police pulled me one night because the engine was so noisy! Ford said that is was natural for mk6 to be that noisy so I have swapped my mk6 piece of rust for another mk5 8 months ago and back to silence and no repair bills. Looking forward to driving this for the next 20 or so years. PS: I would never dream of buying another Ford from about the year 2000 onwards.

Responses to this review

I’ve owned a Ford Transit 190lwb for just under seven years now. My mechanic says they’re the best and all the RAC say they are and with reading the reviews what everybody says about the new Transits. I would never get one of them. Smiley’s are the best. The banana engine is very easy to work on and any mechanic can fix one, piece of cake. The part’s are cheap and even though they rust like hell it’s well worth spending your money getting them through their MOTs and just hanging on to them because Ford actually got it right when they made these beasts and you have got a GENUINE, SOLID, RELIABLE workhorse. I couldn’t agree with you more Ron on these beasts - Michael Todd from Cheshire

Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCI ZETEC S 2010

Well chuffed With my new buy. Purchased for my Wife. Had about 2 months now. Build quality Very good, smooth drive, great driving postiton, smooth gear change and the quietest diesel I have ever driven. Mpg very good too. If you order one, make sure you order it with the spare wheel/brace and jack, cost me extra £50, but well worth it. Owned Fords now for over 20 years and this is the best yet. A great small car with a very big personality. Before you buy any small car, you must have a test drive. YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Ford Mondeo 2.0 2005

This car is reliable, easy to drive, fantastic for the family with loads of space. Folding rear seats also mean loads and loads of boot space for bulky items.

Ford Fiesta Van

Very good car, looking forward to driving it.

Ford Ranger Tipper 2008

In a nutshell the Ranger is utter rubbish, I will never buy a Ford commercial again! I invested in a brand new 2008 Ranger 4x4 tipper. The tipping frame rusted terribly in no time , as did the chassis worryingly especially along the welds, the leaf springs have rusted to a bright orange glow, the paint on the Ford fitted tow-bar came off in sheets after a few months, the tool boxes rusted and the cheap locks seized up. I have started to notice a panel in the engine compartment is rusting too. Now for the clutch, what a joke! I bought this truck on the basis it was meant to be the class leader for towing capacity I really need to tow for work, I towed with the truck several times, I had to give up towing with this vehicle, each and every time I reversed an ’’empty’’ tandem axle trailer, the cab and immediate vicinity would fill with the stench of burning clutch, this truck is NOT fit for purpose! The truck had a starting problem too if the vehicle sat for more than 5 days, Ford could never put their finger on problem, overall I’m very disappointed.

Responses to this review

Where did you park it in salt at night? The Ford Ranger is A1 and mine has done 148 on 52 plate and it’s like new. It’s a 4x4 that goes off-road so you need to help it with water and sponge - Bob Man from England

The Ranger is utter rubbish, you only have to read the reviews on here to see that. Get a proper truck, buy a Toyota! - Stan Duke from England

Well mine’s gone to a new owner, thank God - Stan Duke from England

Ford Ka Studio 2010

Bought my car in July, by that evening I discovered the wind screen wiper right hand side judders the window winder fell off and the radio did very perculiar things including random jumping to white noise/max volume. Took it back to Pye motors Morecambe, who replaced the radio and said the wiper problem was due to some residue left from the "sale sign" on the wind screen. Next rainy day the windscreen wiper was slightly better but not fixed and got progressively worse again. Since then the glove compartment door fell off, and the trim that holds the parcel shelf in place has fallen off. Flat tyres, which in practice have to call breakdown and get towed to the garage for repairs as the inflator device isn’t recommended by the dealer or the breakdown people and you can’t drive on the motorway after using it anyway! That’s another half day wasted! Yesterday, Friday afternoon the car broke down, the engine turned over but wouldn’t fire. Unfortunately I made the mistake of NOT ringing Ford assistance and used Britannia to take me to Morcambe main dealers. The dealer can’t do anything until Monday and couldn’t give me a replacement car. So I rang Ford assistance today and they have refused to come out and see if they can restart the car as its "already at a garage", but won’t give me a replacement car either even though PYe say they can’t look at it until Monday. So the Ford Assistance" is basically a waste of time as my car’s going to be a least three days off the road and I’ve had no help whatsoever, a real pain when you live in a rural location! Other very annoying things, because I haven’t got central locking, the only way you can lock/unlock the passenger door is by leaning over from the driver side, not good for someone with a bad back! The passenger side door doesn’t have an external lock for your key and doesn’t self lock if you push in the handle. This is de-evolution! So if someone parks right up to the drivers door the only way into the car is via the boot. To open the bonnet you have to lean over from the driver side right down to the left side of the passenger floor side, it’s not underneath the steering column as indicated in the drivers manual, again no good for someone with a bad back and remember if you haven’t got central locking you can’t open the passenger door from outside to access the bonnet catch as you still have to lean over and open the door from the driver side!

Responses to this review

Hi Judith. I read your review with interest and agree with your comments. I have also added a review. I have to say that I am absolutely disgusted with the door lock set-up. I even asked at the 1500 service if there was something that I wasn’t doing, only to be told that you cannot lock it from outside. How primitive is that?! I have to take my car back this week as it is running on its own, only at a low speed but its quite spooky. Perhaps I have a Toyota engine under the bonnet by mistake. I won’t be keeping the KA long term but I do like the look and performance, however, with the price of petrol, I will revert to a C1 next time with all the electrics etc. Best wishes - Dominique James from Gloucestershire

Ford Transit 300 125ps 2005

Never buy a Ford Transit, mine has spent more time in the garage than on the road. In three years it’s had: Three sets of injectors; four needed at Å�200 per injector each, turbo, head gasket, drive shaft, rear door wiring loom, window switches. In one year I spent roughly £3500 in costs just to keep it on the road and now the garage tell me it needs a new fuel pump £££! I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD TRANSIT AGAIN. I’ve been a loyal Ford owner for more than 15 years, NOT ANYMORE!

Ford Fiesta 1.6 Titanium 2010

I traded down from a 2 litre Ghia Focus, so I now benefit from lower emissions and less road tax plus better consumption. The performance is just as good, the engine is much smoother and very willing to rev. My only gripes are; manual rear windows, no drivers central armrest and biggest of all is drum brakes at the rear. If Ford had addressed those shortcomings they would have had a lovely small executive sports car. Rear seat leg room is a bit tight and the boot is not over large, but for two people it is more than adequate. Two adults in the back are ok for short journeys. After speccing my car came to around £15,300 but with trade in and discount from my on line buyer I reduced that to £10,500.

Ford Focus 1.4 Zetec connection 2007

I bought a 2007 3dr Focus from new and still have it. But one regret I have is not getting a bigger engine. The 1.4 is so sluggish and under powered. 80hp in a car that size just isn’t enough. In the 4 years I’ve owned it I’ve only had one problem, a pipe for the powersteering burst, wasn’t an expensive fix either so didn’t really mind. All in all very happy with the car.. Time now for an st!!

Responses to this review

How much did you pay?! - Nick Kuti from England

Ford Fiesta 1.4 zetec 2005

Ford 1.4 zetec 2005. Bought mine second hand 3 months ago, no problems so far but have noticed high fuel consumption.

Ford Fiesta TDCi 1.6 LX 2011

Just purchased new diesel 1.6 LX. Had if for 7 days now So far, no teethening problems Just that fuel usage around 5.6L/100km not 4.4L as stated by Ford, but it’s early days as the engine is still tight. But for a new cheap diesel car with bell and whistles for NZ standards it’s not bad. Have tried a few new small diesel cars, this one is quieter than some engine noises. One thing Ford should give back as a car package is full size spare tyre and jack/brass instead of the mobility kit.

Ford Maverick 2003

I bought a Ford Maverick 4 years ago... and I love it. It has never once let me down, so is very reliable. It handles really well - is absolutely brilliant in the snow and ice and off road - much better performance than other 4x4’s on the road at the time, (maybe it was just the drivers LOL). It drives superbly, is safe (was hit by another driver - from behind - his car was crumpled - mine - not a scratch). I am thoroughly impressed with it and so is everyone that gets in it. Two of my friends are so impressed - they went out and bought second hand and are equally impressed.

Responses to this review

Tim, do you have trouble getting your Maverick repaired? My local garage claims they can’t fix mine as it’s such a rare car - unfortunatley it hasn’t worked properly since they serviced it! - Diane Chung from Berkshire

Visiting Greece (from Montenegro), we are finding easily all the parts needed for our Ford Maverick. In the region of Thessalonica, they have many of these cars, so it is easy to find all the required spare parts (also second hand). This winter, our car was crashed. We went to Greece and found all needed was around 4,000 Euros to order new spare parts in the official stores. In the small garage, they find the part for the steering that was 1,400 Euros for only 400 for the other damaged FM. The left wing was also affordable there and rear lights. After repairing, it is now like before - Velibor Spalevic from Montenegro

Ford Transit Connect 2007

Overall quite a good van, Plus points: Strong quiet engine Very reliable Comfortable driving position Negative points; Very poor fuel consumption Front wheel bearings only lasted 25K miles, eats front tyres. Van is driven sensibly.

Ford S-MAX 2L TDCI 140 Zetec 2008

Bought my S-Max in January 2008, by August 08 it had been back to Ford 5 times and by that stage they had to send a technical engineer over from Ford UK to look at the car! The engine management system was messed up and simply would not start. The alarm which I got put in as a factory fitted option kept going off by itself, the parking sensors had completely given up the ghost and that stupid handbrake came off in my hand one day when I pulled it up! By December 2008 Ford had no other choice than to take back the car and give me a Titainum 2.0 TDCI version which was an Ex Ford UK car with less miles that were on my own. It was a better car than my 1st S-Max but not a huge improvement. I have recently traded it in with 87k on the clock for a Toyota Rav4. In my opinion, avoid the S-Max at all costs!

Ford S-MAX 2006

Bought the car 2nd hand last Dec (09) & it was fine till this Dec when it was troublesome to start and then eventually just wouldn’t. We have just spent £700 on diagnosis alone (it’s still knackered) to be told that it is our fault, we must have let the engine overheat, and it needs the entire engine replaced?!? The temp gauge needle has NEVER gone over halfway and we have checked/topped up coolant on regular basis (as per normal car maintenance). NOT IMPRESSED WITH THIS HEAP OF JUNK and LESS THAN IMPRESSED WITH FORD CUSTOMER "SERVICE" - will never ever buy Ford again in my life & will dissuade everyone I know from buying Ford.

Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi 115 SPORT 2006

I bought my Focus in October 2006 and I’ve hated it ever since! I sold my old 2000 Peugeot 206 1.9d to my sister and decided to buy this car and I truely regretted selling the Peugeot, it never gave me any trouble at all and to this day my sister is still driving about in it and has still had no problems with the car! The Focus isn’t nice to drive, it’s uncomfortable to sit in and is generally unreliable. The engine has been a big problem in terms of not wanting to start, also the turbo had to be replaced. The interior is horrible, lots of the dash panels have either fallen off or are about to fall off! I had to get 2 new shock absorbers for the back when the car was still in warranty, I took it to Ford themselves and they refused to fix it under warranty because "It was my fault, not the cars". I’m a 28 Year Old hair dresser, not Colin McRae! In the end I got 2 new shocks off a Focus from the scrapyard. My friend in work has an 07 308 HDi 1.6 Sport and she hasn’t had any problems at all since she has owned it, I find it a lovely car to drive, fantastic looking, lovely and comfortable and really economical! Guess what my next car will be (308)... Overall, Dont buy a Ford Focus!

Ford Focus 1999

Bought ours 2 years ago (T reg) from local guy with full service history. It has been the best car ever! When this one finally decides to give up, we are definatly getting another. Only thing I can fault it on is the window misting up but that’s not the end of the world : )

Ford Transit 2.5 swb 2003

Had for 7 years and now done 210K. Got us two Kiwis through and around 14 countries over 8mnth period with only a new water pump replaced and one tyre and since then brakes, exhaust and rust underneath done once. Well done the Brits on an excellent van and top marks for reliability. If it wasn’t for the rust she’d be a keeper. Unfortunately don’t think it’s going to pass next MOT. Glad I chose this instead of a transporter :-)

Ford Ranger XLT Thunder 2007

I agree with most reviews, excellent truck, fits my lifestyle perfectly, a work horse, towing, loading and so presentable I even go out in it. My Merc spends most of the time in the garage now. Consumption is the only snag. Now, at 50,000 miles I feel a bit of shuddering, does it mean the clutch is going?

Responses to this review

Check your propshaft - hanger bearing - Barend Lintvelt from South Africa

Hi, do you feel shuddering all the time when you are driving? Is it first thing in the morning or when you have done a long trip and come to a stop where you are doing a lot of clutch work? Is it shuddering only when you go off in first and if you pull off in second is there no shuddering? - Ash Man from Suffolk

I have a Mazda and Ford 2.5 TDI excellent engines, terrible drivetrain and transmissions. I have paid the best people to balance propshafts and to work on the gearboxes and the shutter and humming is still there - CJ from South Africa

Ford Ka 2010

Had my new shape KA for less than a year, the milage keeps on blinking every other day, the window wiper shattered, otherwise the car is great. Have had KA for the last 8 years.

Responses to this review

Hi, I’m thinking of getting a KA (2006) 1.3l. Would you recommend it? - Claire Hatton from Spain

Ford Mondeo 1.8 LX 2001

Couldn’t decide between 4 or 5 stars, but as it’s not 100% perfect I gave it 4. 4.8 would be more like it. Bought the Mondeo in August 2007 with 43,000 miles on it, now has 69,000 Faults to date:- Rear subframe bushes Drivers seat height adjuster Rear wheel bearing And thats about it, faults seem pretty common with this car, I still haven’t fixed the seat as only I drive it. Otherwise this car has been trouble free. It’s comfortable and quiet even on a trip to Cologne we arrived pretty fresh. If I didn’t need an estate I would keep it till it died.

Ford Ka Edge 2010

I borrowed this 10 plate with under 3K for the weekend while my C Max was being fixed. I recently helped my elderly parents buy a new 3 door Fiesta and I loved it. It is a spacious, well built car with a good driving position and a crisp responsive 1.25 engine. So to the KA.......It looks compact and when you get in that is what you get. In fairness the front is quite room and 2 of my children 3 and 10 did fit in the back seats. The boot is small, but I did manage to get a family shop from Tesco in there, so not too bad. Access to the rear was difficult, so trying to strap my 3 year old into his car seat was not easy. The driving position is very poor, with the wheel only adjusting for height. There is no place to put your left foot when it is not on the clutch. The seats are very hard and not that good. The feel of the cabin is cheap and gives the impression they will not last. The rear wiper switch had to be forced to get it to work. The ride is hard and where we live in the country you feel every pothole....ouch! The engine feels very rough until it warms up , then it is not too bad. Acceleration was reasonable even with 2 large adults and 2 kids in it. The most disturbing thing was the fuel economy. According to the ’official’ figures the combined economy is 55 mpg........DREAM ON ........best I got was 46mpg and I drive reasonably carefully. I have seen this type of car on an 09 plate with 2K at £6500 and that seems reasonable, I would not pay any more. This is basically a Fiat with a Ford badge and while I have only had it a few days, it shows. Spend a bit more money and get a Fiesta, you will not regret it.

Ford Fiesta zetec s 2008

Worst car I have ever owned. Been a big fan of the ’fast Fords’ but with the rise in fuel I had to trade my Focus ST in and unfortunately bought this. It’s basically falling to pieces after 20k, it’s had to go in for a new gear box, air flow system, which is still not right, plastic, rubber trims are falling off. Awful, awful car, stay away!

Responses to this review

Have you considered that this is not a Focus ST and needs to be driven more as a family car? - Terrence from Bedfordshire

Ford Focus C-MAX 1.6 TDCI LX 2004

I bought my car pre-reg from a Ford dealer in 2005 and has covered 68,000 with no major problems until the last few weeks. I got 10,000 miles out of a set of front tyres, whereas would normally expect 17-20K. Most worrying was loss of power. Has just gone into local Ford dealer and had a new EGR valve at £450! A few hours after getting it back engine warning light came on and there is still some loss of power. Dealer says the car requires a software upgrade. The car is worth about £2500 and having read some of the horror stories here I am worried!

Responses to this review

EGR valve for £450, what a load of tosh. The computer needs reprogramming, load of nonsense. The Ford garage is just trying to get money for nothing. None of these things need replacing. If your C-MAX diesel is loosing power, simply change the fuel filter, which if you buy yourself from the parts at a ford garage, will cost you around £30. If you can’t do it yourself then ask the garage to change it for you. It should take them no more than an hour to do. I did my own and it only took me 40 mins and I am no expert mechanic - Steve Boon from Hampshire

Ford Ranger XLT Double Cab 2006

I have had my 06 Ranger for 18 months now and love it! It runs on mud terrain tyres and will go anywhere! Has pulled out my friends L200 and is much more reliable than my other friends Navara! Regularly pulls a horsebox, an off road range rover (very heavy) and occassionally a boat! Would agree about pulling off in 4wd when towing to save the clutch. So far just had regular servicing and recently had it’s 60k cambelt service which was very easy/cheap to do! Great load bed space and a really good value truck to own and drive.

Ford Transit Connect 2006

Our company has 6 of these vehicles. We have one that has been having right rear tyre issues. The right rear tyre is being shredded. The vehicle has 46000 miles and this is the second tyre it has gone through.

Ford Focus 2006

After 3 years happy motoring (car bought 1 year old in Sep 2007) the faults appear to mounting alarmingly. Little did I know when I purchased this car that I needed to replace the Diesel Particulate Filter every 37K (at a cost of £400), however, every time I take it for service it seems uncanny that a further fault needs attention! The car is approaching 70K miles and the bills just keep on coming! The latest problem to appear is a high-pitched screeching noise from the engine compartment when I accelerate to above 2000revs (in any gear). Has anyone else had this problem and if so what was needed to rectify it? Make no mistake, this is a good car to drive but reliability is becoming an increasing problem - so much so that I’ll be going elsewhere for my next car.

Responses to this review

Regarding your dpf, I have a Citroen C5 diesel with a dpf and it will self clean if periodically driven at around 2-2500 revs for about 10 mins. The problem arises if the car is in slow or start/stop traffic so every so often give it some welly and that should prolong its life. My dpf should have been replaced at 75k but it’s currently on 78k so fingers crossed on mine. With all the problems that diesels have (dpf, dual mass flywheels and clutches, turbos etc) is it really worth it - cheaper tax, slightly better mpg over an economical petrol car. I am looking for a petrol car but her indoors must not know about until I’ve got it - Keith Morshead from Berkshire

Ford Ranger Thunder 2007

Ford Rubbish!! I bought a new 57reg pre registered Ranger "first mistake" I’ve done 40k miles in just over 3 years and it had the rear end painted 3 times because of blisters. One of these times the dealer broke the front fog lamps taking the front bumper off to paint the front scuttle panel, which wasn’t approved to be painted and took 2 weeks to get new ones. Also replaced; two new compasses on the dash, three sets of parking sensors, new propshaft, two sets of front tyres (alignment checked 5 times). The bonnet blistered like the back end and the whilst dealer agreed to repaint the back for a fourth time they wouldn’t touch the bonnet, saying it was stone chips even though they finaly agreed it was a blistered. Because I bought it pre reg I had to pay the servicing £350-400 plus vat each time. The steering would clunk when you turn it full lock. It ended up that I just wanted rid of it. DO NOT BUY ONE!

Ford Focus 2007

I’ve had a couple of problems whilst I’ve owned my car mainly bushes going first on my suspension now they have worn on my steering arm but other than that its an excellent car I’m really happy I bought it.

Ford Transit 115 T260 trend 2010

Had a Fiat Ducato from new, by 40,000 miles it had been in the garage more times than I could even keep count, new e.c.u, 3 turbos, new catalyst, earthing probs, wipers sheared, headlight motors nackard, tickover problem that could not be solved, new alternator, cant even remember what else! So decided to get rid and get a new Transit and as we thought the Transit has lived up to its reputation! 23,000 miles on the clock now, only been in the garage for a service, no knocks, no rattles, still drives like brand new after 1 year. Only one problem they seem to have is the top brake light seems to go pretty quick, but nothing to moan about! Best van available, best looking, and drives like a luxury car! The trend model has too many extras to list,6 speed, cruise control, auto lights, auto wipers, heated screen, elec mirrors, e.s.p (good in snow) hill launch assist etc etc! I get 40mpg out of mine as its driven properly so cheap to run too! If you’re reading this debating wether to get one or not, I highly recommend you do.

Responses to this review

Got a new transit. Today the central locking faulty, play in steering, head gasket leaking, the van is scrap. I will never buy Ford again, it’s only done 146 miles - Ant from Lancashire

Ford Focus C-MAX 1.6 TDCi 2006

Bought my C-MAX 1.6 TDCi in 2006 from Autoplanet in Maidstone with 14,000 miles on the lock. For 4 years it was serviced and MoT’d with no problems. In 2010 I had turbo failure and black smoke coming from the exhaust. I was advised by a Ford service dept that the turbo needed to be replaced and I would need to buy other parts to fit the new turbo as it had been upgraded. It cost me £1973 including a service. As of today I have noticed the exhaust sounds as if it needs replacing. I took it to a Kwik-Fit and the mechanic said the manifold exhaust is broken. He said it could be due to the work done on the turbo as they would have disconnected it and possibly not sealed it back properly. They also said it could be due to driving over potholes or speed bumps. I am taking it back to the garage tomorrow.

Ford Mondeo Estate 2008

Bought my Mondeo Estate 2008 with 12000 miles on the clock, it has now done 81000 in 18 months. A nice car and my 3rd Mondeo, the last ones both did 280000 before retirement. My mondeo estate is now being repaired as the fly wheel, which is costing me a grand to put right is apparently a common problem with 2008 models. Disappointed to say the least so buyers beware on this one

Ford Tourneo Connect 2006

Hello friends! I bought mine two years ago, really excellent for family, large space AND POWERFUL!

Ford Ranger xlt 2008

Had my Ranger 2yrs now, 180,000 on the clock and still drives like new. The only problem I’ve had was with the gearbox cost me £600 to sort out but I did fit a new clutch at the same time. The Mazda engine is bullet proof, not the most powerful or economical, but you read the reports on the Nissans etc and see the problems they have. Parts are cheap, service it regularly and you won’t have problems.

Responses to this review

Hello, what was the problem with your gearbox? Did it keep jumping out of fifth? - Frank Warwick from Staffordshire

My 2002 Ford Ranger 2.5L TDI 4x4 seems to have a gearbox problem. It keeps jumping out of 5th gear and gears starts to stick when hot. Please assist - Thabo T from Botswana

Ford Fiesta 2005

Rubbish car. Had it for 3 years (bought second hand from a Ford Dealer - who saw me coming and laughed all the way to the bank). So far it has needed new springs, steering column, new clutch, a new computer chip because it kept bringing up an EAC error and would not drive, so this became the last resort (small change out of £1000 for that one). Now it has a noisy ticking sound, which I am starting to wonder has some link with the cam belt. Utter rubbish. I have always been told that Ford’s are cheap to repair but all the parts are garbage so it costs a fortune in the end. I had 3 Rover cars before this, which had dreaded Gasket problems, but were cheap and reliable compared to this hulk of junk. Would never touch another Ford again.

Ford Fiesta Titanium 1.6 petrol 2007

I am currently on my third of the new Fiesta models, having previously also owned an early model 1.6 Titanium petrol version, as well as a second car a petrol 1.6 Zetec S. The current Titanium is streets ahead of the first one although why is unknown. Have not heard of any modifications. Both were subject to careful running in despite claims it is no longer necessary. Yes it is, just as is changing the oil evry 6,000 miles max, using a Forte oil flush and also Forte fuel flush. Makes a considerable difference to smooth engine, fuel economy and low emissions. Honest! The first one I had couldn’t get near the fuel economy of the newer two despite having around 14,000 on the clock. The only reason the Zetec S was traded was because the ride was a bit too firm for comfort! It sure took the Scottish Highlands winding roads in style and power though. For those inclined to save by doing services at the standard intervals, and at Main Dealerships, my advice is "don’t". My trusty small good garage scheme registered business does a much more thorough job. Finding defective plugs in my first Titanium well before the first due service was a shock and helped improve it somewhat. The main dealership tick list would have missed this for many more miles - for less I get more. All the crucial bits are taken off or out for inspection. If you think this is OTT, take a look at your air filter at 6.000 miles. Even better, look at one with a full service Main Dealer history of 2/3 years. One second hand car I owned had the screws securing it rusted into position, with a filthy, never changed filter and a cupful of sand in the housing. No surprise perhaps that if I buy a second hand car with a FSH at a dealership, its first visit is a lookover at a proper garage!

Ford Transit 280 SWB Semi High 2000

Best van I’ve ever owned! Reliable and a great work horse. Getting around 35 mpg too! Usual Ford rust problems, however, I do have a added extras. Air con, electric heated mirrors, electric windows and a window in the side door, plus there’s a back seat! Would definitely have another one. It’s got over 115000 miles on now.

Ford Focus Estate 2007

Best car I have bought. Solid, hard wearing, good on fuel and nothing ever goes wrong. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Ford Transit Connect 2006

Bought my Connect in June 2010, 106K on clock, 75 hp version. Didn’t really need it but had a lot of moving to do so it came in handy. Now I find it invaluable. Good in the snow, (My big BMW is virtually grounded) but can get anywhere in the van and don’t worry too much if I get a ding; Haven’t yet. Its comfortable, cosy, drives a bit like a car and with the passanger seat down I can get lengthy stuff in. About 43 mpg so that’s not bad. OK the power is down but it’s a Van, so what do you expect? I know when I get in I am going to get there, it’s very reassuring to drive. For me I think it’s great and I will keep it as a runaround. I’ve done 10k in it already and it hasn’t missed a beat. Recommended.

Ford Focus Saloon 2008

I have been a motoring nut all my life, I am now 75 years old and have owned many, many cars, but this car is perfect in every way. Well done Ford, 25000 miles and not even a squeak or a rattle

Ford Ka 2007

The best little car ever. Mine is a 2007, had it 3 years now. Will not change her for anything in the world. I travel 68 km a day and a tank of petrol last me for 2 weeks (10 working days).

Ford Transit 2.0l duratorq 2001

Currently with 145000 on. bought in pristine condition around 05 with 88k fsh. Clutch went at 100k rattling due to a fault on dual mass clutches, replaced with old style clutch, had to replace starter with it. OK since. broke down going to France, could only select 1st gear, stuck in Caen for 2 weeks. Ford couldnt explain what happened, just cost me 400 euro. Drove her to the south and happened again! Ford paid to fix under 3 month warranty. despite the problems I’d have another, still pulls really well, worst thing is RUST. There are worse vans on the road though.

Ford Ka 2008

I bought a brand new Ford Ka, the boot fills with water and there’s rust on the wings. Ford did not want to know, shame on them!

Ford Ka Titanium 2010

What a good small car, even if it is "tainted" by being a Fiat engine! However, there is a terrible design fault on it, namely the linkage to operate the wiper arms. Some cheapskate opted for plastic wiper spindles rather than all metal so it is moulded onto the metal bar linkage. In cold weather it gets brittle and water pours in and freezes round the spindles. You can clear the windscreen of ice but not the ice chunks down the hole. Turn on the wipers and wreck the assembly. My Ka is currently awaiting parts which are seemingly not available until the new year. Oddly there was not a courtesy car available either when the dealership found out what was wrong. All new Ka owners beware of this fault and lack of available spares owing to "back orders" and INSIST on a courtesy car.

Responses to this review

Same problem here. So far I’ve been waiting 4 weeks for the replacement part. Ridiculous - Guy Denning from France

Had same issue, wiper linkage froze with ice and broke. It took Ford 6 weeks to obtain parts from Germany. Ford Customer Service hired me a courtsey car - Roy Stokes from England

Ford Fusion 2010

I had a mobility Ford Fusion Zetec 1.6 Automatic. It is very noisy to drive, I have got to take it back to have the power steering checked because of the noise. Had the car 6th December 2010 but the engine is that noisy it seems like I’ve had it years. Wish I stayed with Vauxhall!

Ford Transit 130 bhp 280 2007

I bought this van new in 2007 and have done 110,000 miles and it has never given me one bit of bother. It handles like a dream and is very good on fuel. Due to change next year, buying another transit.

Ford Focus C-MAX 16tdci titanium+sportspack 2008

Bought car pre reg 2008 only prob had centre console coming loose cured with loktite on bolts. No other probs whatsoever drives/handles beautifully!.very pleased with it!! Had test drive in new model and will be having one soon. P.S. My mate’s got a Citreon Piccasso, it’s on the back of the breakdown more than he’s driving it.

Ford Mondeo Estate 2004

The best car I have ever driven. Have had 2 years with no fuss and passed MoT twice. Serviced by Ford. Does what it says, cruise control from 30 upto 130+mph.

Ford Tourneo 2004

Hi everyone, been driving a Transit Torneo for a couple of years now. generally reliable, had problems with water pump, abs brakes and some other little niggles. Always thought VW would be more reliable but after reading about all the problems the VW transporter is having think I would like to stick with the Ford. Would possibly change if Honda decides to make a nice 9 seater.

Responses to this review

Hello, I have had my Tourneo from new, it has done 462,000 miles on the same engine and gearbox, only now am I about to change it. Looks like the big end’s gone. Not seen another one with such high mileage on, it has had a cut out problem for a number of years. Because I know when it is about to cut out, I have always been able to skirt round this problem. The codes that come up tend to be a sensor or diesel pump, the pump was swapped over once but it didn’t solve the problem. Can’t complain about my Tourneo wouldn’t swap it for any other make. As long as you give it an oil change every 10,000 miles then it will go for as long as mine did - Frank O’Neill from Cheshire

Ford Fiesta Zetec climate 2005

Had this car for over 4 years having bought it when it was 9 months old with 1,000 miles on clock. Now has 35,000 miles. So far have only had to spend out for routine servicing and tyres. Has been very reliable and economical. My only negative comments would be that the front seats aren’t the most comfortable and the back seats don’t fold down flat otherwise it’s an excellent little motor.

Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCi Zetec 2009

There are a few things that I see on these reviews that one would think that Ford would address. It might be that those who are in the area of customer relations and their tech department should stop and think about how lucky they are to have a job. The fact being that all of us pay their wages; this also goes for dealerships as well. From reading many of these rants, which I think are very fair indeed, why in hells name when you have told them of the problem and where it is and you show them, they have the cheek to say they can’t find the fault or it’s normal for the model. What tosh and don’t treat us like fools! I Have just started to have fuel probs; using a lot and so took it in , “Ah, yes Nick we have upgraded the software”  Oh yeah? So when I looked at the trip it told me on half a tank I could go 94 miles then walk! So I filled it up to see if it would reset ...um nope, it now tells me I can go 234.7 mile before I walk. They tell you that it should settle down. It’s going back as I think you may all agree when you first buy the car it has not worked out anything on the trip ...yet when you fill up you get around 480 to 490 per tank, well that’s what I got anyway, cods that it what I have to say and it is going in again. I did see that CD player had over heated as well mine did sometime ago must see if it does it again as I have noticed a small crack, hard to see but its there all the same just above the player... Well all I can say is Dagenham motors have always been fair with me, it might be that I am blunt and having worked on cars and plant I don’t take silly comments well. I’m going to ask if they can do a full check on the pc as I am sure this is where the fault lies, or in the way the software has been added. Give me back my Morris Minor.

Ford Focus Estate 1.8 TDCi Estate 2003

Ford Diesel technology must be lagging behind all their competitors. The Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi has to be one of the most unreliable cars I have ever driven. Starting problems, especially in winter, is very common with this vehicle. The Internet is filled with complaints from owners regarding inability to start when cold. Changed to date have been heater plugs twice, crankshaft sensor, mass flow sensor, injectors stripped and overhauled, battery, starter motor etc. Ford patrols are fantastic but having owned two Ford diesels I will never buy one again. The cost of ownership far outweighs any benefits from fuel economy.

Responses to this review

Owned a 2003 Focus tdci for 4 years and the only problem I have is with the dual mass flywheel. I never had a breakdown, it just kept going and going - Chris Dodd from England

Ford Fiesta Diesel 2009

Bought the car new last November and was very impressed with the roadholding particularly when it snowed and I was able to push on when others were left wheel-spinning. Good points: I’ve kept a detailed spreadsheet of MPG over the last year - worst was 50.5mpg, best was 60.0 so I’m getting about 500 miles per tank. My daily commute is 80 miles with about 20% being through congested towns. Bad points: Seems to take forever to produce heat in the cabin, usually about 8 miles/ 20 mins. Maybe I’m spoiled, my last car, a BMW 320i was warm by the time I left my driveway. No frost detector, it would be nice to know the outside temperature and be able to react accordingly. I always carry a black towel to put on top of the dashboard because the reflections onto the ’screen in sunlight can make driving difficult. Engine can be noisy under acceleration. All that aside, I’m glad I bought it

Responses to this review

It takes long to heat up because its a diesel, diesels take longer to warm up, I’m sure your BMW was a petrol - S Dani from London

Ford Transit 2010

Amazing van, brilliant, reliable, never let me down in the 300 miles I have had it. .. Sorry but I have decided to crow before the thing falls apart!

Ford Transit swb 85 t260 2004

Bought the van 4 years ago with 18,000 miles, it’s now got 80,000 miles on the clock with f.s.h. serviced every 15,000 miles, it never missed a beat even in the harshest of weather (had to help a sprinter driver out the snow,lol!) Apart from new tyres, front brake discs and pads and the rear shoes cleaned it’s not cost me much at all to keep on the road. I know someone that bought a Renault Master brand new and has got probs already! can’t fault the van at all, starts first time and everything works as it should.

Ford S-MAX 2.0 Zetec 2007

This car has been nothing but trouble since its first winter. The problem with the alarm module was not fixed despite having it replaced. There was a problem with the battery draining itself constantly. This took 2 dealers and 6 weeks to fix. Now the car has completely packed up with an immobiliser problem and ’Engine malfunction ’ problem. Now waiting fot the AA to tow it to the garage again. As soon as it is fixed I will be getting rid of it.

Responses to this review

Hi. Did you get your problem with immobiliser sorted? If so, what was the solution? Thanks for sharing - Robert from England

Ford Galaxy 115 TD Zetec 2002

Bought this car second hand at 75k now done 130k. Great size, ride and powerful, economical diesel engine. This car has been an absolute money pit. Power steering faults eventually traced to alternator clutch failure. Air con failures x3, don’t even waste your money trying to fix will only fail again. Scuffs out front tyres like you wouldn’t believe. Waterpump failure at 111K nearly cooked her. Intermittent tubo fault since 90k overboosts and goes into limp mode (German engine, can’t blame Ford for this one), at least its only a couple of times a year, pull over turn it off wait a few mins re start it seems to re set itself. Extremely heavy on the front end countless times replacing various, rubbers, bushes attached to wheels. Drive shaft failure. Drivers door lock failure. Very versatile vehicle that you can strip seats out of and can be used like a van. Has towed myself and tribe halfway round Europe on many occassions. Can’t be beaten for size and design but you need very deep pockets to run one, be warned. If I could afford it would like a Toyota Previa, will probably chop it in for a Zafira, clutch is going, enough is enough.

Ford Transit Connect T220Tddi Lwb 2002

Just bought my Connect T220Tddi Lwb 47000 miles on the clock. I’ve now done 1000 miles in it and now getting a whirring noise in second and third gears. Other gears are as sweet as a nut, sounds like a noisey bearing. Other than that she drives like a new ’un.

Ford Mondeo 1.8 lx 1998

I have owned my 1.8 lx mondeo since February 2002 and it has never let me down except for having to replace the battery when the old one suddenly went flat. The brake pads and linings have never been changed and the sparewheel has never come out of the boot plus I have never had to replace the the exhaust. I have just under 70000 miles on the clock. I can honestly say that my Mondeo is probably the best car that I have ever owned and that includes a brand new 1980 rover v8s, which I purchased in 1980 and I can highly recommend this model.

Ford Focus C-MAX 1800cc Trent 2004

From 4th July 2004 ’til now my C-max has 146.000 km with normal service (as a service book manual says) and further. I changed only brake discs and clutch kit. I’m a family man and travel always full luggage. In general sold on my C-max 1800cc Trent.

Ford Fiesta 2009

I purchased my car in October 2009, it has keyless entry/power start, leather seats so list price was just under 18k, I traded in a 53 reg (2004) Fusion 1.4 tdci and handed over 10k so all in all a good deal. I had an annoying rattle in the front of the car, seemed to be coming from the headlining and my various passengers kept trying to trace it. Eventually one passenger gave it a mighty thump and the rattle stopped and hasn’t returned. I haven’t had any other problems until today. I got a puncture and have a had to buy a replacement tyre - obviously not Fords fault. I have picked the car up at 4pm and drove back to work (100 yards). When I came out of work at 5pm the folding door mirrors didn’t unfold, at traffic lights I checked the menu for the vehicle and the setting had changed to not respond to locking. I changed it back but still not working. I also have a headlamp out, which I noticed when I pulled up against a wall when I got home. In 30 years of driving and my last 6 cars being Fords I have never had to have a new bulb. What should the life expectancy be? Hopefully the puncture, the mirrors and the bulb are my 3 things and it will be ok now. Diesel consumption is about 50mpg and I have done 14k miles.

Ford Ka 2010

I bought my new Ford Ka Zetec in June this year and what a big mistake! I have owed two old style Ford Ka’s (a Y reg one and an 06 plate from new) and I loved them both and had no issues what so ever with them. However, Ford had an offer on during May Bank Holiday this year and so I decided to test drive one and liked it. After agreeing an OK deal with the sales guy, I ordered it and part exchanged my old one. Within two weeks of getting it, it felt all wrong! When driving in slow-moving traffic in second gear, even when my foot was totally off the clutch, it "kangarooed" all over the place. It lurches and almost fights against you when you put your foot on the gas. The problem has got progressively worse and I now feel the same thing in third gear at 30/40 miles an hour. The other week when pulling onto a roundabout, I got my clutch to bite, it pulled away and then the engine just died and I staggered out onto the roundabout with a Range Rover narrowly missing my back end. I’ve taken it back to Ford who say that when they hook it up to a laptop, it’s isn’t showing any engine faults and even though another woman in the service reception told me her does exactly the same thing, we were told "Oh, well it’s a Fiat engine not a Ford!". My reponse was I don’t care, I bought it as a Ford and it isn’t right. I hate driving it, and swear at it as I approach it in a car park since I know what a nightmare my journey will be, the minute I pull out of the car park. I have phoned the manager at the Ford garage that I bought it from this morning and have insisted that I am bringing it back this weekend and they must do something with it before I have an accident! DO NOT BUY A NEW FORD KA!!! As I said when I marched out last time - "I knew I should have bought a Mini!". It didn’t go down well in a showroom full of potential Ford customers!! Give me back my old Ford KA anyday!!

Responses to this review

I totally agree with you. Touch wood, it has not faulted within the last month or so but I do agree that the clutch is a bit tempremental and sometimes you can never seem to get the bite on the clutch just right and end up bunny hopping, looking like I have just past my test. I miss my old one and will never buy another one!!! Ian Jackson from England

Ford Mondeo 1.8 TDCi 125BHP Titanium X 2007

Car drives very well and is relatively economic averaging 46mpg. Massive in size both in the boot and cabin, externally also massive, although with parking sensors all round I can park in tight spots. (Wouldn’t try some of the spots without them.) Active front light system is a boon to me as my daughter is courting a farmers son and he lives 3 miles off the main road along some very twisty roads. Biggest niggle is the water rushing in to the boot after rain, I know people say lift a little and you will shed must of it, but when it’s pouring down you don’t want to wait. Things replaced under warranty between 40,000 & 50,000miles: A/C condenser Power Steering Motor Heated rear screen.

Ford Transit Connect lwb tddi 2003

I bought this van 2 years ago at auction for 2k with 100k on the clock, one previous owner and fsh. I reckon if I sold it today I would get my money back. Used for business and pleasure I’ve added 25k. In the 2 years I have it I had to replace the horn, the starter motor, light bulbs and a couple of tyres. Plus services. I also had the radiator bracket replaced as I noticed it was quite rusty when I was replacing the horn. I am 18 stone and 6 foot 2 and I find the driving position very comfortable. Even on regular non stop trips from Derbyshire to South Devon.. I like the fact that the passenger seat folds flat and allows you to carry items almost 3m long. I also like the car like driving experience and the mpg. (around 40 - 45’ish including motorways). Insurance is about £175 fully comp and tax is £200ish. My brother in law who is a plumber had a New Vivaro around the same time and that has been to back the garage more times than I have with my old Connect. As long as I don’t need a bigger van I will definitely buy another Connect lwb next time around. The only other van I may consider is the Toyota Hiace but the low mpg puts me off..

Ford Focus 16 tdci 109 bhb 2005

Very good car, it has done 187000 miles some of it pulling a 6 berth caravan.

Ford Transit panel van 2006

What a load of SCRAP!!!!!!! 56 plate 260 lx 50k, light use, just had its 4th MOT been told it wont pass a 5th. Underneath has rusted so much it needs welding. Told Ford and guess what the 5 year warranty does not cover it as it’s rusting from the outside not from the inside out. Whatever you do don’t buy one of these, load of rubbish!

Ford Mondeo 2007

Just had the car a week and love it. It’s very spacious and extremely comfortable to drive. Start off is a bit slow but when it goes it’s very fast. Will drive it until it is considered a banger.

Ford Transit 100 2004

Bought this van new at the end of 2004. Just sold it with only 25K on the clock, All I ever replaced was a pair of tyres and a battery. Apart from a few rust patches starting to show the van seemed as good as new after nearly six years. No rattles and nothing had fallen off. Never failed to start first touch. Always found Transits excellent. Just hope my new 115 Trend turns out as good.

Ford Ranger 2005

Good to pull, watch clutch on hills, take off in 4wd on hills when pulling heavy trailer, back to 2wd when you get over top .Plenty power but very very heavy on diesel, even when driving in 5th without trailer. I get 18-22mpg max. Has anyone solved mpg problem with 05 2.5td? Otherwise plenty space in back of regular cab. Good for tyre wear and cheap maintenance, shame about dieselaholic. Someone out there must have solved this problem?

Ford Transit T260 85BHP 2007

For the 4 months I had this van, it made 7 trips to the local Ford dealer. Van seemed to race in tick over, and then tick over so low you would think it would cut out. And then it would rev up again. On one occasion I pressed the brake pedal and nothing happend. I pressed it again and there was some response but the pedal kept bouncing up. After a terrifying slalom between a bus and a car, the Ford stopped. Local dealer said this was normal. So having no brakes was something I had to get used to? I then sold the heap to a dealer, and I feel sorry for him to have it. But this van nearly cost me my life, so I`m lucky. Avoid at all costs. You have been warned!!!!

Ford Fiesta 2008

I bought my Ford Fiesta in December 2008 and I loved it, but now after having had it nearly 2 years I am having major problems; 1). My exhaust it’s making a really weird noise and I thought it was blowing out so I booked it in to get it looked at and the top tech man said this was a normal thing but quite common in Ford, and he said to me that exhaust problems are only covered in the first year warranty like omg who’s exhaust is going to give up after a year? 2). There is water getting into my car behind my drivers seat and I mean my floor is absolutely soaking with water and again ford say water damage is only covered in their first year warranty so I’m out a lot of money which I am totally disgusted at. Overall I have found Ford to be very unhelpful and I would never buy from Ford again, by far the worst car I have ever bought, do not buy one you are just throwing your money away.

Responses to this review

I totally agree. Bought my car with water in the boot from the beginning, the roof seams needed sealing up and the dealer was rubbish. I had no idea about the warranty being pretty worthless after one year, and was disgusted when I found out. In this day and age a manufacturer who does not have faith in a warranty of more than one year, that covers everything is poor indeed. Like you I will not be buying another Ford - David Fenn from Norfolk

The new Fiesta I have, 58 plate, has had water ingress, seems to be a common fault! Carpets in the front drivers well and back passenger well saturated, was in warranty but was not covered, but they did pay for it and so they should do! Very bad, you would think they would sort out the problems before selling this new car! It’s a shame, it’s a good car and drives well but silly problems like this let it down! Anne Cash from Buckinghamshire

Ford Focus 2010

We purchased our brand new ford focus sport on 1st August 2010, we are very pleased with it. it is a brilliant white, which we think, (my wife and I) that the colour sets it off. It is keyless ignition and has a multitude of extras, the dash mounted menu set up takes a while to get adjusted too. the mpg is not as good as the brochure says, that says 52 mpg extra urban, the best we have got is 43 extra urban, this may improve as the car is "run in". We are impressed with Perrys of high Wycombe, who have telephoned us twice to enquire if we are satisfied with our choice, which we are. The salesman at Perrys was excellent, explaining everything to my wife and I, and made us feel as if we were the only customers that he had to deal with, and yet there were other customers waiting to see him.

Responses to this review

Thanks Mr Tanner, I have just bought a Focus Zetec and your review was helpful - Marianne Garety from Scotland
 

Ford Transit 110 300 mwb trend 2010

What a bit of kit!!! Had them all before; VW’s, Mercs, LDV’s, Ford, this is by far the best. Look forward to driving it every day. Even loaded with 2 pallets of carpet tiles it pulls great, set the cruise control and off you go.

Ford Transit LPG 2005

We have several LPG vans, which are great when they run right. At 60K the problems start Cat exhaust 1,700 but identical Iveco much cheaper. Sat nav says 129 mph before change and struggled at 80 with new exhaust. Constant missing and backfiring, especially on low revs, its a toss up if it starts off or backfires and stalls, Dual mass clutch again expensive and without warning U just lose any drive. Uses expensive platinum plugs and the 2 coil packs at 70 each constantly going causing missing. Gas runs hot and head gasket problems, and with timing chain and tensioner 700. If U run out of petrol you can’t start, Always hole in rubber from left heel, and drivers seats wear on outside. Feels every bump on rough road. 280 SWB nippy but 350 LWB no good on U turns. On average about 60 a week in repairs. Very quiet, comfortable, fast.

Ford Fiesta 1.4 petrol 2003

What a pile of sh**e, cam belt just snapped at 89k (100,000 supposed to last) and wrecked valves, £1300 repair bill on top of new clutch and collapsed rear wheel bearing, awful piece of c**p, no torque, c**p fuel consumption, utter garbage give me Japanese anytime.

Responses to this review

I also have a Fiesta which is 2003 1.4 Zetec and I always air on side of caution and changed all my belts at 77,000 miles (my friend is a mechanic). I only use manufacturers time scale as guide - I change under this. Hope this helps you for future cars you buy - Gary Forrest from Mid-Lothian (Edinburghshire)

Ford Fiesta TDCI GHIA 2008

Hi, bought this Fiesta 2 years ago. What a car, it does everything and has never let me down. 60 mpg. Passed every MoT. Everybody who has used it has remarked how nippy it is, they keep coming back to use it. Superb little hatch, would recommend 10/10 well done Ford.

Responses to this review

It’s 2008 so has only had one MOT at the most - Steve Walters from Derbyshire

Ford Mondeo Estate Zetec 2.0 TDCI 140 2008

Just clock up 100K in just over two years my second Mondeo. First one did 156K in three years(old style) but the two cars are a world apart. Only problems I have had are seat lumber is broken and lower door strip is poorley fixed and came off in the first month so was fixed back on with sealant. Although the Bluetooth has just packed in and have this booked in for repair. The dealer has come across this before so not sure how common it is but still think the car drives like a dream and it always makes me smile when I see the Audi BMW lot with the ear piece on so the can have hands free.

Ford Focus C-MAX Ghia 1.6 TDCi automatic 2006

We purchased this car new from a Ford dealer in Spain. After 4 years and only 57K on the clock the gearbox has failed. We paid 22.000 euros for this car and as pensioners expected to have many years use from it. We have been told that as Ford do not produce any parts for this gearbox our only option is a replacement costing 5000 euros. We have been offered 1000 euros scrap value. Ford do not want to know and will only say it is out of warranty. I accept this but do not agree that Ford can get away with producing a car, with a major part (automatic gearbox) that cannot be repaired. Surely at a cost of 22000 euros and only 4 years use, this car cannot be seen as fit for the purpose? I have been told that the automatic gearbox on the Cmax is a load of rubbish and I will never ever buy Ford again, Hyundai give 5 years warranty and Kia 7 years. I know where I will be spending my money next time.

Responses to this review

You would still be giving your money to Ford as they own Hyundai and Kia! My Kia Sedona had a self destruct of the fuel pump bearings and it cost £2000 to put right! All the injectors and for new pump (made in France). Flush out tank etc... All caused by grit in the diesel fuel they reckon... This is a common fault on the 2.9 diesels car - had only done 25k miles but was out of the warranty period by 3 months! Bryan Knight from England

Rita, many of us have had similar problems. We’re in touch with Ford’s Customer Services Director and getting help from AutoLaw. Please see more background and contact details via http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=81143 - Reg Pritchard from Gloucestershire

Hello Rita, have you had any luck with following up your problem with the Cmax? We bought a brand new one in 2007 (in Spain) exactly the same model as yours and the gearbox has gone. We have been told that the only solution is to replace the whole thing at a cost of 4,000 Euros! Even though the two year warranty has expired, in the 21st century how can this happen to a four year old car with 52k on the clock?! If we had thrashed it and it had done a lot more kilometers then it’s kind of understandable. Naturally the dealer doesn’t want to know. Did you get yours fixed in the end? - Jan Carter from Spain

Ford Mondeo ghia 2.0tdci 140 2007

Have had the car 3 years from new. It had a nasty knocking at the front nearside when I first had it. It took 6 visits to the dealer before they sorted it. It was a defective Mcphereson strut. No other problems since. The "shower" when opening the boot after rain is annoying. There is a nasty blindspot even with the excellent wing mirrors. Obviously others have complained about this as the up-dated model offers a solution with an electronic gismo in the mirrors. All in all an excellent car, with good economy, loads of room and very comfortable to drive. Just completed a 1500 mile round trip in France. Averaged 68mph and returned 50.1 mpg. This car has been so good I have just ordered another one. This time a Titanium estate.

Responses to this review

Hi. Do you know if 2007 tdci Mondeo zetec 2.0 is a chain or a belt? I have searched up and down and can’t find an answer. Even went to a main Ford dealer today and the salesmen didn’t know. Thanks - Mick from England

Ford Ranger thunder double cab 2007

I had no intention of buying a new ranger, but when the price of the last of the old shape mk 111 was only 13,500 grand on the road, well it would have been rude not to. The truck is without a doubt the cheapest, most capable and best looking pickup out there. Mine is a black double cab thunder. I recently took it offroading and it shamed the numerous defenders there. Of course they all took the p*** out of my pickup, but I cheerfully pointed out that my truck hadn’t got stuck, broke down or infact cost half off most of their pieces of uncomfortable c**p. My freind has just bought a Navara, 27 grand, looks like mine and does pretty much the same thing...oh, but his has satnav.

Ford Transit 85bhp 2004

I purchased an ex BT swb Transit with 28000 miles on the clock. I know the manager of the depot so he picked out a well looked after van. I wax oiled the chassis and this has helped to keep the rust away. The van came with a water heater at the back which comes in handy for hot water but during the 3 years I have owned it, the pipes from the engine that heats the tank have rusted and allowed the antfreeze to leak! The engine has been excellent with only servicing required. Airfilter box likes to let in the rain so filter becomes knackered inside 6 months! Only problem so far after 50000 miles is the front rubber bushes on the suspension arms and one shock absorber rubbers rotted. Has been very reliable and trouble free so far but now need a bigger van. The best part of the van is the driving position, very comfortable and good dash layout. The only irritation is the clutch which judders as you pull away but if you give it more revs its OK! I have a Merc 212 camper and its better build quality but the Transit is nippier around town with very good turn circle. The BT van also come with the Eiberspacher cab heater which is very handy during cold days. Very happy with the Transit and will be sad to sell her!

Ford Transit Connect tdci 2005

Hi owned my van for 5 years done 170,000 miles going strong never missed a beat always loaded as still pulls like a train . Gearbox was starting to get noisy a bit and thought whilst I was on holiday I would have the clutch done (all of it, clutch cylinder etc.) Surely it must wear out soon I thought, I would have a rebuild gearbox from Ford put back in whilst they’re at it. They sorted my air con as well as it needed a gas and replaced discs and pads whilst it was there I supplied the brake parts, cost £1500 plus vat in total, didn’t think it was too bad, I change oil and filters every 10,000 can’t really complain, however, our Astra has cost a fortune to keep going compared to the Ford, guess that’s the way it sometimes goes. I’ve got one complaint; it eats tyres on the front could be the way I drive? Lol! It’s a swb low roof 90 Bhp, we also tow a lot as well a 10x 5 trailer easily.

Ford Transit rwd swb low roof 1997

I have a 1997 vg transit with 2.0 litre dohc engine. I live 1 hr north of Melbourne, Victoria and I am the second owner. I’ve had the vehicle since 2000 had 80,000 kilometres when I bought it. This thing steers like its on rails, gets 530 -540 k’s a tank, when I fill it takes 56 - 60 litres has 65 litre capacity, only ever used mobil 1 oil. In its life it’s had after market clutch. Got rid of the original catylitic convertor; Ford ones had a resonance problem at 2200 rpm, and a complete timing chain set at 340,000 kilometres. Do all my own service as I live on a farm, has all the the general maintenance, plugs leads,tyres that’s about it. Now has 540,000 kilometres on the dial, still goes good, but needs timing chain shortly. Cheers.

Responses to this review

I have been reading through all these postings as I was thinking of buying a 140 t330 swb rwd but seems you guys have alot of problems with the diesels, surely someone at Ford reads these items? Mick from Australia

Ford Ranger 2007

We use our ranger for transporting small plant inc. a micro digger and a scissor lift. The motor is excellent to drive apart from towing. The first clutch had to be replaced after 6000 miles done under warranty, the second clutch went at 9000 miles warranty not accepted. Every time we towed something a severe burning smell filled the cab-Ford told us we must be riding the clutch and refused our warranty claim. Now at 30000 miles the clutch is on its way out again along with fly wheel and gearing, quoted £3450 for repairs. Ford have apparently issued bulletins to their dealers stating the gearing is not low enough to cope. The conclusion is the vehicle is not fit for purpose. Ford refuse to accept they have a problem and have little regard for their customers.

Responses to this review

We have been unfortunate to buy a brand new Ford Thunder, which we have had absolutely nothing but trouble with, firstly the incorrect hard back was fitted, then on our first trip out it broke down in Wales, it would not start. Been in the garage (who are the most un-sympathetic, obnoxious group of people I have ever met) for three days and finally got it back on Monday evening. Guess what, it broke down on Tuesday morning with the same (undetectable ) fault. The garage, who where only 25 miles away, did not want to know about towing us in and insisted we use the AA through Ford Assist. Now it’s back in again. This is a nightmare and does not seem to be getting any better. I’m afraid my opinion is NEVER BUY A FORD RANGER and CERTAINLY NEVER BUY ONE FROM POLAR FORD WARRINGTON - Mark I’Anson from Lancashire

Ford Transit 2006

Would give this one zero rating if there was one, so far in 15 months: vacuum pump EGR valve Catalytic convertor exhaust mainfold gasket gearbox 2 x track rod ends engine f****d! Ford took 6 weeks to get part for gearbox and it was leaking oil when returned. Shall seriously look at other vans when renewing.

Responses to this review

Hi, just read your report on the Tourneo bus and I can’t believe that there are so many problems with them. I bought mine about two months ago and I’m p*ssed off with already, had to have new EGR valve, had to go into Ford for a PC download is what they say. The engine light kept staying on and for a 2.2, I think it’s slow really. I’ve just bought a chip for it and that made a big diffrence. A workmate has got the 2008 model and has same problems. Why are they so sh*t? - Paul Vann from England

’07 transit 2.2 campervan had to have new dash clutch power steering pipe, now bottom pully broke it’s a load of trouble and it cost £58,000 new - Tony McElligott from Ireland

Ford Transit 1999

The Mk5 version has got to have been one of the best transits made the banana engine what a classic not very fast but damm it’s a tough old nut. With odd tweek heard your can run them on cooking oil.(But please don’t attempt seek proffesional advice) How many Transits made today could you do that to? (None) Plus costs of repairing one these is through the roof complicated technology nightmare. If going to have a Transit have one before 2000, yes some might be looking dog rough rough but aslong as chassis rails are fine you’ve got a real brusier for a van. Good Points: Engine can withstand moderate abuse Cheap Parts You know you’ve got the best Transit model out there. Bad Points: Love to rust but keep on top and should be right as rain Not much power compared to today’s monster but less to go wrong than new. But with weight in they seem to run better to do with the gear ratio’s Can not seem to give them much bad points due to fact that they are a amazing feat of engineering. Don’t think we’ll ever see Transits made this way again a shame really just shows what the motoring industry is becoming like.

Responses to this review

Interesting reading your report! I am looking at a campervan (Duetto) based on a 1999 Ford Transit with the 2.5L engine. Would this be a Mk5 as you described? Thanks - Jock Mc from Hampshire

Ford Focus C-MAX 2.0 TDCI Zetec 2010

Bought my car 6 months ago and during that period its been into the garage 9 times! 1. Steering fault. Dangerous! 2. Steering fault. Still Dangerous! 3. Steering pump and electrical unit changed. 4. Air con fault. Recharged, still faulty? 5. Alternator and battery renewed. 6. DVD fault. New code issued. 7. Fuel fault, cut out. Breakdown! 8. Fuel fault, cut out. Breakdown! Renewed sender unit. 9. Fuel fault, cut out. Breakdown! Unknown fault? I have now replaced the car! The car is great when it is running, plenty of power, excellent MPG and lots of space, but it is totally unreliable and the worst car I have had! Unlike others though, Ford after-sales and service staff were great and all issues were covered by warranty, I just couldnt take it anymore.

Ford Transit Connect 2003

I had my Transit Connect from new, the best van I’ve ever had. I put 166000 miles on this van and the only time it went to the garage was for services!!! I kept the oil changed every 10000 miles, just kept going and going!!! Shame I sold it, now got a c**p Nissan Primasta, just got 1000k on it, soon be going.

Ford Mondeo Ghia TDCI 130 2002

I bought this car in 2004 and have been delighted with it. HOWEVER, there are problems with these vehicles. Firstly, the engines should be regarded as very individual, by that I mean there are great examples and there are absolute lemons. You can’t judge all Mondeos by driving one example. Secondly, wind noise on the Mk3 is quite noticable on motorways. Drive at at least 60mph to see if you can live with it. Thirdly, there are likely to be problems with the car. There are lots of sensors and they can fail and cause it to run poorly or another or stop altogether. They can be fixed cheaply enough, but fault-finding can be labourious. So why have I just ordered my 3rd Mondeo? Simply because they are supremely engaging to drive yet very comfortable, very spacious inside, well-specified, the TDCI is both frugal and fast, and despite the warning niggles, the cars are generally very reliable. My advice is to buy a young TDCI with high miles, check the engine is smooth and free-revving, and enjoy a great car.

Ford Fiesta Ambient 2010

My new fiesta 2010 Ambient has a few faults: 1) terrible road noise 2) bad fuel consumption 3) noise from release bearing.

Responses to this review

Got to agree with 2 points you made and that is the noise from the release bearing in the gearbox is dreadful and the fuel consumption, which is an absolute joke for a 1.25. I think Ford have fiddled the figures for fuel consumption - Mark from Kent

Ford Fiesta Fiesta Zetec 1.25 (82)5dr 2010

I purchased my Fiesta 3 weeks ago - and quite frankly I hate it. It is very uncomfortable and I find the seat belt far too tight which is causing great discomfort to my shoulder. . After having a Citroen C3 which was pleasure to drive - very spacious in terms of headroom and visibility. I find the Fiesta very confined and the rear window visibilty is poor. I am considering trading it in at the turn of the year.

Responses to this review

I should have thought that a test drive would have revealed these ’problems’ - Mark from Cheshire

Ford Transit 2008

The Transit handles like a nimble hatchback on busy city roads, and cruises effortlessly humming on an open motorway. The 5-speed transmission is perfectly matched to a smooth and powerful 2.2L common rail diesel engine. Fuel efficiency is brilliant (+800Kms on 75 Litres) I have never been more impressed with a commercial vehicle, and I believe it should be compared in favour with comfort and performance of a smaller passenger vehicle. I have had many commercial vehicles through the years at my work, and nothing has compared to the Transit.

Ford Focus Coupe Cabriolet CC3 2009

We have 2009 cc3, all I can say is fantastic car. We drove through to Italy and loved every mile of the drive, after 10 hours driving got out as refreshed as when I got in. Our roof does not leak but water is getting into the boot so this is going to be looked at. The boot space is by far the biggest out of all the cabriolets I looked at, even with the roof in it. As for the niggles comments I don’t think he was awake when he tested the car. If you want a great cabriolet buy one of these Fords.

Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCi Trend 2010

5 stars deserve my little Fiesta, after 12.500km (8000miles): the average consumption is 3,8l/100km (not even once passed 3,9l/100km!!!), not a single problem with bodywork or the engine, well manufactured (built in Cologne, Germany - yes, "Ze germans...), very cheap to run, an unbelievable driving experience - despite its size (compared even with large class models). The only minus is the total lack of power (torque) under 1800rpm.

Ford Fusion 2007

Bought the car at one year old, extremely happy with the size, boot, etc. Had bad accident in August this year and sadly it was declared total loss, but on the good side, considering the extent of the accident, we walked out with minor injuries, the car inside was immaculate so from a safety point I am going for another Fusion. I would highly recommend this car.

Ford Transit Connect t75 200 2010

Absolutely and utterly disappointed with this shining example of frill-less mediocrity will just sap the life out of you. From the utterly lifeless engine to the wind tunnel sound effects on the motorway, I dont even want to mention the radio as the mere thought of the dingy tinny sound makes me want to cry. Do youself a favour and steer clear of this one.

Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.4 Automatic 2010

I am very happy with my new Fiesta. It is a pleasure to drive and the handling is first class. The automatic transmission is smooth - unlike my previous Toyota Yaris which was a dog. Fuel economy is difficult to judge at this stage as I haven’t done anything other than short hops though town so far. I have an iPhone which I can plug into the console to play music and make hand-free calls with BlueTooth. The voice activated commands are surprisingly good. My only gripes are minor ones. I would have liked the back seats to fold flat as the Yaris ones do and I would have liked a proper spare wheel.

Responses to this review

Yes I agree, my one major gripe with the new Fiesta is that the back seats do not fold down flat like the useless Toyota Yaris I had before, which was its only good point - Pete from Bedfordshire

Ford Fiesta Ghia 2004

I have owned a Fiesta Ghia for 3 years: good road-holding with even braking. The excellant air-filter in the cabin assists hay fever passengers. I average 43 miles to the gallon. It is a smooth ride and I have changed front suspension springs but have had no major problems - the judder on fast accelation is normal.

Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi 90 Zetec 2008

I traded in my ultra reliable 2006 PEUGEOT 207 1.6 HDi 90 SPORT for this bucket of pure and utter sh*te, bought the car late 08 and have been having trouble ever since. The engine has been ok so far, I bought the 1.6 TDCi with the knowledge of having the same engine in my old 207 which was faultless. The electrics have the odd glitch and the optional parking sensors I asked for have been playing up, brought it back to FORD and they ’FIXED’ it according to them, the next day they broke again! Also I was surprised to find I could bath my child in the footwell one morning after a shower of rain. I’m not in any way impressed with this car AT ALL! Even the engine feels really slow and sluggish compared to my old 207. Once November comes I will be going back to a 207 I think, I have always driven Peugeots ’til this Fiesta and I wish I had never bought it.

Responses to this review

I have been reading both the reviews of the 2006 Peugeot 207 (just bought one) and the 2007 Ford Fiesta (family currently has two) and am surprised by your comment. The Fiestas have been good with a few minor problems as per the reviews on this page. The 207 has been with us for only a few weeks so can’t comment but going by the reviews it seems we have made a mistake. Still, a lot depends on driving style and the care you put in, and each has its own personality. I’m looking forward to seeing how the 207 fares in the months ahead - Terrence from Bedfordshire

Ford Ka 2009

I love my ka, I got it in march last year (09). I’ve had it just 18 months and I’ve been told today that the spark plugs are compleatly worn and it needs a new lead!! I am not impressed to say the least. The dealer is sorting it out thankfully but it’s not good enough for such a new car. I can only imagine what problems will arise after the 3 year mark.

Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCI 5Dr 2009

Hired a Ford Fiesta for the weekend from Avis. Firstly the bad points: Visibility. In comparison to an old P-reg Fiesta I drove many moons ago the rearview is pretty poor, making you far more reliant on side mirrors. Visibility up front is also limited by the roof encroaching - this may have more to do with mty height than anything else but it did seem to be noticable in comparison to other cars I’ve driven. Good points: Where to start! We only booked a basic car for the weekend so wasn’t expecting much, when picking the car up I managed to ensure we got a diesel-powered car as I was planning on doing a couple of pretty long journies. The car is sharp and responsive on the road, and when though there isn’t much power under your right foot the car feels and acts like a little nippy motor. Driving down country roads was a really pleasure as you can throw the car into a bend with great confidence. It made for an engaging and pleasurable journey. The other big plus was fuel economy, obviously at the end of your hire it’s much better to fill the car up yourself rather than pay a premium on Avis doing your job for you, so it came to a real surprise to have a much lower fuel bill than I was expecting, even taking into account switching to a diesel car rather than petrol. Its a good looking car too - the Ford metallic blue which is a pretty common sight now is a real eye-catcher. For me the engine and quality driving dynamics far outweight the downsides and its easy to see why the Ford Fiesta is the most popular car in the UK.

Ford Mondeo 2.0 tdci 2008

Can’t fault the car, with one exception; when you open the hatch after rain, water pours into the boot, do it slowly and its ok. A superb drive, have had it 18 months, will keep it till it dies.

Ford Tourneo Connect Trend LWB 2010

Bought it August 1st 2010 and have now done two thousand miles. Only problem is handbrake failed and Ford unable to get 2010 cable, they fitted a 2009 cable and now OK. Fully loaded does 43mpg at 70mph. Averaging 40mph gives me 49mph. Good little van for £13.5k, not very sophisticated though for a regular van driver. Drove a 2010 transit last week and it is a much better van, size, gears, view, stowage all better than the Connect.

Responses to this review

Hi, hope everything is okay for you. I have had one too many problems with my brand new Ford Tourneo Connect Trend-8 seat 2010 plate. Furthermore, I had to reject my first Tourneo Connect Trend due to it having on both sides a water ingress fault under the front carpets and two doors were out of line. My replacement Tourneo Connect also has had a small water ingress fault again on the front under the carpets. I suggest anyone who owns one of these vehicles check under their carpets especially if your vehicle is still under warranty - good luck. My latest report with my replacement Tourneo Connect is now I’ve had 3-oil leaks from the bottom of the engine. I have the 110ps engine but believe the block is of the same type as the 90ps engine. I would appreciate it if anyone else with this same type of vehicle has had faults to please let me and all us other owners of again same type Ford Tourneo Connect Trend know Thanks. I/We will wait for your information. Thanks - Steven Maloney from England

Ford Puma 1.7 2001

Hi, I have a Ford Puma 1.7 Zect S SCT and I think it is a great car. The engine pulls hard in whatever gear (just to add what someone else put on here, is that it does rev high when in 5th at about 70 to 80mph, it is normal), sticks to the road like glue. I really do give my car some stick and it holds out, I have raced a Racing Puma and I didn’t see much difference, he pulled away at about 130mph, I got up to 135mph going after this guy, so guys do not worry about getting the Racing Puma - it is not really worth the money when you can have the 1.7 zect s vct and these will only cost you about 2k to 4k for a really good one. I got mine for 2k with only 50k on it, it has now done 68k. I also was side by side with my mate in his RS Turbo and he couldn’t get away and he had loads of work done to it, so I say if you want a fun car then get a Ford Puma and show all these cars up with big bhp. How to really drive and do them round roundabouts. Have fun guys, drive fast :-)

Ford S-MAX LX 2006

Am about to trade in my S Max LX after 4 years and 62,000 miles. This was my first Ford and possibly my last. It has been beset with faults, starting with a steering problem at 6 months old resulting in Ford having the car for over 2 weeks. The aircraft-style handbrake fell apart under warranty but was classed as ’trim’ and a surly girl from ’customer care’ eventually agreed 50% contribution - ’but We don’t have to give you anything.’ I kid not. New clutch and failed power steering pump among recent expenses. Over-rated bling!

Ford Transit Connect 220L 2007

This is currently my second connect first was 90p.s LX swb, sold it with 90k no problems except crack in power steering pipe but didn’t keep van off road ! Swapped it for 110 p.s 220L swb, the van is very nippy and pull’s like a train even when loaded. I Find it very comfortable long or short journeys, test drove caddy seats like ’concrete’and felt cramped in comparison both in cab and load area. I like the fact Ford don’t crucify you on the goodies such as heated screen/washer jets absolute must! And steering wheel mounted audio controls are excellent. Only a couple of problems, a faulty coolant sensor and an injector seat seal,all done under warranty and no lost time.Definitley the best van on the road build quality excellent nothing falls off in your hand and ultra reliable,just done 95k averages 39-42mpg even when driven hard drives as new. Going for a new connect soon. Highly recommended, built for a tough life.

Responses to this review

Hi, I just wondered if you could help. My 2007 Connect has been suffering from some sort of pressure build up in the cooling system. I noticed it when my top hose sprung a leak, I replaced it and it happened again. Then I noticed the heater only blew cold air. The matrix and the egr value (I think) were replaced. Now I have light brown coloured water and the the heater sometimes blows hot. They now are going to replace the main rad, any ideas? Thanks, Dean Farrer from London

I had exactly the same, it got worse over three weeks & it was the head gasket - Nick Hutchison from England

Ford Focus C-MAX 2007

Two months after purchase had to return our 2007 model to dealer as noise in right Rear was due to INCORRECT part being installed. Had all 5000km services done and then at 45,000km+ had major job done. About 12 months later parked car and went on holiday for 2.5 months and on return breaks had seized up. This cost additional $175.00 to fix. Just a month or so later had to take vehicle in to Dealer to have noise / knock in front checked.... Front End Job and another $600.00. The Air Conditioning which we used maybe 3 times does not work, that would take $350.00 to repair but Dealer was prepared to chip in 50% of that cost. The one Star in this whole affair. Each 5000km notes a checking of front end extensions, etc BUT I Seriously Doubt they ever checked them otherwise this front end problem would have been noticed earlier. Wrote Ford Canada... what a waste of time! After 3 Fords in a row this is my last insult.

Ford Transit t350 lwb recovery truck 2006

Probably the best van I have driven so far. Laden with a two tonne car on the back the transit still cruises at 90 and returns a good mpg compared to my last 2004 transit. Car like to drive, very responsive and nice interior. The only problem I’ve had is the truck lost revs a couple of times at the traffic lights but picked up again after turning the van off and restarting.

Responses to this review

That’s your EGR valve or diesel pump playing up. Give it six months and you’ll be replacing one of them. That’s exactly what happened with my 2006 mk7 - Aaron Lee from Kent

Ford Ka Style 2009

Nice car, but totally useless when it comes to new born babies. After purchasing the car six months ago, Ford now informs me that I am unable to switch front air bag off. Deactivation is an optional extra, that is not what it said on the web site and Ford’s own reviews. Not to worry I can fix it on the back seat with isofix brackets? No I can not! Mothercare instructs my daughter that it would be too impractical with such a small child. Car up for sale.

Responses to this review

Well the problem is not with the car, the problem is your own fault... lack of planning... on two accounts... Donny Killgallon from London

I have a Ford Ka and have had the front passenger air bag deactivated. It cost me £30 - Sharon from Yorkshire

Not so Donny... car manufacters are very lacking in info on these vital points!! Hope the lady with the babies got a nice new car - Marianne Garety from Scotland

Ford Ka Edge 2010

55mpg at 70mph and aircon on handles great much improvement over the old model no road noise great on motorway, just like a small Focus to drive, cheap to insure, great look as well.

Responses to this review

Lovely to drive, excellent fuel econemy, like driving on rails. I agree Pete, they are great value for money :) Kev Dodson from Shropshire

Ford Transit swb fwd 2002

Bought mine April 2009 for £2,700, 105,000 on clock, ex-water board van. I have covered nearly 20,000 with 1 new clutch did not replace DMF as recommended, but no problems as yet. Lots of long distance driving will get 530 miles to tank, 39 mpg average now converted to camper van, found it like a car to drive and hope to get many more miles yet. Reading some of reviews Ford seem an unhelpful lot, we will see.

Ford 1.8TDI 2007

Bought the 1.8TDI as a demo model in 2007 and had a few problems initially, but got them sorted out under the warranty, these included, knock in the steering column, and serious lack of power on cold mornings, this was sorted with a new patch for the computor engine management system. The latest fault is that the fuel keeps getting air locked and the car will not start. This happened twice in the last month. The first time it happened the car eventually started after about 20 minutes of trying. The second time it happened the battwery just ran down after about 20 minutes and I had to call out a mechanic to get it started. He just syphoned fuel up through the fuel line and way she went. Hopfully thats the end of it? The build quality is very poor with very annoying sqeeks in both driver and passenger doors especially when raining as well as the seat belt tensioner and central console. Other than that it drivers very well and on the whole both myself and wife love it!

Ford Focus Ghia Tdci 2007

Bought our car in 2007. It is a Ford Focus Ghia Tdci. We bought it for cash. Never again because there is very bad after sales service. Flywheel went wrong and then the parking sensors. Then pipe in the steering and now for no apparent reason the plastic surrounding the control panel has started to crack and this does not come under the warranty and they expect us to pay £400 to have it repaired. We have always bought Fords but after this experience would not again. If we had known the problems we would have gone for a less expensive car because we feel we have wasted £13,000.

Ford Fiesta Style 2007

Finally this unforgettable car has gone to be replaced by a Skoda Fabia. A far better car which has quality all over it. And the joke made about the depreciation can be forgotten. Ford’s reputation is becoming as tainted as old Skodas of years gone by. They depreciate like Ladas these days

Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec 2007

Bought this car in 2007, lovely to drive, handles really well, decent enough power for engine size. Lovely spacious boot, easily large enough for a  double buggy, plus associated ’essential’ junk! Had no real problems with the car, except exhaust rust and one on occasion ’blowing out’ on the motorway... but it was still driveable to garage! Great petrol consumption, smart interior and there are 116,000 miles on the clock and no sign of the power loss mentioned in other reviews. Fingers crossed that continues! Would buy again, and now looking for an RS!

Ford Focus 1999

I bought a Ford Focus and wish I never did. It’s been nothing but pay, pay, pay since I got it. Before I had a little Fiesta and regret letting it go. The Focus has had new speed sensor, new air flow meter, new spark plugs and leads basically new everything and it’s still losing power. I would never ever buy a Focus again, nice car but burns a hole in your pocket.

Ford Galaxy TDi Ghia 2006

Bought this car as an ex-demonstrator and have loved it. Been all over Europe in great comfort. Came with multi media system and after six months my girls stated that they did not want to come out with the old un again . Very reliable, only problem was when I removed the rear seats I could not get them in again and had to go to the dealer who did it in seconds. Great for carrying people but not shopping. I am waiting to pick up a mark 3 (2008) hope it is just as good. Fantastic car.

Ford Fiesta 1250 2010

Have had new Ford car every 3 years for 30 years just changed Fusion 1.4 diesel for 1250 Fiesta and the fuel consumption stinks at 34 mpg, not a happy bunny.

Ford Focus 1.6 Style Duratec 100PS 2007

Having had a Vectra SRI, it took a long time to get used to a smaller less powerful car and TBH, I hated it. But, it’s grown on me. It seemed the Focus was not as economical as the more powerful Vectra (and that still holds true) but you have to drive economically to achieve best results from the Focus. The best economy comes in speed bands. Its more economical at 36mph than 30, more economical at 65mph than 50mph...and so on. Use the computer, you soon see where it works best. If you drive it hard, you’re going to gulp the fuel. I guess the 100PS engine just isnt quite powerful enough for economy. Its zippy, but if you’re a tightwad like me...its hurts your pocket. I’ve had it about a year...its ok on long journeys, its ok round town if you avoid constant stop starts (that really hits the economy). Everything works as it should, no reliabilty issues. Nothing bad to say really other than the tyres are a bit noisy and the engine a bit raucous...but it is a relatively base model. I’d definately buy another Focus, but perhaps a more powerful version. Constant stop start town driving, IRO 35mpg. Urban driving at say 35mph, IRO 50mpg. Motorway driving at 65, IRO 46mpg. You can guess I’m not in love with it, but it’s grown on me. I may even be converted to Fords.

Ford Ka 2000

I bought this car as my first car. It’s a great little run about for a girl. Mine has fabulous seat interior and the speakers are very loud, which is awesome. I have been driving for 5years now and still have my ka!! Never failed on me and I’m sure i’ll have it a lot longer. I recommend it to anyone! :)

Ford Fiesta titanium 1.4 2010

Purchased the new Ford titanium 1.4 and have problems with the power. Can be good or bad, driving me mad, can be going along and the car lacks acceleration which is scary, been in the garage 4 times and now taking it further. Love the car otherwise.

Responses to this review

The problems you are experienceing could be caused by the air conditioning. Please look at my review that is just below yours. Just to let you know Ford are not interested. Took my Fiesta back again last week, charged for diagnostic test. By the way my car is only 18 months old, been back to Ford on numerous occassions - Mark Witt from Wales

I have had problems with power on my 1.4 titanium as well. Mine has been back 3 times and I’m convinced the car is jinxed. It drinks fuel also and I am not a fast driver at all. The auto wipers come on when its as perfectly dry and sunny day, the auto lights come on in a cloudless blue sky at 2pm in the afternoon. The fuel consumption in the book is nothing like the reality of driving the car. I am in the process of trying to get another Fiesta off Ford as mine is only 3 months old. I sold my 5 year old BMW 320ci 2.2 litre to get an economical small car, only to find out it drinks a lot more fuel than my old BMW sports car. The car is a nightmare - Russ Hill from London

Ford Focus C-MAX Zetec 2007

n May of this year, after saving for almost 2yrs I purchased a c-max from Ford dealer in Northampton. The day I drove it home my husband wanted to look inside the engine, the bonnet catch was broke, took car back the following week, given a hire car then picked up c-max the following week. I thought that would be the last time I had to drive back to Northampton, I was wrong in July I took the car back again because there was an awful smell like sewage/rust while driving, my husband also noticed that the front right tyre had worn on the outside, we had driven aboput 1000 at this point. I was told that the smell was due to bacteria in the a/c and they would de-bug it, apparently no fault was found with the tyre/wheel so the dealer changed the back to front, I drove away with a nearly new tyre on the front. End of August we have been to Scotland and back, the right front tyre has worn away in exactly the same way again, I have got to speak to dealer as I will not accept the cause of of the wear is "my driving" as we have driven less than 1000 mile, I do expect a tyre to last at least 1yr before being replaced, my previous car was a 52 Rover 45, never had any problems at all with my much loved rover. I feel the dealer has had my money and now they are not going to accept there is a fault with this god forsaken heap of junk. One thing I will say is Sale of Goods Act, not fit for puropose.

Ford Transit Connect l220d 2006

I have driven a lot of vans in my 44 years on the road but the blind spot caused by the front window pilars on the Connect caused me constant worry.

Ford Ka 1998

I’m really sorry to say that I have just had to scrap my beloved red S reg KA after 8 great years together. Rest in peace The Weasel. In my opinion these are great cars, cheap to run, hardly any repairs over the years and never ever failed to start 1st time even when left standing for 3 months without moving! Unfortunately i never got round to servicing the poor thing in 8 years and only cleaned the outside maybe twice in all that time! No wonder at only 67,000 miles he has gone to the scrap yard. Like I say I have hardly spent any money on this car over the years, only ususal things - new battery, tyres, at least 2 x exhausts, brakes and the most expensive thing a clutch a few years ago. Unfortunately the body work on my KA was another story and the main reason I had to scrap it, having worked in a supermarket some years ago I seemed to aquire new bumps by the day. The £500 mot bill wasn’t worth it with the body work being in such poor condition and better KA’s are available to buy for £500. So I would definately recommend this car to anyone who wants a cheap reliable car that will just keep on going and be a faithful friend to you, if this is what you’re after then the KA’s the one for you!

Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi Titanium X pack 2010

There seem to be very mixed reviews for this new Fiesta. I am obviously one of the lucky ones. I have had non of the problems other people have suffered (so far anyway, touch wood!) I am, like many others, disappointed with the economy, which falls way below Ford’s figures. It is comparable with the Vauxhall Corsa 1.3CDTi (90HP) model that I had before though and that had 6 gears. As for driving, the Fiesta is leagues ahead of the competition. I drove several other cars before choosing the Fiesta and the ride, handling and especially the steering are vastly superior to most other superminis. The diesel engine is also quieter, smoother and more responsive than average. One thing I would say, stick to the standard 16" wheels. The 17" rims that come with the X pack look great but do give a firmer ride. It is not bad, just not as good as standard. On my experience I can easily recommend the Fiesta. Perhaps the early cars had teething troubles. I hope Ford has sorted them, it would be a shame if a great car was spoilt by poor quality control.

Ford Ranger Single cab 2WD 2009

Bought last of old model Oct 09 using Uncle Gordons £2000 trade-in. Traded ex AA Brava 2.5TD 250K miles Total paid £10,000. Better spec than Maxda 250 clone. Quite good performance; initially slid a lot, exiting r’abouts. Poor fuel 32/3 mpg; (previously 37 on Brava). Ford dealer ’Wait until run in’. 12.500 (first) service at 13,500 - no change. Perhaps I should give it another 12,500 at poor economy and expense to let it improve? Re fixtures and fittings - not bad for a base model. Two ommissions; 1) heated door mirrors even though they get a mention in the ’handbook’ (a very poor publication, flimsier binding than Readers Digest and poor layout - like deciphering the Rosetta stone) Does the current model have heated door mirrors if so is it possible to substitute those? And can they be fed off the heated screen fuse? 2) Rear bumper; good for (spares) sales of tailgates and lights; fitted L/Rover front bumper utilising tow bar fixings - not Ford. More personal gripe; at 1.9m tall suffer usual problems with sigle cab - seat does not go back far enough for legroom. I have two M/Benz seats in a King cab L/Rover 130Fo so intend to steal one and substitute as this will give better thigh support (deeper seat squabs) and, whilst creating new seat frame, will raise to utilise 4" head clearance. Is the electrical control for the airbag under the drivers seat as this may be a problem? Still on height. Can anyone see the bonnet and fuel release catches? Thought it was exclusive to ’tallies’ but as ’shorties’ will have the seat further forward they can not see them either. One more for me - will be extending bonnet stay by 5 or 6" to keep sharp bonnet corner out of my scalp. What a pitiful volume is available for screen washing. I really could........ but musn’t brag and it could be tricky with the window! There is a large empty space on the opposite side of the engine bay which will soon be sporting a 5 litre water container when I can get the existing wiring out of the way It is irritating when you have to remake something bought new!! Thinking costs nothing at the design stage bur repairing, renovating and redesigning poor design and installation does cost! There, that’s said it all. Overall reasonable value for money (even at list price) and you only get what you pay for.

Ford Mondeo Estate 2.3 litre Petrol 2008

Ford Mondeo is a good car, got lot of boot space and the seating is very reliable. Driving is pleasurable with low noise from the engines but the transmission is bad. Even though the car has got 6 speed transmission it’s very difficult to caenge the gear when it’s on Manual Mode. The theft protection system is good and it has got Engine Immobilizer. The main defect for the car is to go again and again to the workshop for some mechanical repairs. I had quiet few problems with the battery - couldn’t use jumper because Ford recommends Ford Powered Battery to boost and to change. Got this problem twice, once was at 16000 kilometer and other was at 69000 kilometers. Fuel Pump: I had to change the fuel pump because of high revs when the fuel pump went wrong. Now my car has done 80000 kilometer and so far no problems. I wouldnt recommend a Ford car but would recommend a Mazda 6 or Toyota Corolla.

Ford Focus C-MAX

For 4 years I loved my C Max - cheap to run/insure/tax etc... Great boot for camping gear, took my bike with ease as well. Not the most prestigious car I’ve ever owned, but loved it until 2 months ago. Suddenly began to lose power intermittently, fuel filter changing made no difference and no coded faults identified. The local Bosch car electronic maestro tracked the problems down to a faulty turbo - had a run in with the local Ford dealers, they sold me the car as a family member’s, only down 40k, no way should it need a new turbo - got zilch response from the local dealer/Ford. So what can you do but have it repaired at a cost of £800+. Then, 6 weeks later, it dies again and was last seen being towed to the dreaded dealer’s on the back of an AA truck. Shock horror, thought the last bill was bad - I ain’t seen nothing yet - the PCM (part of the engine management system) has gone, the PCM I understand costs circa £700 + £500 fitting. £2000 repair bills in 6 weeks for someone who does about 7k a year is mind boggling, or to put another perspective on it this damned car has consumed 33% of my year’s state pension. I could weep, the car will have to go... light, food and heat must take priority over a dodgy motor.

Ford Tourneo Connect 2004

I have been using this car since 2004. And I have not had too many problems. It is comfortable, running costs are cheap and it’s very safe.

Ford Puma 1999

A great car, had it for nine years, bought it at a year old, only needed a new clutch in those nine years, perfect. Sold it a year ago, my how I miss my cat, lol. If you’re getting one get the 1.7.

Ford Transit Connect lwb 220l 75hp 2003

This is my 2nd transit connect van,the first was a 2003 swb got it with 47000,miles on it, added 80,000 more in about 2 years, great van just needed general maint, tyres, new battery, brakes, oil changes etc, found it to be reliable, comfortable and economical. I now have a lwb 220l 75hp again ditto, don’t even get tyre problems as other people seem to have. I would highly recommend these vans.

Ford Ka 2003

Well the best news first, I bought my ka new in 2003 and its now 7 years old.(45,000miles) A very good buy as never failed the MOT, and still on the original battery and exhaust (stainless)..It has only had two repairs and that was the coil replaced, after driving six hours in the rain, dampness got in and cost me £125, and brakes fixed £120. It’s what I call a cheap and chearful car, for example the brake pads cost £19.50 and I have just replaced them, quite an easy job also you can adjust the handbrake by lifting the cover off inside the car and adjust with a spanner, quite easy do do. It does have some rust which I filled in around the fuelcap and rear lock (common on ka’s and the yellow warning light (engine)stays on (on the dash) but is easily covered up with some black tape (common fault) speakers needed replaced (again common fault) and headlights can steam up but take cap off inside vehicle and dampness dissapears; no major mechanical problems with my ford Ka, a good car but lacks quality but then again easy to fix if you are willing to have a go at fixing it!

Ford Focus C-MAX Zetec 2007

After driving Landrovers for 15 years I decided to get something a bit cheaper to run, so I bought a c-max with just 31000 on it . At around 2000 miles later the power steering has leaked all the fluid over my nice , fairly new drive. It’s not the car I thought it would be, and I will be going back to Landrovers shortly.

Responses to this review

So your Landrover’s never leaked anything on the drive? All of mine have! - BG BG from Wiltshire

Ford Focus C-MAX 1.8 Titanium 2009

Very well designed car, I have had no quality issues and the dealership service has been good. The specification level is good for the price and the additional features like cruise control, parkng assist etc are well worth the money I paid. Reasonable economy and handling, comfortable for longer journeys. A few negatives: The satnav option seems very expensive The A/C is a bit feeble for a larger car like this.

Ford Fiesta 1.25 zetec 2009

I’ve had my Fiesta from new, March 2009. When the air con is running the car hesitates under acceleration. Going up hills I have to change down to second gear. The car feels as if it is missing. Ford are aware of the problem and said to give the engine at least 10-15000 miles to get run in. By then the warranty will have expired! Has anyone else had the same problem? I would be very interested to find out.

Responses to this review

I am having the same problem. I bought my car in Jan 2008 and it was fine until christmas this year it started struggling. It had a service done on it at christmas and since then when you use air con it struggles and feels like it is missing. I am also experiencing trouble with the fan in the back on the dash board as it’s very loud even have to turn the stereo up to get rid of the noise. Just got my car back and have found that since it went in this morning they have driven it back to me and there is no a starnge noise coming from the engine so am pulling my hair out at the moment. Apart from that the car has been great and I love it - Lozza from England

Ford Focus C-MAX 2008

I bought this heap of junk second hand from Alperton Ford in May 2009. The epb (electronic handbrake) has just suffered a total failure and is going to cost at least a grand. It’s not even done 40K miles. Ford couldn’t care less. They really are the epitome of rubbish.

Ford Mondeo Estate Zetec 2.0 TD 2009

The car is one of the best I have owned, great to drive, good fuel consumption (average overall 50mpg), loads of space and some really useful accessories (cruise control, heated windscreen, etc). Only reservation I have is front tyre wear, seems to be high compared to previous cars, seems a common feature on the Mondeo.

Ford Focus C-MAX 1.8 Petrol 2004

Possibly the most disappointing car I’ve ever owned. So many design faults Ford has truly taken a big step backwards with this model. In the last year I’ve had the Power steering pump & aircon pump replaced, luckily under warranty from an otherwise completly useless Fraud Garage. On-going power steering issues that really spoils the handling & enjoyment of driving. Fraud tell me nothing’s wrong but how can the effort to turn the steering wheel change from one corner to the next corner at the same speed. Bonnet lock is one to watch out for, keep it lubricated if you’re unlucky enough to own one like me. Avoid!

Ford Transit 280 2l tdci 2004

Only done 34000 from new superb economy. New battiery map senscor £176 inc computor check. High top camper van owned from new.

Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCi Zetec 2009

Why can’t you post lower than 1 star? What a pile of c**p, if you’re after good fuel economy don’t bother. I told the dealer I do 50k a year and was looking at the Ecomotive but was pushed to the Zetec as only 7mpg difference. What a mistake! I get on average about 52mpg - nowhere near the 67.4 stated in the brochures or the website, so you looking at 25% less than stated. And the engine has been run-in. I bought the car onn 5/11/2009 and on 23/7/2010 I have covered 34k. I have pushed this with Ford customer service and you get a standard letter. If you do this quote what others get from this forum in your second letter. Ford hope that noone responds to their letter and hope you go away. Just push them. I am looking to set-up a Facebook page up soon to advertise how c**p they are so everyone notices and sales will hopefully drop. I will post the link on here at a later date. Other issues are rattling speakers, had to be sorted and has anyone else got warm air con? I have to have mine on full power of the fans to get it cold, once cold it does not stay cool. My former Auris and Avensis were like feezers they were that cold. Tyres don’t last, the Michelin lasted for 19k on the front, previous Bridgestone lasted me 28K. More rattles come fro, the dashborad area than the local creche.

Ford Focus 1.8TDDi Zetec 1999

My car is actually a 1999 Ford Focus (2000 is the earliest choice for leaving a review?! On a car that was launched in 1998...). Anyway, it’s a 1.8TDDi-powered 5-door hatchback with Zetec trim. I have owned it for almost six years now, And I love it! I should state that I am a mechanic, so I do all of the servicing and repair work on my car. I change the oil at 5,000 mile/ 12 month intervals, I clean the K&N air filter every 2 years, I change the fuel filter at 15,000 miles or 2 years, and the timing belt at 50,000 miles (or I may give it five years depending on usage) The Focus has always had a reputation for being a bit heavy on wheel bearings, and mine is no exception. I always have a spare brake drum in my lock up with a new bearing fitted - although my current set have actually lasted me quite a while this time! The TDDi’s Achilles heel is the fuel injection pump electronics. The Bosch VP-30 fuel pump, and the similar Bosch VP-44 (as fitted to Audis, and some Vauxhalls, among other things), both have a reputation for failing without warning, and sadly my Focus suffered this fate last year. However, because there’s a lot of sentimental value attached to my car, I went out and bought a reconditioned fuel pump from a Bosch approved service centre, and fitted it myself along with all new gaskets, pipework, and a new timing belt kit along with new camshaft and fuel pump gears. Beyond that, my car has only suffered the normal wear and tear items: Brakes, tyres, a couple of bushes, the occasional ball joint, and a steering rack at 160,000. And over the past 2 years I’ve gradually replaced all the brake pipes with new copper replacements. Given that it is knocking on for 11 years old, and it now has over 200,000 miles on the clock, I can’t really complain I love driving my car. Even with over 200,000 miles on the clock, the suspension feels nice and tight, and it is a confidence inspiring car in the corners - the harder you corner, the more it grips! The engine is sweet as a nut, and besides my fuel pump problem, I’ve only had to replace a fuel injector pipe (£25 for a set of four in 2005) and a turbo boost hose (I paid £60 for a set of blue silicone replacements), and just today, the oil pressure switch (£15). Again, on a car with over 200,000 miles, that’s very good going! The engine still pulls like a train, and still returns an easy 50MPG. There is only one downside to owning a pre-2001 TDDi, and that is the road tax. Pre-2001 cars fall into the "over 1549cc" tax band and pay £205 for a year (2010 rates), whereas post-2001 cars have 143g/km emissions and currently pay just £125 for a year. However, that is not the fault of the car, but the fault of the government. Everything else about my car - the way it looks, the way it drives, the easy maintenance, the reliability, the fuel economy, the comfortable interior (which is still looking new) - I just love. Back when I bought the car, my dad was adamant I’d be disappointed and want to replace it within 12 months. 6 years on, and I want to keep it for another 6 years at least!

Responses to this review

Chris, thanks for your great report. I’ve had my 1999 1.8 Zetec petrol for 7 years now and it is a very good car. I also drive a Honda NSX and a single-seater race car, so have no doubt when I say the Focus is a great drive. I wonder if the rear wheel bearing wear because the rear wheels work so hard in the corners when compared to other cars...that’s a positive by the way. I read your review only as I’m considering changing to a 2009 version. The Mk 2 was a design disaster, whereas the Mk 1 looks fresh and up to date even now. My only dissappointment is my air-con is dead; a leak in the evaporator under the dash we believe, not an easy fix. I am nervous about changing to the larger, heavier versions in case I lose the agility and driving feel that my Mk 1 has. Have you any thoughts/opinions on the 2008-2010 ’facelift’ model? I am thinking of the 1.8 petrol Titanium version - David Garnett from Gloucestershire

Ford Ka 2004

We bought our KA collection 2 years ago and had endless problems with it. The major factors were the front coil which snapped last year, had to replace the alternator and then 2 months ago the back suspension went while we were driving! Spent hundreds on this car, bad to drive, no power at all for overtaking - stay away do not buy a KA!!!!

Ford Transit tourneo 1998

I bought my Tourneo in Feb ‘99 it had 60’ish thousand on the clock. I used it from day 1 as a taxi / minibus service and still using it today. Nearly 700000 on clock and its third engine (first got to 450000) and I can not tell you how happy I am with HER! Far as I can remember the only time she didn’t start was with a flat battery and the only time she stopped is when the engine had just about lost its compression. Engine £50 - £450 gearbox £10 - £150 clutch kit £60 - £100 how can anything on the market compete with it? This year was going to be its retirement year but a bit of welding and its good to go for another year! FORD please when you have a diamond at your fingertips don’t let it go! Start making new shells and you will sell more shells than new vans and I will be your first customer! (Painted would be nice.)  Just to finish, I drove a car for 2 weeks then got back into my Tourneo, I had the biggest smile on my face all day and that’s what driving is all about. Thanks for reading.

Ford Fiesta 2010

A car with good handling and effective breaks. A bit too much noise from the tyres and the poor around town fuel economy are complaints I have in common with others. However, I have also had a stability problem with the new style jack. While jacking up the front wheel to fit mud flaps, the base of the jack slipped out and caused damage to the body of the car. Has any body else had a problem with the jack?

Ford Focus C-MAX Zetec 2008

I’ve had my C-MAx for the past 2 and half years, touch wood it has been ok and I,ve not had any major problems yet. However, the last few weeks, the noise inside of the car has increased whilst driving at higher speeds. I’ve looked at most of the car to try and se what the problem is but I,m struggling to find out whats causing it. The car has served me well and I would like to keep it, I just need to find out what the noise is.

Responses to this review

I had a gradual build up of noise in my C-Max. It turned out to be the support bearing on the transfer shaft. The shaft between the dif and the cv joint - Don Brown from England

Ford Transit Connect 230 LX High roof LWB 2007

When I bought my Connect I complained that the tracking was out only to be told that it was ok. 9k miles later and the tyres were bald on the inside. I checked the web, downloaded a copy of a report from Royal Mail and one from BT then showed them to Sandicliffe Ford dealers. The reports both warned drivers to check the tyres at 7k for signs of uneven wear. This was because nearly half of their combined fleets of 37000 Connects had worn to metal by the time that they had covered 9k miles. They stopped debating the issue and fitted 2 new tyres and paid for the re-tracking. This just goes to prove that if you do a bit of homework before you complain, it pays dividends. All in all, I think the Connect is a gutless wonder with the finesse of a 1974 escort van. My van has had 5 new windscreens, (heater element problems), a new battery, a new handbrake cable, (old one snapped), the brakes failed, a rear light filled up with water and was replaced and the wheels rusted so were replaced under warranty. My old escort van had 1 day a year in the garage for service and MOT, this bag of s**t has been off the road for 21 days in the first year! The only good thing about Connects’ is that the resale value is very good, (Thank God for small mercies). You have been warned!

Ford Ranger 2005

I am about to buy a used Ford Ranger and am hoping that I do not suffer any of the clutch problems that some reviewers seem to have had. One of the reasons I’m attracted to the Ranger is that my employer is on his second and so is his son. I do not advocate their maintenance (or lack of) techniques but believe that anything that can survive in their hands must be a tough truck. Boss - bought his 52 Ranger, had its warranty service carried then drove it for 107,000+ miles without performing an oil change. As well as this trailers of up to 5.5 tons were pulled as well as the engine being started and then thrashed from cold in the depths of winter. On top of this, 1.5 tons were often carried in the pick up bed until the day it was driven into a wall thanks to a large patch of black ice. A friend who specialises in 4x4s/commercials said if a Ranger can put up with what ***** does to it without it seizing or snapping then maybe you should think about buying one... A runaway D6 (dozer) on a batter ran onto and stopped on his son’s Ranger so they replaced the tub??!!!

Responses to this review

The Ford is rated to tow about 2-3 tonnes, I hope I don’t have the misfortune to meet this idiot coming the other way with his grossly overloaded, badly maintained lightweight truck - Steve Peal from Gloucestershire

Ford Focus 5 door tdci 110hp 2005

I bought this car 2 months ago from private seller and after 3 weeks starts my nightmare. First, what I’m doing when I buy new car is changing oil and oil filter. Mechanic in service said that was on time to change...? With new oil car starts driving like old 50kw diesel, noisy with shaking, losing power. When I opened the hood on engine there was oil leak. This cost me £200 for diagnosis and fix oil leak, changed some plastic on turbo. For noise, shaking and lack of power diagnose says: egr fault, flywheel fault - repair in High Wycombe, Bosch service cost £1600 :D very expensive parts for this engine, "special" dual mass flywheel. cool. After changing the flywheel and egr after 20 miles dies alternator. Nice. What can I say? Nothing, back to service, fitted new alternator. Driving back home, oil pressure warning light comes on!!! Now I was not sure what is wrong ’cause car was driving smooth so I drove to nearest service in Aylesbury. 6th service wants to take the car for repair. After 30 minutes waiting they said that it’s oil pressure switch fault but they don’t have it and I must wait another day. Cost me £71. One more thing is windscreen and rubber around it. 5 years old car and this rubber is hard and coming off from glass. I need to change it and thank god for insurance costs me only £75. What a luck. Car got 98650miles, when I bought was 98050, so just 600 hundred miles in 2 months and 90 percent to service. All this cars around 100k are expensive to repair, expensive for parts, especially euro 4 with special filter for £1000 new. I’m happy that mine is just euro 3. Never, never Focus with this engine, for me never in my life Ford again. Lovely my last volkswagen passat with 1.9tdi engine best diesel ever made.

Ford Focus 1.6 Sport 2006

I’ve had my 06 Focus 1.6 Sport for 6 months now and I’m a regular at the petrol station. What a pig on fuel this is. I wouldn’t mind if it had a bit of get up and go but it doesn’t. It’s been into Ford for hard starting and detonation issues. It had the computer updated and the trouble is still there. I’d hoped the update would have improved the gas guzzling but it’s still at it. The detonation while accelerating is really bugging me and as for motorway driving, its great until I need to pass someone and god help me if its up hill. You can drop a gear or even two if you really feel optimistic but all it will do is suck down more fuel and it still won’t perform. The average fuel consumption on a long run, 500 miles plus, is 36 mpg. I can get that from a Discovery diesel. Ford say everything is ok. I think not. I’ve been a professional driver for 20 years, I know how to do the eco drive, the Focus does not.

Responses to this review

Hi mate, I have a 06 focus sport 1.6 and I know it does lack power and guzzles a fair bit of petrol but I find it still quick pokey. I got the 3 dr version and I’ve done a bit of colour coding on it and changed air filter to a k and n one, and gave it a full service and mine seems quick quick most of the time. Ok it would be great to have a better interior, more power than standard 98bhp but with added power comes higher running and up keep costs. I’ll be keeping this ’til the st or rs is within my budget and insurance - David Boughtwood from Cambridgeshire

Ford Galaxy TDi 1999

A really good car with great space and comfort and drives like a dream. It is good on fuel and never fails to deliver. It always goes, no matter the weather. I’ve taken mine to Germany and she started 1st time even in temperatures of minus 20 degrees centigrade.

Ford Focus C-MAX Ghia 2.0L injection 2005

I bought this as a slightly smaller version of a people carrier, and what a nightmare its been. Gobbles up the diesel like it’s drinking water (it is better on long distances). We have had the car two and half years and have spent a fortune on it. It had very low mileage and only one owner so was in good condition. In the last two years we have had to replace the alternator, rear and front break pads and discs, new clutch and fly wheel (costing £1,000) as the Ghia is more expensive, new air conditioning unit as well as still servicing it and MOTs. All this with less than 50,000 miles on the clock. The car is now juddering when accelerating and the fuses are making funny clicking noises!? First Ford and the last!!

Ford Ka Plus 2010

Our Ka has gone back in to the dealer after 1500miles/2 months. The brakes appear to stick on and it was making a terrible noise. So far the dealer has had the car for one week; waiting for parts from Germany? Not sure excatly what they have done but it appears as though it is a full tear down, they said they had to strip down ther air conditioning as part of the repair?? The dealer said something about a new pedal box? Doesn’t make sense to me. Anyway, we are asking for a full written report before we accept the car back. Has anyone else had similar problems? I did check the VOSA website but the only recall was regarding the rear brakes one year ago, this car is new so it can’t be that fault.

Responses to this review

Hi, I bought my KA last year (09) and has just gone in for a secound time due to brake problems apparently something to do with the caliper. For a new car I’m upset that its having these issues - Areanne from England

Ford Transit Tipper 2001

I’ve had several older transits with no problem, the 2001 model, however, is a heap of s**t!

Ford Focus C-MAX Ghia 2007

I have been a Ford fan for about 20 years and have had many models, mostly sporty RS/XR, but as I have grown older my needs have changed. I decided to buy a one year old 2L Desial Ghia in black, it was a nice car ran well and was a pleasure to drive ’til it came to the first service. It needed new rear pads at 20K because of that silly hand brake and two new front tyres on the same service. I questioned both items and was told it’s the way I drive; to wear out a set of pads in 20k my foot must have been on the brake pedal most of the time. Then at two years old my blue tooth failed on the radio, so I took it back under warranty and again was told it was my fault and the warranty did not cover it. In fact they had smashed it trying to get it out and had broken the fascia. I then had to complain 4 times over 5 weeks before they would admit the fault was theirs. Since then I have bought a SEAT ALTER XL, this car cost less then an equivalent Ford and the after sales has been so much better. PS I do not have the threaten to take this to court, because of the after sales service and Ford’s present pricing policy it will be a long time until I buy a Ford again.

Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 2009

I have bought a 10 month old Ford Focus Zetec 1.6, prior to that I had a 1.6 Ford Fusion. I am actually getting a better miles to the gallon with the Focus, never below 40 mpg, also its quiter, smoother and more comfortable. On the motorway in fifth gear, if you have to overtake , there is plenty of power there, just have to press the accelarator a little bit more. All in all a great roomy car and a better looker than the original Ford Focus.

Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 2010

The majority of reviews appear to be based around poor fuel consumption, my new Fiesta has now completed 2000 miles, mostly of journeys under 30 miles either in cities or the South Wales valleys,and so far has averaged 47.8 mpg. If, as is suggested, the fuel consumption will improve as the engine beds in, then I am very pleased. A vast improvement over previous Fiestas. Ford have at last given this model the refinement it deserves.

Ford Focus Estate 5door hatch 2008

Having recently downsized to a Ford Focus 5 door hatch (Dec 2008) from a ten year old Honda Accord which I purchased new, I am reasonably satisfied so far, apart from the horrendous body/road boom. The slogan is ’feel the difference’ which for me is ’hear the difference’ Not on the same planet as the Accord I’m afraid, but must stick with it for the time being.

Ford Fiesta 1.6 petrol 2010

Purchased a brand new 1.6 petrol Titanium Fiesta last month. Very happy with everything about it, apart from the starting. It’s fine first thing in the morning as it starts just as I would expect it to but if I leave it an hour after and try to start then I have problems. It just about starts but sounds really really weak until I put my foot on the accelerator. Took it to Ford service last week who have put it on computer and started it during the course of the day and they say there is nothing wrong with it. I know there is as I have had 2 other Fiesta’s for 13 years and they both started perfectly well.

Responses to this review

I have just bought a Ford Fiesta Titanium and have exactly the same problem. They have taken it in to look at it today. Have you had any luck in resolving your problem? - Sandra Hemley from Northamptonshire

I had the same problem when I bought mine. A year on and its fine. Just needs running in I think - Matthew Berry from England

AH! The ZERO REVs start problem which occurs generally on hot (above 20ºc) days on 1.6 petrol engines. Engine stuggles to run and tacho shows NO engine revs (you can count the firing strokes) and the ignition light is showing!!!!!!!!!! My first Fiesta was "sold" back to Ford at Christmas and I picked up the replacement in Feb when I got back to the UK. The replacement also exhibited the same problem in May. The number of times the first car had the INJECTOR RAIL AND INJECTORS replaced was 3 times. The current car now has "Mark 2" injectors and rail fitted - RC John from Lincolnshire

Re-took my car back to Dagenham Motors in Walthamstow after the first visit. Fully explained the problem again to them. They brought it back to me that evening having used all my petrol and had obviously used the car as a run-around as I had an extra 40 miles on the clock and said they could not find anything wrong and it had been on the computer. They also said they think I am turning the key too quickly and that I have to wait until all the dash symbols have gone. I was livid with them for the fact they didn’t need to take my car on a 40 mile trip but just needed to keep car in garage and switch on 40 minutes or so later. Then took the car to Gates who have said I should mention it when it comes in for first service and that it’s garbage what Dagenham Motors said about turning key on quickly - maybe for a diesel engine but not petrol. It is exactly as the other person has said that it happens in warm temperatures so at the moment in October it is not happening. I will also keep a camera in car to take picture of oil and battery dash light on and no revs. Then maybe someone will believe me! Karen Clarke from London

Ford Transit Connect tdci 2008

I set up a courier business and bought an 18 months old bog standard tdci from motorpoint. What an amazing van, I can carry loads of stuff. I take pallets down to London every week you don’t know they’re on board. At a steady 60 and no blistering accelleration it does 48mpg, roughly 10p per mile on supermarket fuel. I’ve done 53000 mile in 7 months, replaced front tyres and had 2 services and it has never missed a beat. The sound system is brilliant all you need for 12 hours a day on your own. I also do multi dropping and looked at the items to go in and thought no way, got them all in with space to spare. If you want a cheap reliable van buy one of these vans. I fully expect to do 350000 miles in mine, then I will buy another if I need to.

Responses to this review

Hi Carl, I’ve just read your comments ref; the Ford Connect van as I’m looking to go into the courier business myself. I will certainly be booking a test drive - what model/spec would you recommend? Please advise. PS. Any good information/guidance on how to get started on the courier business would also be great - Bob Sargent from Northamptonshire

Ford Focus 2009

Our 2009 Ford Focus decided that after being with us for just TWO weeks it would suddenly roll down our drive with the handbrake FULL on and smash into the drive gates!! The car had been parked for nearly 2 hours when we heard the loud smash. We ran out to find it embedded in the drive gates. FUNNILY enough the dealership we bought it from suddenly wanted nothing to do with us saying it was an insurance job and no concern of theirs!

Responses to this review

Funny enough mine did that. I was parked in the city centre for about two hours and it rolled back stopped then rolled back again into another parked car. There was no damage but two police officers were there waiting for me as it was behind a station. Funny thing is I have my car fully cctv system and watched it with the officers they were amazed to see it happen and my handbrake was on fully too, mind you there was a church near us and the Police just said "okay, have a nice day" and ran - Ken Conway from Northumberland

Ford Focus C-MAX 2004

I bought my Focus C-Max in 2004 new from a Ford dealer as my Granddad worked for Ford and did so out of loyalty; always had Fords previously. Wish I hadn’t. So far the electronic handbrake had a recall and needed replacing,loss of power, burning smells when climbing hills, 2 batteries replaced, faulty airconditioning, had to be bump started 3 times, replacement alternator, bonnet sticks when trying to open, creaking on front suspension. Need to definintely get rid of this car. At the moment the car is over revving and found out it needs a new throttle peddle, another £250 quid probably. Just told my husband we are getting rid. Should never have installed computerised engine system!!!!

Responses to this review

Was just wondering - did the garage contact you to recall your electronic parking brake or did you have trouble with it and take it in yourself? I have had dreadful trouble with mine too and they want around £1,000 to put it right! Julie Tyler from Norfolk

Ford Fiesta Zetec 2003

Now 8300 miles with an average of 42 mpg mixed undemanding driving. No large bills with servicing every 12 months. Has developed a transmission whine in all gears that does not appear to be a wheel bearing. Rather harsh suspension but steers like a dream. Reliable starting in all weathers and kept outside.

Ford Fiesta 1.25 2006

Dodgy set of reviews here. I’m just about to replace my 56 1.25 for a 2009 Style+. I had an 04 model first and they have both been driving school cars, without any problems except a battery change on the 56. And I’m concerned about the amount of prostective faults I’m possibly about to encounter. Time will tell  but with reliability and fuel consumption major factors I’m beginning to wonder.

Ford Mondeo Estate Petrol 2008

Have been using for 2 years, couldn’t find any problem compared to previous Ford Mondeo model 2004. Smooth handling, braking and very flexible to drive. Better pick up above 2000 revs. Sometimes engine jerking, it’s because of the the fuel line trialer so that fuel passes through the pump easily. Now done around 80000 kilometers in 2 years. Works fine but I recommend going for a MAZDA 6 station wagon, better than Ford.

Ford Ka Zetec 2010

Ford’s KA concept was originally the most successful embodiment of the ’wheel at each corner’ principle since the legendary mould breaking Mini. Its egg shaped design quickly established it as a modern icon, enabling instant recognition, warm familiarity and ready appeal. Ford deserves credit for their boldness in going beyond what, to many, represented a perfect design - and if the origin of the word KA refers to an Egyptian spirit, to what extent have they ensured a smooth transition? The question is - does the spirit of the first KA transfer successfully to the remodelled modern version which shares the same platform as Fiat’s 500. It seems to be an inalienable rule of the universe that small cars have to get bigger and bigger. The new KA is no exception. However, Ford has managed to keep a tight rein on unnecessary expansion and I have to report that there’s no excess in its enhanced accessibility. There’s more room inside and more protection outside - but the whole profile is still commendably tight and looks just right. On first acquaintance one might be forgiven for thinking that the design solution has turned out to be something of a curate’s egg. Gone are the familiar contours: gone that sense of instant recognition. There are styling cues that owe more, perhaps, to contemporary tropes than to the initial KA concept. However, mild disappointment is quickly dispelled once the virtues of the restyling become evident - and for die hard stick-in-the-muds, enough of the old, much loved, KA remains for acquaintance to become rapid and rewarding, with styling statements that are very much NOW. For instance, the rear light binnacles are as strikingly noticeable as they’re intended to be. No-one is likely to ignore the fact that you’re braking or indicating unless they happen to be called Andy and are engaged in the process of exceeding the speed of sound. I was comforted by the sense of a tough outer shell and a cosy, secure interior: an interior moreover, that has a dash of funky fashionability likely to endear it to trendy owners. And for the driver, visibility is better than you’d expect, given the high waistline and aerodynamically conceived contours. The cabin is surprisingly practical and well trimmed. There’s a useful boot and seat backs fold down easily to give extra luggage volume when needed. The Zetec version tested - which costs an eye watering Å�10, 860 (Yes. You did read it correctly. Å�10860! - But thankfully, residuals are good.) Is everything an urban run-around should be, with the facility to transform itself into a compact, economical and smooth motorway package. And while Mother Dinosaur may not try to claim you as belonging to her nest, a passing pterodactyl might want to egg you on to the top speed of around 100mph. thanks to that delightfully enthusiastic, low polluting (emissions are so low that road tax is just Å�35) 1.2 Duratec engine that - despite producing just 68bhp - revs enthusiastically and encourages you to play tunes on the slick shifting five speed gearbox, controlled by a stubby lever mounted on the centre console. All this combines with accurate steering and agile handling to give an involving driving experience to delight the young thrusting driver. If any car today embodies the spirit of fun, the new KA must surely come high on the list. Many KAs will, of course, be bought by sedate ’blue rinse matrons’ who will be charmed by the delightful colour schemes on offer, with colourful stripes aplenty and matching sharks teeth effect on the front grille - so I’m pleased to report that the ride quality is jolly composed and won’t upset their tummies. Whizzing along through a market town I noticed that while people did not instantly recognise it as a KA, they acknowledged it at once as a cute head turner. No farmer wanted to take me in a basket to market but many a hatchback driver wanted to swap seats. Ford certainly hasn’t played chicken with the new design and their courage is rewarded - for the new KA, in my view, is a cock-a-doodle-do of a cracker. After returning my road test vehicle, I happened to find myself attending a local séance in the evening and rapped out a few messages across the ether to my spirit guide - begging him to include one of these irresistible little cars in my next Easter egg or Christmas cracker or whatever. I don’t care: can I have one please?

Ford Transit Minibus 2004

We bought our minibus brand new and have had it for 6 years, it is serviced regularly and we have put 25,500 miles on the clock. The garage have just informed us that the big end bearing or the main bearing has gone. The cost of repairing this is more than the cost of a new engine!!! Having called Ford they will not offer any assistance as despite the extremely low mileage and full service history, the minibus is out of warranty and they will not contribute a penny. I would strongly advice that you do not buy this vehicle. As a charity this has had a huge impact.

Ford Fiesta Zetec 2009

I took delivery of my fiesta a week ago - 4,000 miles on the clock - and am very pleased with the way it drives. However I find that the noise generated by the Continental Premium Contact 2 tyres is making my ears hurt. Apart from the road rumble which I would find acceptable there is also a constant hum, rather like the horns at the current world cup. Today I took it back to the dealer and they have changed the rears to the front but I already kow that there is no improvement. I am hoping that they will agree to exchange these tyres for a set of Hankooks from one of their demonstrators but feel that they don’t really believe my problem. My ears are still hurting from my 12 mile journey home from work - 2 hours ago. Has anyone else had a similar problem? Is there a solution?

Responses to this review

I know this is an old review but I have the same problem. Have you or anyone else cured this sound? - Paul from Lancashire

Same noise coming from tyres must be a common fault, thought it was wheel bearing at first - Nick from Lincolnshire

Ford Ka 2000

I bought my KA in January from a local auction for £580. 82k on the clock 2 previous female owners and black. It needed about £200 worth of work doing to it such as, drivers window wouldn’t open, speedometer didn’t work, mileage gauge had stopped working, and the heating didn’t work. The milage needed a part that was £80 so that’s what most of the money was on. Eventually after the snow had cleared we took it out (at this time I was still a ’learner’!) Aside from no heating it was wonderful. We had a seriously cold winter and it started perfectly first time everytime. I decided to do my driving test in it as I found it far more easier to drive than a 2009 Ford Fiesta...It was brilliant. Since January I have done 4,000 miles and not one problem touch wood. Garage said it was in very good nick mechanically and inside it was like new. MOT in march was fine except needed a bit of welding doing underneath. Excellent car and would recommend it to anyone.

Ford Focus 1.6 zetec 2009

I’ve had my 1.6 zetec for 9 months I use it for mainly motorway driving, It is great for long journeys and has the speed when you need it, I just wish it was better on fuel as now looking for new car.

Ford Focus C-MAX 2009

Bought a C4 12 months ago and, to-date, I have had NO problems, ’sailed’ through its MOT, easy to drive and comfortable. Good economy, 1.6 showing approx, 37 mpg within town. Plenty of rear luggage room and when the back seats are lowered ’huge’. Would recommend, best car even had.

Ford Fiesta 1.4 Zetec 2008

Had this car since new at the end of 2008 and generally it has been good, but the last 6 months have been a little different with a variety of problems such as the paint not looking as if it is wearing well, also seems to chip very easily. And with only 12000 miles on the clock the water pump failed, Ford did replace it with no cost to me. Dissapointing for such a new car.

Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCi Zetec 2009

I bought a Corsa 1.4 Design and had problems with it from day one. Took it back to Vauxhall who took 18 months to fix the fault with it. So I bought a new Ford Fiesta the 1.4 TDCi Zetec. Yes, I lost a couple of things like auto lights, wipers etc... but I prefer the Fiesta so much more to the Corsa. I also prefer Ford’s customer service to Vauxhall’s. It’s an all-round winner.

Ford S-MAX 2.0 tdci zetec 2010

I’ve had this car for just over 2 weeks now and it is the best car I personally have ever had. It drives really smooth and can easily pull away from anyone who thinks they have a chance ;). There is plenty of room throughout and even the rear most two seats are not that bad if the 2nd row of seat are moved forward.So far no problems and would fully recommend to anyone wanting an mpv but with a sporty twist.

Responses to this review

Agree with you, fantastic car. But this morning, it decided not to start. It’s now at Fords and being only two weeks old, I am a little worried. It just stopped and turned over but refused to re-start, I hope it’s not the start of things to come, will keep you posted - Tim Baron from Kent

Ha ha, it’s me again. S-max now with dealer for another day. They said it is the battery but as you know, the car was turning over but not starting, there was plenty of power there. They want to keep it another day to make sure, and not just fit a new battery which makes sense. I believe it is a software problem but hey what do I know? Anyway I will tell you what Dagenham Motors of Eltham are like once I get over all this. A courtesy car would have been nice, initial contact could have been better, but I am patient and if they do a good job, I will tell the world. If they don’t, I will tell the Universe - Tim Baron from Kent

Yes, its me again. Dagenham Motors rang me to say they could not find fault with my S-Max and it was ready to pick up. The nice man behind the counter explained that maybe the battery on my new car had not been fully charge. I told him I would be happier if they had found the fault. Anyway took the keys and went to take my car home (you know what’s coming here), it did not start. After many apologies, at least they have seen the fault, it is now in their hands again. I say again as this counts as the second time they have looked at the same fault now, so they think I am a nice polite chap. Little do they know on the third attempt now, I will actually give them the car back and go through the courts as I fortunate enough to have the money and knowledge to do it. Will keep you posted. Courtesy car of course not - Tim Baron from Kent

Well I hope you have been tuned in. The dealership rang me to say the car started this morning but when they put it on the ramps, it stopped again. But, the good news is a recall has been announced by Ford this morning, it’s electrical and it causes a starting problem. To all those people who are not looking at this site, SUCKERS. Will report outcome to you tomorrow when a replacement part will be fitted, I am actually hopeful. I e-mailed the general manager and Ford technical last night and also now have Stuart Kerrs e-mail phone number and am now waiting on his home address so if I need to take the matter to the top, I can. I don’t want anyone saying they were not aware of my problem. Courtesy car, of course not. Sorry, need to add technical data, the problem is 1U396 Engine Junction Box Relays. I will give results when fitted - Tim Baron from Kent

Well, I am about to get a courtesy car from Fords as the part did not arrive. But I do believe they are doing their best, I am going away for Christmas on Tuesday so I am still a little worried. But, as Ford did not deliberately sabotage my car, now they are going to supply me with a Mondeo to use and the service manager has kept me informed. I have no complaint as long as the RE CALL is the fault. Will let you know the final outcome before tuesday I hope. But it seems Ford customer care is much improved - Tim Baron from Kent

The story continues. A part never arrived so Ford have kindly supplied me with a very nice courtesy car. A beautiful, sleek, reliable; it’s a Vauxhall Insignia. Ha ha! You could not make this stuff up. But I have transport so I am happy, I would like the Ford that I bought back at some stage though. Or have I made the wrong choice? Should I buy a Vauxhall next time if they’re good enough for Ford? No wonder they never gave me a courtesy car if I was Ford I would have cut my hand off rather than hand a customer a competitor’s car, so they are looking after me - Tim Baron from Kent

You will be pleased to know the Insignia is going like a dream. The all important Relay for my car has not been delivered yet and we drive to Derbyshire for our Christmas holidays tomorrow. I should have put this on facebook and got a following. I have sent an e-mail to Stuart Kerr CEO of Fords, wonder what he thinks of my courtesy car - Tim Baron from Kent

Amazing, Stuart Kerr replied to me the next morning and my car was fixed and delivered to me that afternoon. Went for my two week holiday to Derbyshire and the S-Max is a dream of a car. You need to test drive the 1.6 tdci to know it is not underpowered as reported, my previous car was a Zafira VXR so I would have noticed the difference more than most. I have not heard from Dagenham Motors or Fords. Not an apology or regret which is sad because the S-Max is truly a fantastic all round family car but be careful who you buy one from. The car sells itself so all they have to do is look after the customer which seems a step too far - Tim Baron from Kent

Ford Transit Connect 2006

I’ve got a t200 short wheelbase with 166000 miles it’s been a good van the only problems are a noisey cluch and it’s not very good on power. Still very clean, well looked after, it’s been used for courier work, starts well and overall I’ve been pleased.

Ford Focus Titanium 2.0 TDCi

They are great cars. It’s my first TDCi engine and will not be my last! The torque is superb, my only gripe is its narrow rpm range but still you can not have it all...

Ford Fiesta Silver 2004

It is a used model and it rides on 195/45 tyres, which is VERY firm but still a good city/medium trip car.

Ford Transit Tourneo 1995

I bought my 1995 Tourneo 2.5 TDI in 1999 from a friend who was emigrating. It had 35000 miles on the clock and now has 180000 miles. In all the time I have had it it has never let me down. Apart from the usual expenses of tyre, battery etc it has cost me a new clutch, power steering pipe, and a tail end exhaust. I have never had it serviced at a garage but change the oil and filters twice a year What a vehicle. 30mpg no matter what I am doing. It is just a shame about the transit rust on the wheel arches. If only all vans were made like this one.

Ford Focus 2010

Road noise is driving me bonkers!! Bought the car new. Dealer in my area (St Louis, MO) states that they hear "nothing". Everyone that rides in this vehicle comments on the LOUD noise. Everyone. New tires did not seem to relieve the situation. Numerous shop visits - "nothing wrong....no noise". I know I am not deaf. Any suggestions????

Responses to this review

I have the same problem with my 2010 Focus SE. At least the dealers here are honest and acknowledge the noise. They say it’s the tires that they are "feathered" maybe due to past misalignment. They checked the alignment (free) but did not help. I’m not sure if it is indeed the tires or something in the drivetrain; not willing to forkout $$ for new tires on a car with only 13,500 miles. Please let us know if you discover the problem with yours - Tim from United States of America

Is the road noise a vibration/shimmy coming through the body of the car? We have taken it back five times and tyres have been replaced 3 times with 7000K on the clock (3500mile). It is not a tyre issue. Go to an independent mechanic and get a report as to the problem then take it back to the dealer. This is not the only case of this type - many other complaints have been made but smoothed over. This is a product recall being avoided - Stu Coles from Australia

Ford S-MAX 2.0 TDCi Titanium auto 2008

Zero faults, a great car. I will be buying another one soon and I would highly recommend one.

Ford Focus 2010

Road noise is driving me bonkers!! I bought the car new from a dealer in my area (St Louis, MO). They state that they hear "...nothing". Everyone that rides in this vehicle comments on the LOUD noise. Everyone. New tyres did not seem to relieve the situation. Numerous shop visits - "...nothing wrong....no noise". I know I am not deaf. Any suggestions????

Responses to this review

This contributor is obviously referring to a USA car which is a completely different car. This review should be removed.

I have a 56 plate 1.6 Zetec mark 2 and the road noise is terrible. I had an 03 plate 1.6 Zetec mark 1 before and road noise was much, much less - Rob Carter from Mid-Lothian (Edinburghshire)

Ford Transit Connect 1.8 TDDi LWB 2007

This van has been more trouble than its worth.It doesn’t run for longer than 3 months before a problem arises. When I purchased the van I had it serviced, it had a new alternator and timing belt fitted. It ran OK for a while until the clutch went. I had to have a new one and a master cylinder fitted. The next thing to go wrong was the alternator which has beeen a complete pain over the last few months, I have had 3 since September. Luckily the first 2 were under warranty. I would not advise buying a Connect of this age - if you do expect problems because you will encounter some!! The van is a good size and quite versatile but the engine is basically rubbish!

Ford Galaxy 1.9 tdi ghia 2001

Have had the car for 9 years, fantastic family car goes really well. Only two problems; air con gone twice(???) very annoying first time replaced under warranty, second had to fork out a lot of money. The second problem is the tyres, seems to go through them very quickly!!! I would love a new shape but a used Galaxy in a ghia is a bit pricey!!! I would love to find a bargin but not possible!!!

Ford Ranger 2005

I have a Ford Thunder 55 plate that we bought when one year old. I have had it over 3 years and I find it a great truck to drive. The truck has done nearly 80000 miles and in that time its only been serviced and had a new set of tyres. It’s still on original clutch brake pads etc.  I use it for my work in the building trade so its always carrying tools, heavy items etc. I’ve had it in deep mud; bonnet high in water this winter. We had 2-3ft snow drifts and it has coped with everything I have put it through. It started in -20 temperatures this winter and starts first turn every morning. The truck is showing very few sings of aging yet no body rust and very little surface rust on chassis. This has been a great truck to own. I have just been down to local Ford garage to enquire about a new Thunder; I hope the new one will be as reliable as this one has been.

Ford Transit 280 swb 2001

My dad has just bought me a 280 swb 2001 model. Picked it up and drove it 95 miles on £20 and still left with diesel in the tank. Much better than my dad’s t350 lwb hightop 2000 model which guzzels diesel like there was a drought coming! The only thing is there is a slight wheel wobble on the front driver’s side, which is not much to fix, apart from that at £1800 t&t was not a bad deal!

Ford Transit 1997

All pre-2000 transits were totaly reliable, tough and easy to work on, that’s what made them such a succes. Now they have lost all of the above, doesn’t matter what you buy now, just another complicated wallet emptying modern vehicle. Just found nice older model, going to make it last as long as I can.

Responses to this review

Just wanted to agree with you about new vans/cars all full of bits (particularly electronic) that go wrong and often make the vehicle uneconomic to repair. I’ve still got a 1993 Trafic van thats been going strong with only service items needing replacement - Brian from Staffordshire

I’ve been doing a fair bit of research on these diesel vm transits and the all have the vp30 bosch pump diesel. A guy here in Campbellfield, Victoria completely rebuilds these (electronics and pump mechanicals) continually. He gets them in at around 40,000 kilometres shagged and reckons they are a lemon - does not like the engine either. It’s a pity because all other aspects bodywise are good. Once he does the pump it has no more problems but costs $2600. If he can fix the pump, why cant tight arse Ford do the same. Maybe they should be selling roast chickens instead of cars because they have not built any thing decent in Australia since the 1972 XA GT FALCON - Mick Doherty from Australia

Ford Focus 1.8tdci sport 2006

I purchased my car alomost four years ago now but in the last year it has cost me over £500 for having things repaired. First it was the alternator and now whilst driving my car the whole power went and the enginer failure light came on. I turned the engine off and restarted it and it seemed fine but then it happened again whilst going around a very busy island. This is the third time this has now happened but does anyone know what could cause this fault? I have always had Ford cars since I started driving but this car has put me off ever buying another in the future!!

Ford Focus Style 1600 2007

I bought my Focus in 2009, I’ve had it for about a year now. It was and is a brilliant car. The speed is fantastic it’s comfortable and economic. At first I had trouble with second gear and ended up taking it back to Ford to replace the Gearbox (under warranty). I now have another issue. Does anyone elses Focus have a hole in the carpet behind the clutch Pedal? It’s where the PAS pipe goes through to the Steering. My pedal became caught on this and caused me to crash. I was wondering if anyone had experienced the same problem? I am currently trying to get them to repair under manufacturer warranty but with difficulty. I’ve looked up images on the web and managed to see that mine is not the only one. If you would let me know about this little problem your help would be greatfully recieved.

Responses to this review

Well well, yes I have had tremendous like for like problems with the brand new 1.8 Zetec Ghia Focus, an absolutely horrid new car. I had it back in 99, the same fault as yours, finally repaired under warranty but other faults were that the brakes squealed constantly on cold; front tyres rubbed badly under braking; the finish was generally poor for a new car; loads of expensive defects so I got rid at a mere 18,000 miles. The dealers were disgraceful; Ford customer services were careless. Go along to your nearest Kia dealership and try the new Ceed SW 1.6 GRDi turbo - without doubt the best car build quality - spec 3 comes with duel control climate and the best fuel at motorway limits (66 to 72 mpg); the best interior quality (up to Audi/BMW standards). Simply great – Mercs are rubbish; Ford has upped prices but lost quality. Quite frankly, the Ceed with its 7 yr warranty is honestly the best spec car ever for around 15k - Jon de Quincy from Lancashire

Ford Focus Coupe Cabriolet 2007

I’ve had this car 3 years in August, when I’m due to change it. I’ve had nothing but trouble with the roof, leaking loads, been back to the garage 4 times, the last time it was in for 3 months as they couldn’t source the parts from Europe. In the meanwhile my courtesy car from fords was a Ka, so not impressed with that. Fords customer care has been shocking all the way through, My whole interior had to be replaced and all the seats as we had heavy rain for a week and the leak was so bad. I’m so disappointed as I was so looking forward to this car, the leak has been fixed but that’s been replaced now with the "creaky" roof that others have mentioned, a car 2 1/2 years old shouldn’t be like this, again Ford’s not keen to help remedy this problem. The only bonus for me on this occasion is that we’ve leased this car and it goes back in September....cant wait!!! I shall be reviewing and reading motor report via here before I order my next car!!!

Ford Transit 2009

I’ve got 09 plate Transit and having problems with the booster hose pipe. First the front pipe came off (blew off) and then 3 days later the back pipe blew off; it’s held on by one jubilee clip that’s on solid but with the power that’s going through it, it keeps blowing off. Two other things about it are it’s noisey and c**p on fuel.

Responses to this review

Having a similar problem on 2010 plate (has done 1000 miles), how did you get the problem fixed, because I can’t seem to find anyone at Ford who knows what I am talking about? - Malc Flanagan from Yorkshire

I just had the same proble, AA guy said if it comes off once it could just be a lose clip if mor than once the turbo is pumping out to much pressure so it blows the hose off. Just sent it in to be sorted under warranty - Steve from England

Ford Fiesta 1.6 2005

I bought my car 2yrs ago second hand, it had just been shipped over to Cyprus from the UK. At first there were no problems but then I got the EAC fault flashing, also loss of power so I took it in the the local electronics shop and had a diagnostics test (60.00 euro), they just said it was a dirty sensor. Then I was driving about one day and she (my car) was fine, popped into a shop and when I came out 5 mins later she wouldn’t start, the battery had just died on me so I had to get a new one (95.00 euro). I then had to get a new coil (200.00 euro) and the spark plugs (25.00 euro)!! It’s only the second car I’ve had since I started, driving 3yrs ago but we’ve bonded well, she’s a fantastic little race car aswell people dont realise how quick it is. It’s also fantastic for picking people up from the airport!! LOVE MY FF TO BITS AND THERE’S NO WAY I’LL CHANGE HER FOR ANYTHING ELSE!! well maybe a Honda s2000 or BMW x6!! =)

Ford Fiesta 1.6 Titanium petrol 2009

Have had this car for 6 months and it has been in 5 times to the dealer with gear crunching and refusing to properly select reverse (since new). The car has had a new clutch at 900 miles and another second clutch at 3000 miles. Dealer has replaced selector forks on gearbox but it still crunches and grates intermittently (about every 6th time) when selecting reverse. Dealer has informed me that this is the design of the gearbox (no syncho) and all Fiestas ("and BMW Minis!!") have this issue. Think I have a worse gearbox than most because I can’t see all Fiesta owners just "putting up" with this reverse issue?? Fuel consumption is also disappointing; 35mpg compared to quoted consumption. Such a pity that a cheap gearbox has ruined an otherwise excellent car - sort it out Ford!!!!

Responses to this review

I bought a Fiesta semi automatic 4 months ago (2005 model). When I put on reverse gear, the gearbox problem signal comes on the dash. Quickly it started to get stuck on either 1st or on 2nd gear. I took it to Fareham Ford garage, they said I needed to change gearshift lever and clutch accutator assembly costing nearly 2000 pounds. Unfortunately the car is not starting at all after their dignostic test. Has anyone experienced similar problems? I understand that it is a common problem for semi automatic fiestas. Can anyone help me with this? Byju Mani from Hampshire

Ford Focus Ghia 2.0L 2002

I bought my 2002 Ford Focus 2.0 litre Ghia in 2004 for £8000 second hand from a Ford Dealer. The handling was and still is, brilliant. The ride is great. The escalation is average for a 2.0 litre engine. Body work has only minor scratches through normal wear and tear so still looks good. Same for the interior - still looks good. Some things have not lasted of course. Front tyres wear out pretty quickly but that is mainly due to my driving - well since the handling is so good you just have to push it through the corners dont you?!?! So what else has been replaced?....well the sump was replaced in 2009 due to rust - should have been done before that but I had no money. The wheel bearings and rear suspension link arm bushes were worn in 2009 so replaced for £600. Headlights and reverse lights were replaced once in its life. Break discs and pads as per any other car were replaced a couple of times (again more to do with my driving :-) ) Other than that there has been little or no problems with this car. It’s the car that keeps on giving. Long live the Ford Focus. Mine did. However today I have sold my Ford Focus after 8 years of its life with me for £2500 as part exchange. I thought it was worth more. On Wednesday I get my new car which is not a Focus but a Golf. I will be sad to see that Focus go. Wonderful car. In 2011 the new Focus comes out and I hope I need a second car at that point in time so I can buy another Focus again.

Ford Ka Ka3 1997

I’m a 17 year old lad and I own a Ford Ka3 1997. Even though I haven’t passed my test yet I’ve been having a little go in the backins behind my house. I paid 320 quid for mine to find a few little bits wrong with it but it’s gonna cost me in the end about 500 quid to get it on the road. The space I have in the drivers seat is madness, im 6ft1 and quite round (lol) and I still have plenty of room and there is still space for 3 other people. It’s no good if I was to go to hockey in it there would be no room for 4 of us with 4 hockey sticks and 4 hockey bags, but for me to use getting to college and work and home I’m sure it’s gonna be fantastic. My dad said it’s not the worst car he’s ever driven but he still prefers his Vauxall Zafira. A few of my mates say it’s a girl’s car but a car is a car and if it’s low on use of fuel and low on insurance and it gets you from A to B it is a good car. Also, parts are not expensive. Overall I’m happy with it but I’ll probabley be happier when I’ve passed my test and taken it for a proper drive ;)

Ford Ranger Thunder 2006

I have a 56 plate Thunder 2.5 and can not fault it, it has done everything I have asked it to, and some. I regularly go off road and tow trailers and boats over rough ground, without a problem. The only thing I could say about it, is the fact that there is a bit too much power on the back wheels when in 2WD, can be fun in the wet on corners, kind of reminds me of the old Capri in that respect. As I have read all the above, I can honestly say that I have not experienced any of what has been said (touch wood) and would be quite happy to replace with another when the time comes.

Ford Focus C-MAX 2000cm3 136hp 2009

I bought this car just 2 months ago and I hope that I haven’t made a mistake as I haven’t checked anything about the car before buying it. After reading all mentioned above I am almost terrified. There are so many bad words about the car, the only nice saying is by the guy who said that only those which had been produced in Britain have all those problems and the situation is much better with those produced in Germany. Mine was produced in Germany so I hope that in a year’s time I’ll be happy to inform you that I’m still happy and thrilled with my car as I’m now. Before this car I used to have Citroen cars and I still have a C3 which has more than 100,000kms and still works fine. As I needed a bigger car I bought C-max and hope that I’ll be as contented with it as I’m with C3.

Responses to this review

How can you tell if your car was made in Germany? - Andy Smith from Wales

UPDATE: Still in love with the car. I am thrilled I have bought it. It is the fulfillment of my dreams - Drasko Vu�emilović from Croatia (Hrvatska)

Did you have any problems with your C-MAX, Drasko? - Adnan from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ford Transit 2006

After only 38k miles the van is now in the garage and needs a new engine as well as a clutch. The van is only 4 years old, bought from new with only one driver. It has had regular servicing so I can’t believe it has failed in this way so quickly. The cost to put right will be about £4.5k. The van was £23k new!!!! I always assumed diesel vans should last for over 100k in terms of mileage!

Responses to this review

Hi. I have currently same problem. Tensioners prematurely worn causing total engine failure, new engine required. EH does not want to know and Ford takes no responsibility. Will have to go down the claim route to recover in excess of 6 grand plus out of pocket expenses totalling £2000 (Hire van) I have been advised by solicitor to obtain as many similar cases as posible as he believes Ford knew about the problem and has done nothing to advise - John Szponarski from Lancashire

I had a 55 plate lwb transit, 135, had second engine at 20000 miles, now on a third engine at 88000 miles. It seems we are going backwards as old transit hardly had a spanner on it - Peter A from Fife and Kinross Shires

Ford Transit 2.0 turbo 2002

Van was always ok but have had starter motor problems since the day I bought the van 3 now going on 4, even changing clutch and flywheel. Just hitting the 100k mark now and everything seems to be giving up ie. water heater, exhaust etc. I just don’t think Transits are as good as they used to be, having only bought them, now considering going to another make. Value for money and fuel consumption has never been great but I suppose it’s bought and paid for itself, except for faulty starter motors but avoid transits from 00 - 03

Responses to this review

Transits made after the smiley are a load of rubbish everything is sensors, one after another it starts to fail costing a fortune. I am selling my c**p 2001 Transit and buying a smiley van, easy to work on and no sensors all over the place. Ford need to get their act together and stop selling c**p - Randy Roberts from England

Ford Focus C-MAX 2.0 Ghia 2010

Traded in a perfectly good Kia for my C-Max Ghia. What a mistake! Decided to buy the Ghia version with all its optional extras. Unfortunately, also got some non-optional Ford extras like rattles, bangs, clicks and squeaks. The door panels squeak, the dashboard rattles, the radio casing clicks and even the door-pull surrounds make a sound all of their own. It’s like driving a washing machine on ’spin’ cycle. It’s the first Ford I have owned for 25 years and it appears that nothing has changed since my last one. Where is Ford’s quality control? My Kia had no rattles or squeaks during the 3 years I owned it. It’s fine for Jeremy Clarkson to condemn Korean cars but I would back these aganst any Ford, any time. I can only assume Ford’s are tested on glass-flat German autobahns and never on Britain’s third-world roads. Sorry Ford. Definitely my last Ford EVER!

Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi Titanium Manual 2009

Superb car! Looks excellent and far more swish than any previous Fiesta. Very efficient on fuel. I often get 63 mpg and last trip from London I kept to 60ish and got 72.5mpg! The mirrors look too small but set just right and you can see everything in your blind spots including stuff in the 3rd lane on the Motorway. The ride is comfortable but very sporty. It helps that the car is relatively light. It’s a nice place to sit with the dash looking more interesting than a lot of others. My left leg appreciates the light clutch and my right the cruise control. Only one gripe. The literature had me believing there would be a USB port for mp3s. It comes as part of a £200 extra! There’s already a 3.5mm jack there and a USB port would have cost ford about £1 to put next to that. Probably the decision of the person who decided to charge more for green after they realised it was popular. Tight! I read Ford drove the equivalent of around the planet perfecting the steering. You can tell.

Ford Ka 2010

When I bought my new Ka I thought great, it’s got to be better than the original one and that was good. I was wrong: They forgot to put bulbs in for reversing lights; windscreen wipers judder; stickers on cd player came away; gearstick cover came away; no vanity mirror on passenger visor; all this after 3 weeks !!!!! Anybody else have similar problems?

Responses to this review

I got my Ford Ka in October 2009 (Ka studio plus 2009), it had to be taken back to the dealership the day after I pick it up because the engine cut out and a warning light appeared on the dash. They said that they had fixed the problem but when I drove the car the next day the same thing happened. Eventually they discovered that a faulty part had been fitted in the engine and replaced it. Then about 2 months later it started to leak oil. I took it back it get fixed and was told first that they couldn’t find an oil leak but when I told them to keep it until they figured it out a few hours later there was a oil leak and it was now fixed. Guess who has started to get large oil marks on there drive again! The person I bought it off says I am just unlucky and no body else has had any problems with their Ka - charlie Edwards from England

My partner and I bought a new KA back in September 2009 and after 6 weeks of having it the clutch master cylinder went and the clutch either wouldn’t disengage or whilst waiting to pull of the clutch would start to apply itself, so a trip back to the dealer for 17 days and a Ford automotive engineer later we had our KA back, about 4 weeks later we started smelling fumes in the cabin, just assuming that is was the old banger in front spuing out fumes, on filling up the washer bottle I noticed that the top engine breather hose was split hence the fumes in the cabin, so after weeks of waiting for the part to arrive and constant moaning at them the part magically arrived and was fitted, then the washer jet started to malfunction and the one they replaced it with was no better, we have gone for another KA and thankfully this has no problems as yet but I’m always wondering what will be next!!! Safest bet is next time the car is changed a Fiesta will be what’s needed - David Sanderson from Warwickshire

UPDATE: Surprise, surprise the Ka as gone back in yet again spot on 3 months and they’re scratching there heads at the mo - Ian Jackson from Yorkshire

Cannot believe it’s gone in again today for the 3rd radio cd front on in 4 weeks. There are apparently problems with the lacquer, please help as am losing the will to live!! - Ian Jackson from Yorkshire

UPDATE: Going in again for the sixth time, not happy - Ian Jackson from Yorkshire

UPDATE: Going in for a 7th time. It isn’t funny anymore. Ford KA? Uh, Ford KAK! - Ian Jackson from Yorkshire

I have a 2009 KA. I bought it brand new. It has been back several times and I will be going back yet again tomorrow. The clutch stuck. It came with scratches. The gear stick knob came off. It had a banging in the engine which they took my dash out for and padded to stop it! Now my cd player has a dent. And then fumes came in the car. I had a new part and now the same thing is happening a couple of months later! Last time they told me to drive with the windows down when driving! Hardly acceptable in winter and waiting for a part! overall the car is fab, cheap to insurance, good to drive, good cd, everything! Howver just some minor faults! But sometimes I do wish I hadn’t sold my old KA for the new and had waited for the faults to iron out! I am glad I have seen someone else review on the cabin smell as sometimes I think I’m paranoid! - Amu Louise from England

I brought my Ka in May 2009, only had it four months when the inside window screen completely iced up. This has happened every winter and has been in to garages so many times but no-one can find a fault. It went in for the last time on 23 December 2010, got it back on 10 January 2011 with no fix avalible. What a joke. Well I have now taken advice from Consumer Direct and I am taking Ford to the cleaners, I have only done 3,000 on the clock - Carol Lewis from England

Ford Transit SWB Medium Roof 2006

We have three 56 plate transits. Would not recommend buying if you plan to run for commercial van as they are not up to the task. After replacing vast amounts of EGR valves we have now replaced engines in all three vans. All were fully serviced and when engines went all fluid levels were good. Planned to run the vans for 5 yrs but will not get this and have paid out the same in engine replacements as the amount that one van costs. Ford no help at all once out of mileage. Also do not cover within mileage warranty if you are out on servicing bearing in mind that if you do around 500 - 700 miles a week a main dealer might not be able to service for a week which puts you this amount out on the service due date so best to book service in advance of actual due date. May be o.k for low mileage running but expensive to do any sort or mileage. Also most parts end up on back order so vans tend to sit at garages for a while. In particular EGR valves but these are replaced so often its no wonder they are hard to get!!!!

Ford Fusion 1.6 TDCi + 2008

We do in excess of 24,000 miles a year. This is the 2nd Fusion we have owned since June 2008. Bought as a low miles Ford Direct car like its previous incarnation (an 07 model) it has been faultless. This one has the rare ESP which transforms the handling and gives you side airbags as well. Expect around 60mpg and adequate performance from the 1.6TDCi engine. Avoid the 1.4 diesel if you do lots of miles as an 06 Fiesta we owned with that engine normally only managed 50mpg and struggled when laden to pull away cleanly from the lights. Sadly due to an expanding family we are moving on to a C-Max 6 months earlier than our normal change point, but I would not hesitate to recommend this vehicle as a great everyday tool. Look out for a Ford Direct Car as they are normally very highly specced (ours also has leather, bluetooth and reversing sensors), and a warranty which is better than the standard New Car warranty.

Ford Focus 1.8 TDCI 2002

Bought the 1.8 TDCI with 72k on the clock and have had nothing but truble the aircon failed and now the dual mass flywheel clutch is rattling and banging away; lucky the job isnt beyond my own capabilitys as the cheapest clutch kit I found is £360. I think Ford need to do something about this problem, I have had diesel cars now for around 20 years and never had problems like this before, DMFs suck big time. It wouldn’t be so bad if they were cheaper to buy, Ford wanted £1200 to do the clutch; that is so silly as I only paid £1800 for the car. The seats are hard and uncomfortable, the engine is very fast it’s the 115hp one I have. The car itsself feels like it’s made out of tin foil, dents very easily, paint marks very easily. I was expecting more as I’ve been thinking about getting one of these for a long time and now I wish I had just held on to my Citroen Picasso 2.0HDI that I had for two years and never had to do a thing to it, other than tyres and front springs but that’s it. If you want a good car that won’t brake down and cost an arm and a leg don’t buy a Focus get a Picasso.

Ford Fiesta 1.4 Zetec 2007

Also had 2 expensive repairs. At 40,000 miles cambelt failure - just under £1,000, in Feb 2010. In April 2010 clutch failure, another £650. Cambelt recommended change 100k or 10 years. Ford told me ’very unusual to go this early’ but offered no compensation. Car to be repaired and traded in pronto! Previously owned 2 Ford Orion’s and a Capri - would not buy another Ford.

Responses to this review

Buy anouther Capri - Meeee from England

Ford Fiesta Titanium 1.6 2009

New in Sep 2009. Some noise in dash, found to be dash and side trim rubbing together once interior got hot, solved by inserting a strip of thin rubber inbetween. Also paint peeling off inside of front bumper, told by paint shop manager "Your not the first and won’t be the last", when I booked it in. Otherwise a cracking little car, certainly the best Fiesta I have owned.

Ford Transit Connect LWB 2003

For many years I’ve run Escort vans and have been delighted with their service. When I initially bought the Connect with 23,000 miles on the clock I was quite impressed and prepared to overlook the fairly poor mpg. It had been regularly serviced and I continued to keep it that way. BUT with just over 60,000 miles covered the transmission let go with no warning! Get it repaired... nope, Ford just flog you a new (sorry rebuilt) transmission. No such rubbish with the Escorts!! Since then there have been expensive brake and fuel issues and now at 107,000 miles it’s developed a major oil leak which is about to be invested. Thankfully I’ve kept one of my Escorts which, with a mere 125,000 miles on the clock runs like a Swiss watch. Why do Ford take a backward step each time they release a new model? You folk that still love them... you have been warned!!!!!!!!!

Ford Galaxy Ghia 1.9 diesel 2003

I own a 2003 53 plate galaxy 1.9tdi. I’ve now had it six years; a brilliant car, the only fault was that in the front passenger foot well was all wet. It was the pipe joint to the rear washer separated - I pushed it back together and put insulating tape around it… problem solved. I would buy another.

Responses to this review

Disconnect your battery leads and leave for an hour when you reconnect, it should reset worked on mine - Paul Hughes from England

Ford Fiesta Zetec 2010

I’ve just bought a brand new Fiesta Zetec on a 2010 plate. 5 days after ownership the centre console stopped working so that I couldn’t use any of the functions. I took it to a local dealer who ’reset’ the system. Next day - same thing happened, it froze and the green cog symbol appeared (which in the book means the settings). Most annoying. I now have to book it in to be looked at again. I’m wondering if its the car at fault or my iPod thats fudging it up? Has this happened to anyone else?

Responses to this review

I have just bought a new Ford Fiesta Zetec, as soon as I tried to use the USB system, the car drained it’s battery and I had to have roadside rescue. I now understand that it is a known fault and a software update is necessary. The software update is not yet available!!! Should not Ford have done something about this known problem? - Megan from Dorset

The software update for the Bluetooth system is now available. I’ve just had mine done (Jan 2011) - Nick Thorne from England

Ford Ka 1.3 Trend 2008

The KA is a wonderful small car but suffers somewhat in the refinement stakes when compared to the Japanese offerings, but then it is cheap to service, insure and run. Ideal town car but not much good for the long distances in RSA from town to town. Very buzzy at high speed. Lights could be improved and front seats could be made more comfortable.

Ford Fiesta 1.4 AUTOMATIC TITANIUM 2009

Super car except for the standard complaint, fuel consumption dreadful. I am 75 years of age so obviously I am not a speed merchant, 36 miles per gallon. I part exchanged my 1.6 Honda Civic for the Fiesta and was getting about 10 miles more per gallon out of the civic. I realise that automatics use more fuel but come on Ford, 36 mpg out of a 1.4, could this be improved?

Responses to this review

Update: Unbelievable,I contacted Ford UK and complained about the appalling fuel consumption on my 1.4 Fiesta automatic. I had a telephone call from a gentleman at Ford insisting that he was totally unaware that Fiesta owners were unhappy about this situation, I told him that he should read the complaints you get to the contrary.....as I said UNBELIEVABLE - John Dennison from Durham

Thank goodness someone else has reported this to Ford. Saying that, my 2011 Zetec with 2,041 miles on the clock does 33-35 mpg. I am a careful driver, traded my lovely Mazda 3 auto for this heap. What a mistake, the look of the thing lured me. The car has just returned from the garage where I demanded they check it for mpg. I was told it was ’perfect’ guy admitted that they had had other customers complaing re. mpg and Ford know! Trouble is, Ford don’t reply to letters or emails but I make sure I tell everyone about it. Huge, huge con. Never ever ever buy a Ford. I am sorry you too are suffering - Hana James from Devon

Ford Focus C-MAX 1.6tdci zetec 2008

A superb family car with great levels of comfort and the build quality internaly is spot on, very Germanic. Compare with Japanese rivals eg Mazda5 and you will feel and see the difference. It drives spot on with hardly any noise in the cabin. The diesel versions are the ones to go for for economy and I dont know why but seem to ride better. The five speed box on the 1.6 and 1.8 petrol create a lot of noise because the revs are high at motorway speeds which becomes anoying. The 2litre is the only petrol choice to have. We have the 1.6 tdci and this is more than plenty for our mix of mainly urban weekday driving with days out at weekends. Achieve 44/46mpg around town with 61/65 on motorways. A great car and highly recommended but only get a diesel.

Ford Ka Van 2003

I have just managed to pick up my 2003 Ford Ka van on a 53 plate after looking for one for ages. I am impressed with everything about it and is ideal for my pat testing business. Mine belonged to a meter reading company and has silghtly high milage but is in superb condition with a full service history. But a petrol van this small pays £110 for 6 months road tax and £200 for 12 months road tax, I feel this is the only down side. This van is ideal for businesses that don’t carry lots of tools or equipment like mine, I find it sad that Ford have decided not to continue the van as I would have bought a new one, looks like a peugout is my next van. Anyway hope this helps anyone thinking of buying a used one.

Ford Fiesta Ghia 2005

Absolute Belter. Drives great but a bit noisy over 80, had mine from new and not a problem in 68,000 miles, still on original clutch. Only things changed are regular servive items and tyres. Screen wash bottle a little on the small size but then again I tend to drive a lot on country roads so I use it lot. Thinking of swapping it for a new one but a little reluctant to let this one go.

Ford Transit Connect 2009

Hi! Just taken delivery of this Ford Connect van today. I went out tonight to fill it up and I have never come accross anything like it. I had to fill it at a slow trickle rate, I was there ages. If I squeezed the trigger any faster the fuel just backed up out of the filler hole. It was dark and I couldn’t see that well but, it looked as if there was a black plastic gate covering the filler hole. I tried positioning the nozzle at different angles but it made no difference. Am I missing something here, or just loosing the plot? Any help would be most gratefully recieved.

Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.4 2005

Had the car for a week & so far so good. +ve = very nippy -ve = V poor fuel consumption, lots of ’taccy’ plastic pretending to be metal over the dashboard & no spare wheel as standard!

Ford Focus C-MAX 1.6 zetec 2004

Bought this car from Gates Harlow in July 2007, it had 35,000 on clock and 1 owner previously. In the time I’ve had it, the mileage is still low for its age at 41,000, I’ve had nothing but problems & expense! First thing to happen was something minor the water washer pump went £40. Then the car kept needing to be bump started so had to get new battery at cost of £50. Then the gears started getting stiff, at 1 point I had to sit on my drive trying to gently loosen them up abit before driving off!!Had to have Gear Selection Cables replaced cost £250. Then the Power Steering hose went cost £270. Now I have a creaking coming from front suspension, which I strongly suspect is either my top suspension mount needs lubricating or new top mount fitted. Well that’s what I hope but with this car it’s normally something more expensive. Everything is plastic on the interior so driving along everything creaks. The gears aren’t smooth or springy and the wheels wear down so quickly. So wish I hadn’t traded my Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec 2002 plate car in, it was a dream!!!!

Ford Transit Transit Hallmark 1995

Used to have a Mk 5 Transit Hallmark, before it was stolen and wrecked by some lowlife. Had to use the car for a while which made me realise how essential and enjoyable a vehicle it was. The Transit never left me wanting, in any situation and the Hallmark was a great model too. It broke my heart to lose it but I managed to get myself another, almost identical, from the same place I got my first Transit (www.gates.co.uk). I prefer to drive the van over the car any day - cannot imagine life without it.

Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi 115 ZETEC 2003

Hi, I bought my Zetec TDCI Focus brand new in May 2003 and it wasnt great. I recently crashed it and have replaced it with a lovely HDI 308 SPORT. The Focus started playing up after 2 years with the speedometer not telling me the MPH and RPM. Then the button on the dash for opening the boot quit working and radio would jump stations by itself, to be honest that was all little niggles. But the big expensive problems started around early 2008. Frstly in order to get it into 3rd gear when accelerating from a junction I would have to rev it over 3500 rpm for it to go into gear. Then in the mornings it struggled to start even though it was during the summer months, I got it checked by the AA and Ford themselves and they said it was 100%. So when it came to the winter it simply would not start and it had a new battery. The heater plugs were changed loads of time hoping it would cure the slow starting but it never helped. I had 137000 miles on it when I crashed it and I’m glad to see the back of it. It wasn’t started for over 6 days due to it’s shocking reliability. Not a good car!!

Ford Transit 2002

The Ford Transit is one of the best vans on the road, best engines too. Vauxhalls and Renaults etc., have common problems with the engines and always seem to let out smoke. Transits have the American muscle and they are really reliable. Also, parts are cheap unlike all other vans. My advice? Buy the Transit.

Ford Transit Connect t200 90 ps swb 2003

As a plasterer this van has been a real asset to me. I have had this van for nearly 6 years now and it has broke down once in this time, cam censor failed! In the process of turning it into a sport model, I have fitted a stainless steel exhaust with sport back box sounds awsone and a kn air filter. The van responds well to these mods. At 43000 so far she still going strong. I have had tyre wear on the front, just replaced, the control arms seems to solve problem otherwise no other major faults.

Ford Ka 2009

I’ve had my 2009 reg ka 9 months, it’s been back to the dealer 4 times, 3 for wiper faults; same fault 3 times wipers clashing and snapping. Now it has been in for 4 weeks for a general electric modulator and it took them 3 weeks to find the fault. I got if from Evan Halshaw in Glasgow, worse service ever. I was told by Evan Halshaw that Ford can’t supply the part so haven’t a clue what’s happening with a car I am paying for that I don’t have. Started with a banging noise then next day when I was indicating my hazards came on and when I touched my electric window button they came on too, then it struggled to start. I’m gutted as I fell in love with the car as soon as a saw it advertised. I’ve had nothing but bother with dealer since 1st week of having car, that’s when the first problem started 1 week into buying, it was only 6 month old when i had it. Never go to Evan Halshaw, Cumbernauld Road in Glasgow, the service is a joke.

Ford Transit 100 2007

If I had been writing this during February I would have given it a 5 star rating but after 3 years and 22 days and 69000 miles my gearbox is shot. "Tough luck!" I hear you say, "if it had gone last month you would have been covered under warranty" OH NO! THAT WAS FORD SAYING THAT!

Responses to this review

Ford Transit 110 T280M purchased new March 2007. In June 2010 with 31,000 miles on clock and warranty just expired - gear box ’dropped’ - £1400 to replace! FORD NOT INTERESTED because I didn’t go to a Ford dealership to fit the new gear box! It was the old one that was the problem! It’s now December and I am still chasing them! James Smith from Aberdeenshire

Ford Transit Connect 2004

Its compact, economical, but a complete heap of ’poop’. It spends more time in the garage than out, and sometimes if I’m lucky it just turns off whilst I’m driving. Putting all that aside though, it is a real beaut.

Ford Transit Connect TDI 2003

I’ve just bought my first ever transit connect 2003 tdi. I must say it is brilliant, especially the road handling and is extremely economical. No problems whatsoever and I have been told that these go on forever and a day when reguarly serviced.

Responses to this review

What are you getting MPG? - Adruan Tunnicliffe from Cheshire

Ford Transit lwb 2000

Over one hundred thousand miles, good on fuel, drives well. The only problem I have had was a tickover problem that was soon sorted. It doesn’t hold resale value but then what does?

Ford Ranger thunder d/cab 2007

Re Ford Ranger Brake Problems 56 reg onwards: I had a accident 4 months ago in my Ranger truck, I was travelling from a major to a minor road at 12 to 15 mph, when I felt a kick in the back so I put my foot on the brake to stop but nothing happened, and I hit a wall. This is not a isolated case as other people have had problems stopping. My solicitor has been in contact with ford but they will not acknowledge there are serious defects, and they wont let a brake test happen at a garage of my choice , which must mean they have something to hide. People could of even been killed in these trucks like toyotas. So if you have problems please contact me at letzrecycle@btinternet.com.

Responses to this review

Hi, I am from Trinidad and Tobago and I bought a 2010 Ford Ranger and I am getting the same braking problems. The vehicle is just not stopping. The mad individuals at Ford only give you hot air. It’s time we go to the media and anywhere else. Ford really means ’Fix or repair daily’. Everyone who buys this pick up will complain with the same problem - Shaw Pp from Trinidad and Tobago

Ford Focus C-MAX 1.6 zetec 2005

Completely happy with the C-MAX, I have had no problems whatsoever, the most versatile car I have owned I will definately buy the new model when available.

Ford Ka SportKa 1.6 AND 2001 Style 1.3 2004

I bought my first Ka in April 2008, this blue Y-reg 1300 was my first car and was the car I learned to drive in. I’m a big petrolhead and car enthusiast and I deliberatly took the Ka over cars like the 106/Saxo and VW Polo because of the way it drives. The little Ka, even in base-spec like mine will go round bends better than some cars that cost three or four times as much new! Of course, the Ka 1.3 will never be the king of straight-line speed, and if I bought another 1.3 Ka, I would probably go for the 2003-on model, which recieved a new 70BHP 1.3 engine (1996-03 cars have the 60BHP pushrod Endura-E unit that can trace it’s roots back to the Ford Anglia engine of the 60’s). However, that said, if your budget can only stretch to a pre-2003 model, then it’s far from the end of the world. My Ka has the old engine and will happily sit at 70 MPH on the motorway, theres a bit more to give afterwards and the little Ka will max out at about 100 MPH. The Ka makes a brilliant car to learn to drive in, with an easy clutch, good visibility and group 2 insurance (bear in mind that if you’re a 17 year old bloke then its still going to be £1k+ for your insurance. Even on this!). Reliability on my 2001 example has been excellent and I’ve covered about 12000 miles in it since I got it at 23k. For my 18th birthday this Feb, I decided to buy myself a little present and I upped the ante by buying myself a 2004 SportKa with 56,000 miles on the clock. The Sportka came out in 2003 and is the result of Ford shoe-horning its 1.6 litre 100 BHP engine under the bonnet of the little Ka. I have to say, that if you’re serious about having fun, then this is the Ka to go for. It’s got an improved steering and suspension set up, better brakes and a more sumptious interior (with optional leather seats and air-con). The SportKa puts in a very respectable 0-60 time of around 9 seconds, but in the real world its the time it takes to get from 40-70 that really counts, and the SportKa does this so quickly that it can put the frightners up BMW 320 drivers on a regular basis. Through the corners, the SportKa will blow other small hot hatches like the Saxo VTR to kingdom come. My Dad has a new VW Scirocco 2.0 TSi and even he admits that he has to push it to keep up with the SportKa in the bends. The slight downside to this is that the SportKa isn’t as economical as the 1.3. But, thats the price you pay for more power, and in any case, it’s no real gas-guzzler. I still have both Ka’s, I use the SportKa daily for a 75 mile commute. My girlfriend is learning to drive in the 1.3 IMPORTANT- Things to look out for. RUST! Ka’s do have a tendency to get rusty. Look for cars that have been cared for, places to check include the bottom of the boot lid, around the fuel filler cap, and around the bottom of the doors as they stand proud of the side of the car and are prone to stone chipping. Some Ka’s have been known to suffer from water ingress into the ECU (the cars electronic brain that controls the engine) look out for misfiring engines. High mileage Ka’s with the old Endura engine can sound very tappety (clacky sound) this comes with age and theres not much you can do. Listen out for a P or R-reg Ka to drive past you in the street and you might hear what I mean. Whilst on the subject of mileage, pre-03 Ka’s only have 5-digit odometers, so if you come across a P-reg Ka that appears to only have 50,000 on the clock, then check the history, it might turn out to be 150,000! Post-03 cars have LCD screens for odometers which will read up to 999,999 miles. There have been reports of older Ka’s with engines that sieze up. As long as you use the car fairly regularly, then you should’nt experience this. This only seems to be an issue with Endura powered Ka’s. Would I have another? Absoloutley, I thoroughly recommend the Ka and SportKa to anyone in search of a cheap, fun and if you go for the 1.6, fast little car. My Ford dealer has been great with me and I find the running costs excellent. How much to pay? £700-1000. This will get you into the driving seat of an early model Ka. Bear in mind that these cars can be getting on for almost 14 years old now, and they will most likely be a bit (or alot) ropey. Many of these cars will have done alot of miles so insist on a full service history. Very early base-spec cars (’96-97) had no Power Steering, best to steer clear. £1000-2500. The market for Ka’s opens up here and you should be able to pick up a nice pre-03 Ka 1.3 here. Be picky with colour, mileage and spec because base cars dont have a lot of equipment. £2500-£4000. You’ll be able to get an nice post-03 model 1.3 or an early Sportka for around £3k. Very low milage 1.3’s (less than 20k) are around for £4k £4000+ This is the domain of the SportKa and the last 2005-09 registered 1.3’s. These will be the cars on the Ford dealers forecourt and should be immaculate. Dont accept anything less than that.

Responses to this review

Exactly the same as I did. I got an 04 Ka style in 2008 and then traded for an 04 sportka last year. I loved my ka and love my sport it and def agree with everything said in your review. I deliberately chose a Ka over clio/corsa/polo etc because of how they are to drive :D - James from Lancashire

I had a sport Ka se when they first came out What fun we had with it. I kept it for 2 years, finally changing it for a Red streetka. Moved to Devon, another 2 years of wonderful fun driving across Dartmoor early morning with the roof down, bottom warmed by heated seats and hat on. Fuel bill was high and road tax was £210 but every mile was worth it. We still recall it 3 years later. Finally changed it for a Fiesta Zetec S tdci. I cannot tell you how much time it has spent in the cocal Ford garage, one problem after another. Finally got rid!!!! Tried the new Ka, was very disappointed with it. Finally managed to get a Ford Finale (£3200 under list price). What a bargain!!! Fantastic Ka - every extra apart from leather! It has never been in the garage, apart from 1 service in 2 years, the next is in November. Only 2 colours, all white or all black with a chequered roof. Wonderful, cheap, exciting little Ka. Why ever did Ford go down the route with "Fiat" after the success of the original Ka? I for one wonder. Perhaps the next car Ford produces will hark back to the original Ka. It is just a shame they used the Ka name on this poor impersonator that bears the name on the current model - Martin Smith from Cornwall

Good review Doug - pretty much as good as anything I’ve found on the net. Searching for info as my wife’s keen to get a Ka. So, thanks for your efforts! Keep up the good work - Alisdair Naulls from England

Ford Ranger Thunder twin cab pickup 2006

During the last few weeks very bad weather our Ford Ranger has been virtually impossible to stop when trying to brake on a steep incline. It rolled backwards for over 100 yards on one steep drive before I could stop it. Another time it shot forwards onto a main road when I lightly applied the brake. My wife had a similar experience with it and could not stop it even when applying the hand brake as well. We are now very wary of it and wonder whether to just get rid of it.

Responses to this review

Yup mine is the same! Thought it was just me! ABS is a little over-zealous!! - Bob from Devon

Hi, I had an accident with my Ranger truck 2007 57 reg 17 weeks ago, which I am positive is a result of brake failure. I currently have a solicitor on the case to try and get it in court, but Fords are refusing to acknowledge that there is any problem, these trucks have got big problems. You contact me direct at letzrecycle[at]btinternet[dot]com - Tom from Kent

Try getting the brakes fixed! You need working brakes to stop any vehicle, not drive around saying it doesn’t stop, err? - Steve Ellerbeck from Essex

Don’t suppose you were driving it in 4x4 with the centre diff locked causing a diff wind up? You cannot drive with the centre diff locked on a dry road and the wheels need to all rotate at different speeds as they take different paths around bend, etc. This would cause a surge which the brake would struggle to prevent - Chris Jones from Cornwall

Mr Chris Jones, sorry but you are talking some serious crap - Shaw Pp from Trinidad and Tobago

Ford Transit swb 260 tdi 2001

I have had several transits since 1972 and this one is complicated when something goes wrong as I used to do all my own maintainance. Although this van has now done 86,000 of which I have done 11,000 it gave me a bit of trouble the other day and two computers have diagnosed different problems which I am hoping is now ok,The engine cut out after several attempts with a horrible rattling sound just after leaving home and the engine still a bit cold with it in second gear. RAC came up with crankshaft sensor prob and fuel pump. Ford garage came up with chain tensioner problem but advised me to have oil change and flush with a higher grade oil. Failing that if it plays up again its £500 for tensioner but they are not sure! At the moment it’s running well and is comfortable to drive without any other problems. I like Fords as normally spares are cheap to find, apart from this one!

Ford Fiesta 1.4 ghia 2007

The car handles great with good turn in and little trace of understeer; fun and reliable. The interior is reasonably comfortable with the leather seats providing both support under cornering and some comfort. This face lift model looks great and in this 5 door model offers reasonable legroom and practicality. The boot space is adequate but is a little on the small side. No problems with the car mechanically in 3 years and is a joy to drive. The 1.4 engine could be a little more torquey through gears but is nothing to complain about. The fuel comsumption could also be a little better, but if you’re careful with you driving, it will be good enough. Overall, the car looks great, handles well and is reasonably comfortable, however, the boot could be bigger, the fuel economy could also be improved and some of the trim could also be uprated but other than that, mine is a joy to own.

Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi 89 Zetec Plus 2009

Buying this car is the biggest mistake I made, I got it in October of 2009 and I’m having trouble already, the door handle came off on me when I pulled it and the power steering pump failed after 6 weeks, also the handle for sliding the seat back and foward does not work for some reason. I’m not impressed with it because it isn’t overally comforable and not that nice to drive. I had a Peugeot 207 SPORT HDI 110 before this and I wish I had never sold it. There was more equipment in the 207 and it was cheaper than the Fiesta when new, also it was far more comfortable to drive and it was better looking with the bold front end styling. Lastly the dashboard is poorly built with cheap plastics, it has developed an annoying rattle and the silver effect around the dash is flaking off in small pieces. My old 207 had a higher quality dash and everything in it was easier to reach and was it was much easier to make out and to see the buttons. I am going to change my Fiesta already for the new 207 because its really bugging me.

Ford Focus Silver 2002

Brammer car, I have had no problems with this car so far. I am hoping that it keeps me on the road for a few more years as well; I am sure it will, not been let down by FORD before.

Responses to this review

Following on from my previous review, the car has now done 111,000 and about to sell it. No problems over the years, although 1.6 lacks any get-up-and-go on inclines - John from Devon

Ford Transit swb 2008

Despite some of the horror stories you would be unlucky to buy a seriosly unreliable trany. The latest model I drove for about 1000 miles wasn’t too bad, maybe a bit more van like to drive than some rivals but the new interior has a much better feel to it particuly the dash mount gear shift. One of the party pieces of the swb Transit is its ability to swallow whole 8 by 4 sheets of wood, so more of a builders van. If you’re after one steer clear of the entry level 85bhp, this unit is designed purely for economy and can get a bit tiresome, almost waiting to shift up a gear. Generaly a good van but seeing a Transit drive past only makes you think one thing, ’scrap metal collection’. Why not dig a grand deeper and get a Mercedes-Benz Vito parked on your drive?

Responses to this review

What a load of rubbish. Overpriced, problematic, expensive. And that fuel injectors are a nightmare to fit, as I know to my cost. If only my wallet could talk. NO MORE VITO’S FOR ME - Jeff Bailey from Cheshire

Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCI Zetec 2009

My last 3 cars were Ford Fiesta 1.4 tdci’s and I was very pleased with all of them. Took delivery of this car March 2009. The car is very nice to drive but problem after problem. Oil leak on engine returned to garage 3 times. Blue smoke when starting first thing in the morning (none of my previous Fiesta, did that) If you lock the doors with the remote then try to open the door with the key (as if the battery had failed in the remote) then you nearly break the key you have to put that much pressure on it and ford say "We know they are stiff but acceptable" what rubbish. A known problem is the squeeky clutch pedal, remedy? Grease it; I suppose that will work until the warranty expires. Since they greased the pedal the clutch has now started to judder. I will be returing it for them to register that before the warranty expires. Same as everyone else fuel consumption nothing like what is advertised. When you turn the heater control to "windscreen" the air condition comes on, that is just great when the temperature outside is minus 2. The heater stays just warm not hot until you have done about 7 miles. I know this is a problem because they gave me a courtesy car once and it heated up in about a mile and a half. I have had this about 11 months now and although I like the car I am fed up with taking it back to the garage. All this and although I have had it 11 months it has only covered 4500 miles. I am looking at what to replace it with but not sure at the moment. Very disappointed.

Ford Transit Connect 1.8 TDi 2004

I’ve owned my Transit Connect for a year or so now and found it to be a good strong work horse. It has sufficient room in the back and plenty of room in the front when driving. The only mechanical problem I’ve had so far with it has happened in this last week, the alternater has packed up. The wiring looms to the alternater are also prome to failure as I understand, just something for you to bare in mind. The only reason I’ve given it 4 stars and not 5 is because I feel Ford’s service is poor. I have yet to find a Ford dealership garage in Lincolnshire that can go to the effort of being helpful. If only Vauxhall could make a van to the same strength.

Ford Focus Estate 1999

Never owned a better car. Bought with 30,000 on the clock; now got 150,000. Only ever garaged for MOT and a cam belt change. Good fuel economy; excellent drive position and the 1.8tdi has loads of power through the range; tried all manner of other cars when I felt like a change but none seem to have the same grunt, so I’ve kept. Apart from tyres, odd bulbs and a few minor bits I’ve never had to buy much else. I’d now like a change but the damn thing still keeps happily running. I do all my own servicing on a regular basis and maybe that helps. The downside is that during the recent snow, when parked up in a layby for the day some van or lorry backed into the offside wing then drove off (I wasn’t there). Not sure whether to repair (costly?) or just trade her in as scrap!

Ford Ka 1.3 2000

I purchased a "W" 2000 Ka, one previous owner with full main dealer service history, 40k on he clock, taxed with 9months MOT, 4xnew tyres and back box for £1500 for my daughter as her 1st car. She loves it. Handles like a go-kart and starts 1st time, every time. Then we put it in for an MOT: £500 required, Rust, broken front coil, faulty steering rack with an advisory for front discs and pads. Google Ford Ka problems and read the endless list. Ford should hold their heads in shame. The distress of seeing your daughter crying her heart out because we’d bought a lemon was heartbreaking. I picked up the tab but won’t be buying Ford again!

Responses to this review

What do you expect from a 10 year old car? No car lasts forever and £500 is nothing to spend on a car of that age - ka ka from Yorkshire

I think if you google any car for their faults and they all come up with a huge list. I’ve owned 4 used cars in the last ten years and all had very different annoying problems that cost a lot to fix..just a risk you take buying a ’used car. Saying that many forums that I’va read have problems with new cars too - Lulu from England

I have bought loads of cars and I have found fords to be the best. You want to buy a vauxhall then you must expect problems - Dean 17 oct 1981

What can I say but snap. Paid £1,600 for my V reg Ka for my daughter, spent nearly as much on welding, coils etc and just been told the steering rack has gone and will cost at least £300. Just read an ad in the local paper offering £225 if you can drive your car into the scrap yard - guess which option will be taken? I shall never buy or recommend a Ka to anyone - Louise from Essex

Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Titanium X 2008

Having had two old style Mondeo’s and covered over 180,000 miles, (with only one breakdown) I was looking forward of taking delivery of a 1 year old model Titanium X from Ford Direct. The new model carries on some of the highlights of the previous car - great diesel engine, very economical (44+) but not quite as good as the old model as it is having to hump around a lot more weight - be in no doubt this is a big car - bigger than the previous version all round, more shoulder room and a truly cavernous boot - go for the 2.2 engine if you need a more sprightly drive. However the dynamics are better than before, easy at low speed, good around the bends and a superb motorway cruiser. All of the Titanium X goodies work well - the sat nav has been known to have a DVD problem on some cars, but when it working its excellent, similarly the integration with the Ford Converse system is pretty good - get the total package including the voice control and you can spend many hours happily trying to work out how to use the array of buttons and commands - fun and it does work. All in all I have been very impressed, fluid drive, good economy and good engine pedigree, comfortable, looks good and can carry an astonishing amount. Only bad point?? Ford have added a chrome bezel to the drivers air vent and it sits, and gleams, right in the centre of the image from the drivers wing mirror. Annoying, but 85p for a black dry wipe marker and a nearly perfect car ticks the final box. Buy one, you will not be disappointed.

Ford Ranger thunder d/cab 30 tdci 2007

Bought new in 2007, drives great and auto ok for off road. Long journey no problem and with auto town also good. MPG fair for a heavy vehicle. Equipment is basic, like no heated mirror options and heated seats, nne button warms all butts, however these are minor grumbles. The main issue is RUST on all welds front and rear chassis. The dealer refuses to put right even though warranty says it’s covered; Fords customer service needs to be re-named. Currently taking action. I don’t think it will make it’s sixth birthday without needing major work. Before you buy one have it on a ramp and check. other than that it’s great ! Any one else notice the same rust conditions?

Responses to this review

Hi, I’ve a 2008 3.0 AutoThunder D/Cab, I have the same issue with rust, also on the welds across the slam panel at the front. I got our service guys to respray mine as Ford did not want to do it, only done 22k since new not a good sign as supposed to have warranty on the body work. Other than that great to drive, had no issues as yet. Simon from Staffordshire

Ford Transit 2001

Having had only second hand Ford Transit vans previously, in 2001 I decided to push the boat out and treat myself to a brand new 100ps swb medium roof van. I cherished, waxed and looked after this motor like it was a car and from the moment I drove it have only ever had enjoyment from it. 153000 miles later and still on the original clutch, exhaust, battery and with only having very little trouble decided to sell and bought a 2008 58 plate with 11000 miles on the clock. I can honestly say that my 2001 was always excellent to drive even up untill I sold it only 3 weeks ago was a joy to drive, however after initially being impressed with the 2008 I have to say feels much noisier in the cab and the engine seems to emitt horrible grinding noises when under load and climbing hills. After a drive out to mid wales for the day I was glad to get out the van as my head was pounding from the in cab row. Hope I get used to this van because so far its quite a dissapointment.

Ford Transit 2005

What can I say? Sold my good old 2000 v reg smiley Transit and bought a new shape 2005 05 plate one, reading all the reviews on the new shape ones mine is still going strong at 189,000 miles and still only just over 4 years old.

Ford Transit Di non turbo 1994

An ebay bargain at £400 with a full years mot and I have had it for nearly a year now.It already had 160,000 on the clock and I have added another 20 and its still going!!Just!!Ok so no turbo or power steering but the reliability has more than made up for this. Also, good to run on neat veg oil with a diesel mix in winter smoother running more mpg. Overall very pleased, I would buy another 100% but next time with turbo and power steering.

Ford Ranger 2007

I have an 07 Double Cab, very comfortable. I use it privately as well as for work,plenty of room for the kids,bikes,etc. Then there is the towing....DO NOT TOW WITH IT!!!. My first clutch went at 24000 miles and I am not even towing with it that regularly. We had a battle with the Main Dealer who said that the clutch was not ’Heavy Duty’ so we had to pay £1500(!!!) for new clutch, flywheel, slave cylinder,etc,etc. It has now done 29000 miles and is going in for another new clutch next week....you guessed it, even the ’Heavy Duty’ clutch has worn out now and Main Dealer is not interested as ’you have towed with the vehicle’.....ahh yes, it is a work vehicle , but is as such NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE. I would not have another one. I know of a local Utility company who have many Rangers and most have had Clutch issues. One of their 08 models has had 3 already, maybe I’m getting off lightly. BEWARE OF THE PLASTIC CLUTCH!!!!!!!!!

Responses to this review

Help is at hand!! I’ve just been told that they will re-do the gears in the gear box!! Bob Ford are keeping it very quite and is only for a few made in 2006/7 Mine was new 03/07 but made 07/09 ask your dealer about warrenty work Ford CS say they know nothing about it!!! REALLY HOPE YOU SEE THIS - Bob Help from Devon

Bob, Thanks for that, I was about to write another post as I literally heard about this last week when mine went in for it’s second clutch. I have just heard that due to demand the parts are in short supply and I may not get the vehicle back for 3 weeks! Aty least they are doing this one under warranty. We are now going after Ford for a refund on the first clutch. Now they have admitted that there is a fault I think everyone should push them for compensation. Good Luck - Richard from Dorset

Let me know how you get on as I’ve been told there is no way Ford will refund my first clutch!! {:o( And yes I’m still waiting on parts for mine!! - Bob from Devon

I too have gone through two clutches now. The first went within three years 24000 miles ( in March 07 for 04 thunder ) my dealer told me that upon inspection, I had misused the clutch. The second has now gone with 51000 miles on the clock. Both Ford and the dealer tell me that there is no problem with the clutches in the rangers. Could you provide me with a few more details of your claim please? If it is a problem with the trucks, I can hopefully get a new clutch and the money back for the first repair - Anthony Montague from Kent

Hi there. I’m just away to purchase a 2006 Ford Ranger wildtrak, I was not pleased to learn about clutch problems in some 2006/7 models? Perhaps you can let me know the serial no, in which I could then check mine after purchase and see if it’s been manufactured around or at the same time as you’re Ranger, which Ford would appear to know suffer from clutch problems - Douglas from Fife and Kinross Shires

Ford Mondeo Ghia 2001

I have found the Ford Mondeo to be a reasonably competent all round car. I have the 2 litre model, brisk acceleration, with safe handling, and plenty of safety features. Lots of room for both driver and passengers and good boot space, no major problems with car and servicing costs are very good, I’m a happy owner. I’ve had the car from 2 years old and will be keeping car for the foreseeable future.

Ford Focus C-MAX 1.8 Zetec 2004

This is, without a shadow of a doubt, the worst car I have ever bought! I traded in a Ka and Mondeo, which I’d owned from new as I thought my expanding family would be better in a car designed for a family. After 100 trouble-free miles the bonnet lock decided to pack in. Not much of a problem unless you do plenty of miles and need to check your levels regularly! Next one was the good old engine warning light. The car spent 3 weeks in a garage and still came out ’broken’ after having amassed a bill of £700 - just for diagnostics! After replacing various sensors and resetting the light the problem still persisted. Fuel economy was down from a pathetic 380mile range to 250miles! Turns out the fuel pump was knackered after 36000miles!! £300 from ’Fraud’ and my fingers are crossed. As soon as the HP is up I’ll be switching to something Japanese. I almost feel sorry for whoever buys my car from me.

Responses to this review

Bought my CMax 1.6 TDCi new from the Dovercourts in Colchester back in August 2007. At first it was a great car with good economy and plenty of pull when driving on A roads and motorways. The tyres had to be replaced after just a year of owning it at 8000 miles. I couldn’t believe it. The garage set the tracking so they had a minus tolerance as they were always over towing. I have just had my first MOT done and was told that the tyres need replacing again! 24,000 on the clock now. A month ago the engine cut out when doing 40mph on a main road - just died. Restarted it and limped home with hazard warning lights on. Took it to a local garage, they could’t find anything wrong even with the diagnostics computer plugged in as they were driving it. Took it back home very dissatisfied. Last week on a very cold day, same problem again. Engine cut out luckily on a rural road so not as scary this time. Had to get it towed to another garage this time. They spent a couple of days with the diagnostic computer and eventually diagnosed the fuel pump was knackered. Also fuel filter hadn’t been replaced as the original one was still fitted (dated 2007). Cost of £640 and the guy felt sorry for me so only charged me for the parts at cost. I am so fed up with this car. I just want to get rid of it. Anybody reading this, should avoid CMax’s like the plague. I have had Fords for years now and my previous Focus was a fantastic car, but not big enough for my brood. I won’t be getting another Ford. Too unreliable and too expensive. OK rant over! Lesley Broadbent from Essex

Ford Fiesta 2009

I purchased a 1.4 Zetec Fiesta on 16th January. 5 days later the power steering failed. Many phone calls to Ford Customer Services and the Dealership and have now been told the part to repair it will not be available until 22nd February. This leads me to question why there are no parts available? Is it because they have had so many similar faults they have utilised all the stock or are they having problems with the part and having to resolve this before producing a new batch? I have now told Ford that I am not accepting the vehicle back as it is not fit for purpose and insisting they supply me with a new vehicle. If you bought any other item that broke down after 5 days and they could not repair it for another month there would be no question that they would have to replace the item but Ford continue to think it is acceptable to provide me with a courtesy car and for me to wait until the car is repaired!

Responses to this review

The new reg will be nearly out when your car is repaired, Ford should accept your rejection request, keep on at them. Maybe contact a solicitor, I had to years ago with my wife’s new Peugoet 106 and won - Colin from Derbyshire

Ford Fiesta Titanium 1.6 TDCI 2009

I use this car for my driving school, my pupils find it very easy to drive. Just recently the seat belt warning light keeps chiming during lessons checked everything but cannot solve problem, any ideas out there? The funny thing is it dosen’t do it when I am driving? I agree with the poor fuel consumption, I’m getting around 47/48 mpg compared with 53/54 on old model, a much better car in my mind. I also dislike the silver dash board, too chavy by far.

Responses to this review

My car did the same thing, and rather than going straight to the dealer with it I looked myself first. If you look carefully at the seat belt point between the seats, you will see a small wire coming out of it. It’s a tight squeeze, but if you get your hand in there and push the wire up a bit it may help your problem. If not there is a small box underneath the front of the seat, and the seats sensor wire goes into it . Just push on the wires, if it’s a loose connection this may help. Otherwise it’s the dealer I’m afraid, hope they’re better than mine! - David Fenn from Norfolk

Ford Transit sportsvan 130bhp 2007

I’ve had ’Sportacus’, as I call her from new, I’ve had a shed load of problems with her, and went to Brentwood HQ with other members of the Ford Transit Forum, 9 in total, the main problem being tyre wear. Ford in their wisdom listened to all of our complaints and gave us all a new set of michelin primacy tyres, as well as sorting out all the other issues we had with the sportsvans. I’ve had mine over 2 years now and even with the problems I’ve had with her I’d still have another. The dealer I go to now is Evans Halshaw in Provan Rd, Glasgow, they have been a credit to the Ford name and I’ve been more than happy with the service I have received. All in all, I bought a van costing over 20k and although I’ve had problems with her, they have all been rectified thanks to Evans at Glasgow, and due to this I would definitely buy another sportsvan, as long as it was from them.

Responses to this review

I am the dealer principal at the Provan Road dealership for Evans Halshaw and am delighted to read your report. It is great to be able to feed it back to the team. Thanks again - Jim Hall from Scotland

Ford Transit Connect Tornio 2010

Hi folks just took delivery of a Tornio and fitted alloy wheels when the Ford dealer spotted that the back axle was out of centre. This meant that the off side back wheel was 20mm further out than the near side. Ford says this is ok but in my opinion is it not and the dealers agree, but Ford still says it is ok. Have any of you folks hade a good look at your axle to check if it is central? It may be a contributing factor to tyre wear? Apart from that the Tornio is superb, its a pity that Ford has such a poor attitude in correcting this manufacturing over site. I would like to hear feed-back.

Responses to this review

This has been a problem with Connects for years. I had my tyres wear out, down to metal on the inside of the tread, within 8000 miles. Having previously said to Ford that I had thought there was a problem with alignment, I was assured that it was all covered by the 3 year warranty. This warranty only covers tyres for 10000 miles though so make sure that you check them before 10k. I took my van to another garage to get it repaired and the tyres replaced, then gave the bill to Sandicliffe Ford. After a heated debate, they paid out - Dave from Nottinghamshire

Ford Focus C-MAX Titanium Auto 2.0 ltr Petrol 2008

I bought this C-Max 2,0 tr Auto Titanium after having driven Ford galaxy for over 10 years. No comparison to the Galaxy, but still a very nice car to drive. The economy is not very good, and is worse than my previous 2,3 ltr Petrol Manual. Not sure yet on the overall reliability of the C-Max as I drove Galaxy for the 10 years and never submitted to Dealership for Warranty Work. The C-Max suffered an Engine Malfunction after 6000 miles, requiring a replacement Throttle Body which incorporated an elecronic switch.

Ford Fiesta 2006

I have had my 06 fiesta since 07 and I think it’s a great car. I’ve never broken down, or had any engine problems with it so far. I don’t really hear any noise from the motor and it’s still a pretty smooth drive, it’s only recently that my clutch went and to be honest I have driven this car about like a boy racer and I have also lent it out to a number a friends over the years. I must say it’s well worth £7500 and it’s done its job but now it’s 4 years old, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it starts making noises and braking down on me all of a sudden, lol.

Ford Mondeo Estate ghia 2005

Had the car two months, love the luxury / comfort and esp the heated seats. Central heating broke down over Xmas so the family ended up sitting in the car in the superb heated leather seats (now how do I move them into the house??). Fuel not so hot - 43mph in mostly motorway work. Perfectly acceptable. Would I buy another? You bet!

Ford Focus C-MAX 2000 Diesel 2003

This is the biggest load of rubbish I have had the misfortune to buy. I bought the car second hand from a main Ford dealer and immediately had problems of sluggish turn over of engine coupled with flat battery if left for more than two days. After several visits to the dealership and leaving car for three days I was told it was the radio; a second hand one was fitted but did not seem to cure the problem. The clock kept going wrong. The cold weather set in, same old problem, fitted new battery under 90 percent warranty. still vehicle struggles to turn over to start. Thr vicious flywheel went causing a tremendous noise and I’ve had to have a new clutch fitted at same time, six hundred pounds plus fitting. Mileage thirty two thousand. several no throttle responses, I’ve had to change the valve in the exhaust manifold. No power assistance on cold mornings from the brakes, solid brake pedal, which I have ignord and has put itself right. Power steering fault keeps coming up on dash read out, which I ignore. Rear tailgate leaks water in to the boot when lifted all of which was fixed under warranty but it’s still leaking. The washer pump packed in another twenty five quid and fitted it myself. Now to continue not charging new alternator required , another three hundred quid plus fitting. This is the first car in my life that I will feel guilty about selling to some poor unsuspecting sole. This car has still only done forty thousand miles. WHAT NEXT?

Ford Transit T350 2001

Simply the best vans on the market!

Ford Ranger XLT Thunder 2004

Bought my 04 plate ranger when it was 2 years old; had the full chrome pack and leather seats. The paperwork shows the original owner paid £21,000, I paid £10,000 to him at 20,000 miles, so beware how much you could loose if you buy new and have all the trinkets! Use it for my Landscaping work, and has been a good reliable tool. Diesel consumption is only around 24mpg which isn’t great. Could do with a 6th gear as 70mph on the motorway is quite noisey, but I can put up with that as it is an off road tool that I have as yet not managed to get stuck. I have like other owners noticed the glow plug light flashing when being driven, its only happened 2 or 3 times in the summer and not done it for months now; ideas anyone??? Have just this week had a starting problem with the Ranger. Took out the glo plugs and found 2 not working (just drop a 12 volt current through them and see if they glo). Ford Dealer T C Harrisons wanted £104.23 per plug supply only!!!! WHAT A RIP OFF. Went down to my local Diesel specialist (Swadlincote Diesel) and they are getting me 2 genuine plugs at less than £20 each. I expect to keep the truck some years. I am still only at 38,000 miles apart from a bit of clutch judder as you pull away and the 2 issues above I would still recommend one.

Responses to this review

I had a similar fuel heater light showing sometimes. After several trips to the main dealer and making arrangements with my bank manager(thats how serious it was) a guy on one of these forums told me to drain water from the diesel filter - took 5 minutes and one spanner, no problem since. I swear by these sort of help each other rooms, all the best - Leslie Miller from Essex

Had a similar problem with the glow plug light on mine. Ford couldn’t diagnose a thing so when I got home I sprayed all the electric contacts under the bonnet with DW40. Cured! Richard Moss from Durham

Ford Mondeo 2000

I love this car, I brought it secound hand thinking it would do to get kids to school and back, but I have found it is a very reliable car. I have since taken it on holidays and have done a lot of miles with the only problem i have had is the tyres going bald, but you get that with all cars. Ooo and needed an head light bulb for the MoT. So I am proud to say best buy ever for me.

Ford Focus 1.6 Ghia 2002

I have had this car for 5 years with no problems. Have it serviced regularly and I do a lot of miles each year. A problem has arisen after driving on pot holes left by frost. My speedometer has stopped working and the volume on the radio is rising and dropping at will at the same time. This can be quite alarming as I am not too sure of exactly what speed I am doing at any given time. The mileage clock does not register the miles I do when the speedometer is at zero. What can the problem be? I have been told I could be needing a sensor, a coil pack or an air coolant thingy?! Any ideas Please?!

Responses to this review

A lot of these had problems with the instrument cluster, speak to your dealer as they should replace it at a discounted cost - Anna Rack from Kent

It is almost certainly the speed sensor. I had the same problem. The speed sensor can be a bit difficult to get at so I had mine replaced by local Ford dealer, should not be too expensive. The reason the radio volume goes up and down is because there is an automatic volume control to compensate for increased road noise at speed, this is fed from signals to the ECU so that when it gets a signal from the speed sensor it adjusts the radio’s volume. Hope this helps - Ken Brown from Staffordshire

Mo, have you got the problem fixed? If you haven’t then it could be a cluster problem, its quite a common problem and will cost £99 to fix at the Ford dealers. If you search google for a cluster problem there is a lot more detail for a temporary fix using wd40 - Kez from England

Ford Fiesta Titanium 3 Door 1.4 16v Duratec Auto. 96PS 2009

Question. What does this 3 Door Hatch have that others don’t? Answer. The ’blue oval’ on the bonnet that signifies Ford. And Ford, "As any fule no" (To quote the legendary Molesworth) is THE dependably progressive mass motor manufacturer of all time. As reassuring as belt and braces both and as enterprising as a dozen ’Dragons’ smoking away with hot ideas in their den to hatch forth trendsetting hatchbacks of prodigal style and variety. If you haven’t guessed by now..I’m IN! For generations now, Ford has been a byword in the trade for practical driveability, sensible economics and superlative motoring at all levels of performance from the prosaic potterings of the happy shopper to the roaring abandon of hot racing at its best. This is a company, which is both David and Goliath. For example, the legendary GT40 might only have been knee high to a grasshopper - but to its opposition it was as formidable as Everest. Time now to festoon the plaza, strike up the band, load the tables with goodies and ring all the bells to welcome the new Fiesta into the fold. Just in case you fear that your correspondent has been gorging with happy pills, let’s look at some no-nonsense, straight from the hip, plain talking facts. This is a car that’s not going to break the bank because of the purchase price (although for a car in this class £15,877 OTR is no bargain even though it is the top spec Titanium model) - but it might break a few hearts as your neighbours look on with envy and wish that they’d had the foresight to depend on the ever dependable. Here is a car that has got more extras than Ben Hur and - as the 3 Door 1.4 litre 16v Duratec 4 speed automatic - has enough horses (96) to put similar specified chariots to shame. Behind the wheel of this little wonder you will be forgiven for thinking that, with a twitch of an eyebrow, you could part the Red Sea - or at very least, find a parking space in Piccadilly. This car is ’full bore fun’ for everyone from the dashing young blade to the working mum. Nimble, smooth, quiet and refined; on the go in this Ford you’re not going to want the experience to stop. Seats are comfortable and supportive, even for the corpulent - and as a driver, the position at the wheel can be tailored to be nigh on perfect. Rear seat passengers are not cramped either, as testified to by ’Tiny’ - my rugby playing anthropoidal pal from the hills. Inside you’re greeted with attractive features made of functional and elegant materials and a composition of fine touches to put this model high up in the comfort line. The chic and stylish interior can only be described as ’tasteful’. Naturally you can tailor it to suit your fancy with the likes of a leather trimmed handbrake and premium velour mats. The range of colour and trim combination is so extensive that you might wonder if Ford has acquired the rights to all the rainbows in both hemispheres - and then borrowed a few more from Saturn. You personalise the colours so that it becomes your very own right from the word ’go’. In our eco-conscious age, you can feel reassured that while economy itself (I only achieved an overall figure of 31.8 mpg) isn’t going to save you a packet, the low CO2 emissions (154) might help to save the planet. Not only that, but the new ’keyless’ refuelling system is going to save you valuable time by sparing you the hassle of fiddling with a recalcitrant filler cap - a procedure that has become quite a hobby these days. Just look around at any filling station and see what I mean. If any curious acquaintance demands to know ’What are they like?’ in reference to this car, then you have to tell them that words aren’t really enough - you have to be behind the wheel. It’s quite simply a delight to drive whether pottering along or exploring the outer edges of the performance envelope which isn’t wildly exciting (about 105mph top speed) - but certainly enough for most needs these days. The handling and ride, however, are remarkably good, and should you wish to drive like a demon through bends you’ll remain safe and secure with no nasty moments because it’s a driver’s delight; fluid and rewarding A responsive and willing engine, linked to only a four speed automatic, means that ’sedate’ is the order of the day. This version is the one in which to sit back and relax and enjoy the qualities of refinement that are there in abundance. Everybody has their own ideas of what the ideal small car should offer these days, and the new Fiesta, with its indomitable charm, seems to be the solution that embraces them all.

Responses to this review

Couldn’t Ford afford an advert down the side like everyone else? - David Fenn from Norfolk

Ford Ranger Thunder 2009

Great to drive but for the feeling that the clutch is crying when you pull off. I’ve had the plates stinking just reversing solo up a slope?? The stainless sill bars are rusting!! hardly stainless of any quality, can’t comment yet on customer services as I am just about to embark on that path, I’ll let you know what occurs. Finally, amongst all the gadgets why no heated mirrors?? They are as big as a mans face and bloody useless in winter.

Ford Transit 300 2003

I’ve owned this ex-BT van for the past 12 months. It’s generally a good work horse, apart from the dreaded fuel pump, 73k on clock, maybe just unlucky. It pays to shop about though as originally quoted £2000+ ended up paying £1300. Fingers crossed, so far so good.

Ford Fiesta 1.4TDCI 2006

65K and had enough really. Great little car, but just too many issues and poor Ford service just continues year after year. Oil leaks from sump gasket - replaced - worse than before, oil leaks from engine block meaning new cam belt and engine rebuild, started leaking again 5k later (all warranty luckily). Slipping clutch sound, it’s fine says ford. Out of warranty 3 months ago so this week, exhaust fume smell into cabin, ticking from cold, injector seal/s gone. Supposedly the injector seal is a fairly common issue. Poor quality parts in first place. Unfortunately the injector in question is stuck in the head. Also not unknown as per Ford technician. So far just to replace 1 seal (a copper washer) and a few pipes (2 hours work max) the bill is up to £500 + as they need to remove the head completely. 4 days and still no car. Oh fuel consuption...I think I managed 57mpg once with the wind behind, down hill being towed by a bus!! Time for a change, not a Ford though. After 3 in a row I have learnt my lesson.

Responses to this review

Hi, I’m having problems with my 1,25 zetec s 1998 model. The sump was removed to replace the piston rings and now it won’t seal, I have tried evarything new gasket and all different kinds of sealers, even tried the old gasket again, can you please tell me how you solved your sump gasket leak? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. Thanks in advance for any help I’m given. I’m at my witsend. EMAIL: j.a.e.wilson@hotmail.co.uk PHONE: 07596406748 P.S I have car booked in for MOT this monday but may have to cancel if I dont figure this out so any help would be greatly appreciated - James Wilson from West Lothian (Linlithgowshire)

Ford Transit Connect T200 2005

Let’s start with the good points: The driving position is nice and high, with a short bonnet which makes it easy to manouvre into tight spaces, the ride quality is also good. There are very basic features - nothing fancy to distract you, and not a lot to go wrong with it, and the styling is up-to-date. The gearbox is almost silent - especially in reverse due to the stronger MTX-75 Mondeo gearbox with syncromesh reverse. The engine (mine being a TDdi) sounds very smooth - none of that diesel clatter like the Escort diesel, and none of the fiddly bits like a TDCI. The lighting is slightly intelligent, so that you can still see what you’re doing in the dark when the doors are closed, but lights go off when you start the engine. The central locking is also very handy. There is plenty of room in the back due to it’s cube-style shape and it’s nice to have the height without having to compromise on width and weight limits of a bigger van. The engine is pokey for only 75 horsepower and the turbo is quiet. The large and wide-angle mirrors are a brilliant idea. The rear bumper is solid which means there’s hardly any damage to the van if you back into anything. You can’t fault the handling in ice and show - she handles perfectly! (watch those poor Vauxhall Combos struggle!!! hehehe) But now for the faults... Interior is made out of cheap plastic which scratches easily, exterior plastic colour fades quickly and is hard to bring back to colour. The alternator wiring loom is too short and prone to breaking and chafing, causing the battery light to come on when it finally breaks. The sound system isn’t anything special. The clock slows down 1 minute every 3 weeks. Passenger seat isn’t comfortable at all. Should have come with a 6-speed box, or higher ratio 5th gear for motorway journeys. Apart from the above, I am happy with it. I’d only replace it for the newer 2009-10 version, as the styling is nicer :-)

Responses to this review

I have 2004 Connect TDDI, done 47k in 06 when I got it, now done 164k. Engine just keeps going - although totally gutless. Build quality is typical Ford - sh*te, body work is going rusty - again typical Ford. No under tray to protect engine from water etc - typical Ford, gearbox rubbish. Good size inside, good driving position. If you buy one keep an eye on body work, keep tyres checked for wear as I go through plenty, keep it serviced regularly and it should keep going. Plastic body trim fades badly, windscreens always gets chips - I have 3 a year!! (must be the angle of it to keep getting chipped as I don’t hug no-ones bumper. Get TDCI engine as 75bhp tddi is sh*te. I am looking for bigger van - Transporter, Trafic, Scudo etc but all have bad reviews, as do other vans including this? Someone told be once that all cars/vans are crap - some are more crapper than others. How true is that? Adrian from Norfolk

Ford Fiesta 2008

Hey guys, I’ve got a 58 plate Fiesta Zetec Climate. It’s done 14k miles so far and it’s been a great car until recently I noticed that when I turn the steering wheel left/right while parking and doing a U-turn or just driving around a corner (without the indicator stalk on) I hear a quiet click/pop noise behind the steering wheel (in the steering wheel column). It sounds like a plasticky click/pop noise like a cable or something is lose within the steering column. It only happens sometimes and is not constant. I took the plastic steering wheel column surrounds off to check if anything was loose but everything seemed normal. I think the noise is coming from the steering wheel joint (bearing) or in the airbag, it doesn’t affect the steering wheel or the stalks, the horn works etc it just makes an annoying plasticky quiet click/pop noise. Any advice/ help on this? Anyone else had this noise too?

Responses to this review

The symptoms you describe are exactly the same as I get with my 1.4 58 Titanium! It sounds like it could be a bolt not fastened properly on the suspension arm or other steering linkage - Tom West from England

I also have this problem but only when you move the steering wheel to a higher position. When it is at its lowest there is no noise, hope this helps - S Dani from England

Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 5dr 2009

Have owned the car for 6 weeks now and overall it is a decent motor. My main gripe is the same as just about everyone else`s on this site - the pitiful fuel consumption. I am lucky if i get 40 mpg at any time and these figures fall well short of the figures claimed by Ford, so with that in mind I contacted Ford directly and was told that these figures are made up from tests done in a lab of all places and that the actual consumption may differ to the published figures YOU DON`T SAY... The only other thing I can see is that the range you have in your tank, once the reserve light comes on is very inaccurate - do not trust it. I did and narrowly avoided breaking down due to lack of fuel. So to sum up: the car is an improvement on the older versions but there seems to be a pattern developing with the faults that occuring. My advice is, yes, buy a Fiesta but question your dealer well about what will be covered in the warranty.

Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi (140) Estate Titanium 2008

A top car: acres of space all over, plenty of gadgets like voice control etc... for those who like it. The bluetooth connectivity is a dream and ease of use all over is high, all intuitively laid out. The noise at the lower speeds is noticeable but not as bad as some would suggest and on the motorway it is elegantly subtle. I’m not sure what the problem is with the gearbox that some have mentioned, mine is lovely and smooth. I find the car perfect for eating up the miles and swallowing up the family and all luggage, not to mention the best looking estate about.

Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 2009

I bought a Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec to replace the Toyota Yaris 1.3 T3 I had owned for 5 years & 28,000 miles. I have always monitored my fuel consumption and achieved about 49.5 MPG overall. In my new Fiesta (same driving style, same petrol, same journeys) I have achieved only 39.8 MPG over its first 2,000 miles. The car is fine although a bit sluggish, but the MPG is a great let down. The official MPG figures for my 2004 Yaris and this 2009 Fiesta are very similar yet I am getting about 20% less than I used to. I suspect that Ford have been less than honest on these figures and have emailed customer services with my suspicions. That was over a month ago and I still await a reply! Where the 60.1 MPG extra urban figure comes from I can’t contemplate - perhaps down a steep hill with a following wind? Ford should not be allowed to get away with these fairy stories.

Responses to this review

I have got to agree with you about Fords over zeolous fuel consumption mate, it’s c**p. Bet they haven’t got back to you yet? Appears the test was done in lab conditions..duh. My next car funnily enough is a Fiesta or a y
Yaris, leaning more to the latter at mo, sent off for brochures. Good luck with your motor and keep on at ’em - Clive Whitham crwhitham@hotmail.co.uk from Derbyshire

I have a 2010 Fiesta 1.25 5dr Zetec which has now covered only 500 miles, as regards the comments regarding fuel consumption and the response that it will "Improve with time", then if it does I shall be delighted as I am averaging 48 mpg only driving locally for the two weeks since purchase. Possibly driving style has something to do with it! - Jim Cole from Bridgend

Thanks for your comments on fuel consumption, I have been worried about my car being faulty as I have never got anywhere near the 60 mile per gallon claim. I too was told that it’s based on lab tests and not reallity (so its b******s). However, I have noticed that if you only drive at about 55-60 mile an hour you can get about 50 mpg rather than about 40 at 70 miles per hour. Saves about 10 litres for every extra hour spent travelling, but you feel conned. Anyway thanks for putting my mind to rest! Pete B from Berkshire

You will get a standard letter blaming you on how you drive. once you get this you need to reply ASAP. Ford Customer service generally believe that after they send out this letter they will not a reply from 75%. Iam still waiting my second response. I got the 1.4 TDCi and get 25% less than they quote, but it’s the smae engine in the 207 and theirs more or less matches the brochue - Nick Smith from Staffordshire

Ford Transit Motorhome 2008

Bought my new motorhome Transit in May 08, now with 8650 mls. Not many problems, took it to my local Ford dealers for spongy brakes and last Nov had an update on the computer as tick-over a bit rough. P.S. still got spongy brakes..

Responses to this review

Hi Graham, What’s your opinion on the motorhome part of the vehicle- does it have all the stuff to live in comfort? Planning to get one in a few months & like the look of the high roof transit, nice cab & good fitout plus double rear doors a handy set up. Diesel is preferred yet some comments rate the fuel pump poor & expensive, Regards Jim domlanic@hotmail.com - Jim Gregory from Australia

I have a 2008 Ford Transit motorhome and have the same problem, spongy brakes. Checked twice by Ford agents who say no problem, but I am not happy having to pump the brakes. Our friends also have a Ford Transit 2009 motorhome with the same problem. Ford have rectified the problem once but it has now reoccured, they are returning the vehicle to Ford agents on Monday 11th Nov. for further investigation - Ken Skidmore from Worcestershire

Ford Focus C-MAX 2.0 TDCI Zetec 2004

Bought as had two small kids and wife needed mini MPV. Great boot, great when rear seat for kids when converted to a two seater, great long distance tourer, great performance and handling and comfort, so fast for a diesel minivan. BUT..soooo many breakdowns due to electrical and alternator issues, 3 faulty heated windscreens, faulty air con on long driving holidsay in baking conditions, dodgy time changing clock. Just had to get rid as too many breakdowns Disappointing as other car was a W reg Focus owned from new to 8 years old and never had an issue. Howeve, I will never have another Ford oand despite the dullness of the drive I am now a Toyota driver.

Ford Fiesta TITANIUM 1.6 2009

The steering is over-sensitive, especially at slow speeds, there is no engine temperature gauge, the rear seats do not fold flat enough, the car is easily buffeted on motorways on windy days, fuel consumption could be better, is there really 120HP under the bonnet? Mine just broke down and had to be recovered by the AA and taken to the local dealer, just conked out and won’t start!!

Responses to this review

I recently bought one of these... if it "conked out" and wouldn’t start....what was the reason? - Peter from Bedfordshire

I echo the comments made by this poster. I’ve had the car three weeks. It’s a nice little car but fuel consumption is atrocious. My old car was an X type diesel 2.0 litre - used to get average of 44 mpg on urban. With the Fiesta, I’m getting around 34 mpg. Crazy! I also think the steering is too light at times, and you really do get buffeted about the road like a toy on a windy day. Very disappointing - Sue Pattie from England

What, no temp gauge on a titanium? I don’t think so! - Trevor Bamford from Lancashire

Ford Focus ST170 2003

A very reliable and good fun car. Had it 3 years before growing family forced me to get rid of it. The ride was a bit hard at times but once on the motorway was as comfortable as my dad’s new Mondeo and it took us to Scotland and back no problem doing over 1000 miles in 3 days. It drinks petrol like its going out of fashion but I put that mainly down to a few modifications I had done to it. I never had any major problems with it and kept it well serviced and it never failed me once I would defently buy this car again.

Ford Transit 2000

I know someone who had bought a white x reg ford transit mk4 and I have been in so many and I think they are the best vans ever! Reliable and fast for it’s age and a wicked work horse man. It is a bit rusty but that doesn’t effect anything and will run till they die. I have rarely known a transit to break down man. The old ones are better then any new transit sport van or transporter sportline or iveco, I’m not saying they’re bad vans but the mk4 transit can do about 100 mph and will always get you to where you wanna go man. Old mostly and new transits are the best.

Responses to this review

Cool man!!! - Jammin from England

Ford Mondeo Titanium X 140 TDCI 2009

I have owned mine for 5 months now. Couple of problems, started off with sat nav not working (needed new antenna,done under warranty) then new bonnet catch as alarm kept going off, also a warranty fix. Lots of gizmo’s to play with, drives really great, is quiet at speed even with the 18" alloys. There is a strange noise when I switch off the engine from under the bonnet, will get checked out at service in Feb, otherwise a great car.

Responses to this review

Strange noise could be the fans running on. This happens when the DPF is cycling. It will occur frequently if you do mostly town or short low speed runs - Dave from Yorkshire

Ford Transit SWB RWD Ex BT 75 PS 2001

As usual with vehicles these days the engine will go on forever, its the stuff round about that breaks. All my probs have been well known and predicatable for its age. Its an ex BT so has been pretty well maintained so far. They don’t drive them fast either but they are loaded lot. Big fixes have been a belt pulley collapse and susequent steering pump and steering rack replacement. This was done at a main dealer and I am suspicious about the rack and pump replacement. It was an emergency, need it now fix so I took the hit. Other repairs have been consumables like pads and wear items like bushings and hubs. It has eaten batteries and needs one in good condition for cold weather. You can easily fit two. Suspension now looks like the next big repair item. it has done 85000 miles. BT flog them at about 74000.

Ford Transit Tipper 2009

Within five hundred miles of new purchase both leaf springs on each side of axle broke off and fell in the road causing the truck to go back under warranty. The truck was not over loaded the repair garage told me that the leaf springs and main spring were not fitted properly on manufacture. When they fitted new springs I asked for a report in writing from the repair garage so I could go to Ford Motor Company for compensation through loss of earnings but they refused to give me a written copy. Also I agree with other peoples’ reviews that the truck has very poor fuel consumption and I wait to see what other problems will emerge in the future while under warranty, I will let you know.

Ford Fiesta 1.4tdci Zetec Climate 2007

I bought this car in Jan 09 from a main dealer,it had just turned 3 yrs old and had 21k on the clock. I had to take it back because the alloy wheels were so damaged they caused a severe wobble even though it had just had its first MOT (by them) before I drove it away. Also the glove box hinge was broken and had to be replaced. Since then the fan belt keeps slipping despite being tightened twice, and there are loads of rattles in the car from the cheap plastic design used. The alternator is noisy and as the 3 yr warranty was about to run out they wouldn’t investigate further because of the cost. I am disappinted with the MPG as i only get 54 - 55 MPG not the 60+ advertised, despite driving sensibly on long motorway journeys. I have purposely driven wel to see the max I can get. It drives well enough and holds the road but is noisey. Our other car is a Nissan Note, we get 60mpg+ and is much much quieter on the road. Theres more room inside and is a far better finish. My next car will definately be an upgarde to another Note. Ford have a long way to go to improve their standards for me to buy another Fiesta, I have no idea how it won the best supermini!

Ford Transit Box Van T350 140 lwb 2007

I’ve had the box van now for about 5 months always had Transits, this my 6th one, lovely to drive and very refined after the old ones, so far so good.

Ford Focus C-MAX 1.8 2004

After 2 weeks of purchasing the vehicle was loosing power & the engine management light was on, it also sufferd a intermitent starting fault. The vehicle was with the local Ford dealer for 1 entire month. They diagnosed & replaced the fuel pump I almost forgot I had the car. I still have a starting problem when pumping the accelerator pedal the car will then start but still suffers lack of power & now the alternator has failed the car has only covered 36000 miles. A local repairer has diagnostic equipment but it never pulls up any fault codes, I thought this would be a good family car having 2 young children sadly we have spent more time in courtesey cars & walking

Responses to this review

Losing !!!!! not loosing - dc from Kent

Is it repaired now? - Avril Brohan from England

Ford Mondeo Edge 1.8 Diesel 125 bhp 6 speed 2007

I purchased a used Ford Mondeo Edge (57- new shape ) 1.8 Diesel 125 bhp -6 speed gears and with only 3000 miles on the clock plus it came with thunder metallic paint and factory fitted reversing sensors and alloy wheels with continental 215/55R 16 93V Tyres. It has been a perfect car with absolutely no faults although if you wish to give a pleasing criticism it can accelerate a touch too fast so if you have the glove box open everything shoots out when you boot it. I think Ford have given so much away in the Mondeo "Entry range" that it is really not whorthwhile to spend extra hundreds or thousands of pounds on bits of chrome or hi-tec gadgets.

Ford Mondeo Estate Ghia X Tdci 2002

I have had my mk3 Mondeo for around 7 years now. It has been a great car and I would recommend one to anybody. I have had only 3 major problems in the seven years of owning the car, besides the recent replacement of all 4 injectors at 56,000 the other problems have been a new clutch and flywheel. I used to get around 30/31 mpg towing a 1400kg single axle caravan but since I had the car chipped 3 years ago I now get 34/35 mpg which is quite a differenc and a power increase from 130bhp to 160bhp and the extra torque is superb. Overall the car is superb as a tow car or a family car. There is enough room in the rear for both my dogs to move around even with a dog guard in situ. Would I buy 1 again?..I certainly would, either a newer mk3 or a mk4. This is the first Ford diesel I have had and it certainly wont be the last!

Responses to this review

I have a Ford Mondeo saloon car, it starts but when I press the accelerator the engine stops, does anyone know why? - Isacc Osei from Ghana

Ford Mondeo Titainium 2009

I dont understand why some people are complaining about road noise. Did you not test drive the car before you purchased it?? Yes there is some road noise, but You can still talk in a normal voise in the 70s. So far the only complaint I have is, you cant open the boot from inside the car.

Responses to this review

Yes, you can open the boot from the inside of the car. There is a button next to the gear lever - Marcin from Oxfordshire

Ford Transit 260 swb 2003

Well, I bought this van 3 1/2 years ago on 54k, tidy and well maintained. I have it serviced every 10k, and yet it lets me down. 1 new gear box and clutch at 68k, 3 drive shafts, 2 engine mounts, 1 strut, 1 power steering pump, 1 water pump, 2 new key fobs. It’s now done 106k and the injectors need changing as they are leaking, also its rusting terribly even though I have it wax oiled and keep it clean and tidy. 75bhp is fantastic on fuel, loaded up with kit on a long run I can squeeze out 39mpg but short runs average 32 mpg.

Ford Focus ghia 1600 2007

Having gone down from a vauxhall omega 2.2 automatic to a focus 1600 automatic for the reason we wanted a smaller car now that we have given up caravaning & something more ecnomical, we find it is very heavy on petrol. I don’t do a lot of long distant runs so I feel that it should be better, can anyone else give me any figures on the same car? I am getting a average of 21.6 miles at the present time having had the car since August the best return on mpg as been 33 according to the onboard computer could anyone give me any figures on this car if they get better mileage.

Responses to this review

I owned a 2005 1.6 auto Focus. MPG 19/22. Went back to Ford several times to be told in a rude manner that there was nothing wrong. Got fed up, sold it and bought a SEAT Altea Diesel. FAB! - Douglas Hershman from England

Hi, I have a Ford Focus Ghia 1.6. Petrol. 2003. Whilst the performance is not brilliant the fuel economy has always been excellent. The lowest it has been is 38.6MPG and that was during our recent spell of bad weather when I was doing short start/stop journeys in traffic. I have owned this car for three years now and I have always kept a log of all the vechicles I have owned. I usually fill the tank when purchasing petrol, then check fuel consumption from one fill to the next. Apart from the instant above the MPG has varied between 40 and 44 on a mixture of journeys. I would be interested in what you think of the performance of your Focus? - Ken Brown from Staffordshire

Hi, I also have a 2006 Focus, it’s spent most of the time in fuel stations Around town. I am getting 270 miles to the tank, on a long run(motorway work) I can get around 370 both before the fuel light comes on. It’s been into a ford dealer who said there was nothing wrong with the car, that’s just how they are - Colin Searle from Cornwall

As I’ve already wrote further up the page, my 2006 1.6 Focus Sport is a gas guzzler. On one occasion I got 41-mpg, mostly I get 400 miles at best from a tank full, it doesn’t seem to matter whether I’m doing motorway miles or a mixture. I’ve done 15,000 miles in the 1 year I’ve had it. When I corner the throttle surges with no input from me, it starts well when the weather’s cold but any other time it seems to take an age to start. Performance is ok unless you’re wanting to pass at higher speeds, 50 mph plus or up hill, then it’s poor. Like most modern cars you use twice the throttle and nothing else happens, other than it sucks away on the fuel. It’s been into Ford, they just shrug and think it’s ok, UK customer service at it’s pitiful best. I’ve had a full service done and nothing has changed. Many mechanics seem to think you’re lucky to get 36 mpg out of one. I actually got the same mpg from a 20 year old 3.1 V6 Cavalier Auto in Canada. Not impressed but can’t afford to change it - Jonathan Thompson from England

Ford Transit Connect T220 2009

Absolutlely rubbish, Bought T220 new few months ago and was told it goes like **** and that i would have no bother reaching top speeds of 120mph, Not that i want to ever drive that speed but its good to know its got some punch. Can only get 80mph max out of it and its acceleration is non existent, Another problem is that the Multifunction Warning light kept coming on when it heated up, took to ford garage where I bought it and they supposedly fixed it, it goes even slower now than it did before. Ford say there is nothing wrong with it and that’s the performance I should expect. If anybody can let me know how to make it go faster with more acceleration please let me know.

Responses to this review

I don’t own one of these vans but am about to buy one, an LX one, it’s the 90 horse power one same as yours I think and that was well quick with good pick up. Does it have a restrictor on it? Also had a vauxhall combo and much slower but found that main dealers never do a proper job, you might be better taking it to another garage - Sam Findlay from Wales

I have had the same problem, no power and no exceleration. My van is 09 model and is rubbish on the motorway. I took it to Ford who are trying to sort out the problem, apparently it is the fuel injectors not working properly and also the compression settings are wrong. I personally think that Transit Connects are a waste of space mine, is only 4 months old and has been in the garage 3 times, they are ok for in the city but if you have to go on the motorway forget it. They are very poor in performance - D Williams from England

Ford Focus Hatchback 2001

Bought it in a car auction in Walsall in 2004, now done 145,000 miles had an annoying rattle on gearbox, which stops when you depress the clutch but has got no worse in 3 years so why worry. All it’s cost me is services, tyres pads, etc. I am now told it might need a clutch so I’m looking for, guess what? Another Focus turbo diesel, hope I’m as lucky this time.

Ford zetec 2005

Bought this car second-hand in February after a bad experience with a Mazda 6. Was assured by the dealer that Fords are reliable. No problems until this week and have now been rescued by the AA twice in the last 4 days. The engine just loses all power, both times going at speed on dangerous roads (A9 & M90). First time the car was returned on a transporter. The garage said the battery was at end of life (dead). Second time the AA man checked a few things (fuel relay fuse etc), banged the fuel pump, etc with no success. It started after trying some random things like pressing the fuel cut-off switch, re-inserting the wires into the main fuse box and twiddling wires around the engine. Not sure which one worked. Have read a lot of reviews today and this seems like a common problem. Does anyone know what the real cause is?

Ford Transit 220 swb 2006

I bought this van second hand from a Ford dealer with 45000 0n clock, traded in my Peugeot Expert van. I love it, fast, reliable, as a bathroom fitter it gets some hammer but take it all in its stride. All it’s had is front tyres, exhast, and a front wheel bearing, oh and central locking moter went on passenger door. Best van I’ve had and I have had a few. Stylish, comfortable, fast, reliable, cheap to service, it’s more like driving a car than a van. I will certainly have another but I think it will be a long wheelbase model.

Ford Ranger 2.5td 2005

I bought my Ranger at 54000 miles. Comfortable on long journeys, I use 4wd low on hills, taking off to save clutch and changing immediately when reaching level ground saves clutch. I often pull 3 TON. I had a problem with a flashing glow plug light and the engine going into slow mode I took off the EGR valve, cleaned out soot and blanked off pipework near the rear of bonnet where the pipes connect with a piece of aluminium from brake fluid bottle. I’ve no problems since, however, the Ranger is only doing 15 -18 mpg since I got it, What do I need to do to improve this? That is 15-18 MPG empty, even on long journeys.

Responses to this review

Hi. I have an 03 2.5 & have had same problem as a lot of owners.Like you 15-18 to gallon.Now flashing glow plug light.Worst of all loss of power at 3300 revs plus when hot. I`ll try doing what you`ve done, if it works I`ll certainly let others know. Hope yours continues to be OK. Otherwise, best truck I`ve owned...hope it`s not diesel pump though ???!!! - Graham Curtis from England

Had my Ranger since new on 53 plate, had problem with glow plug light flashing a couple years back but no loss of power. Ford dealer sorted that but now light flashing and loss of power until turn engine off for about 10sec, this all happens at about 3000 revs. This winds me right up but thought it’s glow plugs because its started to take ages to start literally over night. Brilliant truck though, good in snow, even with 2 bald tyres on the front. Its done lot of off roading and never got stuck but drinks way too much - Daz Button from England