The All New Ford Focus
September 2011
Check out The All New Ford Focus I will be taking one for a spin around for a week.
Will make a change to drive a car on normal streets after driving a 4WD on earthquake damaged roads while helping out in Christchurch
Monday
Had to return the Ford Focus today - its been a fun week & I have really enjoyed taking it for a spin.
Sunday
Went for a trip out to the wild west - Liverpool to catch up with some friends. Took them down to the mall for lunch & saw a spot to parallel park. I pulled up & said watch this - no hands. Hit the button, couple of seconds for the sensors to work & a perfect no hands park. They were amazed.
Went for a drive in the countryside later in the afternoon - something nice about a sunday drive & the Ford Focus made it all the more enjoyable. Its an ease to drive & boots along the country roads no worries.
Saturday
Took a run out to Bondi - why not it was saturday & the sun was out. The Ford Focus forgot to bring some swimmers so it had to sit in the car park. I helped out a couple of Swedish backpackers that were moving out to Bondi. We managed to fit to large backpacks & a couple of day backs into the boot of the Ford Focus & there was still space to space - impressive.
Friday
Quiet day today - home, run some errands & work. Got stuck in traffic - Sydney. The nice thing was the seats are so comfortable in the Ford Focus you almost don't mind sitting in traffic - almost. Throw in a great radio & a heater to take the chill off the day & it was like kicking back at home.
Thursday
Took a ride out to Coogee for some fun. I had to watch it coming out of Coogee on the steep hills, the Focus was just chewing them up & I had to make sure I stayed under the speed limit.
Took the chance to try out the sunroof, it works like any other sunroof but when its open there is almost no wind noise. I did not have to turn up the radio when the sunroof was open.
On the way home from work in the evening it was raining so I got to try out another feature of the Ford Focus - the wipers They are located on the bottom corners of the windscreen so when they swing they come out from the middle & clear to the side of the windscreen. This is great because it clears almost all the windscreen of rain. So much safer than regular wiper designs.
Wednesday
Who knew the Ford Focus was a Diesel Engine? Any diesel I have used before sounded like a tractor & was slow on the pick up. This morning I was starting the Focus in a quiet street & I heard the sound of a diesel engine but only like 10% volume so I was not sure. It does not drive like any diesel I have used. Popped the fuel cap & sure enough - Diesel.
I was playing musical car parks this morning - the joys of living in inner sydney. Found a nice 2 hour spot that the Focus parking sensors helped me sneak into. Whenever you drive a new car it takes a while to figure out where the corners are & how much space you have but the parking sensors are great. Also discovered another feature - when you start backing the Focus turns down the radio so you can hear the beeping of the sensors - cool.
There are some extra tabs & buttons to play with on the steering wheel, I flicked one on the side for fun & the radio went off. Next a voice said "Device please" I said shut up & the voice politely replied " Phone selected" another flick of the tab & we were back to the radio.
I must have missed memo yesterday that all driving rules in sydney are replaced after dark & all you have to do now is flick on the indicators then you can do what you want. Bunch of idiots on the way home indicated & just pulled out in front of me. Thankfully its easy to see all around the Ford Focus so I see them coming & the brakes work very well.
Tuesday
Took the Ford Focus for a Spin today out to Watsons Bay - its great to drive - zips around the hills & handles great. Anyone who has driven in Sydney will know what a bunch of muppets the other drivers are & that pedestrians think the rules don't apply to them. The mirrors on the Focus make it easy to watch out for the taxi sneaking up the inside where there is not lane & the brakes work great for the idiots on foot that step out on a green light.
Watsons Bay was nice & I went for a walk out to the heads which gave me a chance to try the parking sensor out. See the pic above - that distance was when the rear sensors went from 2 greens to 4 yellows ( next is a bunch of reds - so I am told ) They also have same thing at the front which I tried out at the supermarket.
I was waiting all day to try out the auto parking & finally found a spot to try it in a side street at the office. I was nervous so I found a big gap & pulled up next to the van in front & pushed the auto park button. There is a short pause then the screen said move forward. Next it said it was ready & to put it in reverse. The car does the steering & the speed at a low setting & I worked the brake. Seconds later the perfect parallel park - amazing.
I discover a couple of other features today. The trip computer tells you how far you can drive on the remaining gas. Could have used that a few years ago when driving from texas to new mexico & running on empty with no town in sight.
Also had a nosey at the sun visors - they both have mirrors & two side lights so the girls can do their makeup at night.
Monday 5th
Got the Ford Focus dropped off this afternoon, its ALL Black so that's a good sign. Had to get some lessons in the tricks of keyless entry & how to start & stop the Focus. ( just push the button that says On/Off )
All easy enough to learn but it helps to be showed. Also got some tips on the auto park which looks cool & I am looking forward to trying out but not a busy street.
I only had time to drive to work & home again today but I loved it. Everything is comfortable & in the right place ( once I figured out the wipers were on the right & the indicators on the left ) This is the first car I have got into & put the seat right back only to find it was too far & I had to bring it forward a fraction. Most cars I am banging my knees on the steering wheel.
I have never been a fan of automatics & although the Focus is an auto it doesn't feel like it, the gear changes are smooth & quick & at the right time.
The controls are easy to use & mostly big buttons + there are a bunch of controls on the steering wheel that I have not played with yet. Took me a minute to find the volume for the radio - the controls are in the middle of the car for the stations etc but it took me a while to figure out to just turn the big button.
Will take the Focus for a spin tomorrow & give it a good run around Sydney over the next few days.
