Popularity isn’t always synonymous with quality (look at the Citroen Saxo – or Westlife!), but Ford scored a deserved hit with the Focus. The radical Escort replacement topped UK sales charts for a decade until it was finally ousted by the smaller Fiesta in 2009.

This buying guide looks primarily at the MK2 Focus, launched in 2005 and due for replacement in 2011. The same again styling of the MK2 Focus lacks the impact of the 1998 origional, but its just as dynamic to drive, with wonderfully communicative steering and a chassis that shames many sports cars. Dpreciation is steep and servicing is cheap – both great factors for used car buyers – and the Ford’s sheer ubiquity means there are thousands to chose from. So with a quick google for “used ford focus” will return thousands of cars to pick your ideal one from. So its more about chosing WHO you want to buy from than the car itself.

There’s a wide choice of body styles three- and five door hatchback, saloon and estate plus the convertible focus CC from mid 2006. Our picks are the five door hatch and the estate – it has 1,525 litres of boot space, more than a BMW 3 series Touring!

Although there are 10 engines to chose from all you need to remember is 1.6 For petrol, steer clear of 1.4 and the 2.0 is a little thirsty but powerful as the car is light and efficient. For diesel the 109PS 1.6 tdci is the best option. If efficieny isnt your concern then the 2.5 ST is a phenominal car to drive.

All models apart from the basic studio have air conditioning. The trim hierarchy then rises through LX, Style, Sport, Zetec, Zetec Climate, Ghia and Titanium. Sport varants get alloy wheels while the Zetec has stiffend suspension and a few other extras for a better drive. Climate adding Quick clear windscreens an excellent addition.

A facelift after early 2008 brough sleeker interiors exterior stylung and a Powershift twin cluch automatic box for the 2.0 diesel.

Options worth a look include Satnav, Xenon headlights, Bluetooth and rear parking sensors. But like any used car Focus on condition as much as extras.

When you wish to buy a used car first of all decide the model that suits your budget.

Next be very clear on the following aspects the car should satisfy.

• You will be using this car for city driving or in the suburbs also.
• For how many years you intend to keep this car. You must see the parking facilities available in your or near your house for security. Also ponder for a while about the car maintenance and repair facilities and the location of the nearest service station that can be easily reached when needed.
• The make of the car that appeals to you most and the budget price that you have in mind to buy your first car. Also that it is to be a small, medium or a big car.
• You should keep in mind your family size if married.

Photo by PoliceMadBen

You are now ready to visit the showrooms to see what is there for you to select from. You will be provided with all the details of the various makes and models present. The car dealers will too willingly assist you in giving details on condition and life expectancy of the cars. There is no hurry to ditch in. Just see if you prefer a medium or small car to start with, to stay on the safe side till you have become experienced.

Now you will have a good amount of knowledge on the makes you have short listed.

Now concentrate on the fuel consumption, engine power, year of make, price.

The technical information would guide you to find something that suites your taste. When buying a used car the best is to avoid selecting the cheapest, that the dealers would prefer to sell first. Also avoid the costlier heavier makes as these will be heavy on fuel and service maintenance. The best rule is to buy a medium car which is fuel efficient, not costly on maintenance and is spacious enough to suit 4 to 5 persons.

When you buy your first used car, be sure to select one of the popular brands in the market. You may wish to change to another one sooner than you planned. Popular brands sell quicker. Currently the more popular ones in the market are:

Ford Focus – Chevy Aveo 3D – Honda Civic 5D

Buy a used Ford Focus and you will get a body length the longest in a medium car of British make. The Civic has the largest luggage boot, and has good appeal too.

Buy a used Ford Focus and you get what you desire, a 100 php engine power. A power with a low fuel consumption. For Chevy it is 86 php, while the Honda Civic has the all powerful 140 php engine, which is quite fuel heavy for a first time buyer.

Buy a used Ford Focus, a British make car that incurs less maintenance costs than the American Chevy Aveo 3D and the Honda Civic. The last two cars are costly on spares.

Finely when you have decided to buy a used Ford Focus do not forget to check the condition of the engine by running idle and on test drive. If there is no noise then it is quite good. Then look for under body rusts and below car mats, boot floor. Damaged car bodies have gaping spacers on the doors and images show in irregular waves on the door panels.

The above guidelines will help to make good selection for your first car that could be a used Ford Focus.

New Ford Galaxy has been opened to showcase at Brussels, Motor Show 2010. This new invention by the Ford Motors is an example to have a master piece in your garage when it comes to the high taste of the drivers. Whose biggest charm is to have a car like this! And they always feel like being in it.

Photo by PoliceMadBen

The New Ford Galaxy has made the first impact so strong that it has made a benchmark for other automotive manufacturers for the rest of the year. It is coming with the latest technology features to make you comfortable and feel safer than ever.

The 2010’s new Ford Galaxy is a new experience for the drivers having a whole lavishness for the first time from the Ford’s Motors in such a successful way. It has high efficiency 2.0 litre 203PS EcoBoost petrol engine, joins with 115PS and 163PS 2.0 litre Duratorq TDC diesel engines, with upgraded 140PS model coming through.

Ford has also redesign the frontal area and more sculptured bonnet combining with new front fascia design making a much bold low trapezoidal grille, with featuring chrome bars. The new designed fog lamps.

This will be available for sale in UK, by April 2010. Further details and prices will be announced later and closer to the launch of this unique master piece by the House of Ford Motors.

Ford is now indicating the arrival of a brand new series of cars with new and innovative technologies, and with latest features enabled; the New Ford S-Max has been just exposed at Brussels, Motor Show. The new challenging line of Ford cars can let you feel good and drive in it with a bunch of luxuries.

Photo by jalopnik

The new line is comes up with a whole new concept of new designs of Ford S-Max, taking the interior materials and features into high consideration from driver’s point of view. The more proficient powertrains and a host of driver-focused technology targeted for better security and soothe.

The 2010’s new Ford S-Max is a gift package for the drivers having a complete luxury for the first time from the Ford’s Motors in such a successful way. It has high efficiency 2.0 litre 203PS EcoBoost petrol engine, joins with 115PS and 163PS 2.0 litre Duratorq TDC diesel engines, with upgraded 140PS version coming in the UK later on, and packed with a lot more new features like a Blind Spot Information System. After the success of Ford S-Max, the Ford’s design team is encouraged enough to build a whole new series on significant kinetic design styles.

New Ford S-Max will be available in the market by April 2010 in UK showrooms. The prices are yet to be confirmed and announced at the time of launch.

Photo uk.cars.yahoo.com

The year 2009 has ended. This has activated the Chairman of CAP judging panel, Mark Norman to declare the winners of the decade. He has declared Ford Focus as the best “Used Car of the Decade” title. Ford Focus has also been selected to be “Best Medium used car of the Decade”.

The other trophies were won by Volkswagen Passat, Audi AB, BMW X5 and SEAT. The CAP awards have very specific but simple criteria to qualify the winners. They select models from cars used for 3 years during the last decade from 2000 to 2009.

The points are allocated on following characteristics.

1. Trusted reputation
2. Sustained popularity
3. Affordability and practicality of ownership
4. Inspired product improvement across the whole industry

Ford focus was introduced in 1998 in a much different version from Ford Escort which also had been very comfortably successful in sales. This change is termed by experts as “Ford’s Gamble Paying Off”. Ford Escort’s continued success had become a sort of British identity. Dropping of this brand was truly bold decision.

Ford Focus is an all new creation form scratch leaving hardly anything in common with predecessors.  The exterior styling and interior revamping made all the differences. Something totally different from the Ford Escort decade’s old British outlook. Ford Focus was now in the open market all by itself competing with rival brands with its original features and no conservative strings attached. Probably all this helped it gain acceptance throughout the Europe. People long affiliated to Volkswagen Golf also could not disturb the market in any way and rather attracted new customers from different territories. CAP is an acknowledged expert in used car pricing for thirty years.

The different category trophies won:

• Ford Focus:        Used Car of the Decade
• Ford Focus:        Best Medium used Car of the Decade
• Ford’s KA:        Small used Car of the Decade
• Volkswagen Passat:    Large used Car of the Decade
• Audi A3:        Executive used Car of the Decade
• BMW X5:        Luxury used Car of the Decade
• SEAT:            Most Improved used Car of the Decade ‘Prize’

Photo by MANUEL CCS

He has drastically amended the Mondeo and S-MAX Carriers. Last year the C-MAX revision was done mostly on the front side and some shapes variations made at the back. The new Focus will feature major design changes and alterations in body panels. The materials selected for the interior revamping would carry a fresh feel. The cabin controls have also been improved with further facilities.

The left hand version has been launched in September in Frankfurt Motor Show. The UK version Focus will hit the local market by year’s end. The anxiously awaiting customers will have new surprises coming up. Ford Focus will receive tough competition from new entrant Nissan Qashqai. Vauxhall Extra will be there too with new design outlook.

The general feeling on the Focus design strategy seems directed towards younger generation with new appealing attractions. The intermodal cues are incorporated to produce better cabin layout. Practical touches give the car even greater versatility.

The news floating around on the revival plans of RS version of Ford Focus is shelved. There are high hopes that outclassed ST is sure to reappear in hot style in future,. The Ford management is actively anxious o the RS project but no progress seen yet. The appearance of this high performance4 car may be somewhat delayed.