Ford's tradition for outselling the competition has slipped slightly on an international scale. The Ford dynasty now sits 4th in the table of highest selling car manufacturers behind Toyota, General Motors and Volkswagen despite holding second place for something close to a million years. This has probably got more to do with globalisation, out-sourcing and recession as opposed to Ford making a colossal engineering boob. Nevertheless, it's an interesting statistic considering that the Ford Focus is absolutely everywhere!
If you stand on any high street during an average Saturday afternoon, you will be passed by a variation on the Focus theme roughly twice every second. I use the term 'variation on the Focus theme' as Ford have pulled the oldest car engineering trick out of the bag; by adding a couple of letters to the Focus badge, you can release a new edition and extend the car's lifespan limitlessly. Nobody actually knows (or cares) what "Zetec", "ST", or "C-MAX" actually means, but they continue to buy the Focus in droves. Their only minor concern is that is costs an extra £12 to get an ashtray and a cigarette lighter fitted.
The reason why the Ford Focus outnumbers people by at least nine to one in this country is a relatively simple twofold paradigm; the Focus provides quality and value for money. In many ways it is the automotive equivalent of Tesco; popping up here and there in a stealthy manner, hoping no one will notice that it is slowly taking over the world.
In these economically dire times, the public are demanding the best possible vehicle for the lowest possible price. The days of affluence, reckless spending and an insistence on remaining de rigeur at all times are long gone. Here to stay are the days of huddling round a solitary burning coal for warmth, eating cold beans to save on energy bills and wearing your grandmother's hand-me-downs because you can no longer afford Levi's.
So while we're irretrievably sinking beneath the gloomy waters of a global recession, why not drive a car that is great quality for money, cheap to maintain and the best performer for its class? It may not be exciting...or fashionable, but it's the Focus and it might just be the best you can afford. The 1.8 Petrol and 2.0 Diesel also better 50 mpg so it's an ecologically sound vehicle as well.
For me, however, the Focus really shines when you put it to the test. I was fortunate enough to scare my family during a road trip around the Cheshire countryside in a Focus 1.6 Zetec (a relatively standard model). I was extremely surprised by how the Focus hugged the corners as my mother screamed in the back. I laughed as the engine roared from 0-60 in less than ten seconds, whilst my father put his hand over his eyes and wept. I exhaled in wonder as the Focus slalomed round the wooded scenery whilst my dog howled in terror. The point is; as the driver I never once felt like I was not completely in control. My family were in fear of their lives, but I was as calm and collected as I could imagine.
For less than £10,000 you will easily be able to find a used Focus, with great spec and much better performance than its closest competitors (Citroen C4, Vauxhall Astra and the Volkswagen Golf). So in true form, Ford have manufactured a car that won't ever be considered 'cool', 'hip' or any other trendy adjective you choose to bandy about, but what they have done is create a car for the masses. The Ford Focus is a success that speaks for itself.
Pete Ridgard is a writer and an automotive enthusiast. Here he speaks about the public's enduring love affair with the Ford Focus. Used Ford
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