Currently have a Peugeot 207 estate but I am looking for something a little bigger to use for the next 5+ years as kids are growing up etc. Is the Focus estate a decent size for a family car for holidays, trips and of course biking days? Or do I need to look for something even bigger like a Passat, Mazda 6 or Skoda Superb?
Thanks.
1 kid? - yes
2 kids? - maybe
3 kids? - no
I would say so with 2 kids as long as they're out of the buggy, massive car seat phase, they're not massive cars.
Equally though, you make the most of the room you have, if you get a bigger one you'll just end up taking more crap on holiday than you need anyway.
Are you buying a new one? Focuses are weird, the Mk 1 was tardis-like, tons of space inside, good legroom, massive boot. The mk2 isn't just smaller inside, it doesn't make such good use of the space so frinstance, the driver's legroom is funny shaped on the left side and intrudes a bit. It's nicer inside and better made but not as well thought out. And then the mk3 is like that but more so. Every generation gets nicer and more polished and basically less good.
The boot is a lot better than a 207 but the passenger space on anything but the mk1 isn't that different, from memory. I mean, as kids we went on holiday with 5 of us in a Cavalier so it can be done but it's not what I'd choose
The other thing about Foci is spec levels, now you might or might not care but when I was looking for one, basically all that I could find was the crappy little engines, and millions and millions of Zetecs. And even when a higher model did come along the actual toys were disappointing, compare a Ghia mondeo to a focus... And they weren't cheap, either.
So I went off and got a top end mondeo for about the price of a low end Focus.
IMO far more about how much stuff you need/want to carry. I found that the swivelling group 1+ seat was actually smaller than the newborn seat (when #2 came along they had to go behind the passenger seat), and once they're in forward facing it's not an issue any more. Once you get out of needing buggies and travel cots then anything is fine particularly if you're OK with a roofbox for overflow.
If you're wanting to go camping with a massive tent and all the other gubbins, and bikes, and other gear then maybe a full size estate is a good idea (or go full STW and get a T5 kombi) - otherwise it's just dragging around lots of space for the sake of it.
If you're looking at a new car then there's a new focus coming later this year. That means current models can be had for good discounts but supply is limited so you could be out of luck if you want a really specific spec.
I have a mk 2.5 Focus Estate Style, so only the basic interior trim model, and I really cant fault it all. I find it a very smooth drive, the driving position very comfortable on long journeys and don't find it to be particularly cramped inside. In terms of boot space I can easily get my large T129 in (with the front wheel off) without it rubbing against the rear door as it did with my 307 estate, have moved house with it and have even slept in the back of it. As far as camping goes, me and my teenage son have gone away a few times with a big tent and associated clutter without any space issues.
The fuel consumption isn't as good as the 307 which would give me around 600 miles out of a 60l tank and as it stands I get around 500 from the 55l Focus. The interior of the 307 was nicer too but then it was a higher spec model and had nice features like under the seat drawers however I find the Focus more comfortable to be in.
I just bought a good spec V70 for less than the equivalent Mondeo....
A big car, but £30 tax, 50mpg and 18k service intervals...
I've had a 2014 estate and hatch. I didn't find the usable space in them to be significantly different in day to day use. The estate was only slightly better when putting bikes in it.
I went from 206 sw tardis to mondeo estate. Considered sticking with a big Peugeot but mondeo came along at right price.
Huge whooshy smoothness. Can fit a recumbent trike in the back with no disassembly. It’s less tardis like and a tiny bit less practical in some respects than the smaller car. Lower ground clearance and parking for example.
I have a 63 plate Focus estate (Zetec), we have two kids. Last car was a Mondeo ST estate. The cabin inside the Focus is much smaller, the boot is obviously smaller but still very useable with a luggage guard fitted. We went camping last summer and managed ok albeit I had to cut back on what I took compared to in the Mondeo. When I was looking for one there weren’t many around and nearly all were Zetecs. If I could have found a Zetec S I would have stretched to that but the ST estates were still out of my price range.
Trevor.
I could have found a Zetec S I would have stretched to that but the ST estates were still out of my price range.Trevor.
<cough>
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201802193859043
This is 40 miles away from me and why I've been prompted to ask this question now. I think the extra space over the Peugeot would be useful, although as cbike mentions above the 206 and 207 SW's do have great useable space for there size.
Get a Mondeo instead. We own a newer model Focus and its fine for two adults but not much boot space and the back seats are cramped. As another poster mentioned above, Ford have shrunk the cabin and boot size with every reiteration and focussed (no pun intended) on style over practicality in my opinion.
My next car will be a Titanium spec level Mondeo estate as they are futureproof family cars. You might also want to check out the S-Max which is a sporty compact people carrier.
Having had three mk1 Focus, a mk3 and my mum owning a mk2 I have no idea what those saying each car has got smaller are on about. Each version has had a bigger dash and more cladding around the cab so has more going on in it but it’s nonsense to suggest the mk3 is smaller than the mk1.
i believe the mk3 estate has similar dimensions to our current Kuga.If so it will be plenty big enough for up to a couple of kids. Ours is fine unless we take the dog but then we use a roof box.
We ran a mk2 focus estate 1.8tdci for 11 years and it was great. It had just got to the point where every year something in the suspension would require replacing, which became expensive. And it chucked a lot of soot out the back when accelerating. So we chopped it in for a S205 which is about 20mm narrower in the boot so our road bikes won't go in with the rear seats up - which was a little bit annoying.
Ours is fine unless we take the dog but then we use a roof box.
Isn't that a bit cruel? 😀
I'd get a bigger car for sure.
Mondeo or whatever you fancy that kind of size.
Or even a van.
If you’re wanting to go camping with a massive tent and all the other gubbins, and bikes, and other gear then maybe a full size estate is a good idea
We manage all that with a C-max. Use a roofbox and bikerack rather than dragging round extra metal you don't need 99% of the time.
I have a 55 plate Focus and three kids under seven. Great size for us. We go camping every August and get everything in fine. Reasonably cheap and easy to repair.
We have the new Mondeo and Focus models at work. All estates. Much prefer the Focus for size, driver position and usability.
I used to have a focus estate. 07 plate 1.6 diesel. Nice car to drive. Cheap road tax. No too bad on fuel. It wasn't huge but with bikes and box on the roof, plenty big enough. Focus estates look better that the hatch in my opinion.
Then it went wrong. Turbo went. Lost power. Leaving my pregnant wife stranded by the side of the motorway. Ford wanted thousands to repair so it had to go.
Bought a Hyundai, mainly for the warranty. It's ok.
I had a 64 plate focus hatch from new, it was too small really for a family of 4, we looked at swapping it for an estate but although the boot was better, the cabin was still cramped so we got a 3 series saloon.
Loads bigger inside, not really any bigger outside, boot is massive, cheaper to run and more fun to drive. Had to get shot of that because the Mrs did her back in and it was too low for her day to day (loads lower than the Focus) but if I was getting a car for me to be the main driver of I'd have a 3 Series Tourer in a heartbeat.
Had a Focus pre family so know them well. Would you certainly go for bigger with children starting at Mondeo, or equivalent, estate minimum.
There’s also the Focus-based variants, the C-Max and Grand C-Max, which might give the extra space without going up to the larger Mondeo. I’ve got a C-Max parked outside at the moment, which has the regular five seats, but it’s got enough room in the back for a full wheelchair hoist to be fitted, which might be just the right amount of space for you. The Grand C-Max also has sliding rear doors, with the higher roofline, which will allow better rear access:
