Ford Problems

There are no lemon laws as such in Australia, and I don't believe you would have a claim on the basis of it not being fit for purpose. It really requires regular and repeated failures to qualify as a lemon or being unfit for purpose. But it is an expensive repair, just out of warranty, and at low kilometres. Give Ford a call and explain your concern, and request they cover the cost of the repairs as a gesture of goodwill.

It has a claimed average fuel consumption of 5.5 L/100 km, which is quite good. It would be fine for long trips. The only concern would be the problems associated with its dual-clutch automatic transmission.

At 170,000 km there is plenty of life left in it, but it is higher than average for a 2013 model, and the price is on the high side.

The RS because it has the biggest spoilers and makes whooshing noises when you drive fast. Of course, if you can't afford an RS buy the highest spec model you can afford.

If you have a non-turbo Focus model I'd suggest looking to trade it in on a turbocharged ST or RS model Focus. These models can be easily upgraded to be made much faster, however before you modify your car you should talk to an engineering signatory in your local state to ascertain if the modifications are legal.

It’s hard for mechanics if they can’t observe the problem themselves. If it doesn’t make the noise when in their presence they really are in the dark in trying to find the cause. It could be in the front-end, perhaps bushes.

Press the start button with your foot on the brake, while you wiggle the wheel to the left and right.

There have been a lot of problems with the auto transmission in that model, so contact Ford and request help with replacing the transmission. I wouldn’t take the transmission out before you get an answer from Ford, as they might ask you to take it to a Ford dealer for inspection. Taking the ’box out could compromise your case.

Press the grooved buttons on the side of the smart key, then lever the raised centre section on the rear off. Pop the metal key out and, using a metal screwdriver split the key in half by inserting the screwdriver into a slot inside the end of the key. You can then access the battery, prising it out and replacing it.

Ford changed from the LW model to the LZ in 2015. The LW had a dual-clutch automatic, which was very problematic and should be avoided; the later LZ had a regular automatic transmission and has none of the problems that beset the LW. In short the LZ is worth buying, and can be compared to the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla for reliability.