This duo of compact Family Trucksters has a neat private parking space in the outer corner of the family’s premises, directly adjacent to the street. On the right, a 2003 Ford Focus with a 1.4 Zetec-S engine. A first generation Focus, introduced in 1998. Back then, the 1.4 liter gasoline engine was the smallest power unit available.
On the left, a 2014 third gen Ford Focus 1.6 DuraTorq TDCi. That’s a turbodiesel with a maximum power output of 115 DIN-hp; exactly 40 hp more than its older family member, but note that senior is 191 kg (421 lbs) lighter.
The family car vs the family’s grocery getter, both with an “obligatory” trailer hitch. The towing capacity for turbodiesel-junior is 1,200 kg (2,646 lbs) and 940 kg (2,072 lbs) for gasoline-senior. Both numbers apply to a braked trailer.
Generation-wise, Mads Jensen’s (former) COAL-wagon falls exactly between these two. There seems to be enough space left to fit in.
I can’t tell for sure, but the steering wheels appear to be on the left side of the cars, so this isn’t in the U.K. or Australia. Somewhere in Europe where people don’t have garages?
The NL barely visible on the plate gives a strong hint, as does Johannes name
This is in the Country of Maas and Waal, NL.
The fun part about garages: many people use them for storing anything but the car.
Across the street of this house is a bigger house with a nice parcel of land, a garage and a carport in front of it. When the current owners bought the place, they fenced the driveway and made some perfectly sized parking spots for their cars in what used to be the garden, right next to the street.
On our shores NL refers to a province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The friendliest folks in Canada!
Newfoundlanders and Labradors…friendly dogs too!
The compact wagon was fairly common site in North America years 20-30 years ago and before. I like the utility, economy and size of these. Ford Escorts, Corollas, Chrysler K-cars , VW (Fox) and GM J-Bodies all had wagon variants, among others.
When we got the European version of the Focus around 2000 I was happy to see the compact wagon offered as well. As a lover of wagons and current Buick Tour X/Opel Insignia Sports Tourer owner, going back in time the Focus ZTW wagon with the 5 speed manual is the one I would of liked. Even more rare is the 2000 Street Addition Wagon, which featured the same springs, dampers and anti-roll bars found in the European Focus as well as some other unique aesthetic bits inside and out. Only 1,100 or so of these wagon were made, probably all gone by now. Adding to this, these were made in Wayne, Michigan, 30 miles away from me as the crow flies. My next-door neighbor has a Focus wagon of this early 2k’s generation, very rusty but apparently still trusty as it is his daily driver.
Arguably the compact wagon is still popular here, just in taller form with more ground clearance as the compact CUV. Depending on the state, the DMV may even title it as “wagon”.
I think I’ve only known two people who owned the first (only?) gen Focus wagon here in the US. Both were musicians who needed to haul equipment. A practical vehicle and possibly roomier, or at least more space efficient, than any modern small CUV. Though perhaps the CMax was its short-lived successor despite not being called a Focus.
In Europe the C-Max started out as the Focus C-Max, which was shorter in length than the concurrent Focus Wagon.
“A practical vehicle and possibly roomier, or at least more space efficient, than any modern small CUV.”
My old Tribute (Ford Escape) had 64 cubic feet of cargo space with seats down, compared to 56 on the same year Focus wagon. Newer Escapes are slightly roomier at over 65, compared to 58 on the newest Focus estate (non-US, of course).
As for space efficiency, that early Focus wagon had essentially the same outward dimensions as my Tribute, just with a lower ceiling. And a lack of ground clearance would make it less practical for my area.
We bought a 3 year old Focus estate recently, diesel auto titanium model. Great motor, our German shepherd was finding the jump into our previous Hyundai SUV to be too much. I think insufficient attention is given to the utility of a low loading height.
I have a friend who’s approach to motoring is to allocate an annual £700 budget. He buys a cheap Focus estate, runs it for a year then expects to scrap it. If it passes another MOT he’s quids in, then he keeps it another year. The Focus estate is just the right size for transporting a pinball machine, which is an essential criteria when you own 6 of them.
For the first time since its introduction in Australia in 2002,Ford are offering the station wagon variant of the Focus,it’s quite a good looker,but I haven’t looked at it from close up.I currently have a 2013 Mk3 Focus hatch,coincidentally.
I had a 2001,1.6 litre petrol 5 door hatch and still consider it one of the best cars I have owned, in the perspective of its time.
Great handling, comfort, space, style (in and out), value for money and reliable. Boot was a bit small (I blame the full size spare I used once) and ventilation a bit weak, but those aside an absolute winner.
IMHO, substantially more involving and appealing than the VW Golf mk4 and Astra Mk4. An absolute class leader.
Except for the rust. Especially on the rear doors.
The Golf and Astra were galvanised. Lost more of them still around.
The Focus Mk1 was highly praised for its great handling, as were other contemporary Euro-Fords. It was a revelation after the 1990-1998 Escorts with their multiple facelifts, updates and improvements.
I had a 2001,1.6 litre petrol 5 door hatch and still consider it one of the best cars I have owned, in the perspective of its time.
Great handling, comfort, space, style (in and out), value for money and reliable. Boot was a bit small (I blame the full size spare I used once) and ventilation a bit weak, but those aside an absolute winner.
IMHO, substantially more involving and appealing than the VW Golf mk4 and Astra Mk4. An absolute class leader