Ford Concentrate Zetec voted utilised auto of the year 2014

The Ford Concentrate Zetec has been voted utilized auto of the year 2014 by What Car? magazine. We round up the winners in all 13 hotly contested categories.

The 5-door Ford Focus 1.6 105 Zetec has been voted the general What Vehicle? Utilised Automobile of the Year for 2014.  

The occasion, held in London, was attended by all main automobile companies and named 13 outstanding category winners. 

This year’;s other winners integrated the Hyundai i10 1.2 Comfort in the city automobile category and the 5-door Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec, which was named best little auto.

The Mazda MX-5 2. Sport scooped the entertaining auto award, even though the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi VTR+ was regarded as the very best multi-goal vehicle (MPV).

Used Vehicle of the Year 2014 category winners

Category	Winning car
General winner	Ford Focus 1.6 105 Zetec 5dr
City car	Hyundai i10 1.2 Comfort
Modest car	Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 5dr ’
Loved ones automobile	Ford Focus 1.6 105 Zetec 5dr
Coupé	Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI 160
Estate automobile	Ford Mondeo Estate 2. TDCi 140 Zetec
MPV	Citroën Grand C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi VTR+
Open-prime automobile	BMW 3 Series Convertible 320d SE ’
Little SUV	Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi Acenta
Large SUV	Volvo XC90 2.4 D5 SE Lux
Executive auto	Lexus IS220d SE
Luxury car	Jaguar XJ 3.0D V6 Luxury
Fun car	Mazda MX-5 2. Sport

‘All outstanding vehicles’;

What Auto? editor Jim Holder stated: “The winning automobiles are all outstanding cars, but it is the ownership expertise that matters just as a lot. 

“The Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec brings the greatest balance of efficiency and gear for the cash – and for only £8,000 you can get the present-generation model.”

Motoring journalist and Confused.com’;s auto reviewer, Tim Barnes-Clay, said: “Ford’;s Focus Zetec is a very deserving winner of this accolade.

“It is a excellent medium-sized vehicle decision due to the fact not only is it practical, it really is extremely nicely equipped and is great worth for funds. 

“The Concentrate Zetec is also exciting to drive, specifically with Ford’;s range of EcoBoost petrol engines. These offer you a blend of 1st class acceleration and economy.”

Employed car market place trumps new auto market

On average, there are 7 million employed vehicle sales annually, compared to 2 to 2.5 million new automobile sales. 

The worth of the used vehicle market place reached a record level of £38.1 billion in 2012, rising from £32.4 billion in 2008, according to British Automobile Auction’;s Utilised Vehicle Market place Report 2013.

Top car-acquiring tips 

Tim Barnes-Clay has created the following step-by-step guide to getting a vehicle, whether new or utilised.

• 
  

  Firstly, develop a shortlist

  
  

Ask oneself: what do you use your vehicle for will that use modify during the years that you strategy to keep the vehicle how significantly can you afford to devote on getting and operating the car?

Evaluate specs and costs on manufacturer websites so that you can narrow down your shortlist. Study skilled automobile reviews by skilled motoring journalists, as effectively as owner evaluations and customer satisfaction surveys.

Get the most from static demonstrations of a car’;s features – also check the head and legroom, boot space, and move the folding seats. If buying a utilized car, check that the electrical gear is working correctly, examine the bodywork for dents and scuffs, and appear via the service history.

Just before you set off, get comfy – adjust the seat, wheel and mirrors. Preferably drive on dual carriageways, as effectively as urban routes, to find out what the car is like at diverse speeds.

• 
  

  Test the car’;s functionality

  
  

Ask your self: does it ride bumps comfortably is the engine as responsive as you anticipated is it quiet or noisy at speed is all-round visibility very good or do thick windscreen pillars get in the way do the brakes work smoothly does the automobile pull to the left or proper?

• 
  

  When you are prepared, shop around

  
  

If getting a utilised automobile, appear for comparable vehicles for sale online and take copies of any advertisements with comparable cars at reduce rates. In no way worry about walking away from a deal if it does not really feel right. As soon as the deal is finalised and you collect the auto, check it over thoroughly. Bear in thoughts that a utilised car might have picked up a scrape or scratch although getting moved about. Make confident the service booklet, owner’;s manual and warranty documents are incorporated.

Compare insurance coverage – you could locate a great deal in minutes Get a automobile quote

Ford Concentrate Zetec voted utilised auto of the year 2014

Euro-Sorts Can Rent a Concentrate ST-H, We Can not Due to the fact Your Buddies Can’t Drive a Manual

August 21, 2014 at 6:21 pm by Alex Kierstein | Photography by Ford Europe

This is why these statistics about the number of Americans who can drive a manual transmission will catch up to the typical Joe at the rental counter: In Europe, you can rent one particular of these Concentrate ST-Hs. But until Americans can figure out the whole clutch factor, it is not hunting promising for the U.S.

One more purpose Americans need to have to find out to drive stick? So @Hertz will offer you this in the US, not just Europe. #FocusST pic.twitter.com/ukoDSs3hiq

— Roger Garbow (@rogergarbow) August 20, 2014

For about a year, Ford has quietly provided the 252-hp manual-only hatch by way of Hertz outlets in pick European markets, and in the Netherlands Ford has announced there will be a Fiesta ST-H obtainable to rent as well—that’s an fascinating prospect. But since the Focus ST is not presented with an automatic, it will take a lot of effort (or Hertz scrounging up the money for continual clutch replacements) ahead of a stateside move is probably.
Study Far more: The Rental – Texas in the Hertz Penske Mustang GT

The Concentrate ST-H is primarily a Recaro-optioned regular ST painted up in the classic gold-stripes-more than-black Hertz livery like the Shelby GT350Hs prior to it. Of course, enormous torque steer comes regular.

Do not beat a path to the nearest Hertz looking for a boosted front-driver. You can, even so, rent something in the existing Adrenaline Collection, which at present involves the Challenger R/T, the superb Hertz Penske Mustang GT or GT Premium, Corvette Stingray Coupe and Convertible, and Camaro SS Coupe or Convertible.

Related: New Ford Focus ST will debut at Goodwood

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Euro-Sorts Can Rent a Concentrate ST-H, We Can not Due to the fact Your Buddies Can’t Drive a Manual

2015 Ford Concentrate ST Gets Updated Appear, Will Debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed

June 23, 2014 at 3:01 pm by Alexander Stoklosa | Photography by Michael Simari and the Manufacturer

You’re seeking at the initial official image of Ford’s refreshed-for-2015 Concentrate ST hatchback, which will make its full in-the-metal debut at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed in England on June 27. We had figured it would only be a matter of time ahead of the ST received a makeover, provided that the regular Concentrate hatchback and sedan have currently been re-touched for this year.

Ford’s teaser photo—and common sense—makes it clear that the ST will get the exact same visual enhancements as the 2015 Concentrate hatchback, albeit somewhat amped up. Just as ahead of, the ST will put on a exclusive, open snout, and it nevertheless will be offered with vibrant yellow paint. In addition to placing out a photo of the ST’s new headlight design, Ford also released a video of the hot hatch lapping a test track. Stay tuned to this space later this week for more information.

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2014 Ford Concentrate ST Extended-Term Test Update: Hatch Nevertheless Hot at 30K Mark

Long-Term Road Test Update

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Seat time.

Months in Fleet: 10 months
Current Mileage: 30,113 miles
Typical Fuel Economy: 26 mpg
Average Variety: 322 miles
Service: $ 233
Typical Wear: $
Repair: $
Damage and Destruction: $ 1420

WHAT WE LIKE AND WHY: We have achieved basic consensus: The ST is a dynamic powerhouse and gets 5 stars on the hot half of “hot hatch.” It’s the every day hatchback that offers the Volkswagen GTI a run for its funds. Heck, even valets have been fighting amongst themselves to park the vibrant red ST although surrounded by Maseratis, Bentleys, and various AMG-badged Benzs. (We forgot to note the mileage just before dinner, doh!) A few of our employees members noted how good it is to not have to shift a lot on the highway. With 270 lb-ft of maximum torque at 2500 rpm, there is lots of grunt to overtake without having shifting to a decrease gear, even on 2-laners. The 252-hp turbo 4 is loved for its raspy sounds and also for effortless merges to interstate speed, divided highway or not.

WHAT WE Don’t LIKE AND WHY: The ST’s restricted cruising variety remains an issue. Most damaging notes surround the optional Recaro buckets. Absolutely everyone agrees that the seats are great if you routinely drive with spirit, but extended trips and visitors make us long for anything more toned down, like the front buckets from the VW GTI. And it isn’t just the tight thigh bolsters that draw consideration. The sharp seat-pan angle (low in the rear) can lead to calf and ankle fatigue in heavy traffic. (Perhaps the modest fuel tank was intentional, so no one particular had to sit in the vehicle for too long.) Radio ergonomics are hit or miss—mostly miss—and we’d like much more standard controls. Surprisingly, the phrase “torque steer” only comes up as soon as in the logbook. The ST yanks the steering wheel on on heavy throttle applications in the lower gears, but drivers have learned to compensate with deftly applied countersteer.

WHAT WENT Wrong AND WHY: The tachometer needle went berserk and would indicate 3000 rpm at idle. This happened to us just before, and we knew how to reset the dash: With the ignition in the off position, hold down the “OK” button on the left spoke of the steering wheel and turn the ignition on (no require to commence the vehicle), and then release the button once you see “Test” displayed in the readout. The gauges then sweep and reset. Simple, huh?

Other than that, the auto has been dependable. The wheels went out of balance over the winter and, soon after taking the ST to the shop for wheel rebalancing, we discovered that a single of them was dented. We have been capable to have it repaired for $ 135. And we lastly got around to repairing the crash-damaged rear bumper to the tune of $ 1225.

Where WE WENT AND WHY: In addition to weekend trips to Michigan’s neighboring states, the ST headed south a quantity of instances. There were 2 jaunts to Kentucky and one more to go to Del Boca Vista Phase III, in South Florida. We also schlepped the ST to Virginia International Raceway for a organization outing and to Salisbury, North Carolina, where our buddies at Morse Measurements did some reverse engineering on the ST’s rather taut chassis. We’ve averaged 26 mpg, which is right in line with the EPA’s combined estimate.

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