Apart from it's everyday utility origins and the numbers in which it's (quite rightly) sold I reckon that Ford's '98 Focus might well have a place in history.
It was the turning point for driving dynamics and driver appeal, accompanied by sound build quality and long term reliability. Hitherto, nothing in the mass market arena offered such a combination. Towards the end of its production run the Ford Escort finally managed to stop being scorned by the motoring press and it's traditional 'Ford baiting'. It was time for a change, and Ford's decision to retire the Escort as a model was wise one.
Vauxhall/Opel retained Astra for the UK market, the car was badged the Opel Kadett in most of Europe. The MkIV Astra was a big improvement over previous Astras, but the Focus, for me, was truly groundbreaking.
For the first time the 'utility' car buyer, the buyer who buys a car as an appliance, designed to serve a purpose and perform a function, had the option to buy something that really shone against all its peers. Not just in terms of cost and dealer support, but something which Mr Average buyer would truly enjoy driving.
Driving dynamics and enjoyment suddenly became de-rigeur in this sector and the benchmark was set for the competition.
Ford cautiously and cleverly exploited the Focus' native brilliance and released a number of high performance models in response to a growing demand in the marketplace. A legend was born.
Even in basic 1.4 CL form the car was hard to ignore. In spite of it's leisurely performance it still had enough on offer to engage those who otherwise had systematically ignored Ford.
Today's Focus still leads the way with the ST and RS models. Nigh on modest Porsche performance for the price of a modest BMW 520i says it all.
And the lesser models are still sublime to drive, having taken the original's supreme authority over the competition and evolved it further.
Perhaps never iconic in style, although it's hardly offensive to behold, it's champion amongst strong, but tardy, competition.
The Focus is, perhaps, the new Golf, which, in itself, was the role model for mid market hatches in the 1980's.
If I were in the market for a new midrange hatch/estate, I'd struggle hard to justify anything else over a Focus. And I'd work valiantly to overcome the desire to buy the Ford. But I'd buy it, having failed to overcome the desire to not do so, simply because it's such a bloody fantastically conceived, designed, and built car.
Rarity maketh not a classic. The Rover Montego is considered a classic by some, on account of its rarity. That's only because few were sold anyway (for obvious reasons - they were rubbish cars). Of those which were sold, most have fallen to bits and been retired (scrapped) long ago.
What about the Mk1 Saxo and Corsas?
What about the Mk1 Saxo and Corsas?
