History lesson
Launched in 2006 to compete with the likes of the Astra TwinTop, Renault Megane CC and VW Eos, the Focus CC was a latecomer to the coupé convertible market. It was designed in conjunction with Pininfarina and was built by them in their factories near Turin. There are three engine options, 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrols with a five-speed gearbox and a 2.0-litre TDCi diesel with six speeds. An automatic gearbox is available on the 2.0-litre petrol models.
The Focus CC offers good looks with a two-piece retractable roof and one of the biggest boots of any CC (534 litres with the top up). Production ended in 2010 though you may find some of the last cars on 11 plates.
Bang for your buck
There are three easy to understand trim levels, CC-1 available only with the 1.6 petrol engine, then CC-2 and CC-3 with the 2.0-litre petrol or diesel models. Even then base CC-1 comes with alloy wheels and air conditioning and all models have multiple airbags and other safety features. CC-3s were offered with climate control and leather trim free at launch.
The folding roof and the strengthening it requires means that the used Ford Focus CC is a fair bit heavier than a standard Focus and that takes the edge off its performance. The 1.6 takes over 13 seconds to reach 60mph with the 2.0 petrol and diesel models both managing it in around 10.
The roof mechanism is easy to use, though it does halve the boot space when it's folded and it can be prone to leaks.
What you'll pay
Early petrol cars should now be sneaking below £5,000 though expect to pay £500 or so more for a diesel. A 2007 (57) 2.0-litre petrol should be in the region of £6,000, an 09 automatic will be about £7,500 as will a 57 plate diesel. A late 2.0 litre petrol car on a 60 plate will be around £10,500. Being a Ford insurance costs are reasonable, group 8 for a 1.6 and group 11 for the rest.
What to check
Engines are shared with the Focus hatch and so should be proven and reliable. The main thing to check is the roof mechanism, early cars suffered badly from leaks and there was a recall for this in 2007. Even so the used Focus CC seems to be sensitive to how the roof is closed, ideally the car should be stationary on a level surface when you do this to ensure a good seal. Check for a musty smell and be suspicious of overly powerful air fresheners which could be hiding a damp problem.
Parts
Being a Ford parts are easily available and not all that expensive. A clutch assembly should be about £100 and an alternator around £140. A replacement headlamp is about £80 and a set of front brake pads £25. A radiator is about £100, a full exhaust £200 and a catalyst £240.
How it drives
The weight of the folding roof means that the Ford Focus CC for sale can feel a little underpowered especially with the 1.6 engine, but even with the 2.0-litre it's definitely more of a cruiser than a sportscar. The diesel is the best choice as it doesn't need to be worked as hard to make progress as the petrol models do and it should manage mid 40s mpg too.
The car's steering is accurate and the gear change has the slickness we've come to expect from Fords. That extra weight has an advantage in that the car feels solidly planted through corners and over rough surfaces. With the roof down there's little buffeting from the wind in the front. Rear seat room is reasonable too offering decent leg and headroom, certainly better than many cars in this class. Boot space is impressive with the roof up, it will easily take a golf bag, but halved with the top down.
If you're looking for an affordable coupé convertible the Ford Focus CC makes a fair bit of sense. It looks good, feels solid and is surprisingly practical. The fact that it's a Ford means that running costs shouldn't hold any nasty surprises. Check the roof mechanism carefully before buying, accept the relaxed performance and the Focus CC is a good way of going topless without breaking the bank.
