Buying an 09 Focus

[Nick82]

Hi guys,
Looking at buying the 2009 Focus LX Hatch. Hoping someone could give me some feedback on performance? Any Problems they have had with it? Fuel Economy?

Anyone had issues with the automatic or should I keep away from them?
Tossed up whether I should buy a 2006 Zetec second hand or just go with the new model and decided to go with the new model.

Does anyone think I should just get the base model CL Hatch and buy some wheels for it?

Your help is appreciated.

P.S. Never owned a focus so sorry for amateur questions.