focus LS-LV pinging

[sambb]

Hi,

I'm in the market for a small/medium car and an LS - LV zetec is the car I'd pretty much settled on. I'd read a lot about the pinging issues these cars are meant to experience but put it down to the fact that its only people with problems who post and the happy majority don't. Well during my test drive I didn't have to try very hard to make it ping - I'm talking 3rd gear up a slight incline and just easing open the throttle and it was rattling like crazy. I'm fully aware they should run >95 but even if it was 91 in the tank, that was way too excessive. So was my experience still an odd one out or is this a chronic issue for basically all these high comp mazda motors?
Is there an easy fix for this ie. a ford ecu update. I mean its got to be fuel map/timing map based if you have the correct fuel right?

thanks for any advice
sam