Car Topic - Ford Focus

[Sparks!]

Right, I had to sell my van for money reasons, and now I'm regretting it big time.. another van is out of the question as I won't get a good one for the money I have now... so I want a car.

I do quite a lot of mileage for my stunt riding, always going here there and everywhere at the weekends. The van wasn't the most economical vehicle ever and as money was really tight I couldn't afford to use it as often as I'd like to... then I hit problems with it and had to spend £600 on repairs which made my mind up to sell... sold it about a month ago now.

My plan was to get a Peugeot 306 1.9 HDI or GLX (1.9 turbo again).. I've had one before and really liked it, very nice car, fast, fun to drive, build quality was okay, reliability was perfect and it towed amazingly well..... and they are relatively cheap... however I'm now having trouble finding one, have been looking since I sold my van and still haven't found anything that isn't miles away!

So I'm broading my car search.

Ford focus hatchback.. 1.6 petrol one... whats the fuel MPG / economy like? will it even come close to the 306's 50mpg?

Part of me just wants to wait to find an ideal 306.. but I'm missing out riding whilst looking for a car and getting desperate for one

I have a budget of £2000 btw.. which is fine for a 306.. but not so sure on a focus? Not expecting anything new....
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[iCraig]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

Not sure what Craig's on as I disagree with most of that.

I got a 1999 1.8 Zetec (the one with alloys and better suspension) with 48k miles for £1850 in good condition. It has the 'climate pack' too, (heated windscreens/mirrors & AC).

Handles nicely, goes quite well, fuel economy isn't good at 32mpg on long trips. I like the gearbox, one of the better ones I've used and I used to drive a lot of cars for Avis.

[ali-b]

I used to get around 30ish mpg out of my 2.0l focus but my miles were practically all motorway. The 1.6 is gutless unfortunately you won't like that at all I think if you're used to something with a 1.9 turbo.

It was an 04 model that I sold on earlier this year for 4500 quid - about 40,000 miles on the clock (most done by me - I think I bought it with about 12k - 13k on it).

However...it was a very reliable car. Didn't actually go wrong in the time I had it (about 18 months or so) and I'm not particularly kind on cars Servicing was pretty inexpensive, as were spare parts.

If you have any back problems, the drivers position might highlight them...not sure what was wrong, something like the pedals being 'over' too much - never tracked it down because my back is for the most part fine, just was a problem every now and again.

It towed stuff fine too. I've towed other cars with it without it moaning too much.

One of my best mates has a Seat and he loves it. I've been in it a few times (actually he's had a few) and it certainly seems better built than the focus, and has more equipment for the cash. It was a Leon if I remember correctly.

HTH

[Sparks!]

I can't find an older passat for £2000 let alone an Octavia or Toledo??

I really want a Bora but can't afford one. I'd much rather a octavia/toledo/bora/passat over a 306 but I can't spend too much money!
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[iCraig]

Where are you looking?

I bought my 1999 Octavia 1.6 for £1600. And its in fairly good condition.
And I've seen a few SDI's for around £2000.

Oh and Mau, what did you disagree with?

[EuropeanNC30R...]

Try reading the post? Gearbox, price, mpg, reliability.

[Sparks!]

[NSR Mick]

I bought the missus a 51 plate Focus and I hate it.

I had a Bora before the Passat and loved it, the Bora was way ahead of the Focus in every way.

It's noisy the engine and gearbox are harsh and it's not very well equiped for what we paid for it. Saying that though she's happy enough with it though but then again she doesnt know any better as she's only had Rovers before.
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[iCraig]

[Sparks!]

OK just checked Autotrader and there are a few octavias for that money... going to look into these a bit more.

what sort of MPG are they getting?

I see its insurance group 9 compared to the 306's group 4 though which might make insurance a bit too expensive... not sure.

Also I want air con I think... i see a fair few of them have it though which is good.
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[NSR Mick]

[iCraig]

Well I get 30-44mpg (depending on how I drive and where I drive) from my 1.6 Octy, though mine I've just recently found out is the lower powered version.

The 1.6SR 102BHP should get about, 36-38mpg on average. Even the vRS does about 30mpg! The diesels are the best, the taxi drivers favourite the SDI does 55mpg and the TDI about the same or a few mpg less.

And there not too expensive to insure, I pay about £500ish on mine, mainly cos its a Skoda and no one really steals them. But more fool them as they are good cars.

I like mine, it handles well, its huge inside. Its hugely practical and it looks fairly good. My only criticism is the headlights suck as standard.

[LeeR]

[McGee]

/In before Ken bigs them up and tries and sells you one.

Look over them carefully, high mileage ones 90k + have a load of problems some expensive.

Parts are not cheap.

Hell when I worked at a ford garage it was either new Mondeo's or old Focus's with problems.

Apart from that, when its not your car they are a lot of fun to drive.
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Its pronounced Jixxer!

[NSR Mick]

[Silver]

Had my Focus a year and not a thing has gone wrong with it. Gearbox is a bit notchy but other than that I have no complaints. Can't comment on fuel economy really 'cos mine's an ST170 which is a bit thirstier.

[trevoriv]

Just picked up a 2001 Mazda 323 1.6 with less than 50k miles on it for £1900. Insurance is cheap, supposed to be comprable to honda's as far as reliability goes and supposed to be half decent cars, given that its my first car I cant comment on much more but my dad said it had a fair bit of poke for a 1.6.
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Past: '96 Thundercat, '02 ZX636R (A1P), '58 KTM 690 SM LC4 Current: '06 ZX636R (C6F)
Mudskipper wrote: Someone just has to sig that...

[neatbik]

ive got a focus '03 1.8 tdci ghia, and its a good car. it handles well, is quick enough (for a 1.8 derv anyway) and is comfy. i drive different cars all day long everyday at work, and out of all the 'family hatchbacks' the focus is one of the most entertaining.

[Itchy]

[McGee]

[Itchy]

[McGee]

Itchy that is truly an amazing feat
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
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Its pronounced Jixxer!

[Sparks!]

Did you check for CCTV and go ask for a copy to send to You've Been Framed???
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[iCraig]

Sparks, what car did you end up getting?