Ford focus 1.6 or 1.8

mac09

hello

looking at a buying a ford focus in the next couple of weeks and weighing up the relativer merits of both the cars above (mark 2 focus)

just wondering had anyone any advice on which the better buy would be

i have all the technical info so dont want that (i.e. mpg torque acceleration etc)

just wondering for say a 5 year period which would prove a better car (looking at 05 and 06 models)

thanks for any advice

EPM

What year Focus you looking at? The best engine of the lot is the 1.6 115 PS in either the Ghia or the Titanium spec

mac09

EPM wrote: »

What year Focus you looking at? The best engine of the lot is the 1.6 115 PS in either the Ghia or the Titanium spec

just wondering for say a 5 year period which would prove a better car (looking at 05 and 06 models)


should have mentioned im looking at diesel and as far as im aware its 109ps for those models

bazz26

EPM wrote: »

What year Focus you looking at? The best engine of the lot is the 1.6 115 PS in either the Ghia or the Titanium spec

I would disagree with that, the 1.6 petrol might be the best petrol engine on offer but not the best engine of the lot. The 1.6 TDCi (110bhp) would be superior to it imo.

OP the 1.6 TDCi is a much newer engine than the 1.8 TDCi. It is has a wider power band and is also more economical and refined. The 1.8 TDCi is an 8 valve unit and originates back to the Sierra.

bazz26

mac09 wrote: »

should have mentioned im looking at diesel and as far as im aware its 109ps for those models

1.6 TDCi Focus was also sold in 89bhp in 2006. Only in LX and Zetec trim though. All Ghia models were 109bhp.

1.6 TDCi was dropped in 2007 as Ford had a load of 1.8 TDCi engines to shift.

mac09

bazz26 wrote: »

I would disagree with that, the 1.6 petrol might be the best petrol engine on offer but not the best engine of the lot. The 1.6 TDCi (110bhp) would be superior to it imo.

OP the 1.6 TDCi is a much newer engine than the 1.8 TDCi. It is has a wider power band and is also more economical and refined. The 1.8 TDCi is an 8 valve unit and originates back to the Sierra.

excellent thanks for the advice and you are spot on with the valve info came across that today

bazz26

No problem,

I had this one for 2 years, great car:

mac09

bazz26 wrote: »

No problem,

I had this one for 2 years, great car:

the ghia looks a nice car but im being tempted by the titanium, not keen on the fake wood and alloys for the ghia

titaniums are difficult to find and am currently lookin at a 05 ghia with 30k for just under 7k stg

bazz26

mac09 wrote: »

the ghia looks a nice car but im being tempted by the titanium, not keen on the fake wood and alloys for the ghia

titaniums are difficult to find and am currently lookin at a 05 ghia with 30k for just under 7k stg

That is pricy enough for a 05 when you have to add exchange rate, VRT, flights and ferry costs. I sold mine in March and got allowed around €8,600 trade-in value for it.

I know someone at work who brought in a 2008 1.6 TDCi Zetec from the North and it cost around €14k incl VRT.

mac09

bazz26 wrote: »

That is pricy enough for a 05 when you have to add exchange rate, VRT, flights and ferry costs. I sold mine in March and got allowed around €8,600 trade-in value for it.

I know someone at work who brought in a 2008 1.6 TDCi Zetec from the North and it cost around €14k incl VRT.

no flights its in the north vrt approx 1500 euro and reckon i would get it at 6.5k stg

in comparison with whats out there its cheaper than 99% in mainland britain

bazz26

Fair enough, thought the VRT was more than that on them.

mac09

bazz26 wrote: »

Fair enough, thought the VRT was more than that on them.

yeah i no a friend paid a good bit more than that altho the online calculator obviously doesnt always match what has to be paid but i find its a good rough guide

so you found the ghia a good car to drive anyway

EPM

Ah diesel - assumed wrongly. My bad. Thought you were on about the petrols and was thinking about the 1.8 FFV.

Of the diesels the 1.6 is much smoother. Get the 109 brake version if you can. Very reliable engine, I know someone that drives Limerick to Cork with it everyday and never misses a beat

bazz26

mac09 wrote: »

yeah i no a friend paid a good bit more than that altho the online calculator obviously doesnt always match what has to be paid but i find its a good rough guide

so you found the ghia a good car to drive anyway

The Focus is a very good car to drive indeed. My only complaint is cabin noise. It is very noticable in the Focus especially with a diesel engine. You really know you are doing 70mph on a motorway. That is the one thing Ford could improve on with the next Focus. But that might be norm for cars of this size?

In comparison though I have a Volvo S40 now with the same diesel engine and at 70mph the cabin noise is better insulated which makes a bit difference as you don't feel like your travelling at that speed.

445279.ie

Have a 1.8 TDCI now - fabulous car

Had a 1.6 petrol before that and it was sh*te in comparison

mac09

bazz26 wrote: »

The Focus is a very good car to drive indeed. My only complaint is cabin noise. It is very noticable in the Focus especially with a diesel engine. You really know you are doing 70mph on a motorway. That is the one thing Ford could improve on with the next Focus. But that might be norm for cars of this size?

In comparison though I have a Volvo S40 now with the same diesel engine and at 70mph the cabin noise is better insulated which makes a bit difference as you don't feel like your travelling at that speed.

interesting you should say that as the noise factor is in a lot of reviews and i have heard it first hand also. i testdrove a 1.6 tdci and found it extremely noisy on acceleration but ok when crusiing. it was very offputting and i actually felt it mite be something to do with the engine in that particular car. needless to say i didnt buy it buy i will be looking at another one this week and will be able to judge the noise on acceleratio better then

mac09

thanks for all the replies guys. so in summation the 1.6 is more refined more modern and an all round better engine. there appears to be a glut of 1.8 for sale at the moment rather than the 1.6 hence my question. think that i will stick with going for the 1.6 rather than the 1.8 based on the comments i received here and elsewhere