Changing car advice

goodlad

Hey everyone,

Im looking to change my car.
What im after is a saloon, diesel engine since i commute about 50 kilometers each way to work. Im also going to have my first child very soon so a car with a big boot would be nice!

Currently im driving a 2003 ford focus 1.4 lx.
I have rang a lot of places about a trade in price but the best offer i have gotten is only 3k!! A few places only offered 2k!

My max budget would be absolute max 4k + Trade in price.

Im having difficulty finding something that fits within my budget.
You guys any suggestions?

OldmanMondeo

For that type of milage it would not be worth you while getting a diesel, it is only about 24,000 klm a year. If you not in a hurry, sell the focus and get a better deal as a cash customer.

With the babay on the way I would say look for a hatchback, like a Mondeo/Avensis. Easier to get all the baby stuff into the boot.

colm_mcm

€4k will get you loads of petrol. (nearly 2.5 years of commuting in fact)

trad

Why would you want to put the baby in the boot?

goodlad

Thanks for the replies.
Well that milage is just from getting to and from work.

I would also do a fair bit of driving at weekends and some evenings.

Changing isnt purely down to the petrol, its also because i find the focus i currently have really god damn slow with no power in it! It absolutely wrecks my head.

I figure, if im going to change i should at least be getting a diesel instead of another petrol.

OldmanMondeo

The Focus you have is the 1.4 isn't it... They are so slow it is not funny. I had a 1.8 Mondeo Zetec Petrol, 125Bhp, compared to the 90Bhp(?) of the Focus was certainly quicker and was probably better economically as the Focus.

The Missus had a Focus 1.4 and they are a heap. I also had the 1.6 Focus and it is much better.

The other thing to consider is the boot on the Focus to to small. Try get a load of shopping and a buggy into the boot!

Regarding the Milage, 24k klms is only around 15K miles per year. Add on the extra you will do weekends and evenings, your proabably only looking at 18k per year. Once baby arrives, you would have the enegry to drive anywhere...

goodlad

Yeah the focus i have is 1.4
And i agree, its really slow.

Trying to overtake on the motorway its pretty difficult at times caus its like the car has nothing left in it once i hit 100kmh.

I see what you guys are saying about the milage.
But even if i take the mileage out of the reason to change i still want to change because im sick of this focus.

I like the look of the focus, so i wouldnt say no to another focus but with a bigger engine.

OldmanMondeo

See if you can get the newer shaped focus in a hatchback in 1.6. That will do the job. The boot is bigger than the previous model. If not a Focus, I think you might have to go up a class into the Mondeo/Avensis bracket, or consider the Octavia get a 1.6 minium and your laughing, hugh boot and should have a bit of poke.