Opinions appreciated on a couple of cars !!

skerryman

Hi all, think I have finally narrowed my search down to two cars after much searching. Its between a 2004 Corrolla (T3) and a 2005 Focus with body kit etc. Just wondering if anyone has opinions on what would be a better buy. The Corrolla is a year older and a tad more expensive but they generally fetch more than the Focus from what I can see. Links are below and and advice is greatly appreciated as always.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Corolla/1.4-T3/201048200388043/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/1.4-Body/201110201565199/advert?channel=CARS

Thanks

johnos1984

I think Francie is taking the piss with the price of that Corolla.

Focus this time for me

skerryman

From what I can tell I can whittle him down to close to the price of the Focus so their in the same ballpark (about €250 more for the Corrola)

-Corkie-

johnos1984 wrote: »

I think Francie is taking the piss with the price of that Corolla.

Focus this time for me

Focus would be my choice aswell. Pity its a 1.4 though they are better than the Corolla and nicer to drive.

andyseadog

johnos1984 wrote: »

I think Francie is taking the piss with the price of that Corolla.

Focus this time for me

x2...

i have toyota tattooed on my arse, but the focus hands down there.

EPM

I'd actually chose the Corolla in this instance. Better engine and that particular model were a decent car - one of the few decent cars the company has made in recent times.

Plus that bodykit on the Focus is horrible and the engine a joke.

skerryman

EPM wrote: »

I'd actually chose the Corolla in this instance. Better engine and that particular model were a decent car - one of the few decent cars the company has made in recent times.

Plus that bodykit on the Focus is horrible and the engine a joke.

How do you mean the engine is a joke? Body kit looks nicer in person than in the pics I think anyway. Drove both and the Corolla does seem a tad nippier (both are 1.4L) both nice drive I though.

EPM

skerryman wrote: »

How do you mean the engine is a joke? Body kit looks nicer in person than in the pics I think anyway. Drove both and the Corolla does seem a tad nippier (both are 1.4L) both nice drive I though.

The corolla has about 25% more power than the Focus.

Bodykit is a matter of personal opinion I suppose.

skerryman

EPM wrote: »

The corolla has about 25% more power than the Focus.

Bodykit is a matter of personal opinion I suppose.

Corolla felt more torqy (probably not even a word). But other than the power difference is there anything glaringly wrong with Focus engines I should know about

squod

skerryman wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Corolla/1.4-T3/201048200388043/advert?channel=CARS

€6,900

7 grand for a wha ? Jaysus !

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1919736

skerryman

squod wrote: »

7 grand for a wha ? Jaysus !

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1919736

I'm hoping to get him down to €5750 or maybe €5500. Can get the Focus for €5500. Its only been NCT'd this month too (the focus)

Lavattack

EPM wrote: »

I'd actually chose the Corolla in this instance. Better engine and that particular model were a decent car - one of the few decent cars the company has made in recent times.

Plus that bodykit on the Focus is horrible and the engine a joke.

I totally disagree with you and ive owned 3 corolla's. They are a decent car now dont get me wrong but there is no NCT on the Corolla and there is almost 2 years on the Focus. If you are recommending that he buy a car with no NCT then you shouldnt offer advice in my opinion.

Id ring up the and offer 5k cash for that Focus if I was you mate. But for 5k id also consider getting a diesal as you can pick up a nice one for that cash.

skerryman

Lavattack wrote: »

I totally disagree with you and ive owned 3 corolla's. They are a decent car now dont get me wrong but there is no NCT on the Corolla and there is almost 2 years on the Focus. If you are recommending that he buy a car with no NCT then you shouldnt offer advice in my opinion.

Id ring up the and offer 5k cash for that Focus if I was you mate. But for 5k id also consider getting a diesal as you can pick up a nice one for that cash.

HE said he'd NCT the Corolla before he let it out. 5K would be suit me better, might go in with my bargaining face on.

Lavattack

skerryman wrote: »

HE said he'd NCT the Corolla before he let it out. 5K would be suit me better, might go in with my bargaining face on.

Tell him that all you can afford is 5k and if he sdays no walk away and see if he calls back. Alternatively for similar money check this car out

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1981845

I have drove one of these myself for a year or so and must say they are fantastic. Timing belt just done also which is a good thing as thats about 800 in these cars

You should be able knock a few hundred off that also. maybe offer 4600 or so and see how it goes

bazz26

OP, that Corolla is very expensive for a 04. Here is a 06 for not much more money, 1.6 is alot nipper too:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201109201426632

skerryman

Lavattack wrote: »

Tell him that all you can afford is 5k and if he sdays no walk away and see if he calls back. Alternatively for similar money check this car out

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1981845

I have drove one of these myself for a year or so and must say they are fantastic. Timing belt just done also which is a good thing as thats about 800 in these cars

My brother has had a few Passat's and swears by them. Looking for something a bit smaller for myself though, its a first car purchase so Passat is too big at the minute.

Lavattack

Also if you want to stay with one of your own choices here is a better corolla for a better price mate

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1981499

OldmanMondeo

If it was me, I would go for the Focus, I think it looks better than the Corolla. Yes the Corolla is "the best built car in the world", but the Focus gives very little trouble, mainly the coil packs, which can be picked up cheaply and can be changed by yourself.

Lavattack

skerryman wrote: »

My brother has had a few Passat's and swears by them. Looking for something a bit smaller for myself though, its a first car purchase so Passat is too big at the minute.

Ya well a passat maybe a little quick for 1st car. I had 5 1.4l cars before i went for the passat and even then was very powerful but I had a top end one

Check out done deal mate cos they normally have very good offers and make sure you go back pages cos if people arent selling cars they will drop their asking price to see if they can get an offer from ya. Alway knock off about 15% of the asking price and offer that.

Lavattack

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

If it was me, I would go for the Focus, I think it looks better than the Corolla. Yes the Corolla is "the best built car in the world", but the Focus gives very little trouble, mainly the coil packs, which can be picked up cheaply and can be changed by yourself.

Agreed and I was told when buying my 1st corolla thats its as hard to break a corolla engine as it is to take a sh!t through your bellybutton......ive sent 2 to the scrapyard

Also one last bonus with the focus..... If you life up the little panel holding the cloth on gearstick there is an empty space with a piece you can lift out for a very secure little spot if hiding anything small may come in handy.

skerryman

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

If it was me, I would go for the Focus, I think it looks better than the Corolla. Yes the Corolla is "the best built car in the world", but the Focus gives very little trouble, mainly the coil packs, which can be picked up cheaply and can be changed by yourself.

I did notice a bit of what looked like condensation around where the spare wheel is in the boot. You know if thats something to worry about? I'm thinking it might be just cos its been quite cold the last few nights, but I did google it and a few hits came up on similar incidences with Focuses.

skerryman

Lavattack wrote: »

Ya well a passat maybe a little quick for 1st car. I had 5 1.4l cars before i went for the passat and even then was very powerful but I had a top end one

Check out done deal mate cos they normally have very good offers and make sure you go back pages cos if people arent selling cars they will drop their asking price to see if they can get an offer from ya. Alway knock off about 15% of the asking price and offer that.

Cheers mate, I did get him down from €5999 to €5500 but hoping to chance haggling again if I arrive with cold hard cash in my hand.

Lavattack

Cool, well hope it work out for ya lad. Going by your name I assume your from Kerry and there are some bad roads around the place so take yer time

Im from north Kerry and they are certainly bad up my way anyway

Mc Love

From the 2 cars in the OP's 1st post - I would take the focus

EPM

Lavattack wrote: »

If you are recommending that he buy a car with no NCT then you shouldnt offer advice in my opinion.

It's pretty obvious that a seller would be NCTing the car as is the norm, especially with it being an import and will have to go to the NCT centre anyway regarding the VRT. But I'm sure you already knew that when offering opinion;)

dharn

focus for me too much nicer looking car

Lavattack

EPM wrote: »

It's pretty obvious that a seller would be NCTing the car as is the norm, especially with it being an import and will have to go to the NCT centre anyway regarding the VRT. But I'm sure you already knew that when offering opinion;)

The seller or the OP hadnt mentioned it which i took to mean he wouldnt be doing the NCT. Even so you have to agree that its way overpriced. And even if he does put it through the NCT its still gonna be the focus when everything is considered.

If you look at a later post there that I put in its a link to a similar Corolla that is in mint condition tbh for a lot less money also

EPM

Lavattack wrote: »

The seller or the OP hadnt mentioned it which i took to mean he wouldnt be doing the NCT. Even so you have to agree that its way overpriced. And even if he does put it through the NCT its still gonna be the focus when everything is considered.

If you look at a later post there that I put in its a link to a similar Corolla that is in mint condition tbh for a lot less money also

Completely agree with it being over priced. But as they get leggy I'd still chose the Toyota. I had a 1.4 Focus and IMO they are dangerously underpowered.

Plus the Auris was a major step backwards from that model Corolla.

skerryman

I've had a few people tell me the Focus are a tad underpowered, didn't seem like that to me although the Corolla felt nippier. So about 50:50 between the two cars so far. Gonna have another look at the Focus tomorrow and hopefully come to a decision, I've about three weeks to play with before I need to get a car sorted so maybe bide my time. Any other opinions/ advice welcome, should I go for the Focus or wait a couple weeks. Thanks for all the input so far, Boards rocks !!!

Compton

that focus looks decent but note this

the colour is horrible and red is quite hard to resell, and it goes pink..

the alloys look rediculous on it... body kit seems subtle enough.

you should get a good bit off the price of it.

Lavattack

Well whichever you choose mate, use those 3 weeks to bring the price down. Play hard ball with em if time is on your side.

And as far as the underpowered critics go, its not something I was aware of but given its a first time driver that may be a better choice as one cant use power that one doesnt have. Anyway im in no way an expert but also mate one more time have a look around as tbh id buy neither of them for the money they want but its your cash at the end of the day.

One last one to take a look at for ya. Its another focus that just did the NCT a week ago and was minded and that can be seen

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1945346

redsteveireland

I'll only give you one piece of advice. Don't buy a red car.
(i have a red car and the colour is starting to change)

fonecrusher1

bazz26 wrote: »

OP, that Corolla is very expensive for a 04. Here is a 06 for not much more money, 1.6 is alot nipper too:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201109201426632

What he said.^

That focus has a fairly poor 78bhp output & a 0 - 60 of not far off 14 seconds. Im sorry but those figures combined with the sporty look of the car is a big no no as far as im concerned. A sheep in wolfs clothing.

I'd go for the 1.4 corolla if i had to but personally i'd go for the 1.6vvti corolla. Quick enough yoke i'd say. I have a 1.4vvti corolla which has a fairly decent turn of speed so i'd say a later 1.6vvti would be a hoot.

What about a 1.6 focus?

skerryman

fonecrusher1 wrote: »

What he said.^

That focus has a fairly poor 78bhp output & a 0 - 60 of not far off 14 seconds. Im sorry but those figures combined with the sporty look of the car is a big no no as far as im concerned. A sheep in wolfs clothing.

I'd go for the 1.4 corolla if i had to but personally i'd go for the 1.6vvti corolla. Quick enough yoke i'd say. I have a 1.4vvti corolla which has a fairly decent turn of speed so i'd say a later 1.6vvti would be a hoot.

What about a 1.6 focus?

I know what you mean about the wolf in sheeps clothing. Didn't seem very underpowered when I drove it but was only a quick test spin so hard to tell. Kinda limited to a 1.4-1.5 cos of insurance costs. The Corolla is a 1.4 vvti, the missus took one for a test spin (she has a 1999 Corolla G6) and was convinced it was a bigger than a 1.4 engine until we asked. Edging towards holding out for the Corolla at this point I think and there's a few around so might wait and see what pops up.

Nonoperational

Lavattack wrote: »

Tell him that all you can afford is 5k and if he sdays no walk away and see if he calls back. Alternatively for similar money check this car out

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1981845

I have drove one of these myself for a year or so and must say they are fantastic. Timing belt just done also which is a good thing as thats about 800 in these cars

You should be able knock a few hundred off that also. maybe offer 4600 or so and see how it goes

A timing belt with tensioners and water pump is about 400 quid at a main dealer. And a 1.9tdi isn't fast.

Lavattack

gpf101 wrote: »

A timing belt with tensioners and water pump is about 400 quid at a main dealer. And a 1.9tdi isn't fast.

I was talking about a diesal passat and a dealer will charge about 800 for that in a diesal passat.

And also on your not fast comment I have nothing more to say than lol. My passat beat a 1.6 sir saloon civic so when I say they can be fast I mean it.

Absurdum

they're faster than walking, so yeah, you're absolutely right

Nonoperational

A diesel 1.9 Tdi Passat timing belt, tensioners and water pump is around €400-450. Go up north and you'd get it done for €300.
And no a 1.9 tdi is not fast.