07 Ford Focus 1.8 petrol

dodgey69

Hi, looking to upgrade my focus from 1.4 petrol to a 07 Ford Focus 1.8 petrol that is going cheap. Anyone got any reviews on the 1.8 petrol? known issues? will i notice a huge dfference in petrol costs per week? car used to drive about 15 miles a day. any advice much appreciated

bazz26

Thats probably the 1.8 FFV (flex-fuel) engine which means it runs on both unleaded and biethanol fuel (E85). There was no excise duty charged on this isfuel at the time which made it cheap to buy but from 2010/2011 excise duty was added back so sales of these cars and E85 literally dried up afaik.

Maxol were the only fuel producer that offered E85 in Ireland and I don't think they sell it here any more due to it no longer being cheaper than normal unleaded. I also heard the FFV engines are quite heavy on juice so the car would really want to be very cheap to consider buying it imo.

dodgey69

bazz26 wrote: »

Thats probably the 1.8 FFV (flex-fuel) engine which means it runs on both unleaded and biethanol fuel (E85). There was no excise duty charged on this isfuel at the time which made it cheap to buy but from 2010/2011 excise duty was added back so sales of these cars and E85 literally dried up afaik.

Maxol were the only fuel producer that offered E85 in Ireland and I don't think they sell it here any more due to it no longer being cheaper than normal unleaded. I also heard the FFV engines are quite heavy on juice so the car would really want to be very cheap to consider buying it imo.

Yeah it's the flexi fuel one alright. Looking at 3700 for an 07 one. Any idea on how much tax is on it. Would I be better sticking with an 1.4 or 1.6 litre focus? Also considering the new model mondeo 1.8 diesel or 1.6 petrol?

bazz26

dodgey69 wrote: »

Yeah it's the flexi fuel one alright. Looking at 3700 for an 07 one. Any idea on how much tax is on it. Would I be better sticking with an 1.4 or 1.6 litre focus? Also considering the new model mondeo 1.8 diesel or 1.6 petrol?

It is cheap for a relatively new car but given that nobody sells E85 fuel here anymore its unique selling point or purpose is no longer there. Tax will be the same as any other pre 2008 1.8 litre engine at circa €600 per year. It will run on standard unleaded petrol afaik but they are not the most frugal compared to other 1.8 litre engines so when the Government added back the excess duty there was no incentive to buy one which will make them hard to sell on too.

Do the maths but I think a 1.6 litre Focus would probably make more sense long term. Yes, you probably will not buy it at that price but when you take into account total running costs and resale, they will probably work out less than the 1.8 litre FFV.

Regarding the Mondeo, unless you do a fair bit of driving (over 15k miles per year) then I don't see the point in buying any diesel car as they cost a premium over a similar petrol model, unless you rack up the miles you will not see that return at the pump. I'd also avoid the 1.6 petrol Mondeo. The Mondeo is a big heavy car, the 1.6 litre is underpowered, slow as a wet week and fuel economy suffers as you have to rev the nuts out of it to get it moving.

Bigus

Take it for an extended 1 week test drive and see for your self, garage might agree

@ 15 miles a day I think the saving in capital costs outweigh the e straight fuel cost And depreciation which has been suffered by the last owner.