Ford focus petrol 1.6ltr

hertz

Hi

I'm thinking of getting a newer used car in the next 6 months, just want to save a bit more first. I was thinking of a Ford Focus petrol (don't do the miles to justify a diesel) and looked at
bringing it in from the UK.
I was looking at a few Ford dealers online in the UK and noticed that for 2008,2009,2010 models they are almost all 1.6ltr rather than 1.4ltr. In Ireland similar models are mostly 1.4ltr.
Apart from the tax being a little higher in Ireland why aren't dealers getting in these 1.6 ltr models? I wondering if I did get a 1.6ltr is there some other nasty cost I'm missing? Again, I don't do the miles for diesel
and wouldn't mind the extra poke a 1.6 petrol would give you.

Anyone else noticed this or have some insight?

Kev_2012

I have a 2007 one. Bought it with 90k on the clock. Great car. Have it about a year now. Try get the connection model. Comes with alloys, all electric windows, bluetooth handfree kit, keyless entry etc.etc. My one is an irish car BTW

Nice bit of poke in em, (1.4 is very slow and uses as much fuel because its not powerful enough.), and after 15k miles, mine has never given trouble. Best of luck!

Leonard Hofstadter

Well people in the UK aren't as stupid as their counterparts on this side of the water and buy cars with engines that can actually move you at more than a snail's pace. People here spend thousands more to buy a car that will save them a euro a week on car tax - madness really!

On a more serious note though, since 2008 there is NO difference between the tax of a 1.4 and 1.6 petrol Focus, since it's all done on emissions. If I was going to the UK to bring in a Focus after 2008, I would get a 2.0 diesel, lower tax than a 1.4 or 1.6 petrol, but lots more power and you'll still have some hope of being able to sell it on over here in diesel-obsessed Ireland.

bazz26

Afaik they never sold the last generation Focus in 1.4 litre in the UK, 1.6 litre was the smallest petrol engine available as they were similar to tax. The 1.4 litre only had 80bhp and really feels underpowered.

Just remember that on the new Co2 over here a 2008/2009/2010 Focus 1.6 litre petrol will cost the same to tax as a 1.4 litre version of the same vintage. For that reason alone I would go with the 1.6 litre, it will also have more poke. Also in the UK there were 2 versions of the 1.6 litre available throughout the Focus range. The basic 100bhp 16v version and the more fuel efficent 115bhp Ti-vct version.

hertz

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Guys, captainspeed mentioned 'diesel obsessed ireland': do you think there would be trouble selling the petrol focus on? there's still alot to be said for petrol cars. Or are people blinded by the fashionable notion of diesel regardless of the milage they do?

Henry Ford III

hertz wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Guys, captainspeed mentioned 'diesel obsessed ireland': do you think there would be trouble selling the petrol focus on? there's still alot to be said for petrol cars. Or are people blinded by the fashionable notion of diesel regardless of the milage they do?

Bingo.

In 2008 the petrol market here tanked. People paid thousands to buy a new low tax diesel.

ardmacha

Guys, captainspeed mentioned 'diesel obsessed ireland': do you think there would be trouble selling the petrol focus on?

It is hard to say exactly what motortax regime will be in place in 2 or 3 years time. How long do you plan to keep the car?

Leonard Hofstadter

hertz wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Guys, captainspeed mentioned 'diesel obsessed ireland': do you think there would be trouble selling the petrol focus on? there's still alot to be said for petrol cars. Or are people blinded by the fashionable notion of diesel regardless of the milage they do?

Well I think it will be hard to sell on, people have it in their brains that they need a diesel irrespective of whether or not they actually need one.

If you're importing the VRT will be much higher on a petrol engine as well, since petrols have higher emissions and VRT is based on emissions.

Diesels are not good for people who do mostly town driving, but sure it's well worth spending a grand to fix a DPF or DMF so that you can save 100 euro a year in car tax:rolleyes:.

The Focus that was introduced last year actually has very fuel efficient petrol engines - the 1.6 is in band B, the sameas a lot of diesels, but I suspect if you're considering 08s and the likes that it is out of your budget.

MuppetCheck

If you are going the petrol route try and get a titanium or ghia, although the fake wood of the ghia is sickening to look at daily. The engine in those models is more powerful and fuel efficient than the zetec or style models. It was possible to get this in lower specifications in the UK.

bazz26

The 115bhp 1.6 litre engine was available in all bar the base model Focus in the UK afaik.

Idbatterim

the 1.4 is an absolute joke of an engine!

Idbatterim

In 2008 the petrol market here tanked. People paid thousands to buy a new low tax diesel.

correct, people paid thousands in depreciation & loan interest per year, to save hundreds in tax (and all for the privilege of driving around **** boxes)

Henry Ford III

bazz26 wrote: »

The 115bhp 1.6 litre engine was available in all bar the base model Focus in the UK afaik.

I've owned both the 100bhp and 115bhp versions. There isn't much difference in driving or economy in the real world tbh.

fergiesfolly

I have exactly the same car as Kev 2012 above.
Bought it from new and have never had a moments bother in the 5+ years since.
Was tempted by the new model at the start of the year, but was offered so little for my own, I knocked it on the head. And now I'm happy to drive into the ground over the next few years.
Resale on petrol cars is crap, but fecked if I'm buying a diesel.