Ford Focus...

Zulu

Hi folks,
we've a little one on the way, and her 3 door fiesta is on the way out.
We've decided to trade hers in against a Focus. We reckon the 5door hatch focus would suit us well as a family car. (I've my own car for getting in and out of work) Any points we aren't considering? Anything wrong with this so far??

Her fiesta is a 03 centenary edition. 45K on the clock. We can add another €7K to whatever trade in value we'll get for that. What value bracket Focus should we be looking at? (I was thinking ~10K, would that be right)

I was hoping to get a high-end Focus (is this the "ghia" model?) with relatively low mileage (less than 50K). I'm thinking was should be able to pickup a 08.

Am I totally off the ball on this? Is the Focus a good choice what with boot space for a buggy, low running costs, low maintenance... plan is to buy it, and run it into the ground - cheaply.

Help, advice, welcome

mullingar

If you are planning to drive it for years, dont get a paddy spec. Get a Ghia, Titanium or even a "Climate Zetec" UK spec. and DONT get a 1.4 petrol. Get a 1.6 petrol if you do small mileage or the 1.6 PSA Diesel if highish mileage.

I wouldn't rule out a 07 if there is a huge saving over an 08 as the 07 savings could be used to pay for the higher tax over many years of ownership. Do your sums first to see if its worth your while.

fergiesfolly

Am I reading that right.Three grand for a 03 Fiesta. Think thats optimistic.

mullingar

fergiesfolly wrote: »

Am I reading that right.Three grand for a 03 Fiesta. Think thats optimistic.

I thought that was a bit optimistic too, I reckon a main dealer trade-in price would be around the 2k mark, MAX.

Zulu

fergiesfolly wrote: »

Am I reading that right.Three grand for a 03 Fiesta. Think thats optimistic.

Sure, ...working off the assumption that the advertised price is the absolute rock-bottom non-negotiable price.

I'm working off the assumption that if it's advertised at 10K they'll probably let it go for a bit less though.

Am I off the mark here?

L-M

If you're looking at the Ghia you'll have to buy a 1.6, other than that, buy a 1.4.

Also, actually look at the spec of the car before you going paying a premiuim for a Ghia spec, but at the other end don't buy a bog spec one either.

Zulu

Yeah I've no intention of buying a bog spec if I can help it. I'd rather drop a year to get a better car.

calvin_zola

i have a 08 diesel titanium. There was a significant price difference between 07 and 08 and I couldn't justify buying the 08 here so I got it in the uk for the same price as an 07 here. One thing I would note is that the 1.6 tdci 08 diesel is as good if not better than its predecsors and the previous 1.8 diesel.

They are a great car i am so happy with mine. I average 55 mpg, and if i drove it a little lighter i would get 60mpg

Zulu

calvin_zola wrote: »

i have a 08 diesel titanium. There was a significant price difference between 07 and 08 and I couldn't justify buying the 08 here so I got it in the uk for the same price as an 07 here. One thing I would note is that the 1.6 tdci 08 diesel is as good if not better than its predecsors and the previous 1.8 diesel.

They are a great car i am so happy with mine. I average 55 mpg, and if i drove it a little lighter i would get 60mpg

Can I ask what your VRT ended up costing?

I'd have no problem heading across the water for a better spec, but how does the whole trade in work over there?

Also, this is for short trips, with not too much milage. School runs/shops/traffic etc., I was given to believe that diesel engines weren't the best for that kind of usage, and petrol were better suited? no?

L-M

calvin_zola wrote: »

i have a 08 diesel titanium. There was a significant price difference between 07 and 08 and I couldn't justify buying the 08 here so I got it in the uk for the same price as an 07 here. One thing I would note is that the 1.6 tdci 08 diesel is as good if not better than its predecsors and the previous 1.8 diesel.

They are a great car i am so happy with mine. I average 55 mpg, and if i drove it a little lighter i would get 60mpg

The 1.6 is not better than the 1.8, you've just been lucky!

Zulu wrote: »

Can I ask what your VRT ended up costing?

I'd have no problem heading across the water for a better spec, but how does the whole trade in work over there?

Also, this is for short trips, with not too much milage. School runs/shops/traffic etc., I was given to believe that diesel engines weren't the best for that kind of usage, and petrol were better suited? no?

If you do small mileage stay far away from diesels, the 1.4 petrol will suit you perfectly.

calvin_zola

Zulu wrote: »

Can I ask what your VRT ended up costing?

I'd have no problem heading across the water for a better spec, but how does the whole trade in work over there?

Also, this is for short trips, with not too much milage. School runs/shops/traffic etc., I was given to believe that diesel engines weren't the best for that kind of usage, and petrol were better suited? no?

the car was 8k£, so with the conversion, commission, flight, train, ferry, food, nct and Vrt(1560euro) the car came in at just under 12000euro.

I got the car from carshop.co.uk.... they don't negotiate on price and as they guarantee the lowest prices. They act as resellers for ex fleet, reposessions etc and there cars come with mechanical check and HPI finance cert and check, they guarantee the cars and stand over them for 3 months, you can extend that if you wish. I was sceptical at the start about buying from them, but I suppose they sell 20000+ cars a year they are not in the business of selling write offs etc, and the footfall in the warehouse over there was immense, so I was happy dealing with them. If you are wary you can get an independant assesor from the AA to check the car before you go over for a fee.

I do 300+ miles a week and sometimes 500+ so diesel is a good fit for me. If you are just doing short hops get the petrol, also petrol cars are cheaper over there aswell I believe. If you do go over get the top Spec, it will cost more but its worth it. the amount of people who admire my focus as its better than the paddy spec is strange, I didn't think people would bat an eye lid.

Importing the car is easy, just check the ros.ie vrt calculator, make SURE you get the v5c cert in the uk, and book the car into the NCt VRt check at your local center within a week of the car arriving into ireland and you can clear the car there, you can pay with Visa etc if the cost is under 1499euro. I would suggest you only go as far as wales, liverpool, manchester, leeds/doncaster/london as these are the furthest in my opinion without the trip home becoming tedious. The 7hr P+o liverpool to dublin ferry will save you 100+ miles than going to hollyhead and you will get fed on it and a bed aswell.

Hope that helps, PM me if you need any more infos...

Stallingrad

Limerick man wrote: »

If you do small mileage stay far away from diesels, the 1.4 petrol will suit you perfectly.

That's the best advice you will get all day.

No one in the UK will take your car as a trade in, some do it up North, but they sell back to the South and the prices offered are very low. With sterling the way it is finding a bargain is not as easy as it once was.

If you want a 1.4 you'll be spoilt for choice here.

Henry Ford III

Limerick man wrote: »

The 1.6 is not better than the 1.8, you've just been lucky!

I couldn't agree with that at all.

The 1.6TDCI is smooth, quiet, and has a linear power delivery. Streets ahead of the older 1.8TDCI infact which is harsher, noisier, and has a narrow power band.

It's also a hugely popular engine seeing use in multiple models and makes. With proper maintenance it should be highly reliable too.

Zulu

Is there enough welly in the 1.4?

He fiesta is 1.4, but it's a smaller car. I'd have thought that 1.6 would be the lowest I'd go for....

L-M

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I couldn't agree with that at all.

The 1.6TDCI is smooth, quiet, and has a linear power delivery. Streets ahead of the older 1.8TDCI infact which is harsher, noisier, and has a narrow power band.

It's also a hugely popular engine seeing use in multiple models and makes. With proper maintenance it should be highly reliable too.

Exactly, it's used in plenty of cars and it's as troublesome in every one of them! I know a guy who knows these inside and out now, he'll gladly sell them as he knows how to maintain them. Up until recently even the main dealers didn't know how to solve their problems!

Anyone I know with one has had serious problems with them, I'm in the trade and I hear about these day in day out.

L-M

Zulu wrote: »

Is there enough welly in the 1.4?

He fiesta is 1.4, but it's a smaller car. I'd have thought that 1.6 would be the lowest I'd go for....

1.4 is perfect.

mullingar

Diesel:
The biggest fault with the 1.6d is turbo failures when its poorly maintained. Do oil changes on-time and you wont need to worry about it. Other than that the 1.6d is a much better engine in terms of driveability than the ancient 1.8d and the 1.8d's DMF is near guaranteed to fail around the 100kmile mark.

Petrol:
Personally I would avoid the 1.4p. Horribly under-powered and mpg will suffer. The 1.6p is a better engine and you will get roughly the same economy

Henry Ford III

Limerick man wrote: »

Exactly, it's used in plenty of cars and it's as troublesome in every one of them! I know a guy who knows these inside and out now, he'll gladly sell them as he knows how to maintain them. Up until recently even the main dealers didn't know how to solve their problems!

Anyone I know with one has had serious problems with them, I'm in the trade and I hear about these day in day out.

I've owned 3 vehicles from new with that engine. Never had a single issue with any of them.

When I say proper maintenance I mean regular oil changes with the correct oil. Nothing overly complicated. A 1.6TDCI is not a troublesome engine.

Zulu

mullingar wrote: »

Petrol:
Personally I would avoid the 1.4p. Horribly under-powered and mpg will suffer. The 1.6p is a better engine and you will get roughly the same economy

Humm,thats what I would have thought.

L-M

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I've owned 3 vehicles from new with that engine. Never had a single issue with any of them.

When I say proper maintenance I mean regular oil changes with the correct oil. Nothing overly complicated. A 1.6TDCI is not a troublesome engine.

It's not a simple case of just changing the oil. It's the case of changing the filter lines on the turbo and as far as I know, Main dealers are dropping and cleaning the sump as part of regular maintenance now (ie. every second and third service).

It's perfect to have these as company cars where you can easily service it every 10,000 kms or so, but the Irish just don't do that.

Anywho, the OP doesn't need a diesel so this is irrelevant to them.

Henry Ford III

Limerick man wrote: »

It's not a simple case of just changing the oil. It's the case of changing the filter lines on the turbo and as far as I know, Main dealers are dropping and cleaning the sump as part of regular maintenance now (ie. every second and third service).

It's perfect to have these as company cars where you can easily service it every 10,000 kms or so, but the Irish just don't do that.

Anywho, the OP doesn't need a diesel so this is irrelevant to them.

Service intervals are 20,000kms.

Dealers don't clean out the sump as part of scheduled servicing. There's absolutely no need to do so.

If scheduled servicing is not carried out on time then it might become a possibility.

sheehan12

i would get vw passat 08 1.9tdi not 2.0tdi about 11500 car is way better than a ford

mullingar

Dealers removing sump as part of service? the first I ever heard of that

Nothing on the Ford UK service schedule for that extra work http://www.etis.ford.com/fordservice/serviceScheduleForm.do

mullingar

sheehan12 wrote: »

i would get vw passat 08 1.9tdi not 2.0tdi about 11500 car is way better than a ford

selling one ?

L-M

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Service intervals are 20,000kms.

Dealers don't clean out the sump as part of scheduled servicing. There's absolutely no need to do so.

If scheduled servicing is not carried out on time then it might become a possibility.

mullingar wrote: »

Dealers removing sump as part of service? the first I ever heard of that

Nothing on the Ford UK service schedule for that extra work http://www.etis.ford.com/fordservice/serviceScheduleForm.do

Well, from a very good mechanic friend of mine that has sold more of these than anyone one here, he drops the sump and cleans out the gunk of every one of them he trades in. He was told to do this by a main dealer.

Zulu

So we're agreed that the diesel isn't suitable for our needs anyway?

And I'm inclined to opt for the 1.6 petrol, as i'm thinking I won't enjoy driving the 1.4, and I will end up driving this car weekends and what not... (I used to have a 1.6 MK4 golf, which I enjoyed driving - I found the 1.4 Golf to be under-powered)

In terms of mileage, what should I be limiting myself to? Is 50K too ambitious?

tomcosgrave

Avoid the 1.4 at all costs. The car is too big for the 1.4 and therefore it is underpowered.
Get the 1.6 model, even if it means going for a "paddy spec" of a car.

sheehan12

mullingar wrote: »

selling one ?

no just got one

L-M

Zulu wrote: »

So we're agreed that the diesel isn't suitable for our needs anyway?

And I'm inclined to opt for the 1.6 petrol, as i'm thinking I won't enjoy driving the 1.4, and I will end up driving this car weekends and what not... (I used to have a 1.6 MK4 golf, which I enjoyed driving - I found the 1.4 Golf to be under-powered)

In terms of mileage, what should I be limiting myself to? Is 50K too ambitious?

Mileage wouldn't be of a huge concern once there's a service history, (But obviously don't pay over the odds for one with huge mileage).

If you're going to do low mileage, buy a cheaper, higher mileage one would make sense as the mileage will average out of the course of your years of ownership.

Zulu

...so limit the mileage to say 80K? 100K?

trepasers

whatever you do DONT GO FOR A 1.4 ...I upgraded to the 1.6 and I find it even lighter on petrol than the 1.4... The body is simply to heavy for the 1.4

When I got mine I went for the climate which are hard enough to get in Ireland but well worth it if you can find one

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3509003

As you can see they come with all the extras..Lovely car to drive !

L-M

Is that your Focus?

L-M

Zulu wrote: »

...so limit the mileage to say 80K? 100K?

Kms? Depends on the year, but a cheaper 08 with 100 kms on it wouldn't bother me at all.

Zulu

trepasers wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3509003

As you can see they come with all the extras..Lovely car to drive !

Nice car, shame it's 2 doors too short for us.

Limerick man wrote: »

Kms? Depends on the year, but a cheaper 08 with 100 kms on it wouldn't bother me at all.

Cheers

trepasers

Limerick man wrote: »

Is that your Focus?

yes

L-M

trepasers wrote: »

yes

I'd assume that's why it's better on fuel then, as my aunt has just changed to a 1.6 Focus from a 1.4 and the 1.6 it noticeably heavier.

Bagel

Hope ok to use this thread. Looking at buying an auto car . Have 5k . Also need a hatchback. Doing small journeys but also cart a lot of furniture etc around . Not bothered about year but looking for lowish mileage and hopefully a service history. There are a few in my price range in dealers in Dublin - not sure of diff between ghia and lx spec - All are 1.6 petrol. Any help anyone could give would be much appreciated! Thanks guys.