Looking for new car focus vs astra

canhefixit

Hi all,

Im looking at buying an 05 1.4 focus or astra and am unsure which to go for, has many on here got either of these cars and can sure some wisdom?

Im going for the 1.4 for insurance and tax reasons so im kinda limited but if anyone could suggest anyother car fire away

cheers

JohnBoy26

canhefixit wrote: »

Hi all,

Im looking at buying an 05 1.4 focus or astra and am unsure which to go for, has many on here got either of these cars and can sure some wisdom?

Im going for the 1.4 for insurance and tax reasons so im kinda limited but if anyone could suggest anyother car fire away

cheers

The focus is slow and underpowered and the astra has a very cheap interior.

Imo a Toyota Corolla is a better car than both and is more reliable and cheaper to run and maintain.

Another good car is a honda civic(in saloon form) as with the corolla these are also cheap to run and maintain and are also very reliable. Just make sure it's a saloon, the hatch aren'nt as reliable.

Miseryguts

I would recommend stretching the budget for the Golf.Unbelievable comfort and reliability.

JohnBoy26

Miseryguts wrote: »

I would recommend stretching the budget for the Golf.Unbelievable comfort and reliability.

You are joking right? A 1.4 Golf has one the softest engines of any of the 1.4s, it's also one of the slowest and most underpowered. They are best avoided imo.

will.i.am

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

You are joking right? A 1.4 Golf has one the softest engines of any of the 1.4s, it's also one of the slowest and most underpowered. They are best avoided imo.

But Corolla's are gay!

martyc5674

I'd suggest going for the focus in 1.6.
It's not going to cost much more to tax or insure and will be way nicer to drive than any of the above.

Marty.

JohnBoy26

will.i.am wrote: »

But Corolla's are gay!

I don't know what you are doing in this thread when you can't give constuctive and helpful advice to the op, instead of the childish giberish you posted.

Apart from being a little bland there is nothing wrong with a Corolla. It certainly has far better performance and reliability than any 1.4 Golf.

will.i.am

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

I don't know what you are doing in this thread when you can't give constuctive and helpful advice to the op, instead of the childish giberish you posted.

Apart from being a little bland there is nothing wrong with a Corolla. It certainly has far better performance and reliability than any 1.4 Golf.

Just to let you know the correct spelling for constuctive is constructive and giberish is spelt gibberish.

Back on topic now I would recommend a 1.6 Focus or a 1.4 Golf/Astra. I would try and avoid the 1.4 focus simply because it's dull.
PS: I still think the Corolla is gay!

ian87

A 3 door Astra is a far and away nicer car to be. I wouldn't be bothered by a focus personally. I've had a 1.4 golf before and a 1.9 tdi. Both 05. Comfy enough but Christ me the 1.4 is slow. Fuel pump went, elec windows were dodgy, coil pack problems, amongst other things I cant really remember. Avoid unless a diesel.

canhefixit

Thanks for the feedback folks!

I have been told the 1.4 Focus was sluggish is it the same in the mk2 though?

The Astra looks good but I havent driven or been in a newer one yet, is it sluggish in 1.4 also? I had an astra years ago a 1.4 it was very sluggish and very heavy on petrol but there was big miles on it too if that made a difference.

The Corolla is a possibility i just thought the focus or astra looked a bit trendier but if it was a far better car i might well go for it instead..

I want a 1.4 max engine to keep motoring costs down, im changing from a 2005 2.0 tdci diesel Mondeo and with my job i am not on the road any more so mileage will be a lot less and a lot less things to go wrong on a smaller petrol engine as the mondeo was never out of the garage recently if it wasnt injectors or the turbo it was the flywheel or something else...ah well got all fixed and through test and now up for sale!

JohnBoy26

will.i.am wrote: »

Just to let you know the correct spelling for constuctive is constructive and giberish is spelt gibberish.

Back on topic now I would recommend a 1.6 Focus or a 1.4 Golf/Astra. I would try and avoid the 1.4 focus simply because it's dull.
PS: I still think the Corolla is gay!

I wasn't aware that this was a spelling contest, as I am typing from a phone Im not putting much emphasis on how I spell things, rather to get my point across.

Tbh you don't seem to have a clue about cars, you call a Corolla" gay " and then go onto recommend a 1.4 Golf, one of/ if not the most underpowered and unreliable cars in it's class with one of the softest engines around.

will.i.am

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

I wasn't aware that this was a spelling contest, as I am typing from a phone Im not putting much emphasis on how I spell things, rather to get my point across.

Tbh you don't seem to have a clue about cars, you call a Corolla" gay " and then go onto recommend a 1.4 Golf, one of/ if not the most underpowered and unreliable cars in it's class with one of the softest engines around.

Underpowered is two words not one you should have wrote this Under powered.

This is simple you like the Corrolla and I would prefer a
1. Golf.
2. Focus.
3. Astra.

I think the Corolla is a bland and boring car and it lacks excitement. Also, the Foucs, Golf and the Astra all have 5 NCAP stars for safety and the Corolla only has 4 stars.

JohnBoy26

canhefixit wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback folks!

I have been told the 1.4 Focus was sluggish is it the same in the mk2 though?

The Astra looks good but I havent driven or been in a newer one yet, is it sluggish in 1.4 also? I had an astra years ago a 1.4 it was very sluggish and very heavy on petrol but there was big miles on it too if that made a difference.

The Corolla is a possibility i just thought the focus or astra looked a bit trendier but if it was a far better car i might well go for it instead..

I want a 1.4 max engine to keep motoring costs down, im changing from a 2005 2.0 tdci diesel Mondeo and with my job i am not on the road any more so mileage will be a lot less and a lot less things to go wrong on a smaller petrol engine as the mondeo was never out of the garage recently if it wasnt injectors or the turbo it was the flywheel or something else...ah well got all fixed and through test and now up for sale!

A 1.4 focus is dynamically superior to the Corolla but the Corolla is a way more nippy with 97bhp and is also more comfortable and more reliable imo.

ba_barabus

Spelling.bee.Champion wrote: »

Underpowered is two words not one you should have wrote this Under powered

Stop being such a tit

ninty9er

If you can find an Astra Elegance it's a much nicer place to be than the base model, I had a 1.6 and I regret getting rid of it.

will.i.am

ba_barabus wrote: »

Stop being such a tit

Stop being such a tit.
Just to let you know you forgot the full stop.

ba_barabus

will.i.am wrote: »

Just to let you know you forgot the full stop.

I would just like to bring it to your attention that sentences begin with a verb.

JohnBoy26

will.i.am wrote: »

Underpowered is two words not one you should have wrote this Under powered.

This is simple you like the Corrolla and I would prefer a
1. Golf.
2. Focus.
3. Astra.

I think the Corolla is a bland and boring car and it lacks excitement. Also, the Foucs, Golf and the Astra all have 5 NCAP stars for safety and the Corolla only has 4 stars.

As I already told you, this is not a spelling contest, its a motors forum, I am typing quickly from a phone. I'm not too bothered about spelling, did you not get that the first time.

No it's not that simple. I am giving the op advice on which car would best suit them with reliability, safety, performance, and low/cheap maintainance at the fore front of my suggestion.

A Corolla may not be that exciting, but it is all of the above and the Golf isn't any of the above bar being safe. Also a 74bhp Golf is hardly exciting itself with it's non existing performance.

What you or I prefer is irrelevant, this is a car for the op and not for me or you.

Capri86

will.i.am wrote: »

Stop being such a tit.
Just to let you know you forgot the full stop.

Give over. You're being ridiculous. I like the focus but I agree it is a bit of a soft engine. The 04 focus 1.6 is actually very under powered too so I'm not sure what the 1.6 2005 model is like.

will.i.am

Capri86 wrote: »

Give over. You're being ridiculous. I like the focus but I agree it is a bit of a soft engine. The 04 focus 1.6 is actually very under powered too so I'm not sure what the 1.6 2005 model is like.

I would recommend a 1.6 focus to because my brother had one but the OP said he wanted to stick to a 1.4 for insurance reasons. So therefore, I would recommend a 1.4 Golf over a 1.4 focus.

dar83

will.i.am wrote: »

Underpowered is two words not one you should have wrote this Under powered.

This is simple you like the Corrolla and I would prefer a
1. Golf.
2. Focus.
3. Astra.

I think the Corolla is a bland and boring car and it lacks excitement. Also, the Foucs, Golf and the Astra all have 5 NCAP stars for safety and the Corolla only has 4 stars.

You think the Corolla is bland and boring, yet put a 1.4 Golf as your number 1 recommendation.

Op I'd try and go for a 1.6 Focus if you're going for a Focus at all, otherwise go for an Astra. I'd leave the 1.4 Golf well alone. Although I'd personally not go near a Corolla either, but that's just for personal taste reasons, it will more than likely be the most reliable and cheap to maintain.

Bluefoam

A 1.4 in this size car of this age is a false economy. It is too small an engine for the size of car and will burn fuel faster, it will be sluggish and parts will wear more quickly due to the fact that the engine has to work harder. At least this is my experience as I did the same... Had a 1.4 focus. BTW, focuses are dynamically very good, but crap interiors and not very exciting. Golfs are overrated and not very reliable, with even worse interiors and are boring as hell. Corollas are for farmers, but good cars, last forever easly to maintain, but boring.

Bottom line, get a 1.6 if you want this size of car.

JohnBoy26

Bluefoam wrote: »

A 1.4 in this size car of this age is a false economy. It is too small an engine for the size of car and will burn fuel faster, it will be sluggish and parts will wear more quickly due to the fact that the engine has to work harder. At least this is my experience as I did the same... Had a 1.4 focus. BTW, focuses are dynamically very good, but crap interiors and not very exciting. Golfs are overrated and not very reliable, with even worse interiors and are boring as hell. Corollas are for farmers, but good cars, last forever easly to maintain, but boring.

Bottom line, get a 1.6 if you want this size of car.

The part of your post where you say things wear quicker in cars with a 1.4 engine compared to larger engines is just nonsense. Not all 1.4s have to work hard. What wears quicker?

Not all 1.4s are sluggish and not all 1.6s have good performance and vice versa. A Corolla 1.4 for example has 97 bhp, A Civic 1.4 has 90bhp, both are not sluggish, A subaru impreza 1.6 only has 88bhp and is as dead as a dodo. Also a 1.6 focus for example has 100bhp that's only 3bhp more than the 1.4 Corolla.

TestTransmission

will.i.am wrote: »

But Corolla's are gay!

will.i.am wrote: »

Just to let you know the correct spelling for constuctive is constructive and giberish is spelt gibberish.

Back on topic now I would recommend a 1.6 Focus or a 1.4 Golf/Astra. I would try and avoid the 1.4 focus simply because it's dull.
PS: I still think the Corolla is gay!

will.i.am wrote: »

Underpowered is two words not one you should have wrote this Under powered.

This is simple you like the Corrolla and I would prefer a
1. Golf.
2. Focus.
3. Astra.

I think the Corolla is a bland and boring car and it lacks excitement. Also, the Foucs, Golf and the Astra all have 5 NCAP stars for safety and the Corolla only has 4 stars.

ba_barabus wrote: »

Stop being such a tit

will.i.am wrote: »

Stop being such a tit.
Just to let you know you forgot the full stop.

ba_barabus wrote: »

I would just like to bring it to your attention that sentences begin with a verb.

Grow up the both of ye.Please don't post in this thread again