2008 Focus v Golf

DylanII

Im considering a 2008ish 1.6 tdci Focus or a 2006/7 1.9/2.0 tdi Golf.

What would be the better car?

I drive about 20,000 miles per year about 40% motorway if I were to take a guess. I would prefer lower running costs but not too important. Reliability is important.

Im a 19 year old male, so no children or need for much space, but I do want a 5 door. Which would be quieter and more comfortable? I would also like to be able to have (or add) an aux cable.

Bpmull

DylanII wrote: »

Im considering a 2008ish 1.6 tdci Focus or a 2006/7 1.9/2.0 tdi Golf.

What would be the better car?

I drive about 20,000 miles per year about 40% motorway if I were to take a guess. I would prefer lower running costs but not too important. Reliability is important.

Im a 19 year old male, so no children or need for much space, but I do want a 5 door. Which would be quieter and more comfortable? I would also like to be able to have (or add) an aux cable.

I have a 2007 focus 1.6tdci. I only have it a month a I like it probably not as quick as a 2.0 golf but not underpowered. As for the aux in I have one ordered and I'm hoping to fit it next weekend so ill let you know how it works out.

tiny timy

personally I find a focus nicer. buy I think the 1.6 engines have more than their fair share of problems.if you can get your hands on a 1.8 then go for it.have a look in the glove box for your aux in.

DylanII

I was looking at the 1.8 but I was told they are older and louder?

tiny timy

I used to have a 1.8 and loved it.lovely handling and response.I dono,but all I ever heard from lads that know their cars was to stay away from a 1.6.

Bpmull

tiny timy wrote: »

personally I find a focus nicer. buy I think the 1.6 engines have more than their fair share of problems.if you can get your hands on a 1.8 then go for it.have a look in the glove box for your aux in.

The biggest problem with the 1.6tdci engine is people arnt capable of using the correct grade of oil when servicing. They take 5w30 fully synthetic oil which is slightly more expensive. The biggest problem with the engine is turbos going again if wrong oil is used such as 10w40 then the oil is too thick to get to the turbo and it is not lubricated. I know plenty of people with focuses 1.6tdci with 250k km plus on them and they have no problem. Op I wouldn't let the engine put me off the car just service it correctly.

Bpmull

DylanII wrote: »

I was looking at the 1.8 but I was told they are older and louder?

You are correct there the 1.8 is Stone Age it's a very old loud ford engine. The 1.6tdci is a newer peugoet Citroen engine. Ill admit there not perfect but no where near as bad as people describe them.

JohnBoy26

Bpmull wrote: »

The biggest problem with the 1.6tdci engine is people arnt capable of using the correct grade of oil when servicing. They take 5w30 fully synthetic oil which is slightly more expensive. The biggest problem with the engine is turbos going again if wrong oil is used such as 10w40 then the oil is too thick to get to the turbo and it is not lubricated. I know plenty of people with focuses 1.6tdci with 250k km plus on them and they have no problem. Op I wouldn't let the engine put me off the car just service it correctly.

They are scrap, even with the correct maintainence and the correct low ash oil they still give bother. The 1.8 is the way to go imo.

JohnBoy26

DylanII wrote: »

I was looking at the 1.8 but I was told they are older and louder?

Apart from dmf problems they are fairly reliable and are certainatly better than the 1.6 pug unit.

tiny timy

if you are going to be doing the big mileage and carrying stuff you need the bigger engine. the focus isn't a small car by any means and needs a bit of power in it. it's up to the op,but for the sake of a few more quidi'd spend it and be happy with the purchase instead of going cheap and regretting

osheen

Bpmull wrote: »

The biggest problem with the 1.6tdci engine is people arnt capable of using the correct grade of oil when servicing. They take 5w30 fully synthetic oil which is slightly more expensive. The biggest problem with the engine is turbos going again if wrong oil is used such as 10w40 then the oil is too thick to get to the turbo and it is not lubricated. I know plenty of people with focuses 1.6tdci with 250k km plus on them and they have no problem. Op I wouldn't let the engine put me off the car just service it correctly.

+1 on this . I too have a focus 110hp 1.6 tdci with over 180k kms on it only prob i've had is the power steering went . A lot of the issues around this 1.6 psa engine are down to the huge numbers of them out there. its an engine that puegeout sold to everyone so lots of people have heard of issues with it but in reality it probably affects less than 1%.

JohnBoy26

Bpmull wrote: »

You are correct there the 1.8 is Stone Age it's a very old loud ford engine. The 1.6tdci is a newer peugoet Citroen engine. Ill admit there not perfect but no where near as bad as people describe them.

The 1.8 is no where near as bad as you make out. It is a more reliable engine than the 1.6 and isn't much louder either tbh.

Bpmull

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

They are scrap, even with the correct maintainence and the correct low ash oil they still give bother. The 1.8 is the way to go imo.

It's amazing because my mechanic has a contract to service 9 2007 focus vans 1.6tdci and most have over 200k km and he services them every 20k km and none of them have ever given any turbo trouble or any real trouble and he thinks they are a great engine. I'm sure they eventually give trouble. I serviced mine last week and it is running perfect no sludgy oil or anything. There is 108k km on mine which I consider very low. As for the above mechanic he is head mechanic for a garage that has 6 franchises I take his opinion highly he is not your usual mechanic. I'm not trying to say your wrong but scrap is a strong word to use. Plenty of them going around with 300k km on them specially 2005-2006 vans.

Mc Love

Try and get a 110bhp 1.6TDCI instead of the crap 90/5bhp they sell here if you can, there is a good bit of a difference