New car - what would you change to?

NIMAN

Currently drive a 2010 Ford Focus 1.6 diesel and thinking of changing in the coming months, but can't decide what to go for. Hoping to change to a 2012/13 as I like to keep it fresh in terms of age.

Currently considering a Nissan Leaf, Ford Focus 1.0 petrol, VW Golf 1.2 TSi.

I have started to lose interest in diesels due to all the reading I have been doing on DPF, DMFs etc, and these new small petrol engines are attractive.

I currently drive this car about 12,000 - 13,000 miles annually and most of this is spent doing my daily 50 miles commute, so I don't think I really need a diesel that badly, although I was considering the 1.6TDi Golf or another 1.6 TDCi Focus too.

Any thoughts? We have a 2nd car as well, so the Leaf is a viable prospect for me as well, and I am tempted by it.

noelf

I assume you will trade the 10 focus for new car so cost to change will be a deciding factor on what you go for ...

NIMAN

noelf wrote: »

I assume you will trade the 10 focus for new car so cost to change will be a deciding factor on what you go for ...

Well might try to sell privately ... but not sure yet.

Thing is, the 3 cars I listed are all in and around the same sort of price, so it should be a similar cost to change to any of them.

ba_barabus

NIMAN wrote: »

1.2 TSi.

I drive a Yeti fitted with the 105BHP version of this engine regularly enough and I really like it.

One thing I will say is that you will notice a substantial increase in your fuel cost. Don't get me wrong, it's nice and nippy and will surprise you but economical it is not. If you can live with that small fact I'd highly recommend test driving one and deciding for yourself. It will surprise you.

I'd imagine it's the same with the Focus 1L.

Gumbo

I'd consider the leaf. If I had the financial backing is buy electric tomorrow.
Would depend if you had access to a charger in work or on route or maybe the new leaf could do 100 miles per day, can it?

NIMAN

Reading reviews of the 1.0 Focus and 1.2 Golf their impressive MPGs figures were mentioned quite a bit, so I thought they would be around the mid 40s in terms of MPG in the real world. I would be getting more (maybe 50-55mpg) from my diesel Focus.

I realise that smaller engines may have to be pushed harder and as such will use more fuel, but these engines are meant to be the future of engine technology, or so I was lead to believe!


@ kceire, well my commute each day is a total of 50 miles, so I would not even need a charger at work, but I am sure if I asked at work they would find a plug for me to use (assuming I got the charger that uses the ordinary 13amp plug).

Many people raise an eyebrow when I mention the LEaf, but it would fit in with my lifestyle and commuting requirements, so it is getting serious thought.

ba_barabus

NIMAN wrote: »

Reading reviews of the 1.0 Focus and 1.2 Golf their impressive MPGs figures were mentioned quite a bit, so I thought they would be around the mid 40s in terms of MPG in the real world!

I'd say 40-44mpg is achievable in normal mixed driving. Anything more is a myth in my experience. Push it on and you'll see 38mpg.........

The Yeti we have has covered a massive 8000km's in just under 12 months so diesel wasn't an option. I genuinely love driving it however and for it's size it has lots of usable power. But economy isn't a strong point.

MuppetCheck

Have you looked at the new Mazda 3? Looks to be a cracker, three year warranty, nice spec and choice of petrol or diesel.

It's a light car too meaning the engines are under less pressure.