Honda Civic 1.4 or Ford Focus 1.4?

hdl

Which would be a better choice? Looking for something reliable for a family with 2 kids. Mostly town driving, very little motorway driving. Looking at 2007/08 models.
Thanks in advance.

colm_mcm

Neither will be overly powerful but the civic is 6 speed so will be more bearable.
I have a civic myself and find it massively practical. Interior space would be fairly similar.
Some people find the rear visibility on the civic bad.
If you're looking at 08 get a 1.8 civic as the tax is cheap and they're better equipped and as economical, if not more economical than a 1.4

Kids will prefer the Civic if you get the panoramic glass roof (1.8)

Civics don't have a timing belt either so there's a potential saving there.

bazz26

Both will be fine for getting around town. Civic would probably be marginally better on juice though.

Moneymaker

Neither tbh.

The Focus 1.4 is infamously underpowered and I doubt the Civic is any better.

I've driven a 1.4 Focus and it's not good at all.

Get the 1.6 or 1.8 Civic and you're good to go. Maybe that shortcoming wouldn't be exposed in city driving but yeah, you really need to work the 1.4 hard to get it to move anywhere at all.

The Focus is lovely to drive and very spacious but as colm says the Civic would be a lot more popular with the kids. I've not driven the Civic but i'd be very surprised if its better to drive then the Focus. MPG is very similar and both are very reliable.

You'd pay slightly less for an 08 Focus then a Civic too.

hdl

Thanks for your replies. Now I'm more confused than ever, lol. I had been looking at these as decent mid sized cars, but was looking at the 1.4 to keep the tax cost down. I'm not sure how the new tax system works, so I'll have to check that out too. Might go back and search again and see if anything else catches my eye.

colm_mcm

Find tax rate on any car

Moneymaker

hdl wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. Now I'm more confused than ever, lol. I had been looking at these as decent mid sized cars, but was looking at the 1.4 to keep the tax cost down. I'm not sure how the new tax system works, so I'll have to check that out too. Might go back and search again and see if anything else catches my eye.

I wouldn't worry about tax tbh. 100 quid more a year for a way, way better car you'll be living with everyday is nothing.

hdl

colm_mcm wrote: »

Find tax rate on any car

Thanks very much, much appreciated!

hdl

Moneymaker wrote: »

I wouldn't worry about tax tbh. 100 quid more a year for a way, way better car you'll be living with everyday is nothing.

That's a fair point. When you put it like that it doesn't sound so bad!

naughtysmurf

colm_mcm wrote: »

I have a civic myself and find it massively practical. Interior space would be fairly similar.

Any thoughts on the 2011 & 2012 petrol Civics? Hadn't really considered them before but they are starting to grow on me lately

bazz26

Hyundai i30 is worth a look:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Hyundai/i30/CLASSIC-1.4/201350220360947/

colm_mcm

naughtysmurf wrote: »

Any thoughts on the 2011 & 2012 Civics? Hadn't really considered them before but they are starting to grow on me lately

They're kinda growing on me too but overall I think they ballsed it up looks wise.

sawdoubters

civic will be more reliable

naughtysmurf

They are having a funny effect on me, the more I look at them the nicer they get

hdl

bazz26 wrote: »

Hyundai i30 is worth a look:

Someone actually recommended these to me already and I had a look, but none available on any sites in the south/south east area.

fonecrusher1

Civic all day.

Have a 07 saloon civic. Very good car with a lot of kit standard (can you even get cruise control in a focus of that year?!). Forget the 1.4 if you go for a 2008. 1.8 Vtec is a great unit and not a lot heavier on fuel than the smaller engine.

1.4 focus is reliable but horribly lethargic.

bazz26

Any of these close to you:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/08-hyundai-i30-1-4-petrol-/6382769

Kia Ceed is the i30's sister car:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/kia-ceed-1-4-ex-5dr/6386369
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/kia-ceed-1-4-litre-petrol/6459828

hdl

bazz26 wrote: »

Any of these close to you:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/08-hyundai-i30-1-4-petrol-/6382769

Kia Ceed is the i30's sister car:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/kia-ceed-1-4-ex-5dr/6386369
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/kia-ceed-1-4-litre-petrol/6459828

Thanks for the links. I'm in Co. Waterford, so either of these would be a bit of a drive, but I may look into it. I wouldn't mind driving a bit for the right car/price! Must say I like the look of the Kia Ceed, so thanks for that.