focus vs almera

kilkenny31

Looking to buy a second car. We have already got a family car so I want something cheap reliable and looks relatively clean. Have roughly 1500 to spend. I,ve been looking at 1.4l focus and 1.5l almera.
I've also been looking at the others such as corolla and golf but they seem to be priced expensive. my preference would be a corolla but they are no new shape ( 02 up) for that kind of money and I really don't like the older shape.
I've narrowed down that a focus or almera tick both the looks and reliability boxes for the price. I'm going to be driving this car every day so I want to like it.

bazz26

I'd have the Focus over the Almera. I don't think that model Almera was particularly vastly reliable to choose it over a Focus. The Focus is good all rounder though the 1.4 litre is sluggish. 1.6 litre would be the way to go.

kilkenny31

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd have the Focus over the Almera. I don't think that model Almera was particularly vastly reliable to choose it over a Focus. The Focus is good all rounder though the 1.4 litre is sluggish. 1.6 litre would be the way to go.

Would the 1.6 be heavier on fuel? The reason I was drawn to the almera was a family member has one and never had any problems with it and I can get a 04-05 almera for the same price as a 02 focus.

colm_mcm

The Focus is better in every possible way, and I'm not even a big fan of them.
If that generation Almera were trouble free, you'd nearly forgive the below par safety, the 90s on-the-floor driving position, the clang of the doors and the beige image. It isn't trouble free though, so why bother?

bazz26

The Focus 1.6 litre's fuel economy is not that far off that of the 1.4 litre. Almera's reliability is avearge but they can suffer from timing chain stretching and the headlights have a habit of melting. Focus will be way nicer to drive too but you really need to test drive both yourself before deciding.

kilkenny31

Thanks folks. Does anyone else have other options. What about golfs? If you had 1500 to spend on a car what would you buy? 1.4 to 1.6L. Everyone says corolla but I just not a fan of the model before 02. I think there so boring looking I'd hate it.

Duke O Smiley

kilkenny31 wrote: »

Thanks folks. Does anyone else have other options. What about golfs? If you had 1500 to spend on a car what would you buy? 1.4 to 1.6L. Everyone says corolla but I just not a fan of the model before 02. I think there so boring looking I'd hate it.

A Focus or Corolla won't be any much more interesting than a Corolla.
Personally I would stay away from a 1.4 MK4 Golf also; very sluggish, poor fuel economy and certainly not as reliable as people make them out to be. You could get a very nice Corolla well within budget.

bazz26

A few Corollas:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-1-6-nct-d-3-2016/8480815?offset=7

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-2003-nct-03-2015-and-tax-05-15/8436029?offset=3

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-03-nct-06-15/8512567?offset=1

kilkenny31

bazz26 wrote: »

A few Corollas:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-1-6-nct-d-3-2016/8480815?offset=7

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-2003-nct-03-2015-and-tax-05-15/8436029?offset=3

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-03-nct-06-15/8512567?offset=1

Thanks bazz. Most of those have 150000+ miles . Would it be risky buying a car with that kind of milage?

corsav6

Astra would be well within your budget, and nearly as nice to drive as the Focus.

Duke O Smiley

kilkenny31 wrote: »

Thanks bazz. Most of those have 150000+ miles . Would it be risky buying a car with that kind of milage?

150k is a tad high, granted, but Corollas can manage high mileage once maintained. My last one (older 99 model) had nearly twice that. It would really depend on how well it has been maintained previously and at that mileage I think the biggest problem might be it burning a little bit of oil.

bazz26

OP, I think you need to look at this more realistically, your budget is tight and unfortunately the cars that are within your budget are over 10 years old and are going to have that sort of mileage on them. Anyway on cars of that age condition is more important than mileage.

kilkenny31

How do people feel like some of the French cars like 307, c3 or megane. I know people seem to say run a mile. But fantastic features and get a 04-05 for good value.

Duke O Smiley

kilkenny31 wrote: »

How do people feel like some of the French cars like 307, c3 or megane. I know people seem to say run a mile. But fantastic features and get a 04-05 for good value.

They aren't bad but you need to find a decent example to begin with. A friend of mine swears by Megane IIs. He is in the trade, so to speak, and only deals in them. He has replaced more window regs than I have hot dinners but otherwise they're pretty good.
If you want to look at a Megane II be sure to look out for window regs, coil packs and make sure the key card(s) are working okay. I find they are a nice, comfortable car tbh.

kilkenny31

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

They aren't bad but you need to find a decent example to begin with. A friend of mine swears by Megane IIs. He is in the trade, so to speak, and only deals in them. He has replaced more window regs than I have hot dinners but otherwise they're pretty good.
If you want to look at a Megane II be sure to look out for window regs, coil packs and make sure the key card(s) are working okay. I find they are a nice, comfortable car tbh.

Thanks for that. I'd be worried about buying french seeing as most people seem to have bad things to say.