Am I mad to consider a petrol?

NIMAN

So this is the story:

Currently about to change my 2010 Focus 1.6TDCi.

Been doing some shopping around and I have seen a few small petrol engines that are on my shortlist. Been reading up on them and not sure if I am mad to consider them? They both seem very well reviewed.

I do approx 12,000 miles annually, most of it on a 50 miles commute, 25 each way. Most of this is top gear, non stop-start driving. As a result, I was getting probably mid-50mpg, or very slightly more, out of the Focus.

Now the 1.0 Ecoboost Focus and 1.2 TSi Golf have caught my eye.

I know I won't get great mileage out of them, maybe 45mpg, but I am being quoted between €1500 - €2000 less to change to them than a similar diesel model. That can buy a lot of petrol. I only plan to keep the car for a couple of years (3 at a stretch) before probably changing again.

Could a petrol work for me?

Bpmull

The 1.2tsi golf is suppose to be dead enough to drive 1.4 is suppose to be good my dad had a 1.4tsi on rental and liked it although still complained you had to get well up in the revs before it would pull anyway well. I think the 1.0 focus is only sold in Ireland in the low bhp version 100 not 125 bhp so probably won't be to nippy either.

The 1.4 Tsi golf would be a nice petrol car to buy but is basically no cheaper to buy and are you going to get the same back when you sell it on compared to a diesel that the problem. A 2.0tdi golf 150bhp would be a nice car to buy very economical and still reasonably powerful. Although your annual milleage doesn't really justify it your driving type suits diesel fine. The cheapest overal option is to just buy a diesel it would be different is the petrols were 4-5k cheaper meaning you could afford the extra depreciation.

Leonard Hofstadter

I'd say stick with the diesel for that mileage. Unless a major change takes place in the car tax system over the next few years, the diesel will pay for itself and more besides when you want to trade it in. If the tax system wasn't so skewed towards diesel, at that mileage it would be a personal preference - for me a petrol wins out every time.

finalfurlong

Wife has the 1.2 tsi golf 2011.Lovely car to drive but there are 2 versions 85 bhp which we have and the 105 bhp which would be a better bet if you are on open road.Economy is about 42- 45 mpg in mainly town driving.Just note that the pre 2013 golf tsi has timing chain rather than belt-have been known to get stretched-Vw replaced ours last year paying 90% cost through goodwill as they are aware it can be a problem.If you are buying the 2013 version onwards ,new versions of water pump,tensioners etc have sorted this out,i believe.l

Gavman84

I'm doing 12k a year in the ST and I think it's ok and that does a lot less mpg. The small engine petrol should hold value ok too I think as tax is not bad I imagine. I would say you be fine with petrol.

tobothehobo

Might I suggest a fiesta zetec s. 1lt economist 125ps so pretty nippy in a car that weight I think they look lovely and from experience the fiesta is a lovely car to drive. If a smaller car is an option this is a great one.