Confused about 1.6 TDCi focus

jenb550

Someone help!

I'm clueless about cars, however I do need one and have a budget of between €7000-€8000 to spend. Ideally I would like a focus as I've heard the fuel economy is great and a friend has one too that I've been in and feel safe. Seems like a solid car to me.

Anyway, I found one online, focus, 1.6 TDCi, 111000 miles, good tyres and good condition to me with my little knowledge. As it was a private sale I obviously said that, yes, I was interested and would be happy to go ahead and do the deal once my mechanic had a look.

My problem is now that my mechanic says he no longer carries out pre purchase inspections because he's been stung lately with the focus in particular. The 08/09 models being fine when looked at but then the turbo going in them and him getting blamed for not predicting it.

I do know that the focus is prone to burning oil and you have to regularly change the oil to prevent problems, my brother is a mechanic and has warned me about that. He also said that the 1.6 is a Peugeot engine rather than a Ford but he's not heard of any major problems with them.

Now I'm stuck! Do I try another mechanic? My guy is honest in fairness and wouldn't steer me wrong but should I stay away from a focus altogether? Am I being naive to think they're a good car? Surely every car had its issues?

bazz26

That engine can and does give it's fair share of problems and they are very unforgiving when it comes to maintenance or neglect. You certainly should not buy one without having a mechanic inspect it especially with a private sale where you have zero comeback.

As you admit yourself that you are clueless about cars then my advise would be to stay away from that engine. You are probably better off with a Corolla 1.4 d-4d, they tend to be less troublesome though you probably would have to go for an older/higher mileage example on your budget.

jenb550

bazz26 wrote: »

That engine can and does give it's fair share of problems and they are very unforgiving when it comes to maintenance or neglect. You certainly should not buy one without having a mechanic inspect it especially with a private sale where you have zero comeback.

As you admit yourself that you are clueless about cars then my advise would be to stay away from that engine. You are probably better off with a Corolla 1.4 d-4d, they tend to be less troublesome though you probably would have to go for an older/higher mileage example on your budget.

Thanks for the reply.

To be honest, the guy selling the focus seemed honest and it's probably a good car in fairness. With me it's just that doubt has creeped in. I'd service it often but don't want to be liable for the neglect of a past owner.

I take your point on the Toyota, it's been said to me before and I've been a bit pig headed with the focus, I'll admit. What are your thoughts on the auris? Initially I liked it a lot but read here that it's the worst car Toyota have ever made!

It's a minefield all this malarkey and my brother doesn't want to get involved because I suppose he would feel guilty then if I bought a lemon and blamed him!

This is the kind of thing I'm seeing online:

Oops, boards won't let me post the url

millington

Yes it is a PSA engine. Make sure the DPFs either being changed around 80k miles or removed. If not, budget around €350 for removal. It will need to be done sooner or later.

Apart from that, they are as reliable as any other modern diesel engine. Air flow meters, glow plugs & EGR valves can give problems but no car doesn't any more, all are relatively minor fixes too.

Turbos can let go at any stage on any car. Have one of those engines here with 115,000 miles and original turbo still 100%.

mullingar

+1.

These engines do not like poor servicing. Check the service history. On the bright side, these engines are known for clocking up huge mileage once serviced on-time with the correct oil.

jenb550

Thanks everyone,

I was a bit surprised that my mechanic didn't seem too keen as a few family members have the focus and love it! Admittedly, they're all petrol so cheaper to fix and probably liable to withstand a bit more neglect.

I think the private sale thing is a good point. I'd have nobody to blame but myself if things did go wrong and 7000 is a lot of money to part with given it's taken me the best part of a year to save it.

It's good to know that not everyone is against the 1.6 and to be fair to my mechanic he was honest and he did say that a lot of the problems he and other guys in the area had seen were with the UK import focus. I don't know why this would be the case but I will take it on board and hope for an Irish Zetec.

In the meantime, I will broaden my serach to include a Toyota. I can't seem to find one with all of the bells and whistles but reliability is what I want and I can't be getting TOO greedy i suppose

thadg

do yourself a favour and buy a 1.8 tdci focus. 1.6 dv6 engine are fair scrap

jenb550

thadg wrote: »

do yourself a favour and buy a 1.8 tdci focus. 1.6 dv6 engine are fair scrap

Worth the extra money in insurance?

thadg

extra as in are we talking 600 euro extra or 70 euro extra??

if things are that tuff buy an auris 1.4 d4d. great car and very light on fuel

mullingar

thadg wrote: »

do yourself a favour and buy a 1.8 tdci focus. 1.6 dv6 engine are fair scrap

The 1.8 has its own horror stories too , primarily it's premature failing DMF.

thadg

mullingar wrote: »

The 1.8 has its own horror stories too , primarily it's premature failing DMF.

every modern diesel has this problem. that's just the luck of the draw. even automatic diesels have the clutch/flywheel giving up

mullingar

True, that's why I drive a 4.3 petrol......

bazz26

mullingar wrote: »

The 1.8 has its own horror stories too , primarily it's premature failing DMF.

And the wet belt on 07 onward cars that's expensive to replace.

PukkaStukka

millington wrote: »

Yes it is a PSA engine. Make sure the DPFs either being changed around 80k miles or removed. If not, budget around €350 for removal. It will need to be done sooner or later.

Not all Focuses have a DPF and those that do can last quite a long time if the car is serviced and driven properly. I replaced the DPF on my wife's Cmax which has that engine and it had covered almost 145,000 miles, not 80k!

Also I hear that DPF removal is now an NCT failure.....

darragh o meara

bazz26 wrote: »

And the wet belt on 07 onward cars that's expensive to replace.

Seen one being done last weekend, some pain I the ball aches.. I believe there is a timing chain retrofit kit available though.

mullingar

Also I hear that DPF removal is now an NCT failure.....

100% urban myth.

NCT on a diesel only checks for opacity content (soot)

Dia1988

thadg wrote: »

do yourself a favour and buy a 1.8 tdci focus. 1.6 dv6 engine are fair scrap

I agree!

1.8 tdci is a Ford engine without a dpf

Although the 1.6 tdci if properly serviced id a reliable engine.

millington

PukkaStukka wrote: »

Not all Focuses have a DPF and those that do can last quite a long time if the car is serviced and driven properly. I replaced the DPF on my wife's Cmax which has that engine and it had covered almost 145,000 miles, not 80k!

Also I hear that DPF removal is now an NCT failure.....

Yes but they are actually supposed to be changed around 80k miles as that is the service life for the DPF. It's not a lifetime part.

jenb550

thadg wrote: »

do yourself a favour and buy a 1.8 tdci focus. 1.6 dv6 engine are fair scrap

Thanks for the feedback, I went with the 1.8. Got a zetec model with 65,000 miles. Brother checked it out the other week (after I got it, mind) and thought it was a good little find. Insurance difference was tiny.