Need some advice on 2008 ford focus

Oswin

Hello boardsies,

I wonder if some of you would share your wisdom with me. Currently looking for a new car and am honing in on a 2008 Ford Focus. Not set on getting a focus but its definitely the size of car I'm looking for and ideally I don't want something older than an 08 as I'm hoping to get a good few years out of it.

Have seen a few on carzone in the 5,450 - 5,950 range including both 1.6 and 1.4 litre engines (I'm only looking at petrol due to being a city dweller). Would there be much difference between these and would the 1.6 be worth it taking into account the additional insurance and tax?

On the subject of tax, how do you work out how much tax you would be paying on a car under the new system? Is there a way of working out the CO2 emissions for a particular make/ model?

Is there anything specific I should be looking for/ asking about with this model? Would appreciate any advice/ insights!

Oswin

George Dalton

In my opinion you should go and drive a 1.4 and a 1.6 and make your own decision. Some people are perfectly happy with the 1.4 but if it was my money I would gladly spend the extra few quid on tax for the 1.6 over the 1.4.

As for the tax, if you have the reg number of the car you can check the tax rate here:

https://www.motortax.ie/OMT/menu.do?page=motortaxinforeg

JohnBoy26

Oswin wrote: »

Hello boardsies,

I wonder if some of you would share your wisdom with me. Currently looking for a new car and am honing in on a 2008 Ford Focus. Not set on getting a focus but its definitely the size of car I'm looking for and ideally I don't want something older than an 08 as I'm hoping to get a good few years out of it.

Have seen a few on carzone in the 5,450 - 5,950 range including both 1.6 and 1.4 litre engines (I'm only looking at petrol due to being a city dweller). Would there be much difference between these and would the 1.6 be worth it taking into account the additional insurance and tax?

On the subject of tax, how do you work out how much tax you would be paying on a car under the new system? Is there a way of working out the CO2 emissions for a particular make/ model?

Is there anything specific I should be looking for/ asking about with this model? Would appreciate any advice/ insights!

Oswin

Tax is €570 on the co2 system for the focus. On the cc system it's €385 for the 1.4 and for €514 for the 1.6

If going for a 08 you'd be better off going for a pre July registered example as these
Will be on the cheaper cc system.

bazz26

If you are looking at a post June 2008 petrol Focus then look for a 1.6 litre as on the co2 tax system it costs the exact same to tax as the underpowered 1.4 litre.

Craazysteve

Definitely go for the 1.6, I say that as an owner of a 1.4 2008 Focus. As the others have said on the co2 system the tax will be the same anyway. I've driven the 1.6 and it's noticeably more powerful. Otherwise a very nice & reliable car.

2008 is when the facelifted mk2.5 came in, so make sure you go for one of those. There are plenty of 2008 registered pre-facelift models going, so only choose one of those if they are a good bit cheaper.

Trim wise, get at least a Zetec model, the basic Style trim is very barren (not even an armrest!)
Titanium is nicer again if you can find one.

Oswin

Thanks for all the feedback especially the info on the tax. Interesting as a good few people had advised me to go for a 2008 or newer to be on the new tax system as they thought it would be cheaper. After doing some number crunching I'm probably going to reduce my budget to max €5000 anyway so will probably be looking at a pre-2008 car.

Oswin

Hoping to have a look at the following on Saturday:

2007 Ford Focus: http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/ford/focus/used-2007-ford-focus-1-4-zetec-co-dublin-fpa-202014389567583430

2007 Skoda Octavia: http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/skoda/octavia/used-2007-skoda-octavia-dual-zone-dublin-fpa-200914412177466620

2007 Skoda Fabia: http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/skoda/fabia/used-2007-skoda-fabia-ambiente-1-dublin-fpa-201531235490230

2007 Seat Ibiza: http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/seat/ibiza/used-2007-seat-ibiza-1-2-costa-pl-dublin-fpa-176914366514347600

Obviously the Fabia and the Ibiza are smaller cars with smaller engines, I suppose I'm not sure I really need a larger car and I've driven a very similar fabia a lot and find it pretty zippy.

Thoughts welcome!

bazz26

Not sure I'd ever describe a 1.2 Fabia as zippy.

All those will be chronically underpowered but if your not concerned about performance then the Focus would be the best of that bunch imo.

JohnBoy26

I'd have one of these any day over a focus.
https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-civic-1-8-se-6-speed-like-new-only-79k/9788599

mullingar

If you do go for a 1.6, try and find the 115hp Ti-VCT 1.6. Much nicer engine that the basic 1.6 100hp and 1000% better than the 1.4 80hp.

Apparently the 1.4 & both 1.6's have all roughly the same economy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Focus_(second_generation,_Europe)#Specifications_for_Petrol_Engines

TRS30

mullingar wrote: »

If you do go for a 1.6, try and find the 115hp Ti-VCT 1.6. Much nicer engine that the basic 1.6 100hp and 1000% better than the 1.4 80hp.

Apparently the 1.4 & both 1.6's have all roughly the same economy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Focus_(second_generation,_Europe)#Specifications_for_Petrol_Engines

100% agree- had the 1.6 Ti-VCT engine in my Focus and was a much nicer drive than my brothers 1.4.