I need something cheaper to run than the Hilux - I don’t go anywhere any more because I can’t afford the fuel (av. 33mpg).
I want an estate, mid-sized, and having spent some time reading it’s a lateish Focus (2018 on), or a Pug 308.
I’m favouring the Focus because it’s said to be dynamically better. I typically only undertake one or two shortish journeys a week.
I’m torn between the significantly better fuel eco and torque of the 1.5 diesels, vs. the greener, cheaper-per-litre 1.0 petrols. Anyone have any experience of these engines?
Similarly, being bored shitless with driving on our hopelessly overcrowded roads, I’m considering auto rather than manual (which also self-selects for diesel…), so here again, any experiences, good, bad, or ugly?
Any particular stinkers in any category?
General ridicule and wholly unrelated, unwanted and blatantly fucking stupid alternative suggestions from fuckwits too lazy to read the above obviously welcomed
Mate- I dream of 33mpg. I’ve bought 14 (fourteen) tyres at £145 each to travel 33,600 miles (no, really @PapaLazarou counted) and earlier this week the windscreen decided it wanted to ape an early VW minibus and put a split in the middle. Don’t know you’re born etc etc.
Anyway.
I am a big fan of the blue oval buuuut while the Ecoboosts are nice engines to live with, the 1.0 seems to do cunty things if not looked after. Might be worth checking if it it has to come out the fucking car at 100k like it does in the Fiesta too. I’ve never used the 1.5 diesel. My concern with any diesel in 2024 is that it risks being subject to taxation to encourage removal in the next few years.
I know this is classic goalpost moving but what about Octavias? They have weeny petrol versions, loads were sold with DSGs and they aren’t unpleasant to drive.
Ann ran a Fiesta Ecoboost Powershift for 6 years - from 8k to 70k miles.
Had it properly serviced every year and it was 100% reliable. Nothing failed, just paid out for the usual consumables - tyres, pads, etc.
Nice car to drive, engine is a gem - pulls very well - so much so, you’d find it hard to believe you had only 997cc under the bonnet. Powershift (Ford’s DSG) gearbox also praiseworthy - smooth as silk.
I would thoroughly recommend.
Several good points well made, thanks. I’m concerned in-general by the whole overworked-tiny-engine thing with Ecoboosts and similar, and it will be that much worse in larger cars, and a lot of Focuses are going to be coming off fleets, with commensurate thrashed-by-non-owners considerations…
I’ve been put off considering VAG autos by the sheer number of DogShitGearbox stories, but I should look-over the manual options again
Ford Focus is pretty bomb proof
Had mine (2013) since 18 months old, 1.6 diesel 95,000 on the clock £20 a year road tax’
Has a good chassis and drives well
Hasn’t cost me anything apart from brakes and tyres
50 mpg no matter how I drive it.
Comfortable enough on long journeys
I used to do 100 miles a day (equated to 3 hours a day in the SE) but that all stopped with Covid and working from home).
I have been told by those in the know that the engine is comfortably good for 250,000 miles
No intention of changing it
A friend in the trade doesn’t think that is a problem.
Especially if bought relatively cheaply at auction.
Most fleet cars are high mileage done on motorways in top gear with all lubricants up to temperature and properly maintained with service history. Far better for the car than lots of short journeys where nothing gets to operating temp and the clutch is fucked. I had a clutch go after 30,000 miles in a second hand Fiesta which had been owned by a care worker doing lots of short journeys.
- but 
