This thing seems to power 99% if the eco cars about. I quite fancy a secondhand Focus estate or Volvo V50 – sub £6000. Is this engine really made of cheese and would I be better of going for something more ordinary/less economical? I suppose VW Bluemotion is an option but they are comparatively expensive.

I had a focus with that engine. It got stolen off the drive and torched.

You have been warned.

It’s impossible to say for certain. It’s definitely a risk that it may, later ones are supposed to have been redesigned to reduce the problem.

It’s been done to death on here… I’m biased so don’t ask me!!!

I have the VW bluemotion 1.6.

40,000 miles in 18 months and it’s fine. It is a little sluggish though so test drive one first.

I’ve a Peugeot 307 with the 1.6 in it. The engine has been faultless for 130k now. Electrics and front suspension a different matter though. But the engine is fine..