What Car...? Focus Size, Petrol, Near New. Recomendations?

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What Car...? Focus Size, Petrol, Near New. Recomendations?

83 posts & 39 voices | Started 4 months ago by boblo | Latest reply from shotsaway

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boblo - Member

OK my Fing, bluddy, bstard, wifes Focus needs another clutch. It's a 2.0L TDCI with 63k on it. It had a DMF and clutch at ~44k and the clutch is starting to slip again, 18 months (and out of warranty) later.

I'm effed off with it. I want a nice mid range family four/five seater for wifely duties. Petrol only, 1.8l - 2.0l (~120 - 140bhp), economical, reliable, reasonable quality (no wierd makes please) and nice to drive.

C'mon STW massive what should I buy (up to £20k if I really, really must spend that much, more like £15k by choice).

Posted 4 months ago #
jambalaya - Member

Golf or a derivative, ie Audi A3 Sportback or Seat

Posted 4 months ago #
glenh - Member

Golf 1.4 TSI. Tis good imo. It's what I replaced my focus with.

Although that said, I've had 2 focus TDCIs and did about 200k miles over the 2 of them without even a hint of a clutch issue, so maybe someone needs to practice using a clutch

Posted 4 months ago #
the-muffin-man - Member

what should I buy

How about sending your wife on course to show her how to change gear properly!!

Posted 4 months ago #
b r - Member

an auto

Posted 4 months ago #
purser_mark - Member

+1 Golf, Civic might be worth a look if can you live with the quirky?

This years Polo's are also good and bigger than the outgoing model.

Posted 4 months ago #
z1ppy - Member

+1 to the Auto if "she's" killed two clutches in 63K

Posted 4 months ago #
retro83 - Member

a petrol mk2 facelift focus or a visit to match.com

Posted 4 months ago #
HoratioHufnagel - Member

I know somebody (i won't state if the male/female) who drives with their foot resting on the clutch to make it easier changing gear. Needless to say the clutch has worn out after < 40k miles.

Posted 4 months ago #
boblo - Member

Hmmm, to be fair.... It's the first time any of our cars have needed clutches and I did 50% of the mileage since the last clutch so it's not all down to Mrs Boblo.

Whilst all this was going on, I've taken my own motah from new to 50k without incident and I've had other cars from new to disposal (one at 140k) on oe clutches. I don't think we are 'clutch buggerers'

I've had a few other problems with this diesel donkey and am waiting with baited breath for the turbo or injectors to go pop.

Ta ta Focus methinks.

Any votes for the Mini? If so which one. I'd thought about the various flavours of Golf, is the TSI a turbo as I want to go simple to try and minimise future aggro/cost.

Posted 4 months ago #
monkeysfeet - Member

Mrs Monkeysfeet has a cooper (her 3rd) and is very pleased with it. The TLC pack is a must, and on the petrol she gets 46mpg very easily. Great car but space is limited. I run an Audi a3 sport back diesel and it superb, much, much better than the BMW 1 series it replaced, great mpg, the dealers are fantastic with fixed price servicing, lovely car.
Other alternatives, freelander mk2?, Volvo s60 ( we use the diesel in work , the 5 cyclinder engine is the mutts nuts) loads of torque and great 40 plus mpg.....

Posted 4 months ago #
boblo - Member

@Monkeysfeat. Which A3? I have an Audi and it hasn't missed a beat.

Posted 4 months ago #
lunge - Member

If it was my money (and it will be soon) I would be looking at Kia's and Hyundai's. Long warrenties and a seemingly good reputation.

Posted 4 months ago #
The Pinkster - Member

Suzi SX4?

Posted 4 months ago #
monkeysfeet - Member

I have a 59 plate 1.9 tdi, 5 door. Nice,nice car!

Posted 4 months ago #
mudshark - Member

Skoda Roomster if you need space/reliability/quality/flexibility but not good looks....

Posted 4 months ago #
molgrips - Member

Civic petrol would be a good bet. Lots of people want the fantastic diesel, so the petrols could be cheaper. Honda have a good rep for reliability.

EDIT although some versions, maybe early ones had a problem with leaky boot windows I think..?

Posted 4 months ago #
monkeysfeet - Member

Honda seem to have a great reputation for reliability, the in laws have a rather ancient civic that gets no TLC at all, and amazingly each year it keeps going, and going and going with just an mot and service. So maybe the latest civic may be worth a look, if you can get on with the styling. I read somewhere that Honda have never had an engine failure( but don't quote me on that!!!)

Posted 4 months ago #
loum - Member

focus

Posted 4 months ago #
boblo - Member

OK, in the lead, Nonda by a nose with the Golf/Audi shortly behind and the Mini as an outsider.... No Skoda's/Hyundai's/Suzi's or Kia's need apply

Posted 4 months ago #
molgrips - Member

Honda have never (apparently) had a VTEC mechanism failure.

I loved the honda I test drove and would have snapped it up, but they were pricier than I was comfortable with and the Passat was a bargain. A great drive, loved the interior and the fold-up back seat, and they were pretty well specced too.

Posted 4 months ago #
titusrider - Member

another wildcard?

Posted 4 months ago #
mastiles_fanylion - Member

DON'T get a Mazda 3 2.0l

Posted 4 months ago #
The Pinkster - Member

titusrider - Member
another wildcard?

Surely the Brera would be a better (looking) choice. But there again if reliability is one of the criteria, perhaps not.

Don't go anywhere near a Fiat Doblo either. Had an 18 month old one bought direct from Fiat and nothing but trouble with the air con that fiat wouldn't fix under warranty and then the engine started playing no end, just after the warranty ended. Cost me over 2 grand and never got fixed, so I binned it as a trade in.

That was the 1.9 Multijet, in case you're interested.

Posted 4 months ago #
titusrider - Member

tries not to get really angry that the first thing people say when you mention alfa is reliability..........

Fails ....

GGRRRRRRRR

Perfect

Posted 4 months ago #
uwe-r - Member

Nissan Qashqai?

Posted 4 months ago #
The Pinkster - Member

titusrider - Member
tries not to get really angry that the first thing people say when you mention alfa is reliability..........

Fails ....

GGRRRRRRRR

At least I (and friends) have 'experienced' it rather than just going on rumour.

Posted 4 months ago #
hambl90 - Member

citroen ds4

Posted 4 months ago #
skywalker - Member

Golf or a derivative, ie Audi A3 Sportback or Seat

Yep

Posted 4 months ago #
boblo - Member

In my pursuit of reliability, I'll not be seeking a French or Italian experience thankyou.

The mini Qashqai might qualify on the reliability front but mini softroaders... bit yummy mummy/school run for us... I'd seen the various Mazda horror stories on here so discounted them already. Anything from Toyota or other Jp manufacturers worth a look (that's not too dull/spangly)? Owt from Be-em worth a look as I obviously couldn't care less about being called names for my choice in motahs?

So still Nonda, VAG mid size derivative (probably VW or Audi) or Mini. Quickie on the Civic, is it right the new one is pants and the previous (star ship) one the dogs danglies?

Posted 4 months ago #
PeterPoddy - Member

Petrol Focus?

I like ours and it's been reliable for 40,000 miles now, but when we bought it I decided I wouldn't touch a diesel Ford with a 100ft barge pole.... Too many horror stories. So far it's cost no more to run (Possibly a bit cheaper with the current fuel prices) than the diesel Vectra we had before it, too.
At 3 years old with 16,000 on the clock we paid £5995, and there's plenty of 2-3 year old cars around at they money + a bit these days....

Posted 4 months ago #
bjj.andy.w - Member

Used to own a 54 plate civic typeR and in the four years I had it it never missed a beat. Got a seat Leon now and although it's ok I've had a couple of issues with it. It also doesn't feel as well made as the Honda. Wished I'd got the new shape civic rather than the Leon.

Posted 4 months ago #
Northwind - Member

Focus tbh. 120,000 miles on my TDDI 1.8 and still original DMF and clutch. They'll go sooner[s] or later mind. Something just plain wrong with eating a clutch in 19000 miles... You'd be on the low end of the curve for lifespan even if this was the first time at 65k.

Posted 4 months ago #
GJP - Member

A3 Sportback for me.

I will admit they are not the best looking cars , but they are very practical in that Golf versus Focus size category etc. I have a 2.0 TFSI Quattto, but that may be too much power and with go-cart like handling for SWMBO. 5 and 1/2 years from new and not a single problem or snag.

Have driven the 2.0T and 1.8T and the latter was fine. Quick enough but clearly not as sprightly as the 2.0T, and even the newer 2.0 TDI 143bhp was OK and I fookin hate diesel engines.

Posted 4 months ago #
molgrips - Member

I would not discount Mazda. They have a good reputation, it's just MF's particular model of 323 that had a lot of problems I think.

Posted 4 months ago #

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