[Closed] Anyone driven the 1.0 Ford Focus EcoBoost? Motorway advice

I drove one for 3 weeks last year as a hire car, it took me 2 weeks to realise it was only a 1L engine, the performance was great even fully loaded.

The fuel economy on the other hand... my van has a better mpg! Granted I wasn't driving deliberately economically, but I wasn't thrashing it either.

I must admit when the hire company gave me the keys I said 'I've got to drive 600miles this weekend'.

She assured me greatly. I was really really impressed. I got approx 35mpg av. (but I like to hold onto gears/don't change up for optimum).

I had one as a courtesy car a few weeks ago. It was nice to drive, if lacking oomph. I was expecting it to do mega mpg but was disappointed to discover that it's fuel consumption was worse than our 2l tdci smax. Given that the effective tax saving over a year amounts to 50p a day I'd not be joining a queue to buy one.

Went to Germany last year and the hire car was a 1.0t Focus estate...had 4 adults, toddler, luggage and pram...it was properly loaded as in full. Acceleration was blistering but the wee beast was motoring along at 120mph in places...didn't seem too bothered. It was much faster unladen but it wasn't a slouch.
I've got the First with same engine and it seems to be very good...I do a bit of motorway but not a huge amount and it is fine...really like the cruise control...it has a bit of poke if needed as well.

The new smaller engines are pretty impressive and that's coming from someone who sees capacity and lots of cylinders as a good thing.

I've not driven that Ford engine, but the new BMW 3 cylinder engine is a peach even if it does sound a bit like a diesel at tick over. At times it was hard to believe that it had half the cyliners and capacity as our 330.

The 1.4 TSI Golf (138bhp) that I drove was bloody good too. The shut down to two cylinders was undetectable as was the switch back to four.

My main concern with these engines the the added complexity of them in the long term (not an issue for me as whatever I choose will be a company car) but I'd be more wary if it was my money....no real evidence for this, just because really. They're also too new to get an idea of how they will deal with long term use.

The Ford MPG will be way short of the claimed too - I know all cars are, but my experience of Ford claims are pretty bad. Backed up by other guys at work.

Not sure why you'd want to buy something that's going to depreciate at the sort of rate a 1L Fiesta is in order to save £150-200/year on tax?

I'm sure it's a perfectly good car mind. My only concern would be the gearing as others have mentioned.

G

I have an aging Mk1 1.6 Focus which will need replacing soon so have been looking at these new 1.0 Ecoboost models. I don't do many miles and would be looking to run it into the ground so reliability is key rather than depreciation worries but obviously low running costs would be nice!

As above, what is the point of the Ecoboost engine if they are returning same/worse MPG as the bigger engines they're replacing? Just to save a few hundred quid a year in VED? Doesn't seem to be much benefit to the consumer (especially if they are more complex and potentially less reliable) - maybe it's of more benefit to the manufacturer so they can be seen to be producing less polluting cars?

Not sure why you'd want to buy something that's going to depreciate at the sort of rate a 1L Fiesta is in order to save £150-200/year on tax?

Agree massively, but loads of people do just this...and to save a few quid on fuel. The D word is something that most people don't consider. I know some who say that it is not even a cost of owning a car.

Depends how long you're keeping the car though doens't it?

Also - some people are aware that there's more to the issue of fuel consumption than simple cost. And yes, buying a brand new car solely for environmental reasons is not a good idea, but if you are already going to buy a car, it's a good idea to buy one that's more economical than less.

I know some who say that it is not even a cost of owning a car.

It's not a MONTHLY cost.

As above, what is the point of the Ecoboost engine if they are returning same/worse MPG as the bigger engines they're replacing?

If you drive it extremely carefully it will return better mpg. It's just that people tend not to give much of a shit in practice.

zilog6128 - Member

As above, what is the point of the Ecoboost engine if they are returning same/worse MPG as the bigger engines they're replacing? J

Realistically the 100bhp model is equivalent to your 1.6- I don't think it replaces it but they're in the same bracket. Anyway, better claimed mpg.

"It's not a MONTHLY cost."

yep its a daily/hourly/minutely cost

As above, what is the point of the Ecoboost engine if they are returning same/worse MPG as the bigger engines they're replacing? Just to save a few hundred quid a year in VED? Doesn't seem to be much benefit to the consumer (especially if they are more complex and potentially less reliable) - maybe it's of more benefit to the manufacturer so they can be seen to be producing less polluting cars?

If your 'ageing' MKI isn't chucking out big bills you'd be changing for nice shiny new sake. Not a great idea if you like throwing a bike/kit in and leaving in supermarket carparks IMO. Get PX'd when it looks expensive IMO.

Your 1.6 is circa 30mpg av? I bet with mixed driving and making good progress you'll be saving pennies on the fuel spend.

The spend outlay massively wipes out any miniscule saving over a year IMO.

Probably save something like 10%-20% on fuel bills, depending on weight of foot.

So if you spent £40 a week thats only £190 saved. Factor in full-fat depreciation of at least 1k a year versus 'who cares/lot lower' on an older car?..

If you compare it to the old 1.6 (Which I also had) the 1.0t is quieter, smoother, faster both in acceleration and top end, is as good on fuel if booted but much better is driven steadier and cheaper to tax. The old engine beats the new one in no way, shape or form.

I just bought myself a Ford Focus about a month ago. My budget was £10k so similar to yours. I wanted something with a bit more power than my previous car (a Merc C180 coupe) and tried the 1.0 ecoboost 125. It performed about the same (I guess similar power to weight ratios). I then found out that there are very few focus 1.6 ecoboosts with 180bhp. They're rare but they do exists. I went with one of those for £9800. Very efficient and very fast.

The 1 litre is absolutely fine on both motorways and town driving but if you want something faster keep your eye out for a 1.6 ecoboost.

there are 1.6 ecoboosts with 150 or 180 bhp. 180bhp is badged as zetec s, the 150 can be badged titanium (possibly other things too).

Currently looking seriously at getting one myself (changing from 7 year old NA 1.8 focus and looking for a bit more grunt)

I test drove a 1l Ecoboost Focus and I hated it. The performance seemed ok from what I could tell, but the whole car finish felt very cheap and plasticcy. I wouldn't want to spunk that much cash on one. I went with the "safe" Golf option and I've been very happy with it.

If your 'ageing' MKI isn't chucking out big bills you'd be changing for nice shiny new sake. Not a great idea if you like throwing a bike/kit in and leaving in supermarket carparks IMO. Get PX'd when it looks expensive IMO.

Someone's gotta buy them new...

I had a test drive of the 1.6 litre 182 ecoboost Focus.

If it had 180 horsepower it hid them well.

£9000 buys a lot of cars if you are prepared to go for something slightly older.

Fuel and Tax are only a small part of the running costs of a car. Buying something with most of the depreciation hit taken by someone else is a lot more cost effective in the longer term.

How about.... A newish...Panda 4x4 OP

£9000 buys a lot of cars if you are prepared to go for something slightly older.

Like what? I've actually been looking at this price range as we need to change the Mini but all the A3's or 1 Series in this price range have bigger miles and look tired. The decent Golfs have higher mileage then we'd want and there's no chance of getting a decent 3 Series Touring or A4 Avant. As someone looking at that size car what else is there that isn't getting to the age and mileage that'll start to cost?

How's about a large capacity petrol luxury barge? Crap fuel economy but if you're a low mileage driver (can't tell from your original post) it might be affordable despite crap mpg. Something like a 7 series bmw, Audi A8, big jag. This is my dads strategy and he's had some cracking cars for around £10k.

£9k for reliable, comfy?
Avensis 1.8 petrol.

Just to confirm I'm not buying new. I'm replacing a diesel because it's not getting the runs it needs and has failed 2 mot's based on emissions.

I'm going back to petrol.

I've looked at golds and would love a 1.4tsi but there are just nine in budget without high mileage.

A seat Leon would be great but again, none ins budget. I want something newer than a 60 plate and with less than 40,000 on the clock.

if the diesel isn't getting the runs it needs why do you want low mileage? if you're not doing big miles, could you go for above average mileage but younger, figuring the high mileage will have dropped back to average by the time you get rid?

So let me get this straight.

For a diesel to get the run it needs and to make it more economical you need to be doing around 12,000 miles a year?

I do 8/9 at the most so that's petrol territory right?

Not really like that. Diesel is more economical and of course it doesn't need to cost any more, just buy a slightly older one.

If you were to buy new, the extra cost of diesel would require more miles to make it financially worth it.

My diesel is an 09 and the mot guys (a family friend) says the DPF can't regen right on my short journey.

They recommended I switch to petrol

MoseyMTB - Member

For a diesel to get the run it needs and to make it more economical you need to be doing around 12,000 miles a year?

Depends on the diesel and the petrol. The difference between the nearest petrol version of my car, and my diesel, is mahoosive. Like, in the 30000 miles i've put on it, the fuel and tax saving is more than the car cost and the cost of the 4 new injectors and most of the turbo too.

Course, I could have bought a littler more economic petrol car.

I'm going to test drive the 1.0l and the 1.6 auto back to back tomorrow.

If the 1.0l came as an auto I'd buy it tomorrow.

Like what? I've actually been looking at this price range as we need to change the Mini but all the A3's or 1 Series in this price range have bigger miles and look tired. The decent Golfs have higher mileage then we'd want and there's no chance of getting a decent 3 Series Touring or A4 Avant. As someone looking at that size car what else is there that isn't getting to the age and mileage that'll start to cost?

There's loads of chance to get a good A4 or 3 series for that kind of budget if you don't mind something a bit older. I don't get the obsession with mileage on second hand cars. Condition is far more important. I'd rather have a high mileage car that has been looked after correctly than a low mileage that hasn't. We bought our 330 with 75k on the clock two years ago this summer and it's been really good so far. Full set of tyres and a new set of VANOS actuators, passed both MOT's with no issues. It's now done 88k but feels a damn sight better than my Ford company that's done 74k.

I'm not saying that there aren't shitters out there, but if you're careful you should get a car that won't cost the earth to run and has already seen the worst of its depreciation. Don't discount the A6 or 5 series either....depreciation is even worse on the bigger cars.

Well I got to the showroom to drive the 1.0l EcoBoost and it had been sold. Oh well.

I'll keep hunting.

Anybody have any recommendations other than -

Seat Leon
VW Golf
Ford Focus

" 330 with 75k on the clock "

you started so promising then came out with a low milage car that you bought to back up your statement.

" 330 with 75k on the clock "

you started so promising then came out with a low milage car that you bought to back up your statement.

But to most people, that's spaceship mileage. The amount of people who thought that was a lot when we bought it was unbelievable. My old 325 has 120k on the clock when it went...still on the original clutch and was fine other than being an E46 with an insatiable appetite for suspension components.

Have to admit I only look for 40k and under for a petrol car.

Diesel I've bought with 80k in before.

Why don't you just take it for a 20 mile blast once a week to clear the dpf and keep it? Cheaper than replacing the car.

Keep looking for that focus, the beauty of it is the engine is light so steering is even more precise. Im on my second ecoboost. Just cant fault it. Lot more fun to drive than the golf.

Type in millbrook ecoboost focus zetec s in youtube.

MoseyMTB simply drive the diesel like a petrol. Hold the gears and dont shift up.

Its your driving style. My bro in law was the same in his diesel golf (he did 20k a year but was conservative/sooted it up).

Once a month grt a lairy petrol driver have a shortish spin.

The finances are all in place and I fancy a change so it's a good excuse.

Oh and I drive it like a petrol most mornings.

I watched the Millbrook video this morning by coincidence.

I'll keep looking.

Keep looking for that focus, the beauty of it is the engine is light so steering is even more precise. Im on my second ecoboost. Just cant fault it. Lot more fun to drive than the golf.
Type in millbrook ecoboost focus zetec s in youtube.

The new Golfs are actually good to drive and have closed the gap on the Focus. You'll also get a nice interior, the ore face lift Focus interior is horrid with to many buttons.

Everyone bangs on about Fords being great handling for normal cars but I don't get it. My Fiesta is supposed to be the best handling supermini, but my previous MINI's were loads better. And I mean loads. The Polo that I tested recently was better as well.

Golfs are too expensive, the 1.4 TSI in mk6 is just too small. The new polo is bigger.

Sorry dude but there is no way the Mk VI is smaller than the Polo. The Polo is tiny inside...smaller than my Fiesta which is why the Blue GT as been remove from my shopping list.

The Focus isn't that practical either because the boot is tiny. It's a step back from the previous gen.

Ok, well maybe I need to reassess my opinion on the Mk6 Golf.

My FIL has the MK7 and it's still not big, the boot is better though.