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I can't find a 1.6 turbo focus? Is it the new face lift?
It's a recent engine but I'm pretty sure it was available pre the very latest facelift. Been offered in the Kuga for a couple of years.
Don't rule out the 1.6 tdci as it's economical, reasonably brisk and £30 tax. You don't tend to pay too much of a premium for diesel on Fords either.
The economy was massively dependent on the driving I was doing. If I was booting it or driving in hilly areas 35/40mpg was as good as it got but if I went a bit steadier and the driving was reasonably flat it would do 50mpg+. Never had a car that had such a swing. Ace engine though.
I got 35mpg round town and squeezed 50mpg with the cruise set to 70mph on the motorway. Way, way short of the official mpg, and worse than the economy I used to get out of the (similarly powerful) 1.6 Fiesta I had 15 years ago. Not what I'd call progress...
The 1.4tsi Golf is obviously the best car
Out of interest, how do you justify that?
Out of interest, how do you justify that?
I suspect because its being compared to a Focus and an Astra.
Someone mentioned a Civic. I really like the previous shape one. Really good looking, well built, nice place to sit and decent sized boot etc.
I suspect because its being compared to a Focus and an Astra.
Interestingly I was flicking through the current What Car in Tesco yesterday. In a group test between the Golf, Focus and Octavia the VW came last.
If you want a car based on reputation rather then fact you may as well get an A3 over a Golf as they're much nicer to sit in as long as it's correctly spec'ed.
Don't rule out the 1.6 tdci as it's economical, reasonably brisk and £30 tax. You don't tend to pay too much of a premium for diesel on Fords either.
My 1.6 TDci is way short of its claimed MPG - even sat on the M'way at 70 for lots of long trips. It's also noisey and unrefined.
I'm due for a new company car this year and am going back to petrol. I do about 20-25k a year and my TDCi gets 51mpg so if I can get a petrol that does high 40's it shouldn't really cost much more to run.
The Golf was an outsider on my list and semi-ignored as being boring, a Golf etc. I test drove one last week (1.4 TFSi in Match trim) and was genuinely really impressed. I thought the engine really good - pretty responsive, not too noisey and didn't feel underpowered. It was also a really nice place to sit.
I had been convinved that small and posh / well spec'd was the way to go - I went in to test the Polo Bluemotion GT really but was surprised how much I didn't like it (great engine thogh). But I may sacrifice tpys and get something bigger like a Golf.
My 1.6 TDci is way short of its claimed MPG - even sat on the M'way at 70 for lots of long trips. It's also noisey and unrefined.
Really? I have that engine in my Cmax and regularly get 60mpg on a motorway run. It's also much quieter than most other diesels.
Really? I have that engine in my Cmax and regularly get 60mpg on a motorway run. It's also much quieter than most other diesels.
Really - it's a hateful engine (or at least mine is). Ford have said everything is fine too (although I don't have much faith in the dealer).
Most people I know with the same engine are in the same boat too - about 15mpg down on the claimed.
Really - it's a hateful engine (or at least mine is). Ford have said everything is fine too (although I don't have much faith in the dealer).Most people I know with the same engine are in the same boat too - about 15mpg down on the claimed.
Mine is claimed 58mpg. I get 60mpg on the motorway and about 45mpg round town. I had a hired Focus with the same engine and had around 60mpg out of that too.
My Mum has the 1.6 tdci and it's not as refined as my old petrol but isn't bad compared to many diesels. Economy is high 50's on a decent run so not bad and about as far off claimed as everyone else.
If you go back to petrol don't be surprised if you don't hit high 40's.
I have a 1.4tsi Octavia estate. It's great - quickish, quiet and surprisingly refined.
I get 42-45mpg normally and over 50 occasionally on longer A-road runs (A65 to the Lakes, stuck behind the traffic). Wife gets 38-40 on the school run.
Whilst I love the look of the Focus, having sat in one today, I can't seem to find any good reviews of the 1.6 zetec petrol engine.
The Astra 1.4t and the Golf 1.4tsi review far better.
I'd like to try the new 1.5 ecoboost focus but it's way out of budget.
Just realised only the titanium spec Focus gets cruise control and I use it a lot.
Golf or Astra it is then, shame because I love how the focus drives.
Defo the Golf then IMO.
Just got to find a Golf in budget that matches the Astra's age and mileage.
Very tempted to go automatic, purely due to the amount of time I spent stuck on the M60
anyone got any real world experience of the 1.6 petrol titanium 2012? it would be the 125 power shift.
mpg, driving style etc
Just like bikes test drive, I was all set for a golf until I drove a focus...only driven the tdci and ecoboost 125...
I'm just worried about the 1.6 petrol engine. It's not turbo charged and I wonder about the power.
The mpg are similar to the golf and Astra but they are 1.4 turbo charged engines.
I've ruled out the Astra based on not having an auto option.
The 1.6 won't be useless it's just that it's an old engine so newer ones will out perform it but then you pay more for the better engine.
My mate had a 1.6 11 reg C-Max Zetec and thought it was good enough. It won't blow your socks off, be especially cheap to tax or get huge mpg but it'll do the job.
As mentioned, the only way to know if you like it is to test. That will answer all your questions.
Don't be fooled by turbo cars either as not all are created equal. It's only the more recent ones that have up'ed the game, like the Ford Ecoboosts.
Don't discount the Leon, either. Same engine range as the Golf, keener pricing, arguably better styling and makes a different statement to the rather generic golf.
The focus 1.6 non-turbo petrol is virtually unchanged since the 1999 mk1 focus. Not bad to drive, but nothing special in terms of power, economy or longevity. In fact, quite a few have died before their time for reasons related to cost cutting of componentry.