ok so maybe a new focus has the problems fixed and still under warranty, but i'm on a budget £7000-£8000 MAX.
what are the sales figures like?
i know i could get a 1.4 petrol for that money but i want a diesel, and they exact problem is, no jap cars do diesel, that at least look good for that price?
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Interesting choice, but unless you're into traffic light derbys, the 2.0 is unlikely to be faster as the extra torque of the diesel will blow it away with in gear acceleration.
As for refinement... the 2.0 is quite an old engine, based on the one in the last Mondeo, and economy is definitely not its strong point either. Instead of the 50ish mpg you're getting, that'd drop down to 30-odd.
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Agreed David, my uncle reckons that the only normal car that seems regularly able to match his Celica is the TDCi Focus, and he doesn't hang about either when he's driving, he really does put his foot down.
The TDCi is by far the best.
Andy - To give you a good example, my nana has just bought a 51 Reg Focus 1.6 Zetec, in as new condition with 7,500 miles on it. It still has the remainder of the warranty, and it's got £££ worth of exteas, such as the climate pack and a proper CD player with steering wheel controls. She paid £7995. *Bargain* :)
The car goes like stink but still gets reasonable MPG, has very low insurance, and the 1.6 isn't much more thirsty than the 1.4
Having said that, the 1.4 can't be all that bad 'cos our local coppers seem to love them...
Blue
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My parents have a 1.6 Focus and it isn't particularly fast. At least, I don't think it is, compared to my car, but then it depends what you're used to I guess.
As for the 1.4, the cops love them because they don't really need absolute speed, just maybe a quick 0-40 dash every so often. Around town and as a second car, it's fine, but as a main car and especially on A roads, I'd go for a 1.6 at the very least.
If you can stretch to it, a TDci is the one to go for, if necessary used. The cheapest in AutoTrader is a 30k, 1 year old LX for £9495. Then there are a few more at assorted mileages going up to the £10k mark, but there is such an excellent combination of performance, handling, practicality and economy in that car that I don't think £10k unreasonable for a one year old.
If you're on an £8k budget though, get a 1.6 unless you do huge mileages. There's no urgent need to get an '02 model year, facelifted ones, although the LXs do look a lot better with alloys.
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The 2.0 Zetec is a great machine. Its much faster than the 1.6 or 1.8 and has the advantage of having ESP, which is a worthwhile safety aid. You also get much more attractive 16'' alloys, which make a real difference to the way the car looks.
My X Reg 2.O Zetec had to go back earlier in the year and I was genuinely sorry as the speed, handling and fun made it a great companion.
The TDCi is supposed to be a good engine, but its still a diesel.
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are we takint the tdci or the 1.8td?
the tdci is in the mondeo but the 1.8td is the oder focus engine from 1998, i assume it came from the old shape mondeo?
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No, although the Mondeo and Focus 1.8 engines are the same size and power, the Focus engine is direct injection, possibly slightly more refined and much, much more economical. It's not a bad enigne by any means, but the TDci, with its extra performance, is a peach.
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I was talking about the 1.8 TDCi engine that is available in the Focus, not the older one...
Blue
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Hi David, TDi And Tddi which is the best and why, I asked HJ once he said do not get the TDDI but never said why, can you explain, I know the TDCI is brill have driven one.
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TDi is the same as TDdi. TDi is easier to type but probably trademarked by VW.
My uncle actually has a TDdi Focus and it's a decent enough car. He's very happy with it. It's not as quiet as the petrol, and it's reasonably fast, but it's not a dog by any means. I don't know if there are any particular reliability issues with it, but other than that, if you don't find it offensive to drive, I can't think of any reason not to.
(Assuming, of course, that a TDci isn't in your budget; that's faster again and more refined).
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Something that no one seems to have mentioned is the handling of the focus. In my opinion is beats the pants off every other car I have driven (my mk3 golf was a wallowing cesspit compared to it), sticks to the road like glue and even with a 1.6 engine it was nippy. Alas with new sprog on the scene the boot was just too small (2 children + dog + prams + luggage are just too much for its wee boot).
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Well, my gran got her's today so my dad took it for a blast out the back roads... His verdict was that it's a very nice car, with really good seats and handling, but he thinks that the 1.6 is a bit gutless, even compared to his 316i, his old 1.6i Orion, and my 1.25 Fiesta. Not that he thinks it's underpowered, just he was expecting it to have loads of kick, and it only had an adequate amount.
Fine for a 70 year old though... I don't think it's bad, and as far as insurance is concerned, I still think I would have one.
Blue
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he thinks that the 1.6 is a bit gutless,
I see some things with Ford don't change! The Capri suffered with the same problem when fitted with a 1.6 litre engine.
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Not forgetting that there was a Capri 1.3 - now *that* was slow.
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A special mention for the truly dreadful 1.4 Cavalier at this point. This is what happens when tax regimes dictate car design. Mind you, the 1.4CVH Escort wasn't exactly a resounding success. Flat spot between 2,000 and 2,600rpm, anybody?
No Dosh ** Quick, talk motoring, Mark's coming! **
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Yes I know, I'm coming to Vauxhalls defence again, but considering the size of the Cavalier, that 1.4 litre engine did very well considering the size of car it had to propel around.
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I knew two people who owned 1.4CHV Escorts when I was at college at neither of the damn things would do over 25mpg and that was on a good day.
Ford seem to have awful trouble with consistency sometimes - The old pushrod 957/1117cc "Fester" engines - now there was an indestructible classic!
And they'd crack 100 down very steep hills...
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ok bit confused now.......is the tdci engine in the focus the same as the tdci in the new mondeo?
is the older tdi in focus the same engine as the old shape mondeo?
there for is the ebgine in the old focus (tdi) very old or new in 1998?
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TDci engine is are very similar in Mondeo and Focus, but different capacity, thus 115 bhp 2.0 and 1.8 are not the same.
As I said before, the 1.8 TDdi engine was new in the Focus in 98.
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TDci engine is are very similar in Mondeo and Focus, but different capacity, thus 115 bhp 2.0 and 1.8 are not the same.
plus the focus TDCi has a cam belt, the mondeo has a chain drive
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Really? In that case, they probably aren't as similar as I thought. Ignore what I said about them being the same engine then.
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Mondeo and Focus TDCI engines are completely diferent. Mondeo is new twin cam 16v 2.0 similar to the 2.4 in the new transit. Focus is rehash of old 8v 1.8 indirect injection engine which was a dog, but with common rail (direct) injection which COMPLETELY transforms it.
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"The Capri suffered with the same problem when fitted with a 1.6 litre engine. "
I had the 1.6 Capri XLR (with automatic box) and the performance was quite acceptable.
The handling wasn't bad either, I used to sober up an alcoholic partner at our firm driving him home.
Brian
Still learning (I hope)
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Thank you David,for the reply, does the TDDI have heater plugs or not, some transit vans had direct injection, with no heater plugs, wonderd if TDDI was the same, why did H J say do not get TDDI must be a reason.
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so whats the general opinion about these as i've read previous threads about the tdci not starting. is this problem fixed by the dealer yet?
something like the glow plug light flashing etc...
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Sorry for the delayed reply, been in Spain (work).
The TDCi costs quite a bit more than the 2 litre petrol. It averages about 46mpg spending most of its life on m/ways. Its "sister" car, a 2 litre petrol averages 43mpg in similar use. You have to buy a hell of a lot of fuel to recover the extra cost.
The petrol needs servicing less and services are slightly cheaper.
The TDCi is about the best 4 pot diesel (except the BMW) but it still rattles like hell from cold.
The petrol is smoother and faster and doesn't get caught off boost.
I don't buy that "relaxed driving experience" nonsense, whether the engine is doing 2500 revs at 70 or 3100 is immaterial.
The Focus is a really good car though.
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the 2 litre focus states 33mpg, now i know not go by these like the bible but 43 mpg is quite a difference, are you sure?
anyway sorry to disappoint but i'm also looking for the lower tax bracket and i'm not buying from new, my budget is £8000 max
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Totally sure, he drives pretty quickly too. Proves my theory that at steady fast-ish speeds there is very little between petrol and diesel.
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Not sure if I agree though. A few of the boys here have got 2.0 Focus' and struggle to get 30mpg at the best of times, you sure he doesn't turn the engine off down hills??! I'v got a TDCI and it always makes at least 40mpg even when driven hard, and it'll leave a 2.0 for dead, 0-60 means nothing, all your time is spent in the mid-range, 200 ib-ft on over boost anyone?
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ok then, i think the tdci is out of my price range then, how much poorer is the tdi the origanl diesel in the focus?
i assume they didn't have the same glow plug problems that the tdci has.
i know its not as quick but as far as i know its not slow!
bit noisy from what i've heard though, and is it fords own engine or actually from a different car?
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Make sure you get a late model diesel whatever you do. I think the engine in the pre-face lift Focus is the old 90BHP engine from the escort/mondeo/fiesta, which is a smoky old nail. As far as I can tell there's two diesel engines available in the current Focus, which I suspect are basically the same with the boost turned down for the less powerful version. There 100 bhp and 115 bhp and both badged as TDCI. I've got a 115 TDCI and even with all its associated problems it is still a fantastic engine, completely effortless on the motorway, and will easily pass 120 - obviously where limits allow! The starting problems aren't really that bad, if you key off for 10 seconds or so it always restarts. The older engines are still the same 1.8 liter engine but with a nasty injection system, if you can't find a reasonably priced late model then go for something like a late 306 dt which was far better than the early Focus TD.
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hold on i've been told the the older tdi engine in the focus wasn't from a mondeo, or escort or whatever, i was told it was a new engine!
if its the older diesel from an escort or whatever then i'm not impressed.
so is the new mondeo the same ie the older diesel engine from the old shape mondeo?
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All diesel engines in Focus are much the same, all are the old 1.8 8 valve unit found through-out various fords (including the old mondeo), however the bit that makes the difference for the TDCI is the commonrail injection which completely transforms the engine from a smoky old dog to a very eager and responsive unit. The new mondeo has a completely new 2 litre 16v unit which may or may not be based on the old 1.8 8v engine(new cylinder head etc.) The new transit has a 2.4l version of this engine also. It has be said that the TDCI engine in the Focus is very impressive and I wouldn't consider any other engine in the range (well perhaps the turbo in the RS!).
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right then, with my budget i don't think either tdci is possible mondeo or focus, because to be honest i would have either car.
1.4 or 1.6 petrol focus maybe even new would fit the tax bracket and mpg aren't bad at 40
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Probably a good plan - the 1.4 and 1.6 have the later sigma engine which is a very good little unit. The 1.8 and 2.0 have the old zetec which is erm, not.
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