I have up to £6 grand to spend and currently drive a 1997 escort. Need a 5dr as baby number 2 about to arrive. Want something cheap to run, reliable and cheap in services/MOT. initially concentrated on Jazz, but brother-in-law swears by Focus TDCi. Been checking models of both up to 5 years old and 20-40K on clock.
Is there any major difference or preference between them? Which would be the best deal and what should I steer clear of? I don't know a whole lot about motors and would greatly appreciate any advice or experience.
Edited by Pugugly on 11/01/2010 at 09:55
|
|
I'm sure all the regular contributors will pipe up when they're back from work but I would've thought Focus at this price. Jazz would be slower and has more expensive servicing I think. Having driven dozens of Focus's I've noticed they can be very different from each other so well worth driving a couple to get a feel for how a good one should be. It'll be obvious - quieter and tighter in all respects in a good one.
|
From Honest John's car by car breakdown on the jazz: ''Servicing is expensive because of the need to re-shim solid lifters and because the engine has 8 special spark plugs. ''
|
Can only say that Mrs BP had a Jazz (which I drove a lot too). Bought new in Sept 2003 and changed for a new one in Sept 2009 at 40K miles and absolutely nothing went wrong with it. It was MOT'd at 6yrs in our village garage just before I sold it and the tester commented on how good it was for its age. In some ways I'm sorry we sold it - it felt like it would last for ever!
There are a couple of "known" issues but I think they only affect earlier cars. One is gearbox bearings and the other is water leaking into the spare wheel well - Honda will fix either item regardless of how old the car is (try that on a Ford!).
Jazz servicing isn't cheap (at least at Honda dealers) - the valve clearances need checking and plugs need changing every 25K miles but Honda point out that the design means the car will be more economical, ours always did 50MPG on the computer for semi-rural / town use. Of course you have to bear in mind that unless you're very unlucky you won't be paying out money for other repairs.
I wouldn't really want to do many long journeys in Jazz - the seats lack support - but my job involves a lot of driving and I'm always amazing at many Jazzii I see on the motorway.
I would imagine that the Focus would be altogether nicer as a "drivers" car. I suppose the obvious issue is TDCi reliability - seems that if it goes wrong they sometimes never work properly again and some fuel system faults are very expensive to fix. This applies to some extent to all diesels.
I suppose the other issue is the image of Jazz - it is generally driven by old people in the UK, although in other countries it's a popular young persons car. We're a bit younger than typical owners, and a young family next door but one to us have a Jazz.
|
|
|
|
Our experience with an '04 Focus I and an '07 Civic FK3 (both my wife's) would suggest that the a Ford (to our surprise) is at least as reliable as a Honda, servicing for the Ford was much cheaper (say 60% of the cost) and the Focus will be more spacious and fun to drive than the Jazz.
Added to that there'll be a lot more choice of Focuses (Foci ?) it would be where I'd look first but I'd shop around, would also consider the petrol models too.
Edited by idle_chatterer on 11/01/2010 at 09:45
|
|
Thanks for all input. Am veering more towards a Focus, some in my area (Newcastle) under £6K, under 30K on clock 06 reg so will be checking them.
|
We ran a FOCUS for a number of years- very good family car, we are thinking of buying another one.
Reading some of the problems with a used JAZZ I would stay away.
|
|
|
I have an 02 Focus and a 56 Jazz, both manual and petrol. Both are excellent overall. The Jazz is a smaller class of car so tyres and insurance are a bit cheaper. It is returns much better MPG.
Jazz is well equipped in standard form, and it incredibly flexible. Remarkable amount of space inside and the boots okay too. I find it great fun to drive and fine on the motorway.
As other have said the focus will be cheaper to service in general, and possibly better for long journey if this is a large part of your usage.
The jazz fits in my garage, the focus doesn't!
So i think you would enjoy either to be honest. If the Jazz isn't quite big enough try the focus. If the focus is a bit to wide for your liking try the Jazz.
Top motors both
Edited by nick1975 on 11/01/2010 at 20:09
|
|
|
|
|
|
![2025 Volkswagen Tayron 1.5 eTSI R-Line 5dr DSG7 [7 Seat]](//images.honestjohn.co.uk/imagecache/url/crop/90x60/https/cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/e819bf85ade9e59ce67422926e1b84d4/a892b02dbe10d19f298a347242a3c686.jpg)
£41,490was £41,990Details
£43,950was £45,350Details
£34,590was £34,950Details
£20,149was £20,389Details![2025 Volkswagen Tayron 1.5 eTSI R-Line 5dr DSG7 [7 Seat]](http://images.honestjohn.co.uk/imagecache/url/crop/90x60/https/cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/e819bf85ade9e59ce67422926e1b84d4/a892b02dbe10d19f298a347242a3c686.jpg)
