Need to repalce Focus RS with something economical - Really don't know what car to get!!! | Motoring discussion | Back Room Forum

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Wed 12 May 2010 02:07

Need to repalce Focus RS with something economical - Really don't know what car to get!!! - Granty578

Hi,

So I currently own a MK1 Ford Focus RS which when purchased I was doing minimal mileage and was able to afford.

However, my photography has taken a turn for the better and I am clocking up more mileage now. To summise if I go to the Peak District its between 80-100 mile round trip, I do this once/twice a week. Lakes/Wales are between 300-350 miles round trip. I'd be doing this once/twice a month (knock a peaks trip off if I do this).

This all starts adding up, especially as I go walking in the Peaks/Lakes/Wales also.

I get about 22mpg normal driving style with a couple of trips to the Peaks included in that...so thats 230 miles roughly per tank. If I go to the Lakes I get 33mpg and this equates to 350miles per tank. At £63 per tank on super unleaded its not good.

All the above has made me decide I need to sell just so I can get out more, which the RS is stopping me doing.

I have been looking at replacement cars but just so unsure what to get. Given the above mileage I am looking to do plus odd trips to Scotland diesel is screaming at me, but all I read is horror stories with new engines.

I personally don't mind diesels, used to own a Ford Focus 1.8TDCI and while having the RS spent 2 months in a 308 HDI which did 600 miles to a tank on a heavy foot when commuting.

So far I've been looking at Mazda 6's but hear their diesel engines are pretty much the worst out there. So what I started looking at next was a Vauxhall Signum with a 1.9 cdti 150bhp. They're nice and roomy (i'm 6ft7), they can carry all my walking gear and others if people go with me. I can chuck a push bike in the back easily etc etc, this car just seems to say buy me! But I'm worried that it'll be costly to repair.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what car I can get for about 6k (i'm lowering what I spend on a car) and fors and against diesel for me personally (i've read all the other posts and googled!!). From what I've read, anything common rail can and more than likely go wrong. However for the size of car I wish to get I don't see petrol being viable.

As for repair costs...I have an RS....wear and tear isn't that cheap either so I'm used to it!

Thanks,

Granty

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Wed 12 May 2010 11:31

Need to repalce Focus RS with something economical - Really don't know what car to get!!! - Paul G1pdc

Hi Granty

most people on this site recommend the 1.9 vw engine used in everything from Seats to Audis and even the new mitsubishi Lancer and of course the vw range.

good luck finding a car

paul

ex-RS TURBO fiesta owner.....H870FS....(GREY) nice little car but got keyed twice in 6 months thus sold.....

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Wed 12 May 2010 22:02

Need to repalce Focus RS with something economical - Really don't know what car to get!!! - brettmick

First - I think the stock answer 1.9 105 BHP VW engine will be too slow and agricultural after an RS. Don't forget this will be your office so you will want to enjoy it and get something approaching performance from it. At about 6k you will find some decent VAG 130 BHP examples.

I had a Saab 9-3 with the 150 BHP 1.9 CDTI engine. I had it until it was 4 years old and put 70k miles on it with a £280 repair bill for something I can't remember what as the only none standard service item. Otherwise it had a decent turn of speed (9 seconds 0-60) and would return 48-52 MPG if driven "sensibly" on the regular 200 miles from Cambridgeshire to Somerset (A14, A43, A34, A303). I had the computer showing 59 mpg on one miser run down the M5. I let the car go because the Saab collapse meant in Feb 2009 it was worth £2k less than the PCP balloon payment. The dashboard also gave the impression it was screwed together with paper and tape but I would consider another one - particularly at the prices they are selling for now.

I bought a new A3 1.8T (petrol) which I sold after 6 months as I changed job and used the train, so couldn't justify the car. To replace it I considered the Signum, Skoda Superb (post 2004 with rear seats that fold) and a Subaru Legacy. The Signum is a 4 seater which counted against it plus the facelift version was just over my budget (at the time). The Skoda was interesting but as a saloon not really suitable for a 2nd car mainly used for the tip or DIY shop run. The Subaru was petrol only but AWD appealed where we live and the sharper reported driving experience sounded good.

It became a shoot out between the Legacy and Vauxhall and in the end (surprisingly) a well priced Legacy turned up before a Signum. Signum won't be pricey to repair - the engine is in Astras, Vectras, Saabs and Alfas while many Signum parts are shared.

I would suggest that the Mazda 6 diesel does seem to have some problems, but like any car not matter what you buy you might end up with a dog or a star. The old tip of buying on condition - ie service history with few owners - is the best bet.

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Wed 12 May 2010 22:42

Need to repalce Focus RS with something economical - Really don't know what car to get!!! - Lygonos

What will your annual mileage be ?

If it's less than 15,000 then you'll likely not make a hooge saving with diesel.

At 6'7" perhaps Mondeo or Octavia are worth a punt.

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Wed 12 May 2010 23:39

Need to repalce Focus RS with something economical - Really don't know what car to get!!! - Granty578

Thanks for the replies - unfortunately Mondeos just seem too dull :(

T'is why I like the Signum, yeah its only a vauxhall but its a bit mad and different!!!

I really can't tell what mileage I'll be doing....i've put about 6.5k on the RS in 10 months but 2 months of that it was garaged and the first 5 months I was hardly driving it (a tank a month). Now its 3 tanks a month and I think i'll be doing more as time goes on, so I think I can about justify diesel....I'd rather pay a little premium upfront and hope I get some of it back in residual than paying bits and bobs at the pumps.

The RS holds its value pretty well so its money well spent in that respect, but its always gutting going to the pumps if you get me?

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Thu 13 May 2010 01:13

Need to repalce Focus RS with something economical - Really don't know what car to get!!! - dereckr

“…a 308 HDI which did 600 miles to a tank on a heavy foot when commuting”.

“If it's less than 15,000 then you'll likely not make a hooge saving with diesel”.

We all have our point of view but from my experience of running a medium hatch petrol… to go somewhere of any distance, you have to fill the tank. Before you came back, you would be looking at more fuel. When you got back, after your first trip to work the fuel light would be on again…and so on. An exaggeration perhaps? My next and current car is a diesel (HDI) estate of similar size. I’ve done many substantial trips, driven around when there and come home on one tank. If further, fill up before the trip home and get a week of commuting before the fuel light goes on.

Oh and the estate has considerably more grunt, is less affected by a full load and the consumption doesn’t drop like a stone when trundling around those picturesque hilly areas.

I can’t offer a suggestion of which car to buy, but I wouldn’t be looking for a petrol.

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Thu 13 May 2010 09:00

Need to repalce Focus RS with something economical - Really don't know what car to get!!! - Andy P

Honda Accord Diesel Tourer?

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Thu 13 May 2010 14:12

Need to repalce Focus RS with something economical - Really don't know what car to get!!! - dereckr

Pedant edit to my own post. “and the consumption doesn’t drop like a stone when trundling around those picturesque hilly areas”. Should be “the fuel gauge doesn’t drop like a stone”…but you know what I meant.

dereckr

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Thu 13 May 2010 17:00

Need to repalce Focus RS with something economical - Really don't know what car to get!!! - retgwte

One of the last model Corollas before the Auris came out would be good, with a diesel engine

A colour collection probably is the one i would go for

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Thu 13 May 2010 20:56

Need to repalce Focus RS with something economical - Really don't know what car to get!!! - OldSkoOL

As you have an RS you must like drivers cars.

So what about a e46 330d or even a 320d if you need ultimate economy.

Do the sums though. For my 10k PA it will cost me something £4 per week extra if i sell my 40mpg car in favour of a car that does about 33mpg.

And if the conservatives follow through with the fuel price balancing idea of trying to keep the price around 1.12p my fuel bill gap closes even more. But i doubt they will do that.

Edited by OldSkoOL on 13/05/2010 at 20:57

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Fri 14 May 2010 01:11

Need to repalce Focus RS with something economical - Really don't know what car to get!!! - Avant

As others have said, the VAG 1.9 130 bhp TDI engine is a good secondhand buy - it got replaced by the 2.0 PD so cars with this engine are getting oild now. But you could get a Golf or Passat (or Octavia? I can't remember whether it was offered with this engine) for less than £6k and save for a future day when your business has continued to thrive and you can afford something newer.

I'd have thought that most would agree that a Mondeo is better to drive than a Signum, so I assume that when you say 'dull' you mean too much like other people's. I'd always go for the driving experience, and would think a Focus 2.0 TDCI would be wirth looking at if you don't need the extra space of the Mondeo. Did you like your 1.8 Focus?

One more thought - have a look at a Volvo S60 D5, particularly if comfort is a priority..

Edited by Avant on 14/05/2010 at 19:03

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Fri 14 May 2010 08:17

Need to repalce Focus RS with something economical - Really don't know what car to get!!! - Lygonos

>> I'd have thought that most would agree that a Mondeo is a better car than a Signum

There, fixed that for you.

Edited by Lygonos on 14/05/2010 at 08:18

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Fri 14 May 2010 12:56

Need to repalce Focus RS with something economical - Really don't know what car to get!!! - Paul G1pdc

i wouldn't bother with a 320d. (150hp)

a chap at works is looking at replacing his 5 series petrol (28mpg on a good day)

and looked into a £6000 320d 3 series and compact (hatchback)

the internet is filled with stories about injector and more expensivly turbo failure from as little as 34,000 miles.... also the swirl flaps falling off and get sucked in to the engine...on one BMW site a bmw tech wrote that long oil changes currently being used by dealers meant oil feeds getting blocked by carbon etc.

repairs cost from £800 (re-con turbo) to 7k for bmw to fit a replacement engine.....

paul.

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Sun 16 May 2010 21:46

Need to repalce Focus RS with something economical - Really don't know what car to get!!! - woodster

The GM 1.9 Diesels (as used in vauxhalls, Fiats and Saabs) don't get a good write up in the 'car by car breakdown' section on here, having apparent reliability problems. You'd get a decent Golf GT TDi with the 2.0 PD engine (everyone says it's gruff but I think they're hair splitting) for that money or one of countless Mondeos, 407's, 308's. Any modern 130/140 bhp Diesel is good for our roads. 0-60 doesn't count for me -decent shove and 90mph cruising at 2500 rpm does.

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Mon 17 May 2010 10:02

Need to repalce Focus RS with something economical - Really don't know what car to get!!! - Xantiaman

Blimey, this all sounds a bit familiar.

Late 2005 I purchased a, then, 1 year old Subaru Forester 2.5XTn anticipating doing 10k miles/year in it. By 2008 I'm doing 25k/year in a car that's returning 28mpg, needs a service every 10k and is soon going to cost £400/year to tax. To add to my woes I've financed it on a PCP and my income has taken a serious hit (2008 was not my best year!)

I needed to economise and opted for a Signum, as it met the criteria I was working to:

Diesel, big enough to carry the dog, fairly well equipped, a lot of car for the money (high depreciator)

I ended up purchasing a 20 month old Signum 1.9 (120) with 7k on the clock from a main dealer for £10k. I’ve had it 21 months now and put another 44k on the clock. From brimming I know that it’s returning an average of 46/47mpg (though the computer tells you its 43mpg.) It has 20k service intervals with a major service coming in some £40 more than a Subaru minor service. My insurance premiums are down 25% and I can’t remember what the tax is, other than it’s a lot a cheaper.

The car has had one issue which was the switch for the heater blower failing. From the Signum forum I think this is a fairly common problem and in my case was fixed under warranty. I’ve also had to replace the front tyres which cost £160 for 2 mid range tyres, which didn’t feel any cheaper than the Forester.

It certainly isn’t an exciting car and I would dearly love the Subaru back, but you have to cut your cloth. So far the Signum is delivering what I ask of it. The obvious thing to say with these is that their values plummet, so if you go for one then you are to some extent stuck with it. I’m hoping for another 3 years from mine by which time it should have run up 120k.

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