Ford Focus - Family car options to replace a Mk1 Focus

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Sun 13 Nov 2011 18:48
Ford Focus - Family car options to replace a Mk1 Focus - mwahahaha

Hi Everyone.

We're in need of more car advice so it's back to the HJ forum!

We have a Mk1 Focus 'Silver' special edition on an '02 plate which is still a great car, 1.6 petrol, full leather, heated front and rear screens, heated seats, CD-Player and it returns at least 40MPG combined. It's been family owned from new so I know it's history and there aren't any 'suprises' at all which is good to know.

Its one downside is that it's a 3 door and since our daughter came along in June this year that's become a problem. My wife has annexed my E46 3 series and I've gone back to the Focus for the daily commute.

I start a new job in January with a 20 mile daily commute and sometimes more if visiting clients and am deciding again whether to go down the company car or car allowance route, if I went with the allowance I'd have to either use the 325 which would mean changing the Focus for something with 5 doors for my wife. Alternativly my wife can carry on using the BMW but I'd have to change the focus for something a little more corporate/newer/etc.

Say I go back to the 325 then we need to change out the faithful focus for a 5 door alternative for my wife. She does next to no mileage, just in and out of town and to visit friends but has to have something of a reasonable size as babies require quite a lot of kit to accompany them!. Reliability is probably the most impoartant aspect. From my initial look on AT the Mk2 Focus seems a good candidate and also the Toyota RAV4 seems quite affordable with many coming in around the £5K mark. A friend has a '56 Octavia diesel that at 140,000 miles is still going strong so that could be another contender.

I'd really appreciate any advice from you all and any more suggestions you may have!

Thanks,
Dan

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Sun 13 Nov 2011 18:58
Ford Focus - Family car options to replace a Mk1 Focus - balleballe

If you go back to the 325 then your wife will be fine with any 'medium' petrol car. Reliability wise it'd be something like the corolla/auris, mazda 3, civic or octavia. All depending on condition/history of said vehicle

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Sun 13 Nov 2011 19:18
Ford Focus - Family car options to replace a Mk1 Focus - daveyjp
Babies and lots of stuff is a myth for popping to town and friends.

When my wife went back to work our daughter was 8 months old and we bought our Aygo. It is still v reliable after almost 5 years and had ample room for all the stuff including a proper pram and later a buggy-with 2 or 3 in you still have the back seat. £20 a year tax and no less than 45mpg even with aircon on.

Back seat legroom is amazing for such a short car, far more than an A3 sportback I had and 5 doors too so no probs getting in and out.
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Sun 13 Nov 2011 19:25
Ford Focus - Family car options to replace a Mk1 Focus - Bobbin Threadbare

My mum puts all her shopping, my auntie, sister, a Lab guide dog and a Jack Russell in her Aygo. They all fit comfortably, at the same time!

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Sun 13 Nov 2011 20:06
Ford Focus - Family car options to replace a Mk1 Focus - mwahahaha

I have to say that there is usually quite a lot of stuff accompanying her in most trips - the buggy wheels, buggy seat, change bag etc - enough to fill the boot on the 3 series with the odd bit on the back seat next to the baby car seat.

I'll have a look at the Aygo - I didn't know they came in 5 door until now. If space wasn't at such a premium I think the preference would be for a Fiat 500 but I honestly don't think everything would fit without loading up the passenger seat and then it's also the 3 door issue and having to lean into the back to unhook the baby seat which isn't easy after trying it in the Focus.

The Mk2 focus seems good value for money on autotrader - does anyone know if there are engines/configurations that are better than others - anything to avoid?

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Sun 13 Nov 2011 20:12
Ford Focus - Family car options to replace a Mk1 Focus - jamie745

It may fit in an Aygo but it doesnt mean it'll be better. A bit more space will always be more useful. A human can fit in a cupboard but you wouldnt use it as a house. I think your current car is pretty decent, the original Focus was a great car and slightly more efficient than the mk2 as the mk2 is very heavy compared to the original.

The Mk2 focus seems good value for money on autotrader - does anyone know if there are engines/configurations that are better than others - anything to avoid?

Its a Ford, theres lots of them and it'll depreciate fast, they're always good value. The mk2 is a good car. Ghia or Titanium are the best spec levels, the Zetec crashes about a bit and is incredibly drab inside. The petrols arent as economical as the mk1 petrols, 2.0litre TDCi in Ghia or Titanium is what i'd have personally and no newer than a 57 plate as they put DPF's on them after that.

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Mon 14 Nov 2011 09:15
Ford Focus - Family car options to replace a Mk1 Focus - Avant

Focuses are good cars, but I'm not sure what your budget is: the older the car you're buying the better off you'll be going Japanese. These are more resistant to neglect or abuse by a previous owner. If you need more room that you'll get in an Aygo, have a look at a Toyota Yaris or Corolla/Auris, Mazda 2 or 3 or Honda Jazz. The Honda Civic pre-2007 is in many ways better then the later model.

Whether you go for petrol or diesel depends on which of you is going to be the main user of the car - i.e. the amount of mileage that it'll do.

Edited by Avant on 15/11/2011 at 18:30

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Tue 15 Nov 2011 17:48
Ford Focus - Family car options to replace a Mk1 Focus - mwahahaha

Been having a look around and keep coming back to the Octavia - for around £5k which is about the max I'd like to spend you can get a lot of car for the money. We don't need the diesel as if it covered 10k in a year it would be a miracle.

Here's an example t- here are lots of similar examples about.

2008 '08, 1.6 FSI, 53k, on at £4900, so I could sell the Focus, run the Skoda and then in a few years it could go to my other half and would still only be 5 years old and hopefully still have plenty of life in it.

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