I need a car (I’m less fussy than Emp so this thread won’t be 100 pages)

joneve

Wife and I are at stalemate. 

I want an Ibiza FR (1.2 or 1.4) and she doesn’t want to spend 5-6k on one so would rather buy a focus or fiesta (fiesta less money and focus same money as Ibiza but more car) 

I really like the Seat’s and am very ambivalent about Fords. I’ve told her I won’t have a fiesta or Focus unless it’s a Titanium X with all the toys.

yes I know I probably can’t be picky when buying a second car but the interiors of Fords and basic bitch spec of their lower models really put me off. I’m turning into Emp, aren’t I? 

wibble

joneve said:

Wife and I are at stalemate. 

I want an Ibiza FR (1.2 or 1.4) and she doesn’t want to spend 5-6k on one so would rather buy a focus or fiesta (fiesta less money and focus same money as Ibiza but more car) 

I really like the Seat’s and am very ambivalent about Fords. I’ve told her I won’t have a fiesta or Focus unless it’s a Titanium X with all the toys.

yes I know I probably can’t be picky when buying a second car but the interiors of Fords and basic bitch spec of their lower models really put me off. I’m turning into Emp, aren’t I? 

Yeah poverty spec of older Fords are quite spartan.

I've always found the steering wheel diameter to be bigger than they need to be with the Focus/Mondeos of the age you're looking at. I guess that's just a personal thing.

menamestom

Focus wise I’d go for the 1.6l turbo petrol if you can find one, 182ps but not too bad on fuel.

The 1l is a great little engine but if they have not been serviced properly they can have issues.  The engine has a wet timing belt, bathed in oil.  The belts deteriorate and clog the oil pumps which have filters in.  They are not easy to get to and can be a big job.

I’ve driven the Ibiza and was really impressed with the engine.  Not sure what model it was (1.2 or 1.4) but it had character and wanted to go, like a small terrier.
I have an ST so probably double the power but I still enjoyed the little Ibiza when we hired it in Spain.

joneve

menamestom said:

Focus wise I’d go for the 1.6l turbo petrol if you can find one, 182ps but not too bad on fuel.

The 1l is a great little engine but if they have not been serviced properly they can have issues.  The engine has a wet timing belt, bathed in oil.  The belts deteriorate and clog the oil pumps which have filters in.  They are not easy to get to and can be a big job.

I’ve driven the Ibiza and was really impressed with the engine.  Not sure what model it was (1.2 or 1.4) but it had character and wanted to go, like a small terrier.
I have an ST so probably double the power but I still enjoyed the little Ibiza when we hired it in Spain.

Cheers for that. The 1.0 fords seem to be the ones falling into our price bracket but I’m only entertaining ones with full and comprehensive history for that very reason. 

I bloody love the Ibiza but seems to come with a more premium price tag and hold their price better than the fiesta/focus. Annoyingly  

SteveRobinson

The interior of daughters 2017 Ibiza FSR felt cheap and fragile compared to wife's Focus Titanium

joneve

SteveRobinson said:

The interior of daughters 2017 Ibiza FSR felt cheap and fragile compared to wife's Focus Titanium

Good to know. The titanium x has all the bells and whistles and there’s a few floating around. 

TTony

joneve said:

The titanium x has all the bells and whistles and there’s a few floating around. 

Yup, there’s been a ridiculous amount of rain in some parts of the country recently.

chillidoggy

I've got a new Focus Titanium, the previous one was a ST-Line X. The only difference toy-wise is the Titanium hasn't got the electric driver's seat. Pretty sure it has everything else, and the ride is definitely better than the ST-Line. 1-litre Eco-boost engine is reasonably good, about 44 mpg average, 40 round town and 50 on a run.

crunchman

chillidoggy said:

I've got a new Focus Titanium, the previous one was a ST-Line X. The only difference toy-wise is the Titanium hasn't got the electric driver's seat. Pretty sure it has everything else, and the ride is definitely better than the ST-Line. 1-litre Eco-boost engine is reasonably good, about 44 mpg average, 40 round town and 50 on a run.

I could get close to 50 on a run out of my old Toyota Verso, and that was a 1.6 litre seven seater.

chillidoggy

End of thread, then.

joneve

Now looking at older (2012/13) focus titanium x’s (although the older ecoboost engines do have some buyer beware stuff on honest John) or I’ve found a bloody lovely 1.4 tsi FR Leon with one previous owner 

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102289563059?advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=gl34he&sort=price-asc&maximum-mileage=80000&radius=1500&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&include-delivery-option=on&make=SEAT&price-to=5500&model=LEON&keywords=FR&fuel-type=Petrol&year-to=2021&page=1

....wife doesn’t like the look of the older models. FFS. Granted it’s not nearly as nice as the newer shape but if we’re looking to spend less, can’t really be choosy and it looks like it’s in great nick for it’s age.

TTony

Comment I like in that ad;  "all 4 Pirelli tyres".

That's worth bearing in mind when looking at s/h cars.  If all 4 (5 ideally) tyres have a brand name on them that you recognise, preferably the *same* brand name, and a decent amount of tread left - that's a good indicator that they car has been properly maintained.

When you get different tyres on each corner, none of the names pronounceable ... walk - quickly - away.

joneve

TTony said:

Comment I like in that ad;  "all 4 Pirelli tyres".

That's worth bearing in mind when looking at s/h cars.  If all 4 (5 ideally) tyres have a brand name on them that you recognise, preferably the *same* brand name, and a decent amount of tread left - that's a good indicator that they car has been properly maintained.

When you get different tyres on each corner, none of the names pronounceable ... walk - quickly - away.

Yea, I thought the same. Nothing that’s shouting red flags. You can get similar age focus ecoboost tit x for around 4K with more miles. (Around 70-80k on current offerings) but some have brand new engines which I’m not sure is a red flag or not. 

I think either would be fine for our needs. I’ve always just been a fan of Seats

ronnyb

The Seat looks a nice car. It'll probably be the chain driven cam version. If there's a problem with the chain it will rattle when started from cold.  

Emp_Fab

joneve said:

I’m turning into Emp, aren’t I? 

Join with me, and together we will rule the galaxy!

crunchman

Emp_Fab said:

joneve said:

I’m turning into Emp, aren’t I? 

Join with me, and together we will rule the galaxy!

You would still be installing the laminate flooring in your headquarters.

joneve

Anyone got any thoughts on the older shape civics? Not the mk2 (I think) that had the reeaaally nice Type R’s but the next one from around 07-12/13. There’s this one which seems in good nick and low miles;

I just found a great car on Auto Trader:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101218205877

yes yes, I know I’d narrowed it down to a focus or Leon but just exploring all options. 

TTony

Honda.  Civic.

Thats the sort of car some old bloke with dodgy taste, living in Wales would buy.

Positives:  it’ll probably go on forever.
Negatives:  it’ll probably go on forever.

joneve

Haha, I completely forgot emp had bought a civic on the last saga. 

I should just buy his and the whole thing will come full circle. 

joneve

I assume the fact this has had a new engine is a massive red flag?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011306618989?advertising-location=at_cars&annual-tax-cars=TO_30&keywords=Parking sensors&maximum-mileage=90000&price-to=5500&postcode=GL2 2BF&body-type=Hatchback&fuel-type=Petrol&include-delivery-option=on&model=FOCUS&page=1&aggregatedTrim=Titanium X Navigator&quantity-of-doors=5&make=FORD&sort=relevance

PolarityMan

joneve said:

I assume the fact this has had a new engine is a massive red flag?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011306618989?advertising-location=at_cars&annual-tax-cars=TO_30&keywords=Parking sensors&maximum-mileage=90000&price-to=5500&postcode=GL2 2BF&body-type=Hatchback&fuel-type=Petrol&include-delivery-option=on&model=FOCUS&page=1&aggregatedTrim=Titanium X Navigator&quantity-of-doors=5&make=FORD&sort=relevance

What about something like this?

https://www.unicycle.co.uk/unicycles/20-hoppley-beginner-unicycle.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAyoeCBhCTARIsAOfpKxhUZcpyG1QnSgY-VMeOz3YB0eORToRhwgG8OZPpARmu7cEkZbGvpogaAvGVEALw_wcB

crunchman

joneve said:

I assume the fact this has had a new engine is a massive red flag?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011306618989?advertising-location=at_cars&annual-tax-cars=TO_30&keywords=Parking sensors&maximum-mileage=90000&price-to=5500&postcode=GL2 2BF&body-type=Hatchback&fuel-type=Petrol&include-delivery-option=on&model=FOCUS&page=1&aggregatedTrim=Titanium X Navigator&quantity-of-doors=5&make=FORD&sort=relevance

I wouldn't be put off by a replacement engine.  In some ways it's good as you know it's not been run for the last few years without a proper service and oil change.  Any other car that age might not have been well maintained. Having a service history is no guarantee that things have actually been done.  Some garages will say they have done things and won't have actually done them.  Even if they do them, they might use cheap oil or parts.

I wouldn't want to pay extra for it because of the new engine though.

p90fool

I haven't read any of this thread because car threads are too boring, I'm just helping bump it on its way to 100 pages. 

joneve

crunchman said:

joneve said:

I assume the fact this has had a new engine is a massive red flag?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011306618989?advertising-location=at_cars&annual-tax-cars=TO_30&keywords=Parking sensors&maximum-mileage=90000&price-to=5500&postcode=GL2 2BF&body-type=Hatchback&fuel-type=Petrol&include-delivery-option=on&model=FOCUS&page=1&aggregatedTrim=Titanium X Navigator&quantity-of-doors=5&make=FORD&sort=relevance

I wouldn't be put off by a replacement engine.  In some ways it's good as you know it's not been run for the last few years without a proper service and oil change.  Any other car that age might not have been well maintained. Having a service history is no guarantee that things have actually been done.  Some garages will say they have done things and won't have actually done them.  Even if they do them, they might use cheap oil or parts.

I wouldn't want to pay extra for it because of the new engine though.

Cheers. That’s the thing, it’s priced in line with other focuses (Focus-I?) the same age, which is what caused a bit of suspicion. 

There’s another one that’s dickhead red, 2014 (63 plate), 70k and 2 owners which seems in good nick too. 

I was wondering why Ford focuses of 2012/13 were priced so much lower than Leon’s of similar age but with a much better spec than the Leon for the money. It’s probably a combination of the fact there’s approx 1 billion focuses around and that the timing belt change when the time comes is about double the price of a normal timing/cam belt change and looking around online, seems to come in at approx 800-1000 quid :-|

But car costs £1500 less than a Leon with a worse spec sooo swings and roundabouts I suppose. 

ronnyb

I seem to remember Ford having a recall of the 1.0 eco boost engine round about that year due to coolant pipe failure and engines overheating. Most were modified under warranty. Could be the reason it had a new engine if it missed the recall.

joneve

Price of this seems good;

I just found a great car on Auto Trader:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102269513596

good like, I am willing to pull the trigger good. Comes with lots of nice extras. Their pricing of all their cars seem to be on the low side, not sure if a bad thing or not.

free delivery, and can have it bought to my house to check and test drive for a £500 holding deposit, which will get refunded if the car isn’t for us. 

Anything I need to be concerned about with the newer TSI engines? 

I’ve talked myself out of buying a focus because of the cost of having to change the timing belt at 10 years/150k as that’ll need doing inside 18 months of purchase. 

As a side note, anything I should be concerned about in similar regard, with 2016/17 Astra’s that have the similar eco flex engine??

TTony

Just ask them to divulge the detail of the "service history".

It's probably not "full" (otherwise they'd have stated that), nor main dealer (ditto).

joneve

So, just to update, it looks as if we’ll be agreeing to buy one of two Skoda Rapid in the coming days.

one is black with higher mileage, sports seats a bit of a gruntier engine but a bit midlife crisis-y. The other is blue rinse blue, 85bhp (as opposed to 105bhp) and the more sensible option, so as long as video viewing goes well it’ll be that one that we get delivered. 

Stevepage

Not sure if you’re going for a manual or auto, but if auto make sure you have the DSG gearbox serviced at the right intervals.

the DSG gearbox and the Ford Powershift are some what similar and cost an absolute fortune to repair if it goes. I had to get rid of my Mondeo titanium X because I overlooked the gearbox service. Would’ve cost £3,500 to repair.

joneve

Stevepage said:

Not sure if you’re going for a manual or auto, but if auto make sure you have the DSG gearbox serviced at the right intervals.

the DSG gearbox and the Ford Powershift are some what similar and cost an absolute fortune to repair if it goes. I had to get rid of my Mondeo titanium X because I overlooked the gearbox service. Would’ve cost £3,500 to repair.

Manual 1.2TSI. We have a DSG box on our Kodiaq but fortunately we’ve had it from new so it’s been serviced regularly.