I'm stuck - help me choose

[mycarsavw]

Last edit I promise:




Volkswagen AG

I understand the meaning fully, I was simplifying it, but thanks

[Howard]

Sorry

[joshwa]

The Seat Leon is basically a Golf but for Focus money

If I was buying a car, and wasn't VAG biased, I would go for the newest (decent) car you can get for the money, in this case looking on Autotrader you seem to get the best value for money by buying a Focus:

2001 Y Reg FORD FOCUS 1.6 LX 5dr AIR CON MODEL (trade) 64k £3k
02 FORD Focus 1.6 Zetec (private) 74k £3.2k

Whats your max budget? You can get a 5dr 03 (new style) Fiesta for £3.5k, 3dr for £3.3k

[Howard]

Whats your max budget? You can get a 5dr 03 (new style) Fiesta for £3.5k, 3dr for £3.3k

Not one of any decent spec surely the pov-spec models are nasty, horrible seats and no features


IMO you're wise to go for a slightly bigger car, you do get much more comfort, smoothness and generally value for money

[Tumble]

The Focus LX with aircon will have the heated windscreen too. A brilliant feature that makes me smile every time I use it Although cack handed mechanics or stone chips can make them break...

[Howard]

I have visions of you sitting there with a stupid grin on your face, rubbing your hands with glee as your screen clears itself on a frosty morning

[digit]

Quickclear is the way forward! More cars ought to have it! I think I'd want a car like a golf or a focus as you mentioned to choose between in 1.8 engine size. I've been in a golf mark 4 1.4 quite a few times (my friends one) and due to the weight of the thing it really has to revved to be going anywhere rapidly. Personally it being your first car I'd want to get a bit of experience udner my belt before forking out more money for an expensive car. First time insurance dependant on age is a killer so you could buy a fairly new car on the cheap with high millage (equalling quite low insurance due to the millage) then look at something with lower millage later down the line when the insurance will drop if you want a low millage car. For example you could get yourself something silly like a high millage Mark 2 Ford Mondeo 2.5 V6

[arbitor]

1.4 version of either of those cars will be agony to drive uphill on a motorway and the engine will be laboring all the time hard at 80.

[mycarsavw]

All these views are from people who, I imagine, have been driving a fair few years.

A 1.4 may be gutless, but it's cheap to insure, cheap to tax and cheap to purchase. My first car was a Mk2 1.6 Golf auto and I loved it.

You can't beat a test drive though.

[frazered]

for that money you could buy a car like mine

Audi A4 T Sport with full leather and aircon, 150bhp 1.8T engine with approx 80 - 90k

[Tarffie]

And about 11 insurance groups higher.

[Howard]

I was gonna say that. Too high a mileage for that engine too IMO, they've been known to need TLC as they get on a bit, AFAIK

[Butuz]

My Focus 2.0 was very good - ultra reliable. It wasn't fast though - i can only imagine the 1.4 focus is like driving an old non turbo transit van

I'd go for the focus pureley because golfs are overrated and dont seem to inherit the mythical "german reliability".

Butuz

[Howard]

I'd go for the focus pureley because golfs are overrated and dont seem to inherit the mythical "german reliability".

My point exactly


Looked on parkers and the 2L focus looks quick enough, can't imagine it being slower than it's diesel counterpart

[GrahamGarside]

You want a reliable car thats dirt cheap used for the spec then..

http://www.reliabilityindex.co.uk/se...28339010848601

Get a decent high spec model like an SLX in a good colour and they don't even look that fuddy duddy

[Butuz]

It is slower than the TDCI actually

Butuz