New ford focus :- Petrol or Diesel?

jonnywells

My poor old 99 focus is starting to become a pain, things starting to brake quite often so looking at buying a nice new one :rotfl:

Im unsure what to go for though, its between a 1.6 petrol or the 1.6 TDCI DPF (zetec or titatium)

I currently do about 6-7k PA.

From what i can see the diesel is alot cheaper on tax , £35 a year due to being under 120g/km compaired to £145 going upto £155 april 2010.

Also diesel is far better on the fual economy.

Bad point though is the cost of diesel being so much higher than petrol at the moment (114.9p compare to 128.9p where i live)

So with my calc on a 51 lt tank will cost £58 odd notes in petrol and £65 for diesel

vikingaero

Your mileage is low to switch to a diesel.

Some people who drive low mileages still buy a diesel because they prefer the torquey driving characteristics of a diesel. Do you mainly drive alone or 4 up with luggage and kids. If you carry a lot of people the 1.6 petrol will be gutless and you'd be better off going for a diesel.

jonnywells

No normally drive alone. I did have a test drive in the 1.6 Diesel and i did like it, going to give the petrol a go this week.

Ginger_Nuts_2

Or you could just get your existing car fixed, not have the burden of finance and enjoy having the extra money for three years or so. Even if you spent £500 on fixing it, although we dont know whats wrong with it, thats probably 2 months payments

daveyjp

6-7,000 a year and a DPF diesel car is a recipe for disaster - don't do it. The filter needs regular high speed journeys to keep it clean - a 50+ mile motorway trip every month or so - if you don't do this get the petrol.

Drive too little and it will become clogged and your savings on road tax will soon disappear when you have to replace it.