Astra v Focus.

Idiophreak

sarah_elton wrote: »

Well that's exactly what I thought, but there is an Astra in my town with the same shape as mine, which is an 05 plate. I've seen it a few times.

Unless they bought an 05 plate to put on it, but why would you do that?

I guess that's *possible* - or I guess they may have been sat around the place for a year before being sold - can you have a car built in 04 registered as 05? Who knows...

Inactive

Idiophreak wrote: »

I guess that's *possible* - or I guess they may have been sat around the place for a year before being sold - can you have a car built in 04 registered as 05? Who knows...

Yes, most of the " new " cars that are for sale now will have been manufactured last year, some further back than that.

BenL

Inactive wrote: »

Yes, most of the " new " cars that are for sale now will have been manufactured last year, some further back than that.

And buy a car after the recession is finished whenever that maybe and it may have been hanging around in the rain,sun,snow since 2008!

BillTrac

When I changed jobs Dec 07 and went from a company Vectra to having car allowance, I narrowd the choice to Astra or Focus. Planned on changing yearly as expected mileage was going to be quite high.

After several road tests went for a Focus Zetec 56 plate (so year old when I got it with 15,000 on the clock). Had it over a year now, having done 30,000 ( so 45,000 on the speedo) and I plan on keeping it a bit longer because it is really a good car to drive. Very reliable, and comfortable and looks good. If and when I change it I will be getting another Focus, although hopefully the new shape.

Just try and find a good reliable local garage for servicing. My local Ford stealership wanted £190 for the interim service, got it serviced in Southampton for £135. Ford trained tech, using genuine Ford parts to keep the warranty intact, and very good personal service. Even down to obtaing the radio code for me for free( as part of the service)when Ford wanted £20!! And although it is a 25 minute journey, so not technically local, I willingly do it as I feel looked after.

maniac886

Focus every time....get some Ford Eibach 30mm lowering springs fitted as well.

vansboy

Astra would be my choice, but Focus do have a strong following - more often than not, top search in Autotrader listings. I just can't get to sit comfortably in them though.

Do check http://www.honestjohn.co.uk n his Car By Car Breakdown section - tells all about good AND bad, of all makes.

& I like the Kia suggestion - or even look Hyundai, too.

But did you consider Mazda 3 - it's pretty much a Focus underneath, but you might have better percieved build quality - or not!!

VB

hewhoisnotintheknow

not enough miles to need a diesel

get a kia ceed

GhostDog_2

Wow! :eek: Thanks for all the input everyone! :T Very much appreciated.

I'm still "dithering".......I think I was sitting in the "Astra camp" and this would be Astra No7 for me.......fell in love with them years ago so it would need to be something special to drag me away from them

Funnily enough had looked at the Kia C'eed after seeing the ad on tv......realised the reason I liked it so much is because it looks like an Astra!:o
Bit nervous of the parts' costs on these right now though....and would a 7yr warranty really be effective? :rolleyes:

Diesel/petrol - guess I should've added that we do clock up a few more miles at the weekend although I have had the OH doing some fuel consumption comparisons for me tonight! I'll need to recheck petrol options/prices again.....

Inactive - I think I'm being a bit thick here but could you please elaborate on your comment about how the possibility of Ford going bankrupt may impact on used prices....:o Would they shoot up or drop?

I don't know if I can stretch to brand new although alot of people have said what great deals are available right now......I'm thinking it will be a 2008 model with a few miles on the clock. I'd always been advised to go down this route so the car has got over any initial "teething problems" :rotfl:

Thanks everyone..........feel free to add more if you have an opinion I NEED to hear it!

overlander

We have owned both, we had the focus for 2 years and the astra for 18 months. The Ford is definitely a cut above the Astra, the trim in the Astra is very cheap looking and does not stand up to kids very well. But that is the least of the astras worries, we had nothing but bother with it from day one, headlining falling down horn not working steering wheel radio controls not working the list goes on. The focus was 100% reliable, but then again we might just have had a bad model. We stupidly gave Vauxhall a second chance and bought a meriva, again a complete reliability disaster.

Apart from reliability the Ford was more accomplished all round, if i had to split hairs i would say the Vauxhall had the edge in the handling department. But the whole car feels cheap compared to the ford. Just checked the parkers review and i'm afraid they agree with the majority on here, the Astra is a poor second choice.

PS should add all 3 cars were brand new.

credit_crunch_victim

i would say focus as well i am on my fourth one now
i have a zetec 1.8 tddi and a 2.0 titanium tdci also had two new 2.5 st's
strange that two people say the astra has the edge on handling as i have never heard that before even jeremy clarkson has a focus