ford focus 1.8TDCi/ should we buy diesel?

moneylover

Hello
We are going to buy a new car and it will either be a Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec petrol which is what we have at the moment and been happy with, or a 1.8 diesel - we are just considering this car because there are very good deals on them at the moment.
Does anyone have one of these diesel 1.8 Fords and are they pleased with it?
Also can anyone comment on the savings if anyof diesel? I know its about an extra 10p a litre for fuel and that diesel cars need servicing more. But the difference in the price we would pay for the car is minimal and am wondering if its worthwhile therefore going for the diesel.
Many thanks for any views

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

What is your annual mileage?

wilkoitfc

I have a 57 Ford Focus Style 1.8 TDCi and i used to be able to get from Colchester in Essex to Aberystwyth in Wales on £45 worth of diesel. This was also during the times when diesel was between £1.30-£1.45 a litre.

I think the journey was roughly 300 miles- so that's not to shabby really.

Having said that if your going to rag it (like i do now) it tends to consume alot more. I do a return journey Epsom to Colchester (100 miles each way) for £30

harveybobbles

All depends on driving style and anual mileage. Too many customers come in to me and say they need a diesel "cos they're more economical". When I ask them about their anual mileage they say "oh about 8000 a year..."

I tut normally lol.

Because new diesels have loads of torque and more power then petrol cars peaople, me included will use all that power and rag them about and end up getting poor fuel consumption lol.

The Hocus pocus Focus 1.6 is ok and should get early 30's overall. The 1.8deisel will get more, but it will cost you more to buy the same car like for like and fuel is about 10p dealer.

moneylover

wilkoitfc wrote: »

I have a 57 Ford Focus Style 1.8 TDCi and i used to be able to get from Colchester in Essex to Aberystwyth in Wales on £45 worth of diesel. This was also during the times when diesel was between £1.30-£1.45 a litre.

I think the journey was roughly 300 miles- so that's not to shabby really.

Having said that if your going to rag it (like i do now) it tends to consume alot more. I do a return journey Epsom to Colchester (100 miles each way) for £30

Its a hard one - the 1.8 diesel is such good buy at the moment. But on our 1.6zetec petrol we did 250 miles motorway/main road driving for £25 the other day (chelmsford to Leicester and back). I think my husband would like a more powerful car than we have.

Is there any extra noise from the diesel????

vikingaero

If you plan to carry 5 people + luggage regularly in the Focus then you would be better off with the torque of a diesel. Otherwise if it's 2 up then the 1.6 petrol will be fine.

vikingaero

moneylover wrote: »

I think my husband would like a more powerful car than we have.

Is there any extra noise from the diesel????

If he wants a more powerful car then go for the diesel.

There is somewhat more noise. What you will notice is the vibration and clatter at idle and when setting off from idle. Maybe best to test drive one first.

moneylover

vikingaero wrote: »

If he wants a more powerful car then go for the diesel.

There is somewhat more noise. What you will notice is the vibration and clatter at idle and when setting off from idle. Maybe best to test drive one first.

Yes we will test drive..

Wilkoitfc you have model we are considering do you notice this problem..many thanks

wilkoitfc

I must admit i haven't noticed any significant vibration or clatter. Between 0-15mph the engine does sound like your driving a van- but hey its a diesel after all! Once you get towards 20mph and faster you wouldn't notice the difference.

My only word of caution would be that at times the turbo can be a touch temperamental. If you clip the accelerator two hard it kicks in and the car flies- it took me some time to getting used to..

Take for 1.8 for a test drive- whats the worst that can happen?

XDA

I have a 53 reg 1.8TDCi, so one of the slightly older engines.

I do a daily 60 mile round trip (commute) 5 times a week, and I get roughly 250 miles from about £20 of diesel (Diesel is 97.9 here)

Thats from a mixture of single carriageway (65mph-ish) and motorway driving (70mph-ish)

As said above, if i rag it which happens sometimes then the diesel quickly disappears.

My Focus kicks out good torque, so very useful for overtaking quickly. The main reason I bought mine really!

What sort of mileage you doing. If its above 16k per year, then go for the diesel.

jack_spratt_2

http://www.which.co.uk/advice/petrol-v-diesel/index.jsp