Ford Focus choice help please

martria

Hi,

I am after some advice as to which version to get. Many people have told me I should go for the 1.6 TDCi version compared to the 1.6 petrol, as I will save money in the long run because of the £35 a year car tax. They have also said that the mpg will mean a saving, even though I only cover 6000 miles a year. My journeys are mainly short, for example 5 miles in the morning (4 miles at 30mph and 1 mile 60mph)

However I have also been told that the service costs and parts on the diesel would make any saving on tax and fuel a waste of time. The trouble I have is that alot of the people who are advising me seem to be very biased which sort to go for and would not even consider the alternative (bit like the xbox360/ps3 argument), so I am not sure if the advice they are giving me is in my best interest.

I have tried to do as much research myself but am going round in circles, savings in fuel and tax vs repair bills. Reading about things like the DPF scares me, lol.

Any advice is very much welcomed.

davetrousers

How much do the cars in question cost?

The rough annual mileage figure is about 15,000 miles. If you do more then a diesel is more cost effective, less then a petrol is more cost effective. Generally!

martria

Ooops, meant to put that in the original post, petrol £7500, and about £1000 more for the diesel. Should of also mentioned that I intend to keep the car long term.

davetrousers

OK are the other specs, mileage, condition etc. of the cars similar?

I'd go petrol for 5,000 miles pa.

martria

Yes same spec, mileage etc.

kolin_2

yeah, i'd go for the petrol.

petrol for lots of short journeys, diesel for lots of long motorway miles.

goldspanners

martria wrote: »

even though I only cover 6000 miles a year. My journeys are mainly short, for example 5 miles in the morning (4 miles at 30mph and 1 mile 60mph)

Reading about things like the DPF scares me, lol.

6000 miles per year doing short journeys makes no sense for a modern diesel. things like the DPF as you mention will be affected more by doing short journeys.

get the petrol version. a fault with some parts on a diesel will quickly wipe out any saving you make on fuel and road tax. and any savings you make will be years away.

Barneysmom

I've got the TDci and the only cost I've had to lay out above service/tyres/brake pads is the alternator which packed up after 117,000 miles. It's been a fabulous car and I think it'll run forever.

mikey72

It'll take over two years to get the initial outlay of the £1000 for the diesel back in fuel savings.
I'd get petrol, every garage can understand them, they like short journeys, parts are cheap (relatively)
The diesel is ok until the dpf plays up, it needs a long journey at speed to regenerate. (Old diesels are indestructable though)

martria

Thank you everyone for all of your comments.

Just a thought, my current insurance runs out in July, if I get the new car in March will I be able to change the details with my current insurer (and pay any extra premium) and it still run out in July, or would it be taken out for a full year. The reason I ask is that I am pretty sure they will not work out as the cheapest, but will charge a fee to cancel the policy. Also if I just take out another policy with another company I will miss out on a year of No Claims Bonus, won't I??

atrixblue.-MFR-.

martria wrote: »

Thank you everyone for all of your comments.

Just a thought, my current insurance runs out in July, if I get the new car in March will I be able to change the details with my current insurer (and pay any extra premium) and it still run out in July, or would it be taken out for a full year. The reason I ask is that I am pretty sure they will not work out as the cheapest, but will charge a fee to cancel the policy. Also if I just take out another policy with another company I will miss out on a year of No Claims Bonus, won't I??

im sure you can just change vehicle deatils at a admin cost with your existing policy.

i'd go for the petrol, does it have to be a 1.6? ford fucus's have a 1.4 engine also wich is pretty nippy and go further on fuel on short distances.