What car should we look for

Poppy9

Thanks for all the advice, so much to take in.

He's seen an 08 & 59 Toyota Avenesis. Both petrol. O8 - 35k miles and 59 -70k miles. Both around 6k mark. Both some distance from us so he's going to look at local ones to see if he likes but locally cars are always very expensive but it will give him an idea before he travels.

I like Focus and thats what I wanted when he changed Mondeo but nothing decent about at time and he had sold his car and his leg was bad and he couldn't use his motorbike so we were down to one car and he thought the astra was okay but within a week hated it!

podcake

OddballJamie wrote: »

I'm sorry to say but you have no idea what you are talking about.

The 2011 model Focus is the new Focus, if you scroll down the page to 1.6 TDCi ECOnetic you will see the claimed 83mpg figure next to the actual average figure owners have got 53.9 mpg.

For a start a diesel will take longer to warm up than a petrol, during that time the mpg will be similar to a petrol model. If the OP is during all town driving and short trips, the engine will never warm up enough normally.

This may also lead to DPF, DMF and turbo problems, if this happens, it's makes fuel costs look insignificant.

Regarding "official data done in a very specific way, and it allows a fair comparison." The only fair comparison is all manufacturers pull tricks to get high MPG, taping up panel gaps, removing parts of the car (alternator), running on special oil and using only certain testing facilities to get higher mpg figures.

Google it if you don't believe me.

Although I'm wasting my time explaining all of this as the car is still out of the OPs budget.

I am sorry you feel that I don't know what I am talking about...
However, I draw your attention to this:
http://carfueldata.direct.gov.uk/search-by-fuel-economy.aspx?vid=31508

The 1.6 Duratorq TDCi 88g Stop-Start (105PS) Estate (+DPF) 2013 onwards

has a published combined MPG of 83.1MPG

Comparable 2011 model (pre 2013):
http://carfueldata.direct.gov.uk/search-by-fuel-economy.aspx?vid=30780

published MPG of 67.3
The link you posted clearly states 2011 model, I'm talking 2013.

The only possible way to compare two cars is using the same test, if you drove those two cars exactly the same you would get a difference. Just like how if i drive my car carefully I get 65-70 MPG if I drive it quickly I get 45MPG. So yes, some people get poorer economy than the actual measured stats when on a rolling road.
(on a side note my car should get 62.8 combined according to the official figures, so the 'hype' is achievable)

and if you read my initial post, I am not recommending the focus ( I actually recommended the Skoda) I'm just pointing out the huge differences in cars that (in some cases) seem just about the same..


So to reply again to the OP (and to clarify)

Look at each car individually
don't write off a Diesel because your mileage is low, you are going to be doing long journeys every month or so, which will negate the (very real) issue mentioned by Jamie et al regarding the DPF.
Buy a car you like and is comfortable

Personally I like the Octavia, the 1.9 TDI is an exceptional engine.

notanewuser

Poppy9 wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice, so much to take in.

He's seen an 08 & 59 Toyota Avenesis. Both petrol. O8 - 35k miles and 59 -70k miles. Both around 6k mark. Both some distance from us so he's going to look at local ones to see if he likes but locally cars are always very expensive but it will give him an idea before he travels.

I like Focus and thats what I wanted when he changed Mondeo but nothing decent about at time and he had sold his car and his leg was bad and he couldn't use his motorbike so we were down to one car and he thought the astra was okay but within a week hated it!

Toyota Avenses appear to be driven by total and complete twonks (polite word). Something about them seems to cause !!!! driving.

OddballJamie

podcake wrote: »

I am sorry you feel that I don't know what I am talking about...
However, I draw your attention to this:
http://carfueldata.direct.gov.uk/search-by-fuel-economy.aspx?vid=31508

The 1.6 Duratorq TDCi 88g Stop-Start (105PS) Estate (+DPF) 2013 onwards

has a published combined MPG of 83.1MPG

Comparable 2011 model (pre 2013):
http://carfueldata.direct.gov.uk/search-by-fuel-economy.aspx?vid=30780

published MPG of 67.3
The link you posted clearly states 2011 model, I'm talking 2013.

The only possible way to compare two cars is using the same test, if you drove those two cars exactly the same you would get a difference. Just like how if i drive my car carefully I get 65-70 MPG if I drive it quickly I get 45MPG. So yes, some people get poorer economy than the actual measured stats when on a rolling road.
(on a side note my car should get 62.8 combined according to the official figures, so the 'hype' is achievable)

and if you read my initial post, I am not recommending the focus ( I actually recommended the Skoda) I'm just pointing out the huge differences in cars that (in some cases) seem just about the same..


So to reply again to the OP (and to clarify)

Look at each car individually
don't write off a Diesel because your mileage is low, you are going to be doing long journeys every month or so, which will negate the (very real) issue mentioned by Jamie et al regarding the DPF.
Buy a car you like and is comfortable

Personally I like the Octavia, the 1.9 TDI is an exceptional engine.

Read this carefully and slowly and hopefully you will understand.

There is no Focus 2013 model. The current model mk3 is the Focus 2011. The model before was the mk2.5 2008, before that the mk2 2004, mk1 was around 1998.

Car manufacturers manipulate the tests to get better figures.
There's been numerous TV programs and news articles on this over the years.
Here's a few to get you started
http://cars.aol.co.uk/2013/03/15/car-manufacturers-manipulating-mpg-tests-suggests-report/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/10304877/Why-you-cant-match-your-cars-claimed-fuel-economy.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2293192/The-tricks-trade-How-fuel-economy-figures-new-cars-good-think.html

Worth a watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vrHgUKqkdc

The figures on the government website that you are referring to are a result of these so called tests.

Weird_Nev

I would look at volvos. V50's or V70's. Big, comfy. Fuel is the major issue, but at 6k miles a year, it really does make sense to spend a bit more on fuel to get a reliable car that will handle short journeys well.
Also consider the petrol Honda accord estates. Big, comfy cars with incredible reliability, and a bit of poke too!

SLITHER99

Podcake, listen to the man! I've driven a few diesel focus' at work and never once have I got anywhere even near 55mpg. OK, sure, tell me I have a heavy foot or put it down to me being a far inferior driver in the presence of the experts round here if you like. Fact is, they don't do it!

The Toyota Avensis would be my choice over a Mondeo but one thing I've noticed about every Avensis is that the brakes are nearly always mental! In that you lightly tap it and BRICK WALL! Great for stopping in an emergency but take ages to get used to especially coming from a Ford.

How about - dare I say it - Kia? It wouldn't be my first choice, but if you're doing town driving and not many miles, most are cheap and enjoy being thrown around a bit?

I didn't like most of the Mazdas I've had... had too much of the Ford ticking timebomb to em for my liking.

C_Mababejive

Have you looked at the 1.8 Honda Civic? Big car feel,medium car looks, reliable,fuel efficient with a notoriously big booty

wba31

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Have you looked at the 1.8 Honda Civic? Big car feel,medium car looks, reliable,fuel efficient with a notoriously big booty

+1 for this, I wanted the Accord Tourer but because im 6"2 there's no passenger room behind me, the civic is huge however, with a massive boot, so the wife wanted a Civic. We compromised and went with her choice. the magic seats also make it extremely practical.

skivenov

notanewuser wrote: »

Toyota Avenses appear to be driven by total and complete twonks (polite word). Something about them seems to cause !!!! driving.

Probably down to the amount of them in service as minicabs.

notanewuser

skivenov wrote: »

Probably down to the amount of them in service as minicabs.

Not round here. It's predominantly hat wearing old codgers who drive at not more than 27 mph on any road, in the wrong lane, ignore zebra crossings and stop at totally empty roundabouts.