Ford Focus v VW Golf (used 3 years old)

square_bear

Hi
I'm thinking of buying one of these cars but sure about the tech side of things.

Diesel or petrol?
What do the numbers 105, 115 etc mean?
What about BHP does that make a difference on the insurance.

There is so much choice, I'm not sure what's right for me.

I drive no more that 10k per year, want a 5 door hatchback but not a base model.

How do I decide?

Thanks

Marktheshark

To be honest, unless you have BMW or Merc money modern diesels are almost disposable at 120k+ they start to get very expensive.

londonTiger

square_bear wrote: »

How do I decide?

entirely down to you.

Richard53

For 10k a year, go for petrol. You would pay more for fuel (petrols use more although the fuel is slightly cheaper) but this would not outweigh the lower purchase price of a petrol car on that mileage. Modern diesels like high mileages and long runs, probably not what your usage pattern will be.


The numbers are probably bhp - the power output of the engine. Lower power tends to mean better economy, but that's not always the case. A more powerful car will tend to cost more to insure, but again there will be a lot of exceptions. All you can do is research it properly, and get a few dummy quotes.


I have never driven a Golf, but I can tell you that the Focus is a good car (wife has had three) - well put together, comfy, good to drive, and (touch wood) ours have been 100% reliable.

forgotmyname

You dont want the base model? What features do you want that doesnt come on the base model?

I had a look at a Focus and a C-Max and to get the same spec as my base model Mondeo I had to go 3 or 4 levels up on the Focus and C-Max.

Lower power does not mean better economy. Better emissions posisbly. Check the mpg figures a higher bhp model can get better fuel consumption.

Same with engine sizes. My 2L car can get better mpg figures than a 1.6 car. At higher speed my engine is barely ticking over where the smaller unit is working harder.

The higher BHP model may cost more to insure though.

bigjl

1.6 petrol Focus in Zetec from a car supermarket.

Golfs are over rated and have as many, if not more issues than vehicles produced by Companies with less effective PR machines behind them.

OddballJamie

Couldn't agree more bigjl. Ford have always been pretty clear with the spec levels if you ignore the special editions.

Zetec has all you need, heated screen, aircon, alloys, nicer seats, cd/mp3 and it holds its value better than the poverty spec versions.

Titanium is worth while if you want a comfier ride and a few extras.

harveybobbles

1.6 petrol Focus will be awful on fuel compared to the 1.8 or 2.0 petrol.

Avoid diesel for that sort of mileage. Or just avoid diesel full stop, unless someone else is paying for repairs.

Golf will be like sitting inside a lump of coal.

OddballJamie

harveybobbles wrote: »

1.6 petrol Focus will be awful on fuel compared to the 1.8 or 2.0 petrol.

Avoid diesel for that sort of mileage. Or just avoid diesel full stop, unless someone else is paying for repairs.

Golf will be like sitting inside a lump of coal.

Can you even get a 3 year old Focus 1.8 or 2.0? I would think there aren't many about unless it was a very late registered one.

Johno100

OddballJamie wrote: »

Can you even get a 3 year old Focus 1.8 or 2.0? I would think there aren't many about unless it was a very late registered one.

Only if they go for the ST with the 2.0L Ecoboost engine, the standard models of the MK3 are either 1.6 or 1.0.

DoaM

harveybobbles wrote: »

Golf will be like sitting inside a lump of coal.

Nothing wrong with my Golf.

(2012 reg GT with 2.0L 140PS diesel engine)