High mpg family car (fusion)

ben_m_g

It has been a bit of an ordeal finding a family car that is high mpg, low insurance, good mileage and under £4,000.

Plenty of hot hatches, but I would be kidding myself if I though that would be practical with a LO and another on the way.

I've seen a few ford fusions for sale, around the £4k mark 60,000 miles and ticks all the boxes
But I know nothing about them, reviews online are very mixed but the pictures look good.

Has anyone had any experience with them? any other suggestions?

Foxy-Stoat_3

Stay away from the 1.6 diesel engined car.

I would be looking at a Skoda Octavias or Audi A4/6's at this budget. Something with a 1.9 tdi PD engined cars.

ben_m_g

I wouldn't mind a skoda but none available nearby, audi are out of the question the insurance groups are far too high.

I have been looking at 1.4 diesels why would you stay away from 1.6?

BeenThroughItAll

ben_m_g wrote: »

I have been looking at 1.4 diesels why would you stay away from 1.6?

Because it's a timebomb.


What sort of requirements do you have? Low fuel consumption isn't that helpful in isolation without knowing the kind of driving you do/annual mileage/rural/urban locations, etc.

ben_m_g

500 miles a week commuting. Mostly single carriageway (A605).

BeenThroughItAll

ben_m_g wrote: »

500 miles a week commuting. Mostly single carriageway (A605).

Which is ideal conditions for a diesel. I'd second looking for a Skoda/VW/Audi with the 1.9PD motor (the 130BHP particularly).


The Fusion is OK - a friend had one from work and 180K miles later (it was a petrol, 1.6 possibly? - I don't know for sure) it was still going strong. Horrible to drive though, IMO, but then I hate little shopping-boxes. Too tall, suspension too soft, steering was woolly, brakes had no feel.


If you want a diesel Fiesta, buy one of those - not a jacked up squared-off version

Foxy-Stoat_3

ben_m_g wrote: »

I wouldn't mind a skoda but none available nearby, audi are out of the question the insurance groups are far too high.

If you look at the total cost of ownership then the insurance cost per mile will be minimal with the 26,000 miles a year that you will drive.

Cost per mile for diesel on my old Octavia and Audi A4 (B6) was around £0.13, more when on a run. If you get a B7 A4 then only buy manual with the 1.9tdi engine, not the 2.0.

I clocked 60,000 trouble free miles in my 53 reg Octy and 40,000 miles in the A4 that I had. No problems with DMF with either, no turbo troubles and theres no DPF to worry about. Only regular oil changes, brakes and tyres where the only costs.

Ranger8

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Which is ideal conditions for a diesel. I'd second looking for a Skoda/VW/Audi with the 1.9PD motor (the 130BHP particularly).
If you want a diesel Fiesta, buy one of those - not a jacked up squared-off version

Agree on both

AdrianC

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

If you want a diesel Fiesta, buy one of those - not a jacked up squared-off version

This.

It's also worth remembering that the Fusion was based on the 2002-2008 Fiesta - even though it remained in production until 2013. A quick look at Autotrader shows £4k is right at the top end of trade prices for the older-shape Fiesta, but should easily see you in the newer-shape Fiesta - a far better car. And, bizarrely, because there's more of 'em, you'll probably get a newer Fiesta than Fusion...

forgotmyname

Parents had a Fusion, Worst car they have ever had. That must be something after owning several Leyland cars.

They traded it in with a big loss for a Golf which they still have. They love the Golf.

Freefall

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Which is ideal conditions for a diesel. I'd second looking for a Skoda/VW/Audi with the 1.9PD motor (the 130BHP particularly).


The Fusion is OK - a friend had one from work and 180K miles later (it was a petrol, 1.6 possibly? - I don't know for sure) it was still going strong. Horrible to drive though, IMO, but then I hate little shopping-boxes. Too tall, suspension too soft, steering was woolly, brakes had no feel.


If you want a diesel Fiesta, buy one of those - not a jacked up squared-off version

I can second that. Brilliant car was my Skoda 1.9 TDI PD. Same they don't make that engine anymore.