Late Mk3 Focus, which engine to go for?

interstellaflyer

Looking to buy a late Mk3 Focus of around 2 yers old and not sure which engine to go for, whilst my annual mileage these days is relatively low at about 8k a year, however when I do use the car I’m doing journeys of between 15 and 30 miles each way, I’m not a boy racer so economy is my first consideration, looking above Zetec spec trim though I doubt that has any impact on engine choice

hollie.weimeraner

Without wishing to harp on about it please avoid anything with ECOBOOST in the description unless you enjoy playing Russian roulette.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5902792/ford-to-refund-engine-fail-ecoboost-customers&highlight=ecoboost

There's al;so a Facebook page on this subject that was hitting the 2,000 failed engines mark a while ago.

forgotmyname

The most powerful engine in the range. As long as you dont use all that power the economy will be good.

Better than a low power spec that you have to thrash.

I can get 58mpg average from a 2 ton 2L diesel Mondeo on a 320 mile journey.

System

1.8/2.0TDCi. My journeys are mainly 25-30 miles and it manages to do DPF regenerations every 400-500 miles just fine so despite the fact you're only doing 8k a year the type of journey you're doing doesn't rule out diesel.

hora

I'd get the Ecoboost engine model post modification. I.e. one that's been done

The 2.0tdi is a peach, why not the Mondeo?

NBLondon

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

Without wishing to harp on about it please avoid anything with ECOBOOST in the description unless you enjoy playing Russian roulette.

hora wrote: »

I'd get the Ecoboost engine model post modification. I.e. one that's been done

Or get the 1.5 Ecoboost engine which doesn't have the problems that the 1.0 does.

But if economy is the real first consideration the 1.6TDCi Econetic claims to be the best mpg but the question is then whether that is actually going to happen with your driving profile. https://talkford.com/community/forum/206-ford-focus-mk3-forum-2011-2018/ might have somebody who's got one.

interstellaflyer

hora wrote: »

The 2.0tdi is a peach, why not the Mondeo?

Not sure they do a 2.0 in the late models, certainly haven’t found one on local searches. I currently have a Focus Mk2 in Ghia spec and I like it also the size more than adequately suits my needs, plus I find the current Mondeos look ugly.

System

interstellaflyer wrote: »

Not sure they do a 2.0 in the late models, certainly haven’t found one on local searches.

Pre MK5 so pre-2015 they most certainly do.

interstellaflyer

Tarambor wrote: »

Pre MK5 so pre-2015 they most certainly do.

I'm looking for something around 2 years old so late 2016-2017 that would be a MK3 facelift model, the current Focus is MK4 launched April 2018, there is no MK5 as far as I'm aware.

NBLondon

interstellaflyer wrote: »

I'm looking for something around 2 years old so late 2016-2017 that would be a MK3 facelift model, the current Focus is MK4 launched April 2018, there is no MK5 as far as I'm aware.

I agree - you are looking for what many call a Mk3.5. Quick google suggests that you can get a 2.0TDCI in ST-trim - but you're not a boy racer so you want a Titanium https://www.motors.co.uk/car-52124965/?i=2&m=spmr Which might mean most are auto boxes if that makes a difference to you.

interstellaflyer

NBLondon wrote: »

I agree - you are looking for what many call a Mk3.5. Quick google suggests that you can get a 2.0TDCI in ST-trim - but you're not a boy racer so you want a Titanium https://www.motors.co.uk/car-52124965/?i=2&m=spmr Which might mean most are auto boxes if that makes a difference to you.

£17k wow, might have to have a rethink, was working on a budget of £12-14k