Focus Sport & Skoda Roomster, quick query

Richard53

I retired last year and downsized to a 56 Fiesta. It’s proving too small and slow for my needs and I need to change. A local dealer has two cars in that might suit me: an 06 Focus and a 58 Skoda Roomster. The Focus is a Sport 1.6 petrol auto with 110k miles, the Skoda is a Roomster 3 1.6 petrol auto with 134k miles. Both have ‘some’ service history and seem in good nick on first inspection, with nothing scary in the MoT history. I’m going to have a proper look later and take them for a test drive. 

The Skoda gets very good reviews (and I am very impressed with my wife’s Octavia) and would be very practical for me, although I am fully aware it is probably the least cool motor since they stopped making Allegros. My wife has also had a couple of Focuses and I have liked them very much, although with less cargo/dog space than the Skoda. Either would probably meet my needs in different ways. I was wondering if anyone had any model-specific advice or things to look out for with those two. It’s the actual models of car and engines I am interested in - I know what to look for in a used car generally. For example, I know the Skoda auto has a DSG box, so that will be getting very careful attention on a test drive. Is the Ford 1.6 petrol a bomb waiting to go off? That kind of thing. Many thanks for any advice or observations. 

Stubod

The VAG dsg has had some problems that are VERY expensive to fix if they go wrong...

Richard53

Yes, I am aware of that. My wife’s Octavia has the DSG box and I swore I would never have one that wasn’t under manufacturer warranty. But I’m thinking that if it has lasted for 100k+ and still drives well, it’s probably worth a punt - the car is under 2 grand after all. Thanks for the warning, though. 

Goudy

Ford Focus "Sport Auto" pretty much tells you everything you need know.
Fords lazy attempt to try and fit every market with a single model. If they put so little effort into the naming/marketing, what effort went into the build?

The Roomster sounds like it makes more sense to you space wise.
I've had a couple on loan, both diesel manuals, although they are pretty dull and uninspiring inside and out, they drive fairly well and I instantly got comfortable in them. I'm a big fan of the Fabia estate (kombi), it's a great cheap load lugger.
The boot is really it's strong point, it's massive for this class of car but it's not up to the heavy weights some van based cars can carry.
They look odd, but they're been around long enough that no one really points, stares and sniggers anymore.
Sure the DSG has had a bad name recently, but when weighing up the likely hood of either 'box costing you, the TC in the Focus is just as risky.

Sounds like you're ready to test drive, just make sure you're happy with the DSG when pulling away.
They can hesitate pretty badly at times, particularly when stopping and pulling away in short order, say when stopping for a moment at a roundabout and quickly pulling away again. Find a quiet bit of road, stop it on the brakes and quickly swap pedals to pull away again, if it sits there "thinking" about selecting a gear, it will only frustrate you everyday.

Richard53

Very helpful ref the DSG box, thanks. I’ve only ever driven newish ones (and have been very impressed) so that advice is helpful. As for the Focus, I’ve had three (in the family as it were) and I have loved them. The build quality has always been fine. They were all 1.6 or 2.0 autos and drove well. Strange that the ‘Sport’ is actually one of the lower specs, though. Test drives tomorrow. 

noclaf

If the Focus auto uses a 'powershift' gearbox then I'd be very hesitant to go there aswell, doesn't help you much I know but I've seen plenty of issues mentioned in various  on car forumst on Powershifts.

Mercdriver

Depends on the kind of powershift whether dry or wet.  

Richard53

From what I have been able to gather in various forums, the wet Powershift boxes are OK, the dry ones not so much. 3 year/36k oil changes at about £300 are essential for longevity. However, this Focus was an 06 and an ordinary Ford torque converter box.  

Anyway, problem solved. The dealer wanted a few days before a test drive (I suspect to put right a few niggles I had mentioned after a quick inspection). I used that time to look further afield and decided to go newer and increase the budget. I saw a 2014 Focus with the 2 litre Tdci and a manual box, and went for that instead. It drives like new and I am delighted with with it. 

Thanks to everyone for the comments and advice.