Ford Focus, Mondeo or Vauxhall Astra Estate?

CheeryBab

Hi all,

I need to swap my Vauxhall Astra 1.6 petrol hatchback (63 plate) for an estate so it can accommodate my two large dogs. I am considering another Astra or swapping to a Ford Focus or Ford Mondeo.

 

My current Astra is lovely to drive and is really comfortable, but it's cost me a fortune in repairs, etc. I have owned a few older diesel Mondeo's in the past, which were great, and a couple of focus, which were petrol. The older 1.6 was good, but the newer 1.0 ecoboost had serious engine problems, and the turbo failed - nightmare!

I'm looking at cars roughly between 2011 and 2016, costing no more than £7500, but I'm getting so confused about all the different engines. I've been advised by several mechanics to avoid all ecoboost engines and diesels because I mostly do short journeys now. So I feel pretty limited.

Can anyone please advise me as I'm not sure what to do. I generally do less than 8000 miles a year. I only occasionally go on long journeys, but I often have a full load and sometimes quite steep hills involved! I'm not as confident driving nowadays, so I need something that's easy to drive and doesn't stall easily. 😆

I would consider other cars as well.  Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks

Desmond_Hume

I’d be looking at a Skoda Octavia estate, personally. I’ve had two hatches. Great cars (both vRS so slightly different to what you want). The 1.5TSI engine is generally reliable. 

Goudy

For the money and by the sounds of you do lots of short trips, I would look at the Toyota Auris Touring Sports 1.8 Hybrid.

You need to look carefully for a decent one as a lot got used as mini cabs, but they are pretty frugal and really robust.

Count on the hybrid battery lasting until 160,000 - 170,000 miles and the electric water pump the same (water pump a cheapish fix though and the car will tell you when it wants changing).

Grumpy_chap

Mondeo or Focus with the Zetec petrol engine will run for ever and a good drive.
Don't confuse Zetec engine with Zetec trim.

CheeryBab

Grumpy_chap said:

Mondeo or Focus with the Zetec petrol engine will run for ever and a good drive.
Don't confuse Zetec engine with Zetec trim.

That's good to hear. Would that be a 1.6? Many thanks. 

Grumpy_chap

CheeryBab said:

Grumpy_chap said:

Mondeo or Focus with the Zetec petrol engine will run for ever and a good drive.
Don't confuse Zetec engine with Zetec trim.

That's good to hear. Would that be a 1.6? Many thanks. 

Yes, possibly.

I had a 1.8 petrol Mondeo (with the Zetec engine) and it went to over 200k before I sold it and I saw it running around locally for a good few years after that.

I also had a 1.6 petrol Focus (with the Zetec engine) which I ran to over 150k before the mileometer stopped displaying.  I did what must have been another 20k miles or so before giving the car to my Nephew who commuted from Portsmouth to Reading daily for a couple of years.  The car was still going very strong mechanically when disposed of as the bodywork was suffering from the accumulation of minor impacts and rusting away.

prowla

Every Ford and Vauhall I've owned has had issues.

One of my sons bought a Vauxhall - it had issues.

He then bought another Vauxhall - it had issues and needed a new engine.

I won't buy a car from those two brands.