Focus 1.8 or 2.0?

therealnerd2 · 20 Sep 2011 at 08:30

Hello,

We're downgrading the Mondeo (2.5) (engine and size wise) to something slightly smaller and more fuel efficient - a 2002 Focus.

What's the difference between the 1.8 and 2.0 engines like? Parkers puts the MPG at 37 vs 32 (14% increase), and BHP at 113 vs 128 (12% increase) with a 10s vs 9s 0-60s. We're currently doing around 18k miles, so not too many, but more MPG would be nice.

I will also occasionally be towing around 950kg - this seems like an easy excuse to get the 2L, but however most tow sites seems to think the 1.8 will cope fine.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

NeverWinter · 20 Sep 2011 at 08:33

With that many miles and that much towing weight, you're not considering a diesel?

ci_newman · 20 Sep 2011 at 08:35

NeverWinter said:
With that many miles and that much towing weight, you're not considering a diesel?

What he said.. A 2.0 / 1.8 Petrol might be capable of pulling 950kg, but a diesel will manage it far better. At 18k miles a year, there are savings to be made on fuel economy too (although perhaps offset by the higher running costs).

therealnerd2 · 20 Sep 2011 at 08:41

Not sure I really believe 18k miles and perhaps 4 tows a year really justify going derv - fuel savings would be about 500 litres a year, but BHP drops significantly and running costs would increase. I guess I could try one, see how it feels.

therealnerd2 · 20 Sep 2011 at 08:44

Oh, and the other thing - 1.8 TDIs seem to be about £500+ more to buy, offseting some of the benefits.

NeverWinter · 20 Sep 2011 at 08:45

Well, I thought you'd be towing more often than that, which would have steered me more towards the diesel.

therealnerd2 · 20 Sep 2011 at 08:47

NeverWinter said:
Well, I thought you'd be towing more often than that, which would have steered me more towards the diesel.

Yeah sorry - not very often towing. Call it 4-6 per year.

alx · 20 Sep 2011 at 08:50

therealnerd2 said:
Yeah sorry - not very often towing. Call it 4-6 per year.

When you do tow, is it for very far out of interest?

therealnerd2 · 20 Sep 2011 at 08:53

alx said:
When you do tow, is it for very far out of interest?

Not to the south of france or anything. 1-2 hours away and back.

[TW]Fox · 20 Sep 2011 at 09:24

If we are talking 02 Focus money then the diesels will be pretty scabby for the same money anyway.

therealnerd2 · 20 Sep 2011 at 21:39

Anyone got any experience of the 1.8 engine vs 2.0?

[TW]Fox · 20 Sep 2011 at 21:42

therealnerd2 said:
Anyone got any experience of the 1.8 engine vs 2.0?

Just get the 2.0, the 1.8 only has 115bhp which is a bit pathetic really.

SoundsGood · 20 Sep 2011 at 21:44

I don't know if this applies to pre 2005 focus but I believe the 2.0 is a Peugeot design and has a lot more to go wrong with it than the 1.8.

DannyW · 20 Sep 2011 at 21:49

1.8 old shape focus is utter ***** ive had mondeos with the same 1.8 engine the piston rings went and i've heard its common

can't you swap your mondeo for another mondeo but a facelift (05-) tdci euro 4 they do 48mpg+ all day long, cheap to tax, the late mondeos have different pumps and injectors, pumps are a lot better, injectors last about 150k, just got the dmf to worry about

[TW]Fox · 20 Sep 2011 at 21:51

SoundsGood said:
I don't know if this applies to pre 2005 focus but I believe the 2.0 is a Peugeot design and has a lot more to go wrong with it than the 1.8.

This thread is about petrol engines.

SoundsGood · 20 Sep 2011 at 21:54

[TW]Fox;20115032 said:
This thread is about petrol engines.

Ah carp, yeh forget what I said.

DannyW · 20 Sep 2011 at 21:55

SoundsGood said:
I don't know if this applies to pre 2005 focus but I believe the 2.0 is a Peugeot design and has a lot more to go wrong with it than the 1.8.

thats not true, i know someone who had a new shape tdci mondeo 140ps with the psa engine, he put 160k on it, hardly anything was changed - same clutch, injectors, dmf, pump, turbo ect.. it was serviced on time everytime at main dealer was a company car

Dogbreath · 20 Sep 2011 at 22:10

DannyW said:
1.8 old shape focus is utter ***** ive had mondeos with the same 1.8 engine the piston rings went and i've heard its common

The 1.8L and the 2.0L engines are virtually identical. Both are the later "black top" iron blocked Zetec E engines, widely regarded as robust and cheap to run and maintain.

brightside_ · 20 Sep 2011 at 22:20

The mpg on the 2.0 is utter garbage, i got at best 30mpg on mixed driving. Didnt go wrong on me though, so they are pretty reliable

phil675 · 20 Sep 2011 at 22:40

brightside_ said:
The mpg on the 2.0 is utter garbage, i got at best 30mpg on mixed driving. Didnt go wrong on me though, so they are pretty reliable

I must agree, the 2.0 Focus is not frugal at all.