Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec or Vauxhall Astra 1.6 SXi

Ricochet J

Ricochet J

Ricochet J

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Hi! I've norrowed down my search to these two cars. I'm looking around year 2000, so, W, Y, V 51 reg and onwards.

A really good Focus 1.6 Zetec will set me back around £2200.
A really good Astra 1.6 SXi Ecotec will set me back around £1800.

The insurance is more or less the same for two of them. I'm more swayed toward the Astra.

It will be more or less my first car. Which one would you recommend?
 
Becuase it drives better, the engine is better, it's more reliable, its just a better car. The only downside with the Focus is that the interior looks like somebody had a fight with a triangle machine.
 
Not too bothered about what the inside or outside looks. I was driving a Skoda Fabia not too long ago ;)
As long as it performs thats all that matters.

A bit of a broad question, which one is more economical?
 
Ricochet J said:
Hi! I've norrowed down my search to these two cars. I'm looking around year 2000, so, W, Y, V 51 reg and onwards.

A really good Focus 1.6 Zetec will set me back around £2200.
A really good Astra 1.6 SXi Ecotec will set me back around £1800.

The insurance is more or less the same for two of them. I'm more swayed toward the Astra.

It will be more or less my first car. Which one would you recommend?
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Go and drive both, because they are both good cars, but are 'different' enough to warrant a drive to decide which suits you.

The Focus interior quality is a step behind the Astra, which is a much more solidly put together affair.

Handling wise, the focus has more feel through the wheels, and a little more turn in, the Astra feels more remote, but actually has good levels of grip and is more then adequate in that department.
 
Ricochet J said:
Not too bothered about what the inside or outside looks. I was driving a Skoda Fabia not too long ago ;)
As long as it performs thats all that matters.

A bit of a broad question, which one is more economical?
Click to expand...


The Focus because it will cost less to maintain. From a day-to-day point of view fuel won't make enough difference to worry about unless you are doing starship miles.

I concur with the above that the Focus is by far the better car compared to the Astra.

Also note that the Focus was revamped in 2001, the easiest way to tell is that the Mk1 has separate indicators at the front, compared to the Mk1.5 that has them integrated into the headlight cluster. You tend to get more extras with the Mk1.5, and cup-holders that actually hold a cup.
 
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Demon said:
The Focus interior quality is a step behind the Astra, which is a much more solidly put together affair
Click to expand...

The only thing the Astra is more solidly put together than is something with a Kia badge on it. The Focus isn't exactly build quality personified either but it's certainly not a step behind the Astra.
 
[TW]Fox;12489153 said:
Becuase it drives better, the engine is better, it's more reliable, its just a better car. The only downside with the Focus is that the interior looks like somebody had a fight with a triangle machine.
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Yeah!

Except I like the interior of my Focus.
 
[TW]Fox;12489198 said:
The only thing the Astra is more solidly put together
Click to expand...

i'll agree there hit a biggish pheasant a year ago and where it hit the car it knocked the temp sensor out and basicly no damage to car and i hit the thing at 70

i say astra but i'm a bit tight so u kinda save money :P
 
Bought a 2002 (51 plate) 1.6 Zetec myself just over a month ago, 60k on the clock and I couldn't be happier, it's not a 2ltr but its nippy when it needs to be and handles much better than I expected it to, it's also cheap to run and excellent economy on the 1.6's

+1 Focus
 
Hi,

Been reading these forums for ages but never felt strongly enough to post. Now's my chance!

I had a T reg Focus and now have an 04 plate Vectra. Worst. Decision. Ever. I can't believe the Vectra is supposedly a class up from the Focus. I bought it out of desperation when my car in between was about to cost 3 grand to fix.

This is how bad it is - I would swap the Vectra (even with 90k less miles on than the Focus had when I got rid) at the drop of a hat.

However, if you like a dull drive and a gearchange that feels like you're stirring a box of broken bricks then completely disregard what I've just said.

On the plus side, it's better than walking.

Adam
 
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