306 HDI Meridian and Focus 1.8 Zetec

ash_scotland88 · 13 Jan 2011 at 20:23

What would you chose?

2000 Peugeot 306 Hdi Meridian, 1997CC Diesel, 5DR, Manual
or.
1999 Ford Focus Zetec 16V, 1796CC Petrol, 5DR, Manual

Would be used for driving Edinburgh to Aberdeen every other week or so. And Edinburgh to Peebles- funner twistyish roads.

Both are the same to buy and cost roughly the same to insure, 306 £30.

Not 100% sure what I want from a car, I know comfort and easy cruising for the Aberdeen run, but also fun and nippy for town/a roads, but it can't be both at a £1000 budget!

ghop · 13 Jan 2011 at 20:29

The Mk1 Focus will be a bit more fun to drive and handle better, mainly due to being a petrol and an excellent chassis. They'll both be good for the longer journey, with the Focus probably being a little quieter but returning less MPG.

ash_scotland88 · 13 Jan 2011 at 20:30

cheers!

Clown · 13 Jan 2011 at 21:07

Apparently the 1.8l Focus is crap though, so I heard...

jellybeard999 · 13 Jan 2011 at 21:10

Clown said:
Apparently the 1.8l Focus is crap though, so I heard...

It's not the top choice, but at £1000 it's not a bad choice since refinement and economy aren't generally the number 1 priority - potential repair bills and condition are. It's main flaw is that it has the speed of the 1.6, but the economy of the 2.0.

Clown · 13 Jan 2011 at 21:11

Ah I didn't see the price. I liked my Mk1 Focus

sovietspybob · 13 Jan 2011 at 21:14

i'd probably go for the 306, the 2.0Hdi engine is quite nice for what it is and its not a bad place to be.

I'd imagine most will say the focus as there is a lot less to go wrong with a petrol engine and its not french so the electrics won't been anywhere near as temperamental.

Is it a choice between these 2 cars only? As a 2.0 petrol focus or mondeo would probably be seen as the 'best buy' in this situation

Janesy B · 13 Jan 2011 at 21:15

jellybeard999 said:
It's not the top choice, but at £1000 it's not a bad choice since refinement and economy aren't generally the number 1 priority - potential repair bills and condition are. It's main flaw is that it has the speed of the 1.6, but the economy of the 2.0.

Someone posted a while ago that it has the same gearbox as a 1.6 and that makes more sprightly with the 15 or so extra horses, I'd take that with a pinch of salt though.

For a grand a wouldn't be going near a Focus though.

LewisStuart · 13 Jan 2011 at 21:16

I used to own a HDi, great engine with excellent MPG, Electrics was the only issues I had in the two years owned. Insurance was cheap too.. but I was 28.

ash_scotland88 · 13 Jan 2011 at 21:51

cheers, will keep hunting but bank account checking and 2nd mass lump of rent has put plans on hold yet again =[
was looking at roughly £750 for insurance.

Dogbreath · 13 Jan 2011 at 22:03

jellybeard999 said:
It's main flaw is that it has the speed of the 1.6, but the economy of the 2.0.

It's a bit less economical than the 1.6 and a bit quicker, just as you'd expect.

CraigN · 13 Jan 2011 at 22:43

I had 3 cheapo 306's within a year and now have a 52 plate focus 1.6 the only problem ive had with it is the windscreen washer pump dieing in the cold weather !

Grad · 13 Jan 2011 at 22:57

I'd chose the Focus despite the engine, and the engine isn't that bad just not the pick of the range. The one I drove felt strangled, if anything less pleasurable than the 1.6 version.

ash_scotland88 · 13 Jan 2011 at 23:36

So best bet is to hunt for the 1.6 then?

When pennies and shizzle allow =[

ghop · 14 Jan 2011 at 00:24

I actually heard the 1.8 had the 2.0 Gearbox and is therefore a little better for cruising but a bit worse in low gears. Not sure how true this is though. The good thing is with the 1.8 though, is as it's not 'the one to go for', they're a bit cheaper used! My Mk1 is a 1.6 and it's ideal for my needs (commute to work, 15 miles each way, fair bit of dual carriageway and a little bit of town). Road noise isn't half bad and on my trip to Wales back in July (about 230 odd miles both ways) it performed admirably on the motorway and I achieved a 50mpg figure for the journeys combined, along with some town driving too. I can't see the 1.8 being too different to be honest.

Sin_Chase · 14 Jan 2011 at 01:43

ghop said:
I actually heard the 1.8 had the 2.0 Gearbox

The 1.8 and 1.6 share the same box, the 2.0 has the different gearing and requires 3rd for 60 whereas the other two do not.

I had a 1.8 and felt it was worth it over the 1.6.

Jonnycoupe · 14 Jan 2011 at 09:11

ghop said:
Road noise isn't half bad and on my trip to Wales back in July (about 230 odd miles both ways) it performed admirably on the motorway and I achieved a 50mpg figure for the journeys combined, along with some town driving too. I can't see the 1.8 being too different to be honest.

I can.

I dont think in 50k miles of using mine its got above 35mpg. Its a funny car though you may aswell do 85 as 70 uses no less fuel. Some of the BSFC plots also sit the 2.0 as marginally more efficient at light load 3500 than the 1.8. I wish i had the 1.6 now.

All the old Focus have the IB5 gearbox.... that doesnt tell you much about the actual ratios though.

(287g/kWh rather than 288)

logix42p · 14 Jan 2011 at 09:32

ive owned both also the 1.6 and the 1.8 and i thought the 1.8 was better. I liked my mk1 focus also and would certainly go back to one if need be

SB118 · 14 Jan 2011 at 11:13

CraigN said:
I had 3 cheapo 306's within a year and now have a 52 plate focus 1.6 the only problem ive had with it is the windscreen washer pump dieing in the cold weather !

Exact opposite here, on our 5th 306 now. Wife keeps trying other cars but then we sell them and go back to a 306 as they're so reliable despite the hammering she gives them.

territt · 14 Jan 2011 at 11:30

ive had a couple of 306's and loved everyone of them, cheap to run, cheap parts, they are great little cars.