need opinions about a 1.4 focus

Brookert · 27 Oct 2012 at 19:19

Clarkey said:
Definitely get the 1.6 over the 1.4. It's still slow but it isn't dire, plenty around in Zetec trim with climate pack.

Big-Mac-Please said:
I've driven one before I got my 1.6 focus and it is waaay to under powered for a car of its size. To be honest the 1.6 I got was still under powered.

The 1.6 is enough for going A to B, you won't be beating much off the lights, but it serves it's purpose. Reliability is the key here.

Big-Mac-Please · 27 Oct 2012 at 19:21

Indeed I never had a fault with it

Big-Mac-Please · 27 Oct 2012 at 19:22

But saying that this was years ago now when they were new.

Nickyyy · 27 Oct 2012 at 19:44

My first car was a 1.4 Zetec, the engine was complete rubbish, get the 1.6, insurance and economy is virtually the same.

PS, get a zetec. nice enough interiors.

kmax86 · 27 Oct 2012 at 20:18

nice feedbacks guys really appreciate it

saw and inquired about 5 1.6 zetecs today and for some reason they are all sold out

all advertised around 1-5 days ago seems like they are selling like hot pancakes lol

just have to wait for new ads next week

radar19 · 27 Oct 2012 at 20:22

kmax86 said:
price range is 1500 max but of course less is best
age is 21 and almost 2year in license with a 1yr named driver experience so insurance really kills my wallet lol

also is the difference between a 1.4 and 1.6 focus noticable?

and wow never really thought that meganes are that bad.
the seller megane had her road tax expired about 2months ago but it just passed mot this oct and decided to sell it

I was quoted £1600 for a 1.6 52 plate Focus and thats with no no-claims and no driver experience. I'm also 21.

OpenToSuggestions · 27 Oct 2012 at 20:24

radar19 said:
I was quoted £1600 for a 1.6 52 plate Focus and thats with no no-claims and no driver experience. I'm also 21.

I found that at that age the postcode were it was kept affected the price the most.

placeholder · 27 Oct 2012 at 20:25

1.4 will be terribly underpowered.

My mother had a 1.8 "Sport S" model and i felt that could have done with a power boost! The car just felt really heavy for some reason. It wasn't underpowered but given that it was a 1.8 and a "sport" model i expected more.

kmax86 · 27 Oct 2012 at 20:36

radar19 said:
I was quoted £1600 for a 1.6 52 plate Focus and thats with no no-claims and no driver experience. I'm also 21.

Glad mines abit better i got a quote of about £1350 for a 2002 1.6 focus.

Brookert · 27 Oct 2012 at 21:32

placeholder said:
1.4 will be terribly underpowered.

My mother had a 1.8 "Sport S" model and i felt that could have done with a power boost! The car just felt really heavy for some reason. It wasn't underpowered but given that it was a 1.8 and a "sport" model i expected more.

For the extra fuel consumption, and the little power they give you back, the only engine worth having is the 1.6. Lets face it, it's not a race car

The 2.0 also has far more expensive parts for repairs.

placeholder · 27 Oct 2012 at 23:12

Brookert said:
For the extra fuel consumption, and the little power they give you back, the only engine worth having is the 1.6. Lets face it, it's not a race car

The 2.0 also has far more expensive parts for repairs.

Its not a race car but a 1.8 sport s model should have a bit about it surely?

The very name at least hints at something more than standard? Its not an ST but below that it should be quite nippy at least?

Brookert · 27 Oct 2012 at 23:25

placeholder said:
Its not a race car but a 1.8 sport s model should have a bit about it surely?

The very name at least hints at something more than standard? Its not an ST but below that it should be quite nippy at least?

Sport is just a trim level I think. For instance, you can get a 1.6 tdci sport. Not exactly what you would call sporty

CraigN · 27 Oct 2012 at 23:28

i currently have a 52 plate 1.6 Chic

i pay £219 a year insurance im 30 on Wednesday

It goes ok i get around 40 mpg out of it on the motorway runs

the chic has the functional extras for not much more money I found. Leather seats, air con, front and rear heated screens the only downside for me is it is the one i have is 3 door.

I had a mk4 fiesta with the 1.4 engine in and this was the reason i went with the 1.6 focus. The 1.8 and 2.0 focus have the larger Zetec engines that were also in the mondeos. The 1.4 and 1.6 are Zetec SE engines.

placeholder · 27 Oct 2012 at 23:47

Brookert said:
Sport is just a trim level I think. For instance, you can get a 1.6 tdci sport. Not exactly what you would call sporty

Yes i know but if you were buying below the ST level what would you buy?

If you were buying below VXR you would buy an Sri. My father for his sins drives an Astra Sport Sri 2.0 Turbo and while its not a VXR its in the same family if you see what i mean. I don't know how it works with the Focus but the 1.8 Sport S really is nothing more than a trim level as you say but the 1.8 engine is nothing to write home about at all.

Brookert · 28 Oct 2012 at 00:11

placeholder said:
Yes i know but if you were buying below the ST level what would you buy?

If you were buying below VXR you would buy an Sri. My father for his sins drives an Astra Sport Sri 2.0 Turbo and while its not a VXR its in the same family if you see what i mean. I don't know how it works with the Focus but the 1.8 Sport S really is nothing more than a trim level as you say but the 1.8 engine is nothing to write home about at all.

You just wouldn't buy a focus below the ST if you wanted a remotely sporty car. None of the normal engines are going to do anything for a keen motorist, it's just a case of what someone would prefer day to day.

The mk4 Sri is an obviously sporty car, with distinctive paint, bodywork and turbocharged engine. Different kettle of fish.

joesmith · 28 Oct 2012 at 00:28

Go for a Ghia model if you can, so much nicer interior, and good amount of gadgets for a car of that age.

I've got a 1.8 Ghia, insurance was 557 for 10 month policy with 1 year ncb and I'm 20 so it isn't too bad.
Plenty of power for a first car, but it's no sports car.

K.C. Leblanc · 28 Oct 2012 at 00:49

Brookert said:
You just wouldn't buy a focus below the ST if you wanted a remotely sporty car. None of the normal engines are going to do anything for a keen motorist, it's just a case of what someone would prefer day to day.

The mk4 Sri is an obviously sporty car, with distinctive paint, bodywork and turbocharged engine. Different kettle of fish.

You're missing the point, if it's got the word sport or any sporty connotations then it's a higher insurance risk. It's called the Max Power effect.

EDIT: Max Power was a magazine from the late '90s. It's was a specialist publication for Vauxhall Corsa fanatics with an IQ below 100. The general theme was that since the average reader was unable to insure or afford (or had the taste to appreciate) a decent car they'd buy a 1.2 litre Corsa and then attempt to make it into a good car. What was remarkable is they'd often manage to make it worse. There was a famous OcUK thread where a Max Power reader modified his car so the roof looked like a pair of buttocks and posted it. We weren't kind

EDIT EDIT: And what I failed to mention is Max Power readers loved the SRis, Sports and all the other models that had a small spoiler but didn't go any faster.

EDIT EDIT EDIT: Look what I've just found on my web space.

placeholder · 28 Oct 2012 at 01:35

Brookert said:
You just wouldn't buy a focus below the ST if you wanted a remotely sporty car. None of the normal engines are going to do anything for a keen motorist, it's just a case of what someone would prefer day to day.

The mk4 Sri is an obviously sporty car, with distinctive paint, bodywork and turbocharged engine. Different kettle of fish.

I think if you buy a car with "sport "in the title then its a relevant question. Add in the "S" after the "Sport" then i don't think i hugely unreasonable to be looking for something above the ordinary.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for an ST3 here. Im just wondering where the bar is set.