Focus / Golf sized car for town driving

Scythe

Scythe

Scythe

Soldato
Joined
23 Jun 2005
Posts
5,455
Hello all

My mother is looking at purchasing a new car. She is looking at upsizing from a Mini Cooper, to something more like a Focus or Golf with suitable boot size for lugging the dogs, shopping etc around.

Now, my mum's job involves lots of driving in the immediate town area and her 2003 1.6L Mini isn't too great on fuel, so I am suggesting a small petrol engine. She is also interested in parking sensors front and rear, with a rear facing camera to assist with parking.

To this end, I am looking at cars such as the 1.0L Ecoboost Focus, or 1.4TSI VW Golf / Seat Leon. Can anybody recommend some similar cars that I should also consider?
 
Budget?

The 1.4TSI Golf is nippy in the 140 variant, but likely not as good as something like the 1.2TSI around town
 
Shivy011 said:
Budget?

The 1.4TSI Golf is nippy in the 140 variant, but likely not as good as something like the 1.2TSI around town
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We were looking around 20k.

I'd ideally want to keep it around 120bhp if possible, and I believe the 1.4TSI has cylinder deactivation whereas I believe the 1.2 is older and does not? Could be wrong though.
 
Dis86 said:
You're wanting to spend around 20k to save a bit of money on fuel?
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Was expecting to get a comment like this, but there is many more personal reasons behind this that I don't want to delve any further into.

She's had the Mini for around 8 years now, with the last two being particularly troublesome. I'm alright to do work on it, but it is beginning to decline and the jobs are getting any easier (and the fact she relies on the car for work purposes). Plus due to a sudden change of circumstances, she now needs a bigger car than the Mini so she's decided to throw in the towel.

She will keep the car for 5+ years, so will need something cheap to run that will last with little work beyond typical periodic servicing.
 
Is a Focus/Golf really significantly bigger than a Mini? Maybe the Mini is smaller than I recalled but I have always viewed them as being a similar size.
 
Kenai said:
Is a Focus/Golf really significantly bigger than a Mini? Maybe the Mini is smaller than I recalled but I have always viewed them as being a similar size.
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I'm not sure if the newer minis are larger, but I thought there were equivalent with a Fiesta / Polo?
 
Kenai said:
Is a Focus/Golf really significantly bigger than a Mini? Maybe the Mini is smaller than I recalled but I have always viewed them as being a similar size.
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Depends how you'd define 'significant' really, but the Mini feels an awful lot less spacious inside than all the Focus-segment cars I've been in.
 
Kenai said:
Is a Focus/Golf really significantly bigger than a Mini? Maybe the Mini is smaller than I recalled but I have always viewed them as being a similar size.
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Yes, it really is significantly bigger. The Mini is very small inside - the boot accommodates almost nothing and the back seats are tight.
 
Surely you can pick up a brand new reasonably spec'd version of any of these ( Focus, Leon etc) for more like 15k from a broker/if you haggle properly? I know when I bought my Fiesta ST (from just browsing drive the deal) that a 180bhp Focus Titanium X was only about 18k so a slower engine, slightly lower spec'd one should be nearer the 15k mark.

No need to spend £20k.
 
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Jono8 said:
Surely you can pick up a brand new reasonably spec'd version of any of these ( Focus, Leon etc) for more like 15k from a broker/if you haggle properly? I know when I bought my Fiesta ST that a 180bhp Focus Titanium X was only about 18k through drive the deal so a slower engine, slightly lower spec'd one should be nearer the 15k mark.

No need to spend £20k.
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I've looked at the Focus Titanium X (1.0T Ecoboost 125bhp) for £18k through Broadspeed, with the 1.5T only a bit more.

I had thought about a lower spec, but the Titanium X full parking sensors is beneficial, and she will benefit from the other standard equipment with that trim level. The main thing behind the parking assist is due to an neck injury getting worse with age, and she's concerned that with a larger car and age, she will struggle to park it manually.

This car will be paid by cash and as she keeps her car for a while, I want her to enjoy it and for it to last.

Thanks all for the input so far, I have also been looking at the Leon :)
 
Scythe said:
I've looked at the Focus Titanium X (1.0T Ecoboost 125bhp) for £18k through Broadspeed, with the 1.5T only a bit more.

I had thought about a lower spec, but the Titanium X full parking sensors is beneficial, and she will benefit from the other standard equipment with that trim level. The main thing behind the parking assist is due to an neck injury getting worse with age, and she's concerned that with a larger car and age, she will struggle to park it manually.

This car will be paid by cash and as she keeps her car for a while, I want her to enjoy it and for it to last.

Thanks all for the input so far, I have also been looking at the Leon :)
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The 1.0T titanium x navigation Focus on DTD is £16.5k if that is of any help.
 
If your looking at Golfs and Leon's, take a look at what Skoda's are available too. Same VW group platforms but without the mark up of the VW badge on the bonnet.
 
Skoda equivalent would be an Octavia which a lot of people consider "too big" and I'm yet to meet a woman who wouldn't immediately veto the badge!
 
iaind said:
Skoda equivalent would be an Octavia which a lot of people consider "too big" and I'm yet to meet a woman who wouldn't immediately veto the badge!
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This, which is why I'd champion the Leon. I've had 2 now and it's a brilliant car, one which I prefer over the Golf.

You can get a new FR (top spec) Leon for £20,525 - which I'm sure can be had cheaper than the list price. 1.4 EcoTSI 150 PS 6-speed manual.

Edit:

Quick look on auto trader shows they can be had nearly new for £16,000

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ch-target=usedcars&fuel-type=petrol&logcode=p

In this colour too because it's awesome :D
 
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