Golf TDi/GT TDi vs Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec

[Kona*]

I have had my 2001 Y Reg Focus for just over a year now and it has come to a point where I am spending £40 a week on petrol (About 280 miles to a tank) I do get company miles paid for but its the getting to and from work that hurts my wallet the most! Now, I have seen that I could get about £4.5k for my Focus which got me thinking...

How would a TDi Golf (Would need to be older than my focus) or a Golf GT TDi fair up to my Focus in terms of maintenance? And do you think it would be easier on my pocket in the long run? Also if someone can suggest a few other diesel cars for me to consider that would be great

Cheers,

Craig

 

[blueboy2001]

Parts will probably be more expensive for the Golf than the Focus. If you go for a PD engine they use very expensive engine oil, although the reccomended change intervals are quite long.

If you're happy with the Focus, what about a Focus TDCi? The Mk4 Golf isn't as good to drive as the Focus and they are no more reliable, although the interior is a step up. The Golf is a bit on the lardy side so if you are going for the diesel get one of the higher powered versions.

You need to do the sums though. Rough calculations but it sounds like you're getting about 29mpg from the Focus which sounds about right - my 1.8 Focus did about that. When I went to diesel I got about 42mpg over the same routes on a Mondeo TDCi 130. A Focus should do about the same, the Golf will be nearer 45mpg for a PD 115/130 as they are a touch more economical.

By the sounds of it you do about 14k a year.

Focus will need 2280L of fuel @ 90p a litre = £2052
Focus TD will need 1521L of fuel @ 92p a litre = £1400
Golf will need 1419L of fuel @ 92p a litre = £1306

 

[moss]

Eurocar parts sell VW parts fairly cheap, and the 'expensive' oil isnt really all that expensive if you buy it from a motorfactors, 0w/30 is about £20-£30 for 5litres. VW/Audi only use 5w/30 themselves which will be even cheaper again, we sell Carlube Fully Synthetic 5w/30 for around £13 (5litres) at work and that will be fine in the PD engines.

 

[clv101]

Look at the prices of the Seat Toledo - that's one of the best value cars with a decent VAG diesel engine. Should be able to get a 51 plate for £5k.

 

[Robdav]

I have had my 2001 Y Reg Focus for just over a year now and it has come to a point where I am spending £40 a week on petrol (About 280 miles to a tank)

My 2002 1.8 used to cost me about £42 a week until I changed driving habits. Instead of and average 320 miles to a tank, i'm now getting close to 400 and only filling up every week and a half.

Personally I'll be turning to the dark side when I get a new car, was thinking golf, but then the new civic is out and it's look tasty especially in 2.2 ctdi format.

 

[MagicBoy]

Eurocar parts sell VW parts fairly cheap, and the 'expensive' oil isnt really all that expensive if you buy it from a motorfactors, 0w/30 is about £20-£30 for 5litres. VW/Audi only use 5w/30 themselves which will be even cheaper again, we sell Carlube Fully Synthetic 5w/30 for around £13 (5litres) at work and that will be fine in the PD engines.

It's not the viscosity rating that's the important bit - it's the VW spec - usually 505.01 (standard servicing ie 10k)or 506.01 (variable servicing) for the PD engines.

 

[MagicBoy]

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