Replacing Focus Mk1.5, with what?

LadFromWales

LadFromWales

LadFromWales

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Pembrokeshire
Looking to replace my 51 Focus Mk1 facelift 1.8 petrol pretty soon. Just passed it's MOT but will likely need the sills and arches welding and a new exhaust for next years, still on it's original :)

Around £4000 budget but could stretch to £5000 if needs be.

I was going to be boring and go for another Focus, Mk2 facelift as these seem to be available in the £4000 range now, in Titanium guise too.

Other things I've had a look at are VW Golf and Honda Civic. Still leaning towards the Focus though!

Most journeys are short and in traffic commuting, and mileage is around 10k so no need for diesel.

We have a baby on the way so enough space to fit pram or pushchair and all the baby bits in when we go places is essential, and 5dr of course :)

Any advice appreciated :)
 
ST220 :D massive step up to mk1 Focus and bigger with a massive boot plus 220bhp. Can be had for 3.5k easy. Much better quality even compared to the mk2/2.5 focus
 
ST220 hmmm...! Seems like a massive amount of car for the money. One on AT with FSH and 2 owners, xenons, leather for £2490 http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/ford/mondeo/used-ford-mondeo-3-0-st220-5dr-leicester-fpa-201503051462097?atcido=soc-cars-twt001
That's an 04 though so will be looking to get newer than that. Bushes are past there best on my Focus so hopefully getting a newer car will keep that problem at bay during my ownership! I can't imagine the ST220 is all that good on fuel though? Though to be fair on short journeys I only average 25mpg from my Focus!

I've looked at the Mazda 3 but it's looks don't do it any favours, unless I'm looking at the wrong photos?!
 
LadFromWales said:
ST220 hmmm...! Seems like a massive amount of car for the money. One on AT with FSH and 2 owners, xenons, leather for £2490 http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/ford/mondeo/used-ford-mondeo-3-0-st220-5dr-leicester-fpa-201503051462097?atcido=soc-cars-twt001
That's an 04 though so will be looking to get newer than that. Bushes are past there best on my Focus so hopefully getting a newer car will keep that problem at bay during my ownership! I can't imagine the ST220 is all that good on fuel though? Though to be fair on short journeys I only average 25mpg from my Focus!

I've looked at the Mazda 3 but it's looks don't do it any favours, unless I'm looking at the wrong photos?!
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I get 26 mpg from mine and I drive it hard.
3k would get u an ST220 with about 80k miles. Worth spending the extra. Why would u think a newer car = less problems? It's about how there looked after. My 2004 ST220 is in far better condition than my previous 2006 Focus. And it's a far better quality built car and drive. I would have a 04/05 ST Mondeo over a 2008 bog standard focus mk2/2.5 any day which is what your budget allows.
 
I could live with around 300 miles from a tank driving in town, would an ST220 achieve this?
Anything to look out for with a Mondeo? Xenons and parking sensors would be nice, the former not being available even as an option on a Mk2 Focus!

Insurance is cheaper than I expected, having had a license for less than 2 years, but am over 25, cheapest for a Mondeo ST220 come back at £648, with the cheapest for a Mk2 facelift Focus Titanium 2.0 coming in at £372. I paid around the £650 mark to insure the Focus I have now for it's first year! Tax is £480 a year though :|

I was thinking newer car would mean less age related problems with things like the rubber suspension components etc. I'm sure I read that Ford supply the bushes alone for the Mondeo and it is much easier for a garage to fit them than it is to obtain the right tool to replace the Focus ones in situ, which is the only option for a 13 year old Focus with all it's suspension bolts seized tight!
 
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LadFromWales said:
Anything to look out for with a Mondeo? Xenons and parking sensors would be nice, the former not being available even as an option on a Mk2 Focus!
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Xenons were a (very rarely taken) option on the MK2 Focus, they came in a pack with heated leather interior and I think bluetooth was tied to this too.

I have a 2007 Titanium with the above option pack that I'm probably going to be looking to sell in the next couple of weeks and haven't seen any others with the Xenons.
 
Focus was best in class at the pricce point you plan to pay, so stay with the Focus, the MK2 is much better than the MK1 update.
 
Yeah after a sleep and a think I am back to Focus Mk2 facelift Titanium.
A Mondeo ST220 would be lovely but it'll cost a fortune to fuel with most trips being short, and I want newer tbh.

UHT, your focus has heated leather and bluetooth and xenons? I'm sure the Focus Mk2 never come with bluetooth or xenon even as options from the factory. Still could be interested if it's the facelift and you're not too far :)
 
LadFromWales said:
Yeah after a sleep and a think I am back to Focus Mk2 facelift Titanium.
A Mondeo ST220 would be lovely but it'll cost a fortune to fuel with most trips being short, and I want newer tbh.

UHT, your focus has heated leather and bluetooth and xenons? I'm sure the Focus Mk2 never come with bluetooth or xenon even as options from the factory. Still could be interested if it's the facelift and you're not too far :)
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u say u want newer but a 2007/8 Focus is still not even close to a ST220 in every aspect. A car being a few years newer does not mean anything.
I have owned both and the MK2 FOCUS is not in the same league as a ST220. The mk2 Focus handling is crap compared to the mk1 Focus u currently have. I have owned a mk1 1.6 Focus and a mk2 Focus in 1.8 and 2.0 petrol engines. The ST220 is better than them all in every way and it feels like a rocket compared to the 2.0 Focus. The mpg is about 26 on the Mondeo and 32 on the Focus 2.0 i had which is nothing given one has 220bhp and the other has 145bhp.
Go and test drive both then tell me which you would rather have ;)
 
I went from a Mk1 Focus 2.0 petrol to a ST220. I used to average around 28mpg in the Focus (regular unleaded) and on the same journeys in the ST220 I'd average 21mpg (momentum99). This was mostly town driving with some dual carriageway and with a mixture of progressive/hooning driving style.

The ST220 is a lot nicer than the Mk2 Focus but if you're averaging 25mpg in your Mk1.5 Focus 1.8 petrol then I doubt you'll even get into the 20's in the ST220 - unless your Focus has mechanical issues affecting your fuel economy.
 
My trip to work and back is around 4 miles each way with stop start traffic, barely enough to warm up the engine, especially during winter the temp gauge barely rose from the bottom. Longer journeys I can get 380 to a tank but with most of the trips being to work and back I max out at 300.
The 1.8 wasn't ever known for being good on fuel, using the same as or more than the 2.0 for less output. Just makes lots of noise and doesn't get anywhere quickly.

The ST220 looks to be a hell of a lot of car for the money, with all the good bells and whistles included as standard. Interior quality looks to be a lot better, with nice recaro leathers included as standard. If I test drove them both I'd pick the ST220, but my major concern is it'll just drink fuel running on a cold engine to and from work daily. If my journey were a little longer and not stop start it'd be a no brainer.

Something tells me the Focus MK2.5 2.0 will be better on fuel than my Mk1.5 1.8, and given the mainly short trips, the ST220 as you say will probably barely be touching 20mpg :(

There are no ST220 or Focus Mk2.5 titanium anywhere close to me on AT, so some serious travelling will be needed to even get a test drive.
 
LadFromWales said:
There is a 2007 Focus ST2 on AT for £4595 but it's CAT C...
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Avoid like the plague :D

The Focus mk2 ST225 is more expensive to run and maintain than the Mondeo ST220. A good 2006 Focus ST would set u back 6k anyway.
It's a tough one as I've just read your other post about your short distance to work which would favour just getting the 2.0 Focus if u don't get chance to pick up much speed in busy traffic. But if u need a massive boot and do any sort of B road or motorway driving then the Mondeo is the better choice.
 
I would really like a Mondeo ST220 as I'd feel like I'm getting much more for my money with all the standard kit and better quality, and power etc but I just know with the short trips it'll be living at the filling station :(

Yeah having had a quick look a Focus ST is out of budget just now.
I'd imagine boot space will be adequate for now in a Focus Mk2.5. I've managed to fit a pushchair and other baby bags, and shopping in my Mk1 boot before now!

This will be my second car purchase so I am really trying to avoid buying a lemon. Any advice whittling down the ads on AT/PH or even eBay (not even looked there yet!) would be appreciated. I am willing to travel to inspect and purchase, by train or taking my car as PX, distance is no object, well perhaps a tank of fuel each way max :)
 
LadFromWales said:
I would really like a Mondeo ST220 as I'd feel like I'm getting much more for my money with all the standard kit and better quality, and power etc but I just know with the short trips it'll be living at the filling station :(

Yeah having had a quick look a Focus ST is out of budget just now.
I'd imagine boot space will be adequate for now in a Focus Mk2.5. I've managed to fit a pushchair and other baby bags, and shopping in my Mk1 boot before now!

This will be my second car purchase so I am really trying to avoid buying a lemon. Any advice whittling down the ads on AT/PH or even eBay (not even looked there yet!) would be appreciated. I am willing to travel to inspect and purchase, by train or taking my car as PX, distance is no object, well perhaps a tank of fuel each way max :)
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Yeh the Focus might be the better choice then if it's mainly short journey's. Post any ad's up u see on here and other members will have a look see if it looks good value etc. Have u looked at the Focus Zetec S model which looks like the St? IMO it's nicer looking than the Titanium and the same sort of price here is one in this link;
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/251801920073?nav=SEARCH
 
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