MK1 Focus - 1.6 vs 1.8, performance and economy
Discussion
RenesisEvo said:
Buy on condition / service history, not mileage. Having said that, my 1.6 has past 120k and does feel a bit tired, but that might be down to the nasty budget front tyres (disturbing levels of understeer at 25-30mph in the damp this morning). No rust, drives reasonably well. Some new tyres, bushes and trackrods might transform it, but I can't be bothered given the value of the car. I managed to squeeze just under 500 miles from a tank, so 45-46mpg, mostly motorway with some enthusiastic B-road driving too. My brother has a 1.8, pulls much better from low revs, but he claims only 300 miles from a tank.
Also - avoid the one with the intermittent speedo problem. It's a sensor in the gearbox that can be a total nightmare to remove. Walk away.
Def gonna go for a 1.6 now. Glad I walked away from the one with the dodgy speedo... As I say, it felt knackered compared to the 2nd one. Also - avoid the one with the intermittent speedo problem. It's a sensor in the gearbox that can be a total nightmare to remove. Walk away.
Another question, can ISOFIX be retrofitted, easily and safely? Where woul I buy the bits from? Is is part of the seat so could I nip to a scrappy for one?
RenesisEvo said:
heisthegaffer said:
question is, should I be worried about mileage really? Obviously if one is at 60k miles vs 120k miles but when they're a bit closer perhaps I shouldn't worry too much?
Buy on condition / service history, not mileage. Having said that, my 1.6 has past 120k and does feel a bit tired, but that might be down to the nasty budget front tyres (disturbing levels of understeer at 25-30mph in the damp this morning). No rust, drives reasonably well. Some new tyres, bushes and trackrods might transform it, but I can't be bothered given the value of the car. I managed to squeeze just under 500 miles from a tank, so 45-46mpg, mostly motorway with some enthusiastic B-road driving too. My brother has a 1.8, pulls much better from low revs, but he claims only 300 miles from a tank.Also - avoid the one with the intermittent speedo problem. It's a sensor in the gearbox that can be a total nightmare to remove. Walk away.
Devil2575 said:
rb5er said:
The 2.0 is the one to go for. Same economy as the 1.8 but with more punch.
I disagree. I've owned both and the 2 litre engine is rubbish. Crap economy but poor performance. The gear change isn't as nice as the 1.6/1.8 either.I have a 2.0 Focus Ghia shed for running back and forth (I'll also add that I got it for free so it owes me nothing). I also have owned a 1.6 in the past.
Good points: ABS and all-round discs as standard (much safer than basically all other Focus models with a smaller engine that didnt have this as an option), doesnt slow down up hills like the 1.6, quite torquey and flexible in higher gears, motorway driving is way better than 1.6 and mpg at motorway speeds can be nearly identical (40-43 mpg). Not bad apart from fuel economy really but I'm not expecting it to be a cheap version of a Porsche, etc.
Good points: ABS and all-round discs as standard (much safer than basically all other Focus models with a smaller engine that didnt have this as an option), doesnt slow down up hills like the 1.6, quite torquey and flexible in higher gears, motorway driving is way better than 1.6 and mpg at motorway speeds can be nearly identical (40-43 mpg). Not bad apart from fuel economy really but I'm not expecting it to be a cheap version of a Porsche, etc.
rb5er said:
The economy difference between the 1.8 and 2.0 is about 2mpg and it is more powerful than the 1.8? Also the gearbox is the same in the 1.8 and 2.0 so perhaps you had a bad 2.0.
Gearbox is definitely different 2.0 has a lift collar for reverse - it is the mtx75. The 1.8 has the same box as the escorts and I found it nicer when I drove one compared to my 2.0a7x88 said:
Gearbox is definitely different 2.0 has a lift collar for reverse - it is the mtx75. The 1.8 has the same box as the escorts and I found it nicer when I drove one compared to my 2.0
I think the above is correct, it's an alright gearbox in the 2.0. Not as smooth as it could be but very robust I'm led to believe.Rickyy said:
That 1.8 is broken! Mine would return around 420 miles to a tank. 2.0 would do around 380.
It is - that aforementioned gearbox sensor means it runs rich a lot, and, well let's be polite, my brother's driving style is not the most economical out there.I would avoid the 1.4 - a friend has one, it really does struggle with gradients.
Ive just picked up a runaround 2.0 Focus and I'm absolutely shocked at how well it handles. Mines a 2.0 Zetec so comes with rear discs, traction control and 16" wheels. Also feels slightly more "stiff" than a friends 1.6 but that may be because his is on 15"s (Tyre flex). It pulls well for what it is but it will never set the world on fire. Very very refined though. My dads got a 2.0 Ghia on 135k, still sounds as quiet as mine on 100k.
Essentially theyre very good cars. On 1.8/2.0's watch for a wet patch on the gearbox from the 'stat housing, there is a 3 piece plastic pipe that leaks by the rad and theres an emmisions hose that goes from the inlet to the PCV. On the 1.6 check for leaks from the stat housing by the alternator, theres an emmisions hose thats a T piece by the inlet manifold. Check for coolant leaks in the spark plug wells as there's a pair of core plugs in the head that rots through. Coils and leads on both models are **** but cheap as chips to replace from ECP.
Check also for a wet passenger footwell, check the speedo works at all times and also check the dials all function properly - instrument panels are very common for failing but cheap to replace. Oh and check the bonnet lock works properly
Sounds like its bad but believe me theyre not. A MK3 Mondeo will give you much more trouble with inlet flaps, DMF, individual coils, rear subframe bushes and other expensive bits.
If you want solid reliable motoring thats fairly fun to press on a MK1 Focus is highly recommended.
Essentially theyre very good cars. On 1.8/2.0's watch for a wet patch on the gearbox from the 'stat housing, there is a 3 piece plastic pipe that leaks by the rad and theres an emmisions hose that goes from the inlet to the PCV. On the 1.6 check for leaks from the stat housing by the alternator, theres an emmisions hose thats a T piece by the inlet manifold. Check for coolant leaks in the spark plug wells as there's a pair of core plugs in the head that rots through. Coils and leads on both models are **** but cheap as chips to replace from ECP.
Check also for a wet passenger footwell, check the speedo works at all times and also check the dials all function properly - instrument panels are very common for failing but cheap to replace. Oh and check the bonnet lock works properly
Sounds like its bad but believe me theyre not. A MK3 Mondeo will give you much more trouble with inlet flaps, DMF, individual coils, rear subframe bushes and other expensive bits.
If you want solid reliable motoring thats fairly fun to press on a MK1 Focus is highly recommended.
rb5er said:
Devil2575 said:
rb5er said:
The 2.0 is the one to go for. Same economy as the 1.8 but with more punch.
I disagree. I've owned both and the 2 litre engine is rubbish. Crap economy but poor performance. The gear change isn't as nice as the 1.6/1.8 either.You can tell the difference because in the 2.0 you have to lift a collar beneath the hear knob to get reverse. In the 1.8 you don't.
I reckoned about 3-4mpg difference for an extra 15 bhp. But given both engines are fairly rubbish and not powerful enough to make the car fast, it was better to have the extra mpg rather than the power. Also my 2.0 was an ESP with 205/50/16s which seemed to dull the handling compared to the 195/15s fitted to the 1.8 zetec. Oh and the ESP is the most useless traction control device I've ever encountered. Utterly pointless.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff