Mk1 Focus - which engine to go for?

[Chris71]

We're currently looking for a mid-sized hatch and the main candidate is a mk1 Focus. The question is, which model/engine to go for?

We had one for a few years in the past and even Mrs Chris71 liked it. The only thing is, our old 1.6 began consuming oil at a great rate after a while. Were we just unlucky or are there any known issues to watch out for?

It's just a runaround, so running costs are far more important than performance (sadly an ST or RS isn't an option). We were wondering whether to go for another 1.6 or give the 1.8 a go ... maybe even the 1.4? Any thoughts?

[Podie]

I felt the 1.6 was a better drive than the 1.8 on all of cars I drove when I was at FMC (all pool cars).

2.0 was pretty lazy and flet sluggish (130bhp IIRC).

What's the budget?

[zedx19]

Mrs Z has a mk1 1.6 Focus Ghia, now just topped 100k on a 54 plate. Uses no oil, sails through its MOT every year with no advisories, only things I've had to replace on it are droplinks which cost £15 for the pair and some scrapped knuckles to fit. I should change the oil once a year, but it went 2 years last time as we had a lot on (moving house, baby arriving 3 week early etc), but still was fine. I see no reason to go for anything else then the 1.6 if all you want to do is move things/people about. Its a revvy little lump and even a bit fun.

[Chris71]

Podie said:

I felt the 1.6 was a better drive than the 1.8 on all of cars I drove when I was at FMC (all pool cars).

2.0 was pretty lazy and flet sluggish (130bhp IIRC).

What's the budget?

I started at Dunton just after the switchover to the mk2 and only really drove the diesels. I do remember people at the time saying the 1.6 was the better engine ... and I can imagine it's great in a 550kg Caterham, but it always felt a little short on torque for the Focus. To be honest, that's not really a concern this time, though, I'd gladly have another. It's just that ours was using oil almost as quickly as petrol at 80,000 miles ... a quick Google suggests it wasn't the only one.

Budget is up to about £2k (preferably less). Looks like you still have to spend a bit more for a mk2?

We need four doors and I liked the leather seats in the Silver special edition we had before, so I'm thinking something like the Ink edition.

Other options would be a Golf or Astra, I guess.

[Podie]

Few other special editions with leather too - makes sense to go for one.

[ruggedscotty]

Had a silver. three door with leather heated seat screen and aircon. Great car. Mk 1.5 or was it even a two looked like a mk 1 but had the indicators in the headlights... great car and it was a 1.6 16v yamaha engine

[IanCress]

I'd agree that the 1.6 is the best engine of the lot. Smooth and revvy, economical and quick enough for most people. I've got a 2.0 at the moment. It has more torque than the 1.6 in the mid-range, but the performance advantage over the 1.6 isn't that big, and doesn't justify the poorer fuel economy and high tax band.

[vinnie01]

we have the 1.6 (Sigma) in our Focus it does 30 mpg round town 45mpg on a motorway uses about a litre of oil a month is quick enough to break the Mway speed limit gets to 62 mph quick enough for overtaking most imprtantly its a very light engine so it helps make the car feel more agile

[Chris71]

Any way to check for whatever leads to the oil consumption (piston rings, maybe)?
http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/22806-f...

ETA I hasten to add, I mean a convenient check I could do on the forecourt - won't be bringing a compression tester or anything!

Edited by Chris71 on Wednesday 30th July 13:28

[IanCress]

Can't really be tested on the forecourt. I'd be checking the oil level with the engine still cold to check it's not below the minimum marker, and also check for blue smoke when revved. Other than that i'm not sure there's much you can do.