Mk1 1.4 Focus or Mk4 1.4 Golf?

[Midshipracer]

This is strictly a family car. Just wondering which to go for...

[MC Bodge]

1.6

[Redbaron1973]

1.8 zetec focus mk1. the engine is gonna use barely anymore fuel as it is actually powerful enough to move the car without thrashing it.

[Chrisw666]

Redbaron1973 said:

1.6 zetec focus mk1. the engine is gonna use barely anymore fuel as it is actually powerful enough to move the car without thrashing it.

EFA.

The 1.6 is a nicer engine and not slower enough that you'll care. The 1.4 is by comparison rubbish.

[Hudson]

Focus all the way

[ambuletz]

focus.
The focus was best in its class in that era in every way. the mk4 golf was a huge lardy let down.

[rh123]

Focus. Had a 1.8 mk1 as my first car and was great. Drove well and didnt cost much to run.

[smileymikey]

Focus

[elephantstone]

1.4 golf is a truely awful car. My brother had one, crap crap crap.

[TheTurbonator]

Another vote for the Focus from me but as others have said, try and get a bigger engined one if possible.

I had a 2002 1.6 Ghia which was in the family for 7 years and was 8 years old when it was written off by someone pulling out in front of me (good in a crash too). The only thing it ever needed in that time, except for the obvious servicing, was a new alternator belt.

As with all Ford's, rust is the biggest problem. Mine had it above the chrome just above the numberplate on the back and every other Focus with the chrome also has it, from what I've seen anyway. Mine also started to get a little above the rear wheel arches, just like every other Ford.

Edited by TheTurbonator on Monday 14th January 10:41

Edited by TheTurbonator on Monday 14th January 10:43

[George7]

Another vote for the Focus, don't get the 1.4 though, it's too small for the car. The 1.6 is IMO the sweet spot (and what I have). It's good to drive, been in the family since new (bought in 2000) and I've been driving it for the past 3 years (it's my first car). I generally average 40mpg without trying; mid 40s is achievable when trying to drive economically, and I once achieved 50mpg on a run. In the time I've had it, it's needed nothing except normal consumables and is now on 123000 miles. As someone above said, they do rust, but not badly. Mine has a bit of rust under the rear doors, and a bit on the rear hatch (where the 2 points meet, common place for these to rust apparently) which isn't too bad, as whilst the car was always looked after mechanically, the bodywork was generally neglected. Overall, an absolutely fantastic first car, and the steering feel is still unmatched by any other car I've driven.

[Midshipracer]

Thanks guys, I should add I'm only looking at 1.4 and up to "X" reg because of road tax and insurance.

Any car before March 2001 and is below 1.5 is only £130 for the year to tax above is 220.

I have my other car for kicks this is just for family... ( soon to be dad)

[Triumph Man]

Midshipracer said:

Thanks guys, I should add I'm only looking at 1.4 and up to "X" reg because of road tax and insurance.

Any car before March 2001 and is below 1.5 is only £130 for the year to tax above is 220.

I have my other car for kicks this is just for family... ( soon to be dad)

Fair enough, but look at it this way: a 1.6 focus or golf will be easier to sell when the time comes. They are unpopular for a reason (as outlined above). The Focus is a lovely drive, but I personally would buy a Golf.

[daemon]

Midshipracer said:

Thanks guys, I should add I'm only looking at 1.4 and up to "X" reg because of road tax and insurance.

Any car before March 2001 and is below 1.5 is only £130 for the year to tax above is 220.

I have my other car for kicks this is just for family... ( soon to be dad)

Back arches inevitably rust on a focus and its difficult to cure and not cheap.

I've had both. I'd probably run with the golf - less rust issues at the same age.

[MikeyMike]

Another vote for the Focus here. Haven't driven the Focus but I have driven a 1.4 Golf on a 52 plate and it was awful. Utterly gutless and massively over servoed brakes being the 2 standout characteristics I recall. I knew 2 people who owned mk4 Golf 1.4s, both suffered significant engine failiures when only a few years old, and both were plagued with intermittant problems.

[Pablo16v]

daemon said:

Midshipracer said:

Thanks guys, I should add I'm only looking at 1.4 and up to "X" reg because of road tax and insurance.

Any car before March 2001 and is below 1.5 is only £130 for the year to tax above is 220.

I have my other car for kicks this is just for family... ( soon to be dad)

Back arches inevitably rust on a focus and its difficult to cure and not cheap.

I've had both. I'd probably run with the golf - less rust issues at the same age.

I have to agree. My brother had a '97 1.4 Golf from new and ran it for nearly 10 years. It barely put a foot wrong despite being neglected for much of its life.

[Midshipracer]

Hmm interesting about the reliability. It's well documented about the unthrilling drive of the golf but I thought at least reliable -.-

[ModernAndy]

Redbaron1973 said:

1.8 zetec focus mk1. the engine is gonna use barely anymore fuel as it is actually powerful enough to move the car without thrashing it.

I'd actually say the 1.6 is so close to the 1.8 and they're so much easier to find that it's not really worth bothering. Either is a million times better than the 1.4 though.

[Dimski]

Midshipracer said:

Hmm interesting about the reliability. It's well documented about the unthrilling drive of the golf but I thought at least reliable -.-

The mk4 Golf's were beautifully built with nicer interior (IMO) but I understood them not to be VWs best effort reliability wise. Certainly I had far fewer issues with my mk1 focus than 2 of my friends who owned 3 mk4 golfs between them. I did about twice the annual mileage, too.

I'd have the Focus every time. It was a great car. They're at their best in base model spec IMO.

[rumple]

Focus everytime, ive owned one 6 years now, it gets treated like st, short tripped all the time, apart from consumables its gone wrong once [both rear wheel bearings], its been more reliable, steered and handled better and been more fun to drive than the E36 and E46 coupes ive owned at the same time, its a 52 reg and there is not one spot of rust i can find anywhere on it, mines a 1.6 its a very very good engine but a bit weak on the motorway, if i had my time again id get the 1.8, ive driven every varient of the mk4 Golf [except the R32] and found them to be utterly dire, ill be honest OP id get the Focus every time but if for anyreason i couldnt have one id look at every other option because i considered the mk4 Golf to be the worst in its class.