Diesel A4 or Diesel Focus for £5K

[dontfollowme]

My dad's 2.0 petrol Mondeo has been diagnosed with a cracked engine block so its time to replace it. Obviously for the money the A4 would be older and have more miles but I've heard a few people say they wear high miles very well.

What else should he be considering bearing in mind the following criteria:

Manual
Diesel
Estate

I want him to get something that is reliable and will last after a disappointing experience with the Mondeo.

[Kiltox]

It'd be more sensible to buy the Focus, but the Audi is probably a nicer place to be.

[anonymous-user]

Focus every time. Might not be posh but they are well engineered and cost pennies to run. My wife's TDCI has just turned 129k miles and now needs a new clutch. We've had it for 7 years and it has never gone wrong until now. We were so impressed we pick up a brand new one next week.

[dontfollowme]

Wormus, was that a 1.8 TDCI?

[Hugo a Gogo]

Focus will be a much newer one for that money

bigger load area, cheaper to run, servicing, tyres etc, very reliable

Audi would be more comfortable for long runs though, quieter and probably quicker

maybe he's just been unlucky with the Mondeo, I'd be looking at a diesel one of those as well

[va1o]

It would be a crap A4 for that money, I'd go for a Focus. You might even just about get the 2008 onwards facelift model in budget. 1.6 TDCI engine best

High mileage but these fit the bill:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Edited by va1o on Sunday 25th September 14:47

[VeeFour]

Best, as in gutless and much thirstier than it should be?

[anonymous-user]

dontfollowme said:

Wormus, was that a 1.8 TDCI?

indeed, 115ps. Still goes well. If it wasn't for the fact the dealer wants 1200 quid to change the clutch and flywheel we'd keep it. Super little car.

[va1o]

VeeFour said:

Best, as in gutless and much thirstier than it should be?

Most economical, cheapest to tax, and no slower in practice than the 1.8

[VeeFour]

va1o said:

VeeFour said:

Best, as in gutless and much thirstier than it should be?

Most economical, cheapest to tax, and no slower in practice than the 1.8

I ran one and never got it over 40mpg. It was hopeless with the weight of a Focus to haul around.

Allegedly the same power as a VAG 1.9TDI, but felt like it was dozens of BHP down.

[Jw Vw]

The A4 for me. Can't really compare the two cars alongside each other though.

[dontfollowme]

Now thinking it might be wise to consider a Passat rather than an A4 as I know they're fairly similar underneath.

[VeeFour]

dontfollowme said:

Now thinking it might be wise to consider a Passat rather than an A4 as I know they're fairly similar underneath.

I think you're into the B6 shape for £5k these days (ie. 2005 on shape). I've done close on 200k miles in B6 based cars with the 2.0TDI engine and had very few issues.

[Bitzer]

I assume you mean the B7 shape

[VeeFour]

Bitzer said:

I assume you mean the B7 shape

No, the B7 Passat is the current, just launched shape.

[Sim89]

A4 all day long.

I bought my 2003 B6 1.9TDI A4 Avant Sport a few months ago for 4.4k, 128k miles, Bose sound system, fridge, parking sensors, 55mpg over 700 miles to a tank and as practical as they come.



Solid car.

[andy-xr]

Be cheaper to replace the engine in the Mondeo with something previously enjoyed and with a warranty?

I had a 1.9 130 TDi Passat on a 53 plate when they came out. Needed a wheel bearing and a few electrical things within the first few thousand miles. When it went, it went very well, it seems to be a thing with the VAGs about the car being slug-like off the turbo, then you get a bit of grunt.

I have a Focus TDCi, the 2.0 diesel and that doesn't feel as turbo-diesely as the Passat did, and doesn't quite seem to have the same economy either. With the Passat, even new I couldn't get it under 45 mpg according to the obc. I struggle with the Focus, and I've had it from 29k to it's present 77k in around 2 years.

I'd still go with the Ford over the VAG, just on the basis of having serviced them both and run them for a few years each, the Focus has been the more reliable car. The Passat was more economical, better to drive overall despite having problems with the seating position

Having said all that, I wouldn't necessarily count on a £5k diesels not giving you any bills at all

Edited by andy-xr on Sunday 25th September 21:07

[dontfollowme]

Can anyone remember the name of the used car website that has loads of photos for each car? E.g a photo of each tyre. Not Auto trader before anyone says.

Cheers

[VeeFour]

dontfollowme said:

Can anyone remember the name of the used car website that has loads of photos for each car? E.g a photo of each tyre. Not Auto trader before anyone says.

Cheers

That was Autoquake.

Sadly, they went bust months ago.

[andy-xr]

Parkers review section usually has a reasonable selection of photos