suzuki swift sport or focus mk2 2.0 as my everyday commuter

[skypeller]

thinking of getting either of the above and have a lot of experience with fords but not with mk2 focus if anybody can elighten me on the faults with e.g a 2006 2.0 focus 3door petrol duratec ....probably will have around 70k on the clock!

and also i am struggling to find out much about the first of the suzuki swift sports.... think they look great and have good reviews, really wouldnt mind one looking to spend upto 3.5k for either car so i can put my e36 328i sport into storage

if anybody ould enlighten me with either cars known faults however minor, would be grateful

cheers guys/gals

[ModernAndy]

I have a Focus 2.0 mk1 as a shed and find the engine very good for the motorway and the chassis very good for handling. Push the 2.0 and you get respectable acceleration as well as plenty of torque in the mid range. Fuel economy is pants though!

[Ebo100]

Ive never owned or driven the Focus but we bought one of the last Swift Sports brand new as a 60reg for the wife. It was an amazing car to drive, with a cracking engine and fantastic handling. MPG was reasonable and we managed to get all our holiday luggage in complete with two large teenage lads in the back. However over the year we had it slowly every bit of trim started squeaking, the door trims especially bad. Even though I drove it only at weekends it just bugged me to the point I would get the lads to sit up against the side trims when we went out. It might seem trivial but the constant squeak over the radio drove me mad and this is saying something as I drive a VX220 as my daily drive which could write it's own book on NVH problems.
On a plus point an identical black one passes my house every day and I always have that "why did I sell it" voice in my head as it really was a cracking little car.

[Redbaron1973]

Is it really worth buying either - why not use the 328?

[Shadow R1]

Why buy the 2.0 petrol focus ?
Get a diesel.

[ModernAndy]

Shadow R1 said:

Why buy the 2.0 petrol focus ?
Get a diesel.

The upsides are that it's cheaper and more reliable than the diesel as well as quite a bit faster. Mpg on the diesel is way better though. I got my mk1 2.0 for virtually nothing so didn't matter which engine I chose but although I'd go with the diesel were I buying again, the 2.0 is saving me money till next year at least

[Shadow R1]

I have a mk2 focus diesel, the 1.8 to avoid the dreaded dpf.
Cant fault it, insurance is half what the t5 was, tax is £100 less.
Still on the first tank.