Focus/Astra..good sheds?
Discussion
..looks like my Passat may be on the way out soon and I've come to the conclusion that I may as well just buy an old shed with say, 100K+ on it, than spend 3K like I did last time on an 84,000 miler. Cant help but thinking that 1998-2004 Astras and Focuses look good value just now. They both drove well when new, seem to be lasting well and with a petrol engine, you wont have much too worry about going wrong (I hope!). So can anyone give me feedback on ya typical high mileage 1.6 or 1.8 Focus/Astra of this vintage. I'm currently watching an Ebay auction for a 1998 1.8 Astra CDX (auto), 76,000 miles, 2 owners, tax and Mot, that looks very tidy which is going cheap (about £800). Alternatively there are plenty of VERY high mileage cars around with say 120-140K on them. Another is a tidy 2 owner 1.8 Focus with 120K on it and new clutch, brakes and cambelt change, so 3 big bills out of the way...
Are they too risky with high mileage?
Are they an ok car to run and run without big bills? After so many electrical faults and now what seems to be a turbo seal issue on my VW, I want something sturdy and simple.
Are they too risky with high mileage?
Are they an ok car to run and run without big bills? After so many electrical faults and now what seems to be a turbo seal issue on my VW, I want something sturdy and simple.
Recently replaced my BMW 528i with a bargain basement Focus.
A 1.8 Ghia estate ('00/Y); 125k, 2 owner, fsh, long MoT, cambelt done, recent brakes, good tyres.
£650 on ebay.
Everything works - even the aircon, and I haven't had to spend anything on it.
Really impressed with the way it drives too.
I bought it to move home with and was going to sell it on fairly quickly, but I'm in no hurry now - it's the perfect shed.
A 1.8 Ghia estate ('00/Y); 125k, 2 owner, fsh, long MoT, cambelt done, recent brakes, good tyres.
£650 on ebay.
Everything works - even the aircon, and I haven't had to spend anything on it.
Really impressed with the way it drives too.
I bought it to move home with and was going to sell it on fairly quickly, but I'm in no hurry now - it's the perfect shed.
I'd say you probably won't go far wrong with either an Astra or a Focus. Plenty of both about to be able to pick a good condition one.
I've never owned a Focus but know people who have and liked them, but I've owned a few different model Astras over the years and they tend to be fairly dependable with no major mechanical issues.
I've never owned a Focus but know people who have and liked them, but I've owned a few different model Astras over the years and they tend to be fairly dependable with no major mechanical issues.
I'd go with the Focus every single time. Much better handling and better build quality than the Astra. Neither of them have great interiors if that's your bag, but possibly the Focus edges it out here.
The 1.6 gives reasonable trade off between performance and economy. The 1.8 and 2.0 are both quite a bit thirstier though more torque and a taller final drive mean more relaxed cruising on motorways etc.
The 1.6 gives reasonable trade off between performance and economy. The 1.8 and 2.0 are both quite a bit thirstier though more torque and a taller final drive mean more relaxed cruising on motorways etc.
Don't even bother with the 1.6 Astras. Slow, juicy and stupidly high tax. I expect the Focus will be similar. 1.8s are very nice and the cam belt is a doddle.
Weak points on Astra could be a weepy fuel tank breather pipe. I've repaired two. Takes a few minutes to drop the tank a little.
All I've experienced of the Focuses is the front and rear sub-frames are both prone to rust. I swapped my dad's one after an MOT failure. About half a day's job to swap a front one. Old one was very thin and actually holed near the wishbone mounts. Scary.
Weak points on Astra could be a weepy fuel tank breather pipe. I've repaired two. Takes a few minutes to drop the tank a little.
All I've experienced of the Focuses is the front and rear sub-frames are both prone to rust. I swapped my dad's one after an MOT failure. About half a day's job to swap a front one. Old one was very thin and actually holed near the wishbone mounts. Scary.
Blue Oval84 said:
Having driven 1.6 and 1.8 models I'd say go with the 1.8 if you're doing any serious miles.
I'd personally say your money will buy you a better Mondeo though.
I agree, but hard to find cheap petrol Mondeos at the moment for some reason and would you risk £1000 -£1500 on a leggy TDCI with all its dual mass flywheel worries?!I'd personally say your money will buy you a better Mondeo though.
I had a 1.6 Astra Estate as a shed for a couple of years. It didn't put a foot wrong - needed the PAS fluid topping up, the AC didn't work & it went pink on most panels (the ones that hadn't been repaired basically), but it just worked. A light kept coming on now & then but it was orange not red so I ignored it & it went away. I paid £1k for it (was a 98 "S" and I bought it at 10 years old) & sold it after a couple of years for £650. For the money, I was more arsed about its condition rather than whether or not it was faster than a 1.8 - I was just after something that wasn't going to let me down & it didn't.
For some reason, I'd avoid an automatic though - I just thing they're more likely to go wrong!
For some reason, I'd avoid an automatic though - I just thing they're more likely to go wrong!
Bezza1969 said:
I agree, but hard to find cheap petrol Mondeos at the moment for some reason and would you risk £1000 -£1500 on a leggy TDCI with all its dual mass flywheel worries?!
I definitely wouldn't!I didn't realise petrol Mondeos were hard to come by, I'll be flogging mine next year, this is good news (for me
)I got a 2000 Focus Millenium for the wife 12 months ago, 125,000 miles for £600.
We needed a couple of brake cylinders for the rear for the MOT, parts from eurocarparts were £13 or something. Parts in general for these are meant to all come in cheaply.
She doesn't go very far in it day to day and i've done the odd trip to pick up appliances and doors etc in it and been on the motorway where it has been fine.
All the electrics work well with the exception of the heated front windscreen but as none of our other cars have ever had this it doesn't matter.
Ben
We needed a couple of brake cylinders for the rear for the MOT, parts from eurocarparts were £13 or something. Parts in general for these are meant to all come in cheaply.
She doesn't go very far in it day to day and i've done the odd trip to pick up appliances and doors etc in it and been on the motorway where it has been fine.
All the electrics work well with the exception of the heated front windscreen but as none of our other cars have ever had this it doesn't matter.
Ben
I've got a Mk1 1.6 Focus. My father bought it brand new 14 years ago, I've been driving it the last 6. In all those years it hasn't missed a beat. Apart from consumables and regular servicing, it hasn't cost me anything and has never broken down. There's 105k on mine and the engine is still very tight, although it does used a fair bit of oil. It's not buring it or leaking, I've spoken to two Ford mechanics and they told me that 'they all do that', although they couldn't explain why. I get about 35mpg with a mix of city and motorway driving. It's not fast, but the handling still puts a smile on my face. All in all, I think it's a great shed.
I had a Mk1 TDCI Focus and was happy with the handling, performance etc. & have driven a 1.6 petrol. Very well-planned car with good use of interior space and handy features such as lockable bonnet and interior boot release on the dash. Cheap parts and cheap to fix.
The 1.8 / 2.0 petrols in the Mk 1 were not good on fuel and the 1.8 is barely more powerful than the 1.6. Both are heavy, iron-block Zetec motors & don't help the handling either. 1.6 is the best compromise in a Mk 1. Has a highish top gear for motorway cruising (3000rpm at 70mph) though needs a downchange to overtake, etc.
In the Mk 2, avoid the 1.6 TDCI as it's had horrendous turbo failure problems. probably best aviod the diesels altogether & go for a 1.8 or 2.0 petrol - the later engines (Duratec) are more powerful & fuel efficient than those in the Mk 1 and the 1.8 should average over 40mpg in mixed driving. I imagine the 1.6 would be rather underpowered (& maybe no more economical) in the Mk 2 as it's heavier than the Mk 1. The 1.6 variable valve timing engine giving 115hp might be worth a look, though apparently it needs to be revved hard to get the extra power so a 1.8 or 2.0 might be just as economical & easier to drive.
The 1.8 / 2.0 petrols in the Mk 1 were not good on fuel and the 1.8 is barely more powerful than the 1.6. Both are heavy, iron-block Zetec motors & don't help the handling either. 1.6 is the best compromise in a Mk 1. Has a highish top gear for motorway cruising (3000rpm at 70mph) though needs a downchange to overtake, etc.
In the Mk 2, avoid the 1.6 TDCI as it's had horrendous turbo failure problems. probably best aviod the diesels altogether & go for a 1.8 or 2.0 petrol - the later engines (Duratec) are more powerful & fuel efficient than those in the Mk 1 and the 1.8 should average over 40mpg in mixed driving. I imagine the 1.6 would be rather underpowered (& maybe no more economical) in the Mk 2 as it's heavier than the Mk 1. The 1.6 variable valve timing engine giving 115hp might be worth a look, though apparently it needs to be revved hard to get the extra power so a 1.8 or 2.0 might be just as economical & easier to drive.
RonanF said:
There's 105k on mine and the engine is still very tight, although it does used a fair bit of oil. It's not buring it or leaking,
If it's not leaking out or mixing with the coolant then it has to be burning it, there is nowhere else for oil to go. The Zetec SE engines all tend to burn a bit of oil at higher mileages though.BGarside said:
The 1.8 / 2.0 petrols in the Mk 1 were not good on fuel and the 1.8 is barely more powerful than the 1.6. Both are heavy, iron-block Zetec motors & don't help the handling either.
The iron blocked Zetec E is not a particularly heavy engine, it weighs about 120kg. I had to lift one out of the back of a transit a while back and I was very surprised at how light it felt.Edited by Mr2Mike on Wednesday 16th October 17:16
You can't go wrong with a Focus really because if something on them does let go it's usually an easy fix. Comfortable, fairly nippy with the right spec, decent enough build quality. I'm not keen on Astras as the few I've driven have seemed gutless and I've had issues with seating position, trim etc. But I may have just driven bad examples so I'd go by what owners think of them and they seem to like them.
Mr2Mike said:
BGarside said:
The 1.8 / 2.0 petrols in the Mk 1 were not good on fuel and the 1.8 is barely more powerful than the 1.6. Both are heavy, iron-block Zetec motors & don't help the handling either.
The iron blocked Zetec E is not a particularly heavy engine, it weighs about 120kg. I had to lift one out of the back of a transit a while back and I was very surprised at how light it felt.Edited by Mr2Mike on Wednesday 16th October 17:16
Personally if you have a choice I'd say get the 1.8, it's no ball of fire but it does have a slight edge on the 1.6, especially on the motorway in 5th.
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