Ford Focus 2006 1.4 vs 2006 VW Polo 1.4 - Advice Please

[annie90]

2006 Ford Focus 1.4 Studio - £3400
43,000 miles
which includes
12 Months MOT
New keys and only one non-remote key come with the car
1 months warranty

Would need
A CD player
Road Tax
Dent from drivers side door and also some scratches removed

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

OR

2006 Volkswagen Polo 1.4 SE - £3650
80000 miles

Which includes
Presale Service
12 Months MOT
6 months road tax
3 month warranty (RAC i think)

Needs
A CD player which garage said they would provide

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

I'm a student who has come over from Ireland and I'm looking to get a car over here. I have a irish VW polo that i plan on selling at home to fund a car over here.
I'm just looking for advice as I have heard diesel cars can have more problems than petrol. The driving i would be doing would be from Crewe to Manchester and back 2 or 3 times a week as my university is in Crewe and I have gotten a job in Manchester and have family there also. That trip is 30 miles one way. Other time I would be driving short journeys of about 10 minutes or it could not be driven at all some days. I'm only looking at the diesel car as it is £650 pound cheaper than the 1.4 2006 VW Polo SE i was also looking at.
I'm struggling to decide between the above 2 car. I know the focus has great mileage which i the main thing going for as. However I have a polo and like they way the drive and feel comfortable in the.

If somebody could give me a bit of advice as to what is the best choice for me and if you would know which car would hold the value more if I were to sell it in a few years. I know usually the VW would hold the value more but would the lower mileage in the focus cancel this out?

What would the cost of servicing and parts be like for VW and Ford here in England?

And any other bits of information you think would be helpful.
I'd really appreciate it

[sherman]

Why are you not just bringing the Polo over from Ireland and using that?

[annie90]

sherman said:

Why are you not just bringing the Polo over from Ireland and using that?

I have it over with me at the minute but I'm only insured for a limited time as the car is on Southern Irish plates

[sherman]

Could you not just get them changed over?

[nipsips]

Im pretty sure youd need to "import" it to do that.

OP 1.4 Focus's are gutless. Ive driven one of the hateful things once. 75ps in a car that feels underpowered with 100+...

[annie90]

sherman said:

Could you not just get them changed over?

to get the car imported i would need to
change the clock as the only read KM/PH and the need to read in miles - £140
Mutual recognition £100
Cert of Conformity £50
Tax £140
MOT £50 plus coz of any repairs needed to pass
Insurance £1300 - the import brings the insurance
Registration £55
Plates Made £30 (Not sure what this would cost)

Where as I could sell my polo at home to cover a car over here without the hassle of having to do all the above

[annie90]

nipsips said:

Im pretty sure youd need to "import" it to do that.

OP 1.4 Focus's are gutless. Ive driven one of the hateful things once. 75ps in a car that feels underpowered with 100+...

You would recommend the polo then?
even with the difference in the milage

[vit4]

The 1.4 Focus is a miserable, hatefully underpowered machine and IME stupidly thirsty for a 1.4 because it needs to work so hard. The engine ruins the car.

[tr7v8]

The Focus is golf sized so you're not comparing like with like. Compare the 1.4 Fiesta with a Polo seems better.

[annie90]

tr7v8 said:

The Focus is golf sized so you're not comparing like with like. Compare the 1.4 Fiesta with a Polo seems better.

I'm not too fond of the fiesta so want to avoid one

[sherman]

annie90 said:

sherman said:

Could you not just get them changed over?

to get the car imported i would need to
change the clock as the only read KM/PH and the need to read in miles - £140
Mutual recognition £100
Cert of Conformity £50
Tax £140
MOT £50 plus coz of any repairs needed to pass
Insurance £1300 - the import brings the insurance
Registration £55
Plates Made £30 (Not sure what this would cost)

Where as I could sell my polo at home to cover a car over here without the hassle of having to do all the above

So if thats what you legally have to do. How do all the polish etc, cars survive for years still on their polish plates?

[aka_kerrly]

sherman said:

So if thats what you legally have to do. How do all the polish etc, cars survive for years still on their polish plates?

Simply because British ports do not appear to keep any record of the foreign cars entering the country.

My car was hit by a Polish chap in his Polish car, he changed his story enough times about how long he has been in the country so that he could avoid UK tax, registration, fines, insurance etc. It's a fking disgrace that needs to be resolved.

OP, A couple of family members have that age Polo and both had problems with the electric steering racks but beyond that they have been fault free. If you are mainly traveling alone or with one person they are excellent but the boot and rear leg room ought to be better on the Focus as it's a class size up.

[fjord]

If it helps, that model/year of focus is the worst back breaking car i've ever driven.

[annie90]

aka_kerrly said:

Simply because British ports do not appear to keep any record of the foreign cars entering the country.

My car was hit by a Polish chap in his Polish car, he changed his story enough times about how long he has been in the country so that he could avoid UK tax, registration, fines, insurance etc. It's a fking disgrace that needs to be resolved.

OP, A couple of family members have that age Polo and both had problems with the electric steering racks but beyond that they have been fault free. If you are mainly traveling alone or with one person they are excellent but the boot and rear leg room ought to be better on the Focus as it's a class size up.

I currently have a 2006 Irish Registered VW polo and I haven't had a minutes problem. All i have needed is the regular service and a new set of tyres. The leg room and boot have been fine in the polo and I regularly had 4 or 5 in the car.

Whats exactly is the electric steering rack?

fjord said:

If it helps, that model/year of focus is the worst back breaking car i've ever driven.

What do you mean by that?

Sorry i know feck all when it comes to cars

Edited by annie90 on Monday 28th October 19:24

Edited by annie90 on Monday 28th October 19:25

[paulshears]

You pay a premium for a VW badge

How about an Ibiza .. 1.4 Sport .. 53,000 miles .. £2,500

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

Or a Skoda .. 1.4 TDi .. 54,000 miles .. £2,995

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

[Elroy Blue]

My other half had a 1.6 100hp Focus and it was woefully underpowered (and thirsty). God knows what a 1.4 would be like.

[fathomfive]

This is a bit of a cake or death question.

Nobody in their right mind would be considering a 1.4 Focus.

[sideways20vT]

Would you not consider something a little older but with character?

Both are bland, boring cars - not really PH material

How about this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/r...

or

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/h...

[GreatGranny]

The OP wants a small-ish reliable car that cheap to run.

She's not after a hot hatch that will be more expensive to run.

Can you imagine what the insurance will be like for a Student on a Type R or 182?

OP, if you are happy with your present Polo its a make of car you can trust so go for another Polo.
Yes there are cheaper alternatives but its what you are happy and comfortable with.

[fjord]

annie90 said:

What do you mean by that?

Sorry i know feck all when it comes to cars

Edited by annie90 on Monday 28th October 19:24

Edited by annie90 on Monday 28th October 19:25

I found them to be amazingly uncomfortable. I've driven two (both diesels however) and they were very very uncomfortable when driven further than 10 yards.