Buying Focus TDCI

[crankedup]

Looking at the 1.8 TDCI Zetec focus tomorrow, anything out of the ordinary I need to look for. Thanks.
I should mention its a year 2002 (Mk 2?)

Edited by crankedup on Wednesday 12th December 22:07

[paul3178]

Hi mate

i bought an 06 1.8tdci focus about 2 mths ago after driving audis for the past 6+ years changing from a 06 2.0tdi a4 s-line to the focus. To be honest im really plesntly pleased with the car as i didn't know what to expect, the focus drives like a car worth far more.

the only critism i would have is the car is quite noisy, both from engine noise and road noise although think the road noise is down to the tyres.

all in all a really good car, the only thing ive noticed which i will probably get checked out is the temperature guage since the cold weather kicked in is very slow to heat up and then the temp guage fluctuates between a quarter and half for ages until its really heated up maybe up to 10 miles later.
also it can be difficult to engage first in traffic, but a quick flick into second first solves that.

all in all a great car returning 50+ mpg over about 3-400 miles mixed between motorway and town driving

[crankedup]

Thank you for the feedback,interesting.

[Zad]

I know this is purely anecdotal, but a friend of mine has just got rid of his Mk.2 1.8 TDCI after 7 months. It didn't help that the main dealer garage were unhelpful, but it seems the 1.8 engine has some, er, "features". It (or at any rate, his) suffers from a flat spot in mid-revs. He has driven plenty of diesels before, but said he really needed to hoof the 1.8 to keep it in the power band, which means that it can be a sod pulling out of junctions. Of the Focus diesels, this seems to be the engine to avoid.

[paul3178]

Flip - that doesn't sound good. I suppose when i started driving the focus i felt it was quite low power but after a while i think i probably have adjusted my driving style and now the car seems quite willing to go.

did he try getting the ecu software updated? Possibly related to the fact the 1.8 TDCI is a 8v engine where the 1.6 TDCI is 16v. I bought the focus hopefully to munch plenty of miles with minimual problems so thought the 1.8 8V would be more capable and bullet proof than a 1.6 1.6v working at a much higher rate to put out the same power.

Maybe totally wrong and made a screw up

[DennisTheMenace]

The 1.8 tdci engine is a dog , get the 1.6 tdci 109ps , all alloy and not made of pig iron , the 1.8 is derived from the 1.6d lump from the mid 80's , in the 90's it was a quick but rough engine , emmissions means its now gutless and rough , it will die next year as it wont meet noe emmission regs so ive been told

[crankedup]

DennisTheMenace said:

The 1.8 tdci engine is a dog , get the 1.6 tdci 109ps , all alloy and not made of pig iron , the 1.8 is derived from the 1.6d lump from the mid 80's , in the 90's it was a quick but rough engine , emmissions means its now gutless and rough , it will die next year as it wont meet noe emmission regs so ive been told

Blimey! so pleased I asked, maybe I had better start looking at the Skoda Octavia TDI again.

[DennisTheMenace]

Try the 1.6 tdci 1st is a good smooth engine and feels quicker than it should or the 2.0 tdci , thats a cracker

[plfrench]

DennisTheMenace said:

Try the 1.6 tdci 1st is a good smooth engine and feels quicker than it should or the 2.0 tdci , thats a cracker

Only thing is it might be over budget seen as the OP was looking at an 02 plate and the 1.6TDCi wasn't out till 2005 i think.

[crankedup]

Yep, I don't want to spend more than 3000 pounds or so on a daily runner.