Hi All,

We have decided that it is time to put SWMBO's ageing Ford Focus out to pasture and replace it with as the wife puts it a car that has a little bit about it.

She currently has a mk 1.5 3dr Ford Focus 1.8tdci that has been a cracking motor, as I have a MKII Octavia we are looking at a small hatch to ferry her to and from work and potter about.

When we bought the focus she was doing a 50 miles a day round trip for work however this has now reduced to under 20 miles.

Common sense dictates that her next car should be petrol however we have become accustomed to the diesel economy as I have the 2.0 CR VRS plus I am a diesel fan and prefer driving a diesel over a petrol.
 

Up to now we have narrowed the long list of cars she likes down to an Audi A1 or a Ford fiesta ( possibly an ST if we go petrol) in either petrol or diesel flavors.

As SWMBO want's a car with a little bit about it which basically means sporty looking and nippy, I have been looking at the S line for the A1 with the 1.4T FSI  or 1.6TDI or the ST 1.6 ecoboost or Zetec S 1.6/1.5tdci for the fiesta.

So my questions are:

Does anyone have experience of any of the above cars in any flavour?

What are the petrol engines like for real world economy?

 

Are there any known issues with the above engines?

At the moment I'm not looking for alternatives to these cars as it has taken me long enough to get the wife to narrow down to these 2

 

Cheers Dave.



 

Does she really want to downsize?

 

After the kids left, SWMBO here thought a Citigo or i10 would do, but they were way too small so she got an Ibiza (same size car as your 2 choices).  Since then she finds that too small, very little legroom for adults in the back for a start.

Yeah, 90% of the time it will only be herself in the car, the other 10% will be me and her.

If there is a requirement for carrying more people my car is used, either with me driving or we swap cars. 

 

The focus she has now is a 3dr and and I don't think anyone has ever been in the back of it while we have had it.

 

She quickly ruled out Citigo size cars as she has had a Toyota Yaris in the past that was to small, and I agree would be no good now.

I would go test drive an Audi A1 1.4 TFS 122ps or 140ps and see what you /she thinks, comfort is lovely,

go 16" wheels not 17's. (or even 18")

3 or 5 doors, you should be able to find a bargain and not need to pay Asking Prices, they are not like hens teeth.

You should get in the mid 30's town use and the average from mixed use should be in the mid 40's, 

you can get 50+mpg with eco driving.

s-tronic 7 speed DSG is good, it is just a DQ200 Twin Dry Clutch 7 speed as in the Skoda, VW, Seat, 

& the 1.4 TFSI is just a 1.4 TSI and you are expected to pay more for a 'F'.

 

Avoid the A1 1.4TFSI 185ps Twincharger.

 

PS. The racket from a Diesel A1 is just an embarrassment, 

sitting looking all lovely and then it starts up.

Edited 2 April, 20179 yr by Awayoffski

Thanks for that @Awayoffski economy looks pretty good, not a frightening as I thought.

I am assuming you mean the comfort is not as good with the bigger alloys which might be an issue as I have tried to show her the A1 sport which comes with 16" but she likes the look of S line which I believe are 17" or an 18" option?

 

However as you say she can test drive and decide if she can deal with the comfort over looks.

I think it will be manual although I'm not ruling out a DSG.

It would be the 122ps or 140ps we would be looking at and your right in that there are loads, we will have a budget of £10,000 - £11,000 so She should be able to have her pick of cars.

Do you know of any engine issues to be aware of? I have tried reading on some of the Audi and A1 specific forums and I have seen mention of the cam chain also that they drink oil but there is very little information , unlike on here where big issues are stickied to the top of forum threads.

 

 

Edited 2 April, 20179 yr by Dave3283

Drinking oil has nothing to do with the 105,122,140 ps 1.4tsi/tfsi Euro 5 2009-2014 really.

 

Honest the 17's that usually are on a S-Line or others after a salesperson persuades the buyer the residuals will be better ruin the drive.

Best avoid.  plus the 215/40 R 17 tyres do not like potholes.  

I think 16" and comfort suspension was a No Cost Option that Salespeople said do not opt for you want a Sporty / Crashy ride.

(The A1 Competition Line with all that raging 122ps is on 225/35 R18's, and looks like Red Lead Primer patch up waiting a top colour coat...JIMO)

 

I looked at Autotrader and asking prices today which is just crazy, you will find one in your budget, maybe at a desperate Audi dealership,

maybe elsewhere.

 

Engine issues on the 1.4 TSI / TFSI 120/140 ps are not a worry.

the S-Tronic (DSG) might have had a Service Campaign done, so ask, started early 2014 on models from euro 5 introduction on to 2015,

check, that should not be an issue.

 

EVEN IF YOU GET A WARRANTY WITH THE CAR unless it is a watertight one, BUY A VW WARRANTY, whatever a Audi used car warranty is.

(As you do if buying a Skoda, Audi, Seat, VW 1.4tsi Twincharger, it gives peace of mind, if there are known issues then VW know...)

Edited 2 April, 20179 yr by Awayoffski

We've just gone through the same process today Dave.  Frankly, I'd rather go to the dentists!

 

However having been through the process for her current car ('55 Mazda 3), I at least knew what to expect.

 

She wanted something more frugal (1.2 mile htw), with a smaller engine and possible a hybrid due to the type of driving on her commute.  She drove a Yaris Hybrid which we both liked.

 

We've bought a 65 plate Polo GTI DSG (the DQ200 I believe).

 

Best o'luck 

 

Gaz

Real world fuel consumption with larger engines can actually be better than the little eco ones. 1 you're not in a lab and 2 you're not ragging the tits off a little motor 24/7.

 

IMHO, show her some pictures then stand back and let her pick. If you offer too much advice it'll be your fault forever more for 'making' her pick the car. 

 

I had a Focus 1.8TD (2001). It was a great little car and I regretted moving it on so early. In fact it was still on the go locally until a couple of years ago and I sold it with 70k on the clock in 2003.

 

More seriously diesel is probably out with that mileage. Everything you look at will have a DPF and without long runs it'll just cause misery. 

 

Mini cooper? VW Sirocco? Lupo/Polo GTI

A new Skoda Fabia Mk3 Estate with the 1.0TSI when it comes out, or just a Hatch.

or a Seat Ibiza hatch or Estate 1.0TSI if buying a keeper.    113ps and 200Nm torque.  Euro 6 & put an extra 2 years warranty on it at purchase.

Edited 2 April, 20179 yr by Awayoffski

34 minutes ago, V6TDI said:

We've just gone through the same process today Dave.  Frankly, I'd rather go to the dentists!

 

However having been through the process for her current car ('55 Mazda 3), I at least knew what to expect.

 

She wanted something more frugal (1.2 mile htw), with a smaller engine and possible a hybrid due to the type of driving on her commute.  She drove a Yaris Hybrid which we both liked.

 

We've bought a 65 plate Polo GTI DSG (the DQ200 I believe).

 

Best o'luck 

 

Gaz

 

I agree Gaz, it has been like pulling teeth, we started this process before Christmas when the car would not start due to the starter motor giving up the ghost and she decided it was time to change.

 

I've replaced the starter motor and its running better than it ever has but she still has it in her mind to change and we are now down to these 2 cars so I feel I've made progress  

 

28 minutes ago, Aspman said:

Real world fuel consumption with larger engines can actually be better than the little eco ones. 1 you're not in a lab and 2 you're not ragging the tits off a little motor 24/7.

 

IMHO, show her some pictures then stand back and let her pick. If you offer too much advice it'll be your fault forever more for 'making' her pick the car. 

 

I had a Focus 1.8TD (2001). It was a great little car and I regretted moving it on so early. In fact it was still on the go locally until a couple of years ago and I sold it with 70k on the clock in 2003.

 

More seriously diesel is probably out with that mileage. Everything you look at will have a DPF and without long runs it'll just cause misery. 

 

Mini cooper? VW Sirocco? Lupo/Polo GTI

I agree Aspman regarding the larger engine being better on economy, I'm also a little old school with regard to the high power output of these little engines.

They get fantastic reviews but in my mind they are being pushed to hard to get the big BHP.

What is it they say "There's no replacement for displacement" lol.

The Focus has been a great car but at 150,000 miles its getting tired and it does seam that I'm replacing parts on a monthly basis so it makes sense to move it on.

 

We have been through the pictures which has brought us to this point and although I have a feeling we are not finished yet she keeps coming back to the Audi A1 and Fiesta ST so I'm running with it.

 

Mini and Polo were on the list but have been discarded, Scirocco never made it onto the list as she does not like it, go figure?

25 minutes ago, Awayoffski said:

A new Skoda Fabia Mk3 Estate with the 1.0TSI when it comes out, or just a Hatch.

or a Seat Ibiza hatch or Estate 1.0TSI if buying a keeper.    113ps and 200Nm torque.  Euro 6 & put an extra 2 years warranty on it at purchase.

Seat Ibiza has just dropped off the list as 2 people on the estate have bought new 17 plate FR's so she no longer wants one.

She did flirt with the idea of a MK3 Fabia Monte Carlo but that was mentioned once and never again.

I have given up on pitching in with Ideas as Aspman eluded to as it just gets crazy, we started with the pretty pictures and now have 2 cars that she likes the look of so I'm sticking with that for now.

Once she test drives and sees them in the flesh we will probably be back at step 1, pretty pictures again.

Overall I'm just trying to get a good idea of the oily bits as no matter what she buys this will be my problem.

Dont go diesel with that driving.

 

Dont get get A1 if she thought a yaris was too small. MIL had an SLine A1 diesel.. the 17" tyres were awful, and cost a fortune to replace (no local tyre place could get them when she got a baad puncture.. can of gunk is pointless when the side wall lets go. And they are cramped little cars. DPF issues due to short journeys had with Audi twice in 8months...

 

Beyond that... go looking with her..

Pity you don't get the 308 with 130ps torquey 1.2.

sweet as

The UK did but then it was built and sold by some French Manufacturer called Peugeot & that puts some off.

http://whatcar.com/news/2014-peugeot-308-12-e-thp-review 

......a blind spot perhaps..........?

I like the small steering wheel and the later cars in general,

back when i mis-fueled a brand new diesel car in 2009 the RAC got me a 308 1.6 petrol Turbo for a week and i was amazed at its speed and handling, 

but really the way it drank fuel was unbelievable.

The modern ones (including diesels) have a manual primer in the event of running out, something I'd never heard of.

I've driven a few small capacity turbo engines now and I don't like the character of them at all.

 

90% of the time they are totally fine. But that 10% is bloody awful. If you come to a tight corner on a hill you can suddenly become very aware of how little power they have when the turbo isn't spinning. Suddenly your 120hp 1.2 has 60hp and doesn't bloody move. Also they run out of puff rather suddenly at the other end which can make overtaking a bit fraught.

 

Also the mpg is very ordinary. They put in a 1.2T to replace a 1.6 or 1.8 and what you get is the same power on paper but with the same fuel consumption in reality.

 

Definitely agree about displacement. It does make a difference no matter what the engineers try to do.

 

Fiesta ST is maybe closest to the ideal. Should be nippy and fun and won't deprecate too badly.

Our averages 5L/100 over 30+k.

Never noticed an off boost feeling and revs it's nuts off with enthusiasm......when I did it once.

It's as good as any diesel with plenty of top end power to boot.

4 up and towing -

http://www.motoring.com.au/peugeot-308-2016-review-102198/

Fiesta ST fire risk recall .....?

http://www.carshowroom.com.au/news/ford-finally-issues-recall-for-kuga-fiesta-st/?utm_source=Carshowroom.com.au+Newsletter&utm_campaign=a433b08d7b-CSR+Weekly+Wrap+-+31st+March+2017&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_bcb1d28852-a433b08d7b-68448181

Thanks for all the comments and ideas guys, we are going to look at an Audi A1 sport and S line 1.4 TFSI and 2 Fiesta ST 2's at the weekend if they are still available.

 

SWMBO is not convinced on the alloy size and still prefers the 17" and the overall look of the S line, I'm going  to try to look at the Sport first and then the S line and I'll get her to drive both, 

 

The Fiesta's are both pretty much the same except one is white and one is blue so it's a case of driving them and then deciding if a) she prefers thd Fiesta over the Audi and if so which colour she prefers in the flesh.

Best colour IMO.  & best as a 5 door.

That happens to be the wife's favourite colour, she is not fussed whether it's a 5 dr or 3 dr. 

This is the Sport we are going to look at.

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201703032895126?atmobcid=soc3

 

And this is the S line

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201703223547960?atmobcid=soc3

Just look at the state of those discs on the white one. Just the edges but rough and needs changing really, or you will need to soon.

So they likely need replacing and a Major Service carries out, Filters, air, pollen & fuel if not done already,

 and have them change the Spark Plugs before paying even near the asking prices.

(what was the sales executive carrying in the boot, cat litter and to lazy to vacuum again?)

 

The issue with these Audi's is they are just Fabia, Ibiza, Polo but with nicer interiors and they look prestige or can, 

just cheap components though and over priced, or the Asking Prices are on 5 or 6 year old cars.

 

PS

The black 3 door shows the correct 0-62 time official and real world.

The White one is not anything like right even if it was a 3 doors, but a newer 5 door with 150ps does not do 0-60 or 0-62 in 7 seconds.

& top speed 141 miles per hour, maybe with a A1 TFSI 185ps Twincharger.

eg

http://evo.co.uk/audi/a1/7076/audi-a1-14-tfsi-185-s-line-review 

Edited 3 April, 20179 yr by Awayoffski

The white one is at a Evans Halshaw, they have a habit of advertising the car prior to it being through the workshop or even the valet bay.

 

The car will not leave their forecourt in our possession without it being right, but to be fair this is more of a fact finding mission to see which car the wife prefers the 2 Audi's are within 18 miles of us and the S line is opposite a Ford garage that has one of the ST's .

 

so the idea is to test drive all of them and unless one of these cars are to good to walk away from take a step back and open up the search further a field.

 

I have no problem travelling for the right car, I looked at 50 fl and pre fl Octavia VRS before finding the one I have less than 3 miles away.

 

 

Edited 3 April, 20179 yr by Dave3283