Hi
I am new to the forum. I am torn between these 2 cars.
I know little about cars so any help would be appreciated.
Focus is 54 reg, 1.6 tdci (how many hp?), 34k miles, Zetec spec.
C4 is 05 reg, 1.6 hdi (90hp), 44k miles, SX spec. Price being £500 more than the Focus.
I do over 20k miles a year so would prefer to have a diesel.
Which one is more reliable? Is C4 more economical? I heard before modern diesel cars have some sort of filter fitted to make it more 'green' and this could make cars a bit unreliable, is this true?
Is £5400 a good price to pay for a Focus?
Thanks.
Edited by rtj70 on 27/02/2009 at 16:12
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Welcome to the forum. I did a little edit on the thread title because you're asking about two cars. If you select a category for the posting (which you did) the make/model was optional.
The two cars will have variants of the same engine (Ford and the PSA group collaborated) on the engines. Although the Ford may have something like 115bhp.
When you mention a filter, you're referring to a DPF filter (diesel particulate filter) which removes most of the soot particles from the diesel and traps it before burning it off periodically. Some people have had problems with first generation DPFs. Peugout/Citroen have also used something called a FAP filter which uses a costly fluid to help burn of the soot.
Not sure if this Citroen has a FAP filter though. And I don't think either at that age would be a DPF fitted car.
I've not looked into it, but £5400 for a four year old car sounds high to me. But a local diesel specialist near to me has newer cars for less than that, albeit Mondeo sized and LX trim level.
Edited by rtj70 on 27/02/2009 at 16:19
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To answer one or two of your questions:
The green filter to which you refer is a diesel particulate filter and I'm almost certain it will not be fitted to a 1.6TDCi Focus of this age.
Zetec is a sensible spec, particularly if it has the Quickclear electric heated windscreen, I think aircon was standard.
The 1.6 engine can be tuned to various outputs, I think yours is either 100bhp or 110bhp.
Either way, it is known to be sweet and economical.
Focuses can be very reliable.
Price sounds about right. What many people do is look on the autotrader website to check the asking prices for similar spec cars.
I've not mentioned the Citroen because I don't know the first thing about it.
You should take my comments on the Focus with the knowledge that I'm a big Focus fan.
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They're very different tastes, so I think the only answer is to drive them. I love the adventurous styling of the C4 (as a 5-door anyway) but it's short of headroom and I couldn't live with the central instruments, so it would have to be Focus for me. You may find the exact opposite.
But have you looked at a Toyota Corolla? Decent diesel engine, and should outdo either of your candidates on durability.
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Very easy question to answer. We have a Focus now, which has never so much as hiccupped over more than 5 years of ownership, whereas we had a Citroen (Xsara) prior to this.
Granted, the Citroen was okay to drive but there again so is the Focus, however the Citroen was just 2 years worth of constant niggling electrical faults, which I only managed to cure a month before we sold it, and this car was younger at that time than our Focus is now.
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I have a Citroen C4 so can comment on the C4. In terms of reliability have done over 45,000 since new. Couple of minor niggles such as a broken glovebox and some rattles from the trim but nothing major. Only wear and tear item i have had to replace is tyres. Still its always a bit of luck - theres always troublesome ones around.
Personally I prefer the looks of the C4. Never really taken to the shape of the Focus (prefer the mark 1). Never had any issues with the digital dash, its not as strange and unventional as some make out - everything is fairly standard really.
The Focus will probably ride and handle better than the C4. Have not driven a Focus but from being in a few the damping is better - its firm but better controlled than the C4 so if you are a keen driver the Focus will probably be better.
Also not sure what engine the Focus has but I would avoid the 90bhp diesel in the C4 as its a bit underpowered (the 110 is much better).
I would definately drive both before you decide and see which one suits you the best
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The Focus 1.6 TDCi will be either 90 ps (no DPF) or 109 ps (includes a DPF). Both the Citroen C4 and Focus Focus engines started life as the same unit but Ford have engineered a few differences to eliminate a few of the Citroen engine's design quirks.
Out of the C4 and Focus I'd go the Focus 109 ps any day, it's the better car to drive and quality is better than the C4.
Take them for a test drive and make your decision in the light of what you experience, it's your choice at the end of the day.
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I drove a C4 hire car for a week.
I enjoyed the car but didn't like the digital display. Unlike the poster above I found it distracting. Just a matter of taste, I guess.
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Perceived wisdom is that the Focus is the better car. However I had a C4 1.6HDI for a year, and it was great, 100% reliable and economical. The central speedo is easy to use, because the digits are so large! Not driven a Focus so can't comment on that.
The C4 is more exclusive (less common) than a Focus, if that matters. I think the best thing is to try both and see which one you prefer. There may be a killer/clincher in one of them that only applies to your requirements.
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Personally I would go for the Focus.
I didn't think the smaller (1.6) TDCI was available in the Focus until 2005 (new style models?) only the 1.8 TDCI or TDDI?
I've done a few miles in petrol and diesel Foci and found them a good car to live with. A mate has a C4 which he also likes but preferred his previous Focus.
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54 reg is ok for a Focus 1.6 tdci. I'm just about to trade my Jan 05 mk2 in.
2 things mine has that you should check.
Mine has a flat spot at about 1800 rpm at small thottle openings. Never cured despite several attempts during the warranty period.
Also I think the Focus brakes are poor. The handbrake needs a real pull to work. I think the rear brakes ( drum on this model ) don't contribute much.
Edited by mustangman on 03/03/2009 at 15:33
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If it's 1.6TDCi on a 54-reg, I think it must be one of the first of the facelifts/new model, although most of the early ones are 05-reg.
Agree about the brakes, they just about do the job, but there's no feel or bite to them.
Mustangman, are you keeping the faith?
Edited by ifithelps on 03/03/2009 at 16:13
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Thanks for all the responses!
I went for the Focus, did a test drive and really liked it. To be honest anything is better than my current 03 reg Getz with 70k miles. I am not saying Getz are boring, in fact they are very reliable. I just need something with a bit more power and space; Focus I've just bought was a good value and the fact that I've seen a lot of Focus on the road, assured me that they are nice motors.
I was a bit sceptical at first after I've seen quite a lot of bad reviews on the internet regarding the diesel engine, but quite a lot of people convinced me that the car is brilliant and reliable!
Thanks again everyone...
Edited by ed81 on 03/03/2009 at 18:37
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