Estate car on a budget

sparkie1984

Right, so we have revised our budget right down as it’s going to be a cheap cheap car now purely for dog duties and whacking some miles on.

I have been looking around and most common seems to be around a 56 plate Ford Focus estate. Found one which is a ghia so has heated front screen and air con etc. Full service history and is £1500.

It’s the 1.8TDCI engine on 96,000 miles, are these engines any good? It’s only 116bhp I believe. Do these engines have a DPF? Or are they before they came in?

un1eash

Don't think the 1.8 tdi had a dpf but check the service history as timing belt is 10 years/100k miles.

sparkie1984

Oh awesome, good shout!

Forgot about timing belts as had several years with a BMW which has a chain. (Although with the N47 engine still a worry..)

Will make sure we check that’s been done and no DPF is one less thing to worry about getting clogged up.

I know it’s not going to be a perfect car for such a budget price, just don’t want it blowing up a week later ideally

sparkie1984

From having a read around I’m not so sure a focus is a good choice now.

Appears they have loads of issues with DMF which is putting me off slightly.

There seems to be a surprising range of cars for around £1500 - £2000 seems to be some golfs with the 1.9 tdi engine with around 130,000 miles. I believe these are pretty decent engines?

Mazda 6 diesels, some volvos.

I guess it’s always a mine field with old cars like this..

Bl4ckGryph0n

I’d rather have a big lazy petrol engine of those days opposed to little highly revved engines.

sparkie1984

Yeah but the problem is whilst I’d love one of those also, the mrs does not, it’s a pure cheap workhorse for carrying two huskies and a baby and it’s going to be doing 20k a year plus

un1eash

The vag 1.9tdi goes forever if looked after. I know some that have gone 200k  , one was remapped in an a4.

Bl4ckGryph0n

Sure fair enough.

Delvey

Most cars with DMF will require them changing if the clutch goes.
I did have a 1.8 TDCI Focus hatchback for 5 years (and my mum still has it) and it was really reliable. The only failure I had was the brake servo.
It has done 40,000 miles in the time I bought it and never any issues.
They do have an issue where a turbo pipe splits, but they are cheap to replace and easy to replace
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silicone-Intercooler-Turbo-Boost-1496238/dp/B07F6CPWY9/ref=asc_df_B07F6CPWY9/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=231920316197&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8683330951623412604&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046632&hvtargid=pla-685951577423&psc=1

password1

skoda fabia estate. bigger boot than a honda accord. reliable, cheaper to run and insure. it won an award for best estate car under a price point.