Ford Focus 1.4 or Volkswagen Passat 1.6?

Hi there, we are looking to buy either a 2003 Ford Focus, with 144,000 miles or 2002 Volkswagen Passat at 119,000 miles. Both cars are petrol except the Passat is a 1.6-litre and the Ford a 1.4-litre. We are looking for the most economical and long lasting car.

Thanks

Siobhan Gavin (Athlone)

May 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

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Expert answer

Hi Siobhan,

Although the Passat is a really well built car, I'd go for the Focus in this instance. The Passat's 1.6-litre petrol engine struggled with the weight of the car, and that made it both uneconomical and rather prone to developing problems. The Focus, although a smaller vehicle overall, struggles less with its 1.4-litre engine and the general build quality on that first generation Focus was excellent. Just check carefully underneath for signs of rust - some first gen Focus models didn't get proper underseal at the factory.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe