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Is there much difference between 1.6- and 1.8-litre TDCi Focus?

Is there much of a difference in the fuel economy of a 1.8 diesel Ford Focus and the 1.6? We were advised to stear clear of the 1.6 with high mileage.

Martina Carty (Cork)

Mar 2013 Filed under: reliability

Expert answer

Hi Martina,

We're assuming you are referring to the post-2008 Focus here, so correct us if not. The 1.6-litre models are up to 10mpg more efficient and generally have much lower emissions too to help reduce your annual tax bill.

Be aware that the 1.6 TDCi engine only had issues from 2004 until about 2008. Cars/engines made after that date should be just as reliable as the 1.8-litre.

Hope that helps


What is the value of a 2003 Ford Focus?

What is the current market value of a 2003 Ford Focus 1.4 LX 2003 with 34,000 miles (54,717km) on the clock?

Adrian Deasy (Cork)

Mar 2013 Filed under: used car values

Expert answer

Hi Adrian,

It's difficult to place an accurate value on a car without seeing it, and of course the price will depend on who wants to buy it too, but with such low mileage, and assuming that it is in decent condition, this car should be worth between €3,250 and €3,750.

Hope that helps


How much is tax on a 2005 Ford Focus?

How much is tax on a 2005 1.8 diesel Ford Focus?

Stephen Guilfoyle (Ennis)

Mar 2013 Filed under: road tax

Expert answer

Hi Stephen,

Cars registered in 2005 are taxed according to their engine size, so that Focus (which has a 1,753cc engine) is taxed in the 1,701- to 1,800cc band. Since the 2013 Budget that costs €636 per year to tax.

Hope that helps


What cheap old car will I get for commuting?

I'm looking for a car for heavy commuting as I have a new job and will be doing 750 miles a week for 9-10 months (two hours each way per day). I have a 2008 Focus but intend keeping this as a second car and I see no point putting massive mileage on it. Instead I hope to pick up an older car and get a year out of it. I am considering a 2001 Mercedes E 220, but I'm a bit concerned about fuel costs. What other car would fit the bill, capable of heavy mileage, comfortable and reasonably economical to run?

Kevin McCarthy (Limerick)

Feb 2013 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Kevin,

As is so often the case, the best answer here is ‘get a Golf.’ Or possibly a Passat. Or maybe a Volvo S80 1.6d. Any of those, if you can find them with a full service history, would fit the bill rather nicely. The Volvo is a great choice actually — comfy like an armchair, and can go 1,500km on a full tank of diesel. The Golf is probably the best value option — get one cheap, with the old 1.9 'Pump Duse' TDI diesel engine, and it’ll sit on the motorway doing 50mpg all day long, and it’ll be comfy too.


How reliable is the Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi?

How reliable is the Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Sport?

Shane Flynn (Waterford)

Feb 2013 Filed under: reliability

Expert answer

Hi Shane,

That’s a Mk1 Focus, yes? They’re OK, but obviously the youngest is a teenager by now, so you need to be careful. Check the oil for signs of water mixing in — they do develop problems with the heat exchanger. Check that the engine runs smoothly, as the TDCi had one of the first high-pressure direct injection systems and it’s delicate and needs regular proper servicing to work well. Black smoke could mean a blown boost pressure valve. Inside, check for leaking windscreen (wet carpets), broken gear lever springs, faulty ‘QuickClear’ windscreens and inoperative instruments.


Is this Ford an import because it's in miles?

I drove a 2011 Focus today and its mileage clock was in miles. Are all Fords like this or is this car an import from the UK?

Tom King (Tralee)

Feb 2013 Filed under: mileage

Expert answer

Hi Tom,

Not necessarily, as you can switch the mileage clock from miles to kilometres and back again. The usual tell-tale for an import is that the speedo is marked in both mph and km/h. Theoretically, all Irish cars from 2005 onwards will have had just km/h marked, but again it’s not definitive — it could be a replacement instrument pack after all.


How can a 1.6-litre diesel engine manage a car like the Mondeo?

I wish to get the 1.6-litre diesel engine explained to me. The Ford Focus has a 1.6d and now the Mondeo has a 1.6d engine. Can both do a good job? One is small car, one is large and heavy. Is 1.6d a good engine generally?

Fergal Reidy (Celbridge)

Feb 2013 Filed under: diesel

Expert answer

Hi Fergal,

This engine downsizing is prevalent and not just by Ford, and it has been made possible thanks to advances in engine technology, such as high pressure fuel injection and turbocharging.

A close look at what's offered by Ford Ireland reveals that the Mondeo 1.6 TDCi is the 115hp version, where as the Focus can be had with that and a cheaper 95hp unit. The raw data reveals that the 115hp Focus does the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.9 seconds - a second faster than the Mondeo with the same engine. Likewise, the Focus is more efficient with lower emissions and fuel consumption - though the differences are not as big as you might think.

Essentially, it boils down to the engine's torque output. This engine produces 270Nm from as low as 1,750rpm, which is more than enough to deal with a car the size of the Mondeo. Naturally a 2.0-litre diesel with the same technology will be more impressive again, but the 1.6 is just fine.

For the record, we find that Ford's 1.6-litre TDCi engine has a very narrow power band, but once you learn to keep the engine within that it never feels slow. Obviously, driven like that it won't come close to its official fuel economy figures.

Hope that all helps.


Why won't my Focus start after an engine change?

I currently own a Ford Focus C-Max - a 2005 model with a TDCi engine. Unfortunately I destroyed the engine when I drove i to water. I got a second hand one from a 2010 C-Max and took it to my mechanic to fit. The mechanic has swapped the new engine into it, but it won't start. He told me he has swapped everything possible from the old engine but it's doing nothing. Any advice would be gratefully received.

Phil Brett (Cork)

Jan 2013 Filed under: fault

Expert answer

Hi Phil,

That's a really tricky one. It's possibly to do with the immobiliser, as the car's keys are coded to a particular engine control unit (ECU) etc. Can your mechanic interrogate the ECU for fault codes?

Come back to us if we can help any further


Most fuel-efficient nearly new cars for €15k?

What are the more fuel efficient nearly new, small or medium sized family cars you can get for around the €15,000 mark?

Niamh Roche (Drogheda)

Jan 2013 Filed under: fuel economy and emissions

Expert answer

Hi Niamh,

It depends — do you want diesel or petrol? Any small-to-medium car with a 1.4 to 1.6-litre diesel engine is going to be very, very economical (e.g. the Toyota Auris, VW Golf, Ford Focus and Skoda Octavia), but if you want a petrol engine, the choice is a little different. Here, we’d be looking at the Volkswagen Group cars (Golf, Leon or Octavia) with the 1.0-litre or 1.2-litre TSI petrol engines, which have excellent economy, or a Peugeot 308 with the 1.2-litre PureTech engine.


What will I replace my Nissan Micra with?

I intend changing my car in the next two or three months. Currently I have a Nissan Micra, but I would like to buy a more solid and comfortable car this time. I do about 5,500 miles a year. I would be interested to know what make of car you would suggest and whether a diesel car is worth considering.

Thank you.

Eileen D (Drogheda)

Jan 2013 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Eileen,

At 5,500 miles a year, diesel is most definitely not worth considering — you’re not doing anything like the mileage you’d need to do if you want to claw back the cost of buying a diesel in fuel savings, and maintenance costs could be high. As for which model to get, it kind of depends on your preferences. I’m getting the vibe that you’re not keen on the Micra, so maybe have a look at the likes of the VW Golf 1.0 TSI, Honda Civic 1.0 Turbo, or wait for a little while for the all-new Ford Focus or Toyota Auris to arrive.


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