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Toyota Corolla or Ford Focus?

Hi, I am trying to decide between a 2006 Toyota Corolla Hatchback 1.4 diesel or a 2007 Ford Focus 1.6 diesel. I do approx 250 miles per week; would there be much difference in the running costs?

Kieran Madigan

Jan 2015 Filed under: running costs

Expert answer

Hi Kieran,

Not massive. There's a tiny 1mpg gap between them in terms of fuel economy (the Toyota gets 59mpg, the Ford 60mpg), but in everyday driving , they'll probably work out pretty much the same.

Overall, the Toyota will probably be slightly more reliable, and the Ford slightly cheaper to service and repair if anything does go wrong. The Toyota will probably be a little cheaper to insure too, and its road tax will be slightly lower.

On balance then, the Toyota is likely to be fractionally cheaper to run, but there's precious little in it.


How much is my 2008 Ford Mondeo worth?

How much is a black 2008 Ford Mondeo TDCi Zetec 125hp with 68,000 miles, Bluetooth, parking sensors, all electric windows in showroom condition worth?

Thank you.

James Shorten (Cork)

Dec 2014 Filed under: used car values

Expert answer

Hi James,

I'd say between €8,000 and €10,000 depending on the condition and history. Lower end if it's a trade in, a little higher if the service history is immaculate.


It's going to cost a fortune to repair my car - what to do?

How's this for an early Xmas present? I've just picked up my 2008 Ford Mondeo 1.8 TDCi from my dealer where it was in for its annual service. As usual they were giving me a report on how the service went and unfortunately they had to advise me that I'm going to need a lot of work done to my car, which I wasn't expecting.

Because of rust, repairs have to be made to the fuel tank, exhaust system (including a new catalytic convertor), the timing belt and a few other bits and pieces. All in all it's going to cost me over €3k. I've been with this dealer for a while and any work on the car was always done through them, so I trust them when they say the work is urgent. As the car has 193,000km on the clock I was expecting the timing belt to need replacing in the near future, but the other repairs have floored me. The car has always been dealer serviced. I had been planning on changing the car later this year, but now I'm not sure what to do. I could repair the car, but that will push back my plans to change the car and I'm taking the risk that nothing else would go wrong, while my car would continue to lose value.

Alternatively I could bring forward my plans to change, and hope the €3k in repairs that would have to be discounted against the trade in value by the dealer would still leave me in a position to do a deal. Any advice you could give would be appreciated.

Just to give you a good laugh, the weekend before I got the car serviced, my wife had ordered a new MINI Countryman to replace her Ford C-Max. We can't back out of that deal now. Had I gotten the service a week earlier, we could at least have postponed changing her car to replace mine! Timing is everything, I suppose...

Martin Moroney (Dublin)

Dec 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

There's little else worse than getting unexpectedly bad car repair news, and we all know how it feels. Now, as you point out, you have, essentially, two options here. One is to trade in the car without the work done and get something new. Now, that's a very tempting option and one that would at least put you back under a warranty and give you reasonably predictable monthly repayments etc, all of which is good news.

The thing is though that your Mondeo is only six years old and to my mind there should be an awful lot more left in it. I would be tempted, especially as you've also just upgraded your wife's car, to take the €3k on the chin and keep yours going for a while yet. You're at a point in its life where the value isn't going to sink all that much more anyway, so keeping it an extra year or 18 months isn't going to have an enormous impact - with the age and mileage already on it, it's going to be at the lower end of the value scale anyway.

One thing worth considering: rust doesn't happen overnight. If, as you say, this car has always been serviced to schedule with the same dealer, ask them why the problem wasn't flagged up sooner. You may be able to use that as a bit of a stick to beat the price down a touch.

Let us know how you get on


How much oil do I need for a Ford 1.8 TDCi?

How much oil is required for a Ford Focus 1.8 turbodiesel?

Martin Gorman (Tullamore)

Dec 2014 Filed under: servicing

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

Officially the capacity is 5.6 litres, including what's in the oil filter. Clearly you wouldn't put all that in after draining the oil, perhaps adding four litres at first and dipping it before finishing up.


When do I replace the timing belt in my Fiesta?

My Ford Fiesta is an 04 plate and has done 30,000 miles; it's the 1.2 engine. When do I replace the timing belt?

Morag MacLeod (Hopeman)

Dec 2014 Filed under: servicing

Expert answer

Hi Morag,

Ford recommends changing the timing belt on that car at least every 160,000km or every eight years. Because of the latter, if you've never had it done, we'd strongly recommend you do so soon.


What family car for three kids do you recommend?

What car would suit me? I want a family car with room for three kids in three car seats. I need a large boot and preferably 1.6 diesel.

Deirdre Ryan (Tipperary)

Dec 2014 Filed under: family car

Expert answer

Hi Deirdre,

You realistically need to be looking at an MPV. How about a Peugeot 5008? It fits all your requirements, there are plenty out there, they're nice to drive and reasonably affordable to buy and run. 


What €12,000 estate should I go for?

I am thinking of buying an estate car as I need the extra space. Seems to be a lot of Astras out there, but want to get something fairly good with a budget of €12k-ish. Recommend anything in particular?

Jonny Jackson (Tallaght)

Dec 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Jonny,

The Astra is not a bad choice and the current Ford Focus Estate is simply massive inside too. But, to be honest, if it's a compact estate you're after then there are really only two serious games in town - the Kia  cee'd SW and the Skoda Octavia Combi. Both are terrifically well made, reliable and, if you get the 1.6 diesel engine in either, very frugal. And both have absolutely enormous boots - more than 500 litres each. Cracking cars both, so simply take your pick. The Kia has the better warranty, the Skoda is perhaps slightly nicer inside.

Let us know which way you go with it


When did the Ford Mustang go on sale?

When did the Ford Mustang go on sale in Ireland? And how much does it cost?

Roy McKay (Cork)

Nov 2014 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Roy,

The Mustang went on sale in Ireland earlier this year and prices start from €55,000 for a 2.3-litre EcoBoost coupe. Here are our reviews:

Ford Mustang 2.3 EcoBoost Convertible review

Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 Coupe review


Belt or chain for the Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCi?

Does the Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCi Zetec 2WD have a timing chain or belt and what mileage should it be changed at?

Linda Jarvis (Westmeath)

Nov 2014 Filed under: servicing

Expert answer

Hi Linda,

It has a timing belt and it needs to be changed at 200,000km or 10 years, whichever is sooner.


What is the market value for a 2006 Ford Focus?

What is the market value for a 2006 Ford Focus Ghia with 160,000km on clock?

Greg Byrne (Westmeath)

Nov 2014 Filed under: used car values

Expert answer

Hi Greg,

Depending on condition and history (and whether you're selling it yourself or trading it in) then I'd say between €4,500 and €6,000.


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