Focus LV v WT Fiesta v Focus LV2

[Martyvan]

Guys,

Im looking for some feedback for a car for the mrs. (Finally time to get rid of our corolla!!!best day of my life when that goes!!!)

She only wants a small car... and im not going to cross shop other brands, just the ford small options.

At the moment, you can get a run out LV Focus LX sedan or hatch auto for about the same price as a WT Fiesta LX sedan. Which is good value, as they are both reasonably well specced.

But, things i would need to consider are, the drum brakes on the fiesta, are they up to the job? (concerned about this) the powershift in the fiesta will be superb, but the 4speed auto in the run out focus, do the more current models have the same issues that some people had occur early on in the LS/LT time frame. (clunk going back into first slowing down) Economy of the 2.0 with 4sp versus the 1.6 with the powershift? Our corolla is the 1.8litre 4spd auto, and on my wifes commute, it gets around the 11.5 litres/100 so its, the urban figures, and a touch more. (i imagine the focus would be a little less, and the fiesta, around thte 9mark) 99% of the time this car will sit in traffic, and occasionally have a longer trip thrown in.

As i said, im looking for options, maybe a possible option is to look at a diesel LV auto? or even the new one coming out in august.... in a petrol trend spec, which would improve on the above?

Thanks for any thoughts.

Im just trying to work out in my head which would be the best way to go. We both like both of them. So i guess that makes it harder.

Cheers

Marty

And yes, i know this is a subjective thing which in the end will come down to what the wife wants

[somers181]

I changed over from a LS Focus to a WT Fiesta in January this year and think the Fiesta is a great car, you really need to work out what you want in the car as they are very different in size/carrying capacity, the fiesta is alot smaller in rear seat and rear hatch storage area's. Fiesta is alot better on fuel economy than the Focus and the six speed auto is also great. Only look at the Diesel if you are going to do a fair bit of mileage to make sure it pays for itself otherwise stick to the petrol if you are going to do 15000 kms per year or less....... I like the Fiesta, purchased a CL and added after market wheels and spoiler after having the LX Focus (Didnt like LX Fiesta wheels or seat finish). If you dont need a big car then the Fiesta 1.6 is a good buy.....
P.S. the Fiesta sedan has almost double the space in the boot compared to the hatch but rear leg room is only good for small children or short trips.

[In Focus]

I think I can help you here, since I have an LV Focus, and the wife has a WT Fiesta.

The drum brakes are more than fine for running about. The front wheels/brakes do most of the work in Fiestas anyway. We've been on 200km round trips with no issue.

Re: gearboxes. They both have their good/bad points. The 6sp is definitely more fuel efficient, though I do find it a little "shifty". I presume this is because it's constantly finding the right gear. I think you get used to it. I suspect it would work even better in the upcoming model, more powerful Focus.

The 4 sp in the Focus doesn't so much clunk, but it still "whirs" occasionally when shifting gears at low speed, as if it isn't quite sure which to select. Again you get used to it, and it may be just the way I drive.

Fuel use in the Focus (for me) is about 9.5 over a week, which is about 40/60 freeway/city driving. The Fiesta sits on about 8-8.5, but it basically does all city driving. On a long drive on the flat, the Focus gets about 6.9 (two adults, 1 3yo); on a similar drive, the Fiesta goes about 5.5, but I think that'll improve as it gets more miles into it (only done about 2000km presently).

For front seat passengers, I don't think there's much difference. I'm about 6', and I don't have an issue in either. Back seat I think the Focus has a bit of an advantage, because the Fiesta is probably only good for adults on a short run or under-teens over further - no problem fitting the 3yo's seat in the Fiesta, however. This is not to say the Focus is super-spacious in the back, but it's more bearable for an adult passenger. Then again, how often do you have extra passengers; I've carried someone in the back about 3 times in the 12 months I've had the Focus, and they were only a little cramped because of the child-seat.

The ultimate option for you would be a new 6 speed Focus, but... you'll pay a fair bit extra for it.

Hope some of this is useful.

[BrisVegas]

We had both LS Focus and WS Fiesta for a while there. The Fiesta was my wife's car and she loved it. It had more 'gadgets' that she liked and the steering felt a bit lighter. The Focus was a fair bit bigger in the boot and back seat. In fact, the Focus was our family car and the Fiesta was her city runabout. On the highway, the Focus was prob 6.5l/100km and the Fiesta 5.5l/100km, both petrol, both 5 speed manual. Around town, the Fiesta got around 7 and the Focus 8+.

[Martyvan]

Thanks for the feedback all.

Im thinking the fiesta might be the better option. (gut feeling, and was only concerned by the brakes)

We have a 6y.o and almost 3. the last time we had all 4 of us in the car, was when we dropped the pajero off for a service. Which is only every 8 months of thereabouts. Legroom in the front, was suprisingly good, in both, im 6'4" didnt sit in the back... never make it back there to watch the DVD's... let the kids do that

As I mentioned this car will be almost entirely driven in peak hour brisbane traffic. Its likely that fuel consumption will be higher... especially given our corolla was rated at 7.8(sticker) and returns 11.5.

I guess i will be getting the TD ear plugs out for the weekend.

Dion, hope to see you on the beach soon

[BrisVegas]

Hey Marty, you'll enjoy the Fiesta. Plenty of room in the front. I'm 6'2" and didn't have the front seats all the way back. You sit a bit lower in the Fiesta versus the Focus which felt a little perched to me. In fact, if there was anything I could have swapped between the two cars, it would have been to put the Fiesta seats in the Focus.

My kids are 6 & 4 in large booster seats. Plenty of room.

My Paj got a run up at Inskip over Easter. It did well. We're coping with 1 car for now.... Will reassess next year if the wife gets full time work. Might look at picking up an LR Focus or AU/BA Falcon if we need a cheap second car.

[Martyvan]

Im thinking of trying to get a lease price on the new Focus Trend Sedan....... Dont know what i could get it for until i ask... i believe they would start having details available on fleet pricing?

Who knows. If i can make it work, i will be getting one Otherwise, it would likely be a Fiesta Sedan, just couldnt justify spending money on a car, with similar space (to what we have now), to use pretty much the same amount of fuel (LV Auto)

On another note, if you are interested, im heading up to double island for the weekend next weekend. Im camping around the 28k mark north of the 3rd cutting (getting on the beach from Tewantin) Will be a couple of Pajero's... I will be the one that looks like im fishing but with no fish caught