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