Petrol or Diesel Focus

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Yup... warm up time is measure with a sun dial....

Mine idling for about 10 minutes and then driven at 100km/h it took around 15km to get to operating temperature.

[buggerlugs]

Originally Posted by kevino

Yes if you can get this diesel at the right price you take away the cost disadvantages-looks like a nice bit of gear. Are these auctions at Eagle Farm?

Yes, they are. I don't have an account with Manheim Fowles, only Pickles. So I'd have to go down in person. May be a problem as I have a heap of work on in the morn...........

[hangfire]

Originally Posted by spvd02

1.8 or 1.6? Do they come out with a 1.8? If it's the 1.6, it's not all that powerful...

i had the 1.8
at the time they were stocked in 1.4,1.6,1.8 and 2.0
the 1.6 won loads of awards for fuel economy

[dan-]

It sounds like it won't be any cheaper to run, so drive both and see if you think the driving dynamics of the diesel are worth the extra dollars. I have a 2L auto petrol and it certainly isn't gutless around town. It lacks torque at highway speeds but is no worse than a Mazda 3, golf, etc. I find the DSG quite a good gearbox around town, it is more enjoyable than a traditional auto. Sucks on a twisty road though!

[buggerlugs]

Didn't sell. Passed in. They want $22,700 for it. Plus buyers fees plus rego etc. They are $24,900 drive away at the moment 2013 plates..........No wonder it didn't sell............. Auctions aren't always cheaper........

[G6E Turbo 2]

We have 2 of them, my wife has the diesel hatch sport and i have the titanium diesel sedan. They are great cars and i love the torque but don't like the lag off the mark and the lack of rev. Great on the open road , which we do mostly now.
I would buy another one

[Tezza]

Originally Posted by spvd02

Actually looked at some LW Focus Diesel videos on youtube, and they do go pretty well. Thought I'd easily beat one in my petrol Focus, but is probably a little closer than I thought.

As strong as the diesel is, though, I still like the idea of a responsive, efficient petrol engine with TI-VCT that still makes for effortless low-speed driving, even though its peak torque isn't that high. Definitely not ideal for towing, but pulls its own weight around nicely.

It wouldn't surprise me also if it matches the diesel for fuel economy on short trips from a cold start, considering it gets to operating temp very quickly. I'm assuming the diesel takes a while longer to warm up.

I think you will find, the diesel is better than you think. I have a petrol and a mate has a diesel (both hatches, both autos) we have lined them up for the 0-100km/h test, and the diesel was 1-1.5 car (or hatch) lengths quicker. Further to that, the diesel is just so effortless to drive when I really have to rev the petrol to get it to perform.

Further to that, I cannot come close to the benchmark lt/100km's which is 6.6. I normally hover around the low 7's. This is the only car I have never been able to beat the manufactures highway benchmark in (I do 80% highway Kms) when driving around town, I am well into the 9's. I also find the petrol suffers badly from heat soak and it is constantly hunting for gears on highway drives and kicks back to 5th then 4th and 4000 - 4500rpms on slight inclines. The diesel just holds 6th and uses its torque to power up them.

Lastly, the tank on the diesel is 5lt bigger and with the better economy means much greater range. My lease runs out on the petrol at the end of the year and I can't wait to see the back of it and get a diesel next up. I had a diesel golf prior to the focus and really really really really miss the torque and the relaxed driving it brings. If my job was on the racetrack, then maybe I might like the thrill of ringing the petrols neck, but in the normal commute, it is rough, noisy, tiresome and I get sick of going to the servo.

Oh, and the gearbox in the petrol failed at 10,000kms and had to be full rebuilt. You can see the write up of that in another thread. It's up to 60,000kms now and no further issues......

[Imolator]

Well I can easily better the 6.6lt /100km spec, on a recent trip to Canberra from Wollongong my Focii returned 6.4 lt /100km. And it's a petrol powershift. My previous car was a manual WT Zetec petrol manual and in the same conditions achieved 6.2lt/100km.

These figures were calculated manually not using the trip computer, and I wasn't driving the car gently or anything either.

[Tezza]

Originally Posted by Imolator

Well I can easily better the 6.6lt /100km spec, on a recent trip to Canberra from Wollongong my Focii returned 6.4 lt /100km. And it's a petrol powershift. My previous car was a manual WT Zetec petrol manual and in the same conditions achieved 6.2lt/100km.

These figures were calculated manually not using the trip computer, and I wasn't driving the car gently or anything either.

We are talking combined fuel cycles here (city and highway) which is 6.6.
If you want to talk straight highway only, you should be getting 5.1 which you are no where near. The factory claims are very optimistic!

[Hawkeye84]

Just helped my sister buy her 2011 LW Diesel Focus Sport.
It done 90,000kms, still has warranty on it and she paid 15,800 for it, which was a complete steal!

The diesel is slightly sluggish off the start, but you know what, you get used to it.
Its an awesome car, lots of torque when over taking and smooth as. Alot more quieter than i expected as well.

My sisters choice was between the focus or the new corolla.
When she sat in the focus, she was hooked.

The forum has been great help in deciding which car, we chose the diesel focus because 1. it was more fuel efficient and 2. The wet clutch was told to be more reliable than the petrol dry clutches

[buggerlugs]

We just got a 10/2012 Sport Hatch , Diesel Auto , 21,000ks for $20,000.00 . It's like brand new.............

[buggerlugs]

Just drove the Focus home from Tenterfield today, and all I can say is "WOW" what an awesome little car with some amazing features. And what a joy to drive.... I have one very lucky 17 year old daughter...............

[burnz]

what is it a diesel or petrol?
sorry just seen previous post

[buggerlugs]

Yeah, diesel, even the dogs like it !!

[burnz]

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

Yeah, diesel, even the dogs like it !!

whats not to like about a diesel.
fat lazy torque, 340 nm @1900 rpm.
excellent fuel economy, and long engine life.

[GK]

Nice pickup indeed! Looks great!

Your daughter should be eternally grateful!

I read this thread from start to finish and can only say how impressed I have been with my diesel Mondeo.

I can only imagine how much I'd enjoy the same engine in a Focus!

GK