I'm getting a new Focus in the coming weeks - I've previously had diesel Focuses for the past 8 years, but am thinking of getting a Petrol this time.  

It's going to be an Automatic, probably Titanium and about a year old.  I don't do very high mileage currently (duh - same as everyone), and probably looking at about 8-10K even when things are back to normal.

Price-wise the cars I'm looking at are the same - petrol or diesel.  

Any input would be greatly appreciated.  TIA

I have literally just bought a Titanium X 2.0 Tdci diesel two years old and had the same decision to make. 

It will depend on how often you make longer journeys and whether you routinely have a decent stretch of Dual Carriageway or Motorway (30/40 minutes) . The new diesels have the DPF that needs a regen periodically

As they are the same price when buying used then you don’t have the price premium seen at new and if you would benefit from the fuel economy then go for the diesel.

If you don’t and do quite a lot of smaller journeys regularly then I’d say petrol.

I personally like the torque on a diesel for overtaking. Seems more responsive for overtaking when at higher speed.

Have a look at my recent thread called titanium v Vignale as there are some comments about diesel v petrol further into the post. 
 

 

As I've said in another thread 

I'm only doing 4 x 13 mile round trips ( long way round) 7.5 miles the shortest route there and back and was currently getting around 47/48 mpg in my 1.5 diesel. 

I went on a longer trip yesterday to take my sons birthday present so I reset the tripometer and for the 26 mile round trip mainly on B roads it came back at 56.7mpg and I could of squeezed a bit more out of it easily. 

That was in sports mode which I'm finding on short journey's to be more economical.

Going out today for an eye test due to work training aspects so it will only be a round trip of say 5 miles at most today with a fair bit of stop start with roundabouts and traffic lights to contend with so will reset and see what it returns later.

If you do mainly short journeys, it's a no brainer, you need petrol. If you don't drive much, and get a diesel, you'll be on this forum frequently giving a list of apparent faults with DPF filters etc. Diesel cannot cope with a short journey life. If you do lots of longish motorway journeys, then a diesel will get up to proper temperature and run effieciently...

I can see from your profile you currently have a Mk3.5 1.6TDCi...newer ones have to regen a bit more for the latest regulations, but if you haven't had any DPF problems with yours then you should be fine sticking with diesel.

On a slightly different note, have you asked for any deals on brand new Focus'?  I was surprised how expensive a good condition, low mileage, year old example still is...I've just ordered a brand new one for around the same price after considerable discount from RRP.  Couldn't find the discount online though, did have to ask specifically.

I'm not really concerned about MPG to be honest.  It's more about price depreciation since Diesel seems to be in everyone's bad books these days.

Also, a bigger reason is that I always felt that my Diesel focus was a bit slow pulling away from being stationary, and the wife thought the same too when she drove it.  I think the petrol ones are a bit more nippy.  (is that the case?)

Another reason to go petrol is that we both work from home now, and for the foreseeable future so shorter journeys are more likely.

@TomsFocusOn the subject of focus deals you're right - we're looking at a year old Titanium Auto Focus  with about 1000 on the clock, and they're about £17-£18K - which is a lot of money.  Previously the Focuses we had were Zetec and manual - so about £2-3K lower.  I'll take into consideration getting a brand new one.  🙂

Depreciation is an interesting point...on one hand diesel is now the devils fuel to be avoided...but on the other, there are so few new diesels about compared to petrols, that it might help keep used prices up for those that still need diesel for long commutes and can't afford brand new.

You're probably aware but tax is now a flat rate after April 2017, so there are no tax savings by buying diesels nowadays.  In fact,  think the MHEV petrols still count as hybrids so get a £10 reduction compared to full petrol/diesel.  So £140 or £150 depending on which you chose.

The petrols are a bit nippier off the line but they need revving more, it's not as 'relaxed' as diesel driving.  I'm having to go petrol myself due to short journeys but there are definitely pro's and con's to making the change.  I've chosen the 155ps MHEV engine as I had a 125ps non-MHEV in a Mk3 and hated the lack of torque compared to the diesels I've owned for the last 8 years.  

16 minutes ago, focusdriver said:

I'm not really concerned about MPG to be honest.  It's more about price depreciation since Diesel seems to be in everyone's bad books these days.

Also, a bigger reason is that I always felt that my Diesel focus was a bit slow pulling away from being stationary, and the wife thought the same too when she drove it.  I think the petrol ones are a bit more nippy.  (is that the case?)

Another reason to go petrol is that we both work from home now, and for the foreseeable future so shorter journeys are more likely.

@TomsFocusOn the subject of focus deals you're right - we're looking at a year old Titanium Auto Focus  with about 1000 on the clock, and they're about £17-£18K - which is a lot of money.  Previously the Focuses we had were Zetec and manual - so about £2-3K lower.  I'll take into consideration getting a brand new one.  🙂

My 2.0 TDCI is excellent at pulling away. I was quite surprised (150ps). When out of warranty you can easily remap to 180ps too. 
In terms of depreciation my personal opinion is that it will be less of an issue with the newer models that are Euro 6 compliant  

The fact that you are asking these questions and your use case doesn’t swing fully to diesel makes me think you would be better going petrol

24 minutes ago, focusdriver said:

Another reason to go petrol is that we both work from home now, and for the foreseeable future so shorter journeys are more likely.

You have just answered your own question - you need a proper petrol car.

Quote

If you do mainly short journeys, it's a no brainer, you need petrol. If you don't drive much, and get a diesel, you'll be on this forum frequently giving a list of apparent faults with DPF filters etc

Problem is that most petrol ones now have a GPF (Gasoline particulate filter) and some of those seem to be suffering similar problems with short journeys. You've only got to look at this thread

to see the 1.0 Focus seems to have some issues

I believe the above issue is something to do with software, rather than it actually being blocked. Certainly, I’ve had no problems with mine.

1 minute ago, dtulip8 said:

I believe the above issue is something to do with software, rather than it actually being blocked. Certainly, I’ve had no problems with mine.

The more issues I hear about 'modern' cars, the more I love my 16 year old runabout! She has a built in CD player you know... 😁

To follow on from my earlier post. Today's outing a grand total of 4.6 miles stop start with temporary Traffic lights within the first mile and normal B road scenario to the local shopping centre. So quite a few traffic lights and roundabouts and then normal queues waiting for the undecided to park 🙄and it returned 48.4 mpg. The temp needle never moved as is a normal scenario these days.

Not had any issues with the car being slow at setting off at all so I can't see the 2ltr being any different tbh. 

I'm yet to have any issues regarding the regen and Dpf in the last 18 months bearing in mind the car has only covered just over 6k since we've owned it.

9 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

The more issues I hear about 'modern' cars, the more I love my 16 year old runabout! She has a built in CD player you know... 😁

I do miss the simplicity of my old 1.6 Zetec sometimes, that had a CD player too, which is something you have to pay extra for now 😱

3 minutes ago, dtulip8 said:

I do miss the simplicity of my old 1.6 Zetec sometimes, that had a CD player too, which is something you have to pay extra for now 😱

Yeah. I was surprised it wasn't standard.

£250 iirc can't see many adding it in as an extra when you simply use your own playlist these days.

5 minutes ago, Wino said:

Yeah. I was surprised it wasn't standard.

£250 iirc can't see many adding it in as an extra when you simply use your own playlist these days.

Yeh, but the joy of nipping into £land, and buying 2 classic CDs on the way home for £1, and popping one into the motorised slot, well, no comparison really LOL

18 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Yeh, but the joy of nipping into £land, and buying 2 classic CDs on the way home for £1, and popping one into the motorised slot, well, no comparison really LOL

Lol. I've never used our CD player. I don't even have the radio on unless the Mrs is in the car and its always her that puts it on.

I prefer the piece n quiet or should that be the rattles and vibrations 🤣

Car CD players have always been rubbish...  Sk-sk-skipping everytime you hit a minor imperfection in the road.    My Mk2 Focus used to wreck CD's as well, cutting big grooves in them!   I was copying decent CD's on to CD-Rs just to keep in the car so I wasn't bothered when it ruined them!  

Now I use an SD card for anything VAG, and have a tiny USB drive for anything Ford...  Haven't had a CD in the car for over 3 years!!

What annoys me about modern cars is the lack of DAB improvement.  I suppose most people use USB or stream Spotify, but I can't even pick up DAB stations in the carpark that I can pick up indoors on a £20 radio from ASDA...

1 minute ago, TomsFocus said:

What annoys me about modern cars is the lack of DAB improvement.  I suppose most people use USB or stream Spotify, but I can't even pick up DAB stations in the carpark that I can pick up indoors on a £20 radio from ASDA...

You need one of these buddy! (Pricey though, around £25!). Picks up everything and with my £10 MagMount, I get a full signal almost everywhere LOL

 

Trouble is I have 100s of CDs and no time to burn them all to USB.

7 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

You need one of these buddy! (Pricey though, around £25!). Picks up everything and with my £10 MagMount, I get a full signal almost everywhere LOL

 

That stuck on the screen would annoy the hell out of me!   You'd think that a £20k+ car could come with something similar hidden in the roof or intergrated in the rear screen...

3 minutes ago, Guy Heaton said:

Trouble is I have 100s of CDs and no time to burn them all to USB.

We've been under lockdown for almost a year, even just doing one a day you could've got through a good chunk of them by now.

10 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

That stuck on the screen would annoy the hell out of me!   You'd think that a £20k+ car could come with something similar hidden in the roof or intergrated in the rear screen...

It annoyed the hell out of me too, but I do love my MagMount,  10 - 4 rubber duckie... LOL