Is this goodbye???

[Tupoar]

I bought my Focus (2019 ST Line) 2 months ago and today I sadly returned it to the dealership. Now I need to pick a new car and I'm not sure if I'll get another .

Why did I return it? Well 2 days after I got it, it went in limp home mode. I took it to the dealership( non ford) and no fault was found. Days later it happened again but this time I managed to get the code (P0299 - Turbo Underboost). Dealership had another look, no fault found. The problem was that everytime you restarted the car the error disappeared.

The umpteenth time it happened the error was permanent. Dealership took it to Ford and a week later Ford says it was fixed. I told the dealership that if it happened again they have to take the car back. They agreed.

Today (3 weeks later) it happened again. They have the car back and my refund arrives Monday...

Now:

I need to choose a replacement and I dunno if I can bring myself to get another Focus (would go for an ST Line X if I did) or go for something more 'reliable' like an Audi A3. I'm so disappointed by this experience but really liked the car and had tinkered a bit (installed powerfold mirrors etc)

Just lost confidence and would like some words of advice from outside the bubble of my head.

Thanks in advance

 

Ps Ford 'fixing it' involved them strippng the turbo and checking all associated pipework. They said it was a software error in one of the modules so updated the software.

[Darkman]

Googling it suggests a number of possible causes and not just related to the turbo itself. You would think Ford would know this and investigate apropriately.

That said, I had a Mk3 Mondeo that I had nothing but problems with. So much so, I sold it and drove a Honda Civic for six years (a largely faultless experience) - it just put me off Fords.

But then, I've previously had a Mk2 Mondeo, a Mk1 Focus which I ran for over ten years, two Escorts, a Fiesta and loved them all. But for a while I let that one car cancel all of that out.

Just bought a 2011 Focus TDCi Titanium and love it.

It always pays to do some homework before buying, but don't let one bad apple put you off apples.

Good God, don't get an Audi! Every time I see one in my RVM I'm like, "great, an Audi. What crazy crap is *this* guy gonna pull?!"

[Tupoar]

Went car hunting today and test drove 3 cars 

Focus ST-Line X - Felt exactly how I wished my old car had. Smooth as a bean will all the extras apart from a reversing cam.

Mercedes A160 - Looks the part, glorious inside however, it had the power of a 1l Skoda Estelle. So disappointing. 

Audi A3 - Really really nice car to drive. Can't fault it apart it lacking a few fancy features. 

My heart says ST Line X, my head in leaning more to the sensible A3.

 

[Jimpster]

Go with the heart, the head can always be swayed.

 

[TomsFocus]

Audi's aren't more reliable if that's the only reason you're considering one.  What engine was in it?  1.5 TSI?

The ride on them is generally poor too.  I bought an A3 once, expecting it to be a Golf with a different badge.  Was massively disappointed there!

[Linds]

I ran 4 or 5 Audis (all new) from 1995 to 2015.  Despite a 1.8T blowing up on me one night on the A1 I kept telling myself they must be reliable and I should stick with them. However I did try a BMW 3 Series at one point, but God it was uncomfortable and in side winds it was like driving a brick.  My last Audi was an A3 and I did run it for a long time but in the end became thoroughly disheartened when my garage (not a dealer but they were keen on Audis and the proprietor ran one) kept explaining I was suffering from one design fault after another.  It just got very expensive to keep the car on the road.

When I sold this I did something I had never expected I would ... I bought a (new) Mk3.5 Focus 1.5TDCi ... loved it ... ran a little short of 100K on it over 5 years and experienced no significant problems ... just a few minor Ford eccentricities like the accelerator would squeak when driving in traffic!  No Ford dealer ever solved that and I got round such minor hassles by reminding myself it was, after all, just a Ford.

In 2020 I bought a petrol Ecoboost Focus Mk4.  So far over just 30k miles has been a dream to drive but ... like everyone ...  I'm becoming a little worried.  I think I'm going to risk it and stay with it for 5 to 7 years and I'll have to wait and see if that turns out to be the right decision.  The one thing I would not do is buy an Audi.

[Eric Bloodaxe]

49 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Audi's aren't more reliable if that's the only reason you're considering one.

It's all a matter of luck, really. Both the Audis I had (A4 and A3) were fine, but it was quite a while ago, and you're right, beneath the skin my A3 was identical to the equivalent Golf.

Back then, though, the interiors did seem to be a cut above - I had a sit in the latest A3 a while back and found it very disappointing and it of course suffered from the current VW curse of everything on the touchscreen and silly little toggle switch for a gear selector on the DSG (sorry - "S-tronic" in Audi speak) versions.

My neighbour has a new A3 which to me looks uglier than the previous version.  His Mrs has a latest facelift MINI which is even worse IMO!😀

[iantt]

Audi are no more reliable than any other vehicle out there. Car buyer survey puts A3 at 59th out of 75. 

[TomsFocus]

1 hour ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

It's all a matter of luck, really. Both the Audis I had (A4 and A3) were fine, but it was quite a while ago, and you're right, beneath the skin my A3 was identical to the equivalent Golf.

Back then, though, the interiors did seem to be a cut above - I had a sit in the latest A3 a while back and found it very disappointing and it of course suffered from the current VW curse of everything on the touchscreen and silly little toggle switch for a gear selector on the DSG (sorry - "S-tronic" in Audi speak) versions.

My neighbour has a new A3 which to me looks uglier than the previous version.  His Mrs has a latest facelift MINI which is even worse IMO!😀

Have you seen a Taigo in the flesh?  

They have a proper gear lever.  (To get one with any power it's DSG only!).  The infotainment screen is below the dash line and they also have a climate panel...  All touch, but at least it's separate!

I also like the body shape and side profile despite being an SUV.

Haven't actually seen one in person though!!

[Jimpster]

just make sure your car wasnt built on a friday ...... or monday morning hahahahahahahahaha

[Tupoar]

Thanks for all the comments guys. Muchly appreciated.

The Audi (which was a 1.0) was a nice really car but was let down by the lack of features (on the one I test drove) and looks wise it didn't grab me. Both my brothers have Audi's and swear by them. I know a few people with them who have never had a problem but I guess it's all based on personal experience. Put it like this, if someone handed me an A3 I wouldn't complain.

5 hours ago, Jimpster said:

Go with the heart, the head can always be swayed.

 

I've had several Ford's previously (MK 3, Mk4 and Mk 6 Escort's) but the bountiful 'Ecoboom' stories do worry me a tad. However, I love the look of the Focus ST Line and fell in love with my old one. The ST Line X with the extra features/bigger alloys is just *chefs kiss*. 

I'm almost definitely going to put my name down for the Focus for one defining reason. I've got some really nice black and blue car mats sitting on my kitchen floor right now that a bought for the last car and it would be a shame to have to chuck them 🤣

[Eric Bloodaxe]

4 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Have you seen a Taigo in the flesh?  

Funnily enough, I was having a look at one in the supermarket car park the other day. Better looking than the T-Roc IMO and yes, a bit more "old fashioned" in the interior which is fine by me. That climate panel.looks very like the one in the latest Polo.

I think they were originally for the Brazilian market but VW in their wisdom seem to think there is yet another small niche to fill which is not already covered by the T-Cross, T-Roc, Tiguan, blah blah, so there we are.

Last time I was looking at the list of cars available from stock at my nearest VW outlet, they seemed to have loads of these, all 1.5tsi DSGs as you mention. I think the 1.5tsi is DSG only on the Taigo, whereas (again, last time I looked) you could still get that engine with a 6 speed manual on the T-Roc.

[Wino]

I test drove the A3 and the T-roc prior to getting the Mk4 Focus and found that for me the A3 driving position was just too uncomfortable and would struggle to get in and out of the car, the T-roc....I really liked but had to be R-line as I didn't like the upholstery in the others but felt that the 1.6 diesel was a tad underpowered and felt gutless but didn't get the chance to test drive a 2.0 diesel and on the way home the Focus we have now became available.

 

[Tupoar]

So..... deposit paid.

"She so purdy..."

 

I guess it's not goodbye then...

[TomsFocus]

33 minutes ago, Tupoar said:

I guess it's not goodbye then...

Good luck!

[Jimpster]

Hello then !!!!!!!!

[Darkman]

Good choice!

(If it breaks, I will deny ever encouraging you to buy a Ford!) 😇

[Phil3747]

You might regret not getting a Hyundai Kona...I'll let you know 😉 

[Sprawlsy]

On 8/15/2022 at 11:40 AM, Tupoar said:

So..... deposit paid.

"She so purdy..."

 

I guess it's not goodbye then...

It's the wheels isn't, they just look so good. 

As for the engine, I had a 2013 ecoboost for 7 years with no issues. The current version I have (both 1.0l 125 versions) is more economical than the older one was. Enjoy your new car.

[RMurphy195]

I had several vauxhalls on the trot from about 1990, all super reliable, all but one bought used.  First was a mk3 2l cavalier company car, new, 40k miles, then a MK2 1.3, used, gave me 3 year and 60k miles before my wife had it for a while longer, then a MK3 1.8 Cavalier, 7yrs and 115k miles, then a 1.6 Astra, 5 yrs and 103k miles. All were trouble free once the initial warranty-free niggles were done, all towed trailers and caravans during my use (and all were retired with their original clutches!) before you ask, the last one was replaced with my father-in-laws Golf when he packed up driving. Also have a Mazda bought as a 3 yr old in 2010, I've now added just over 100k to its mileage, only issues have been a battery, thermostat, and a pair of brake calipers apart from wear and tear items (even has the original exhaust!). So don't be afaraid to look around a bit more ... yes, the Mazda has FoMoCo embossed on the dipstick !