We have had the above car for over 15 years, but she’s now got the engine light dashboard comms error and have had the dash re-soldered but now it’s back with vengeance. 
 

So we’re liking for a Focus style car with 5 doors, maybe no more than 5 years old. With  a good spec like cruise, heated seats, air con, twin airbags and CarPlay, Petrol 

what models years would you recommend and what pitfall should I be aware or on these models eg like the dashboard instrumentation cluster issue?

thanks

3 hours ago, Biggerboat said:

Petrol 

..... and theirs your problem right there, Petrol.

That basically gives you the option of the 1.0 Ecoboost unless you want an ST

In all good conscious I could never recommend the 1.0 Ecoboost engine. Possibly the most reliable Ford engine at the present moment is the 1.5 Ecoblue (diesel)

Unless you look at a 2.3 ST, petrol Focuses 5 years and under will be the Mk 4 with revised 1.0 ecoboost or the 1.5 triple, both of which are chain cam but still wet belt oil pump drive. 

It's probably still too early to say if these will be less problematic long term than the earlier 1.0 ecoboost with wet cambelt, though we have seen one of two issues with the oil pump belt reported.

However, when you say "Focus style" do you mean an actual Focus or just a similar sized medium hatch. I'm sure we can come up with lots of  non-Ford suggestions. Any thoughts on budget?

On 1/11/2025 at 11:03 AM, unofix said:

 

Thank you to both of you who responded. 
 

Petrol for me, as the flats where we live doesn’t have a charging point. 
didn’t realise is does limit the options though, so could consider diesel.
 

Probably would stick to a Ford, as they generally easier to repair, had Renaults in the past more expensive and special tools. 

so would consider a focus sized ford alternative. Budget wises not sure last focus was around 7k. But they was years ago. 
what’s available for 15-20k say and what would 25k bring to the party 

13 minutes ago, Biggerboat said:

Thank you to both of you who responded. 

Probably would stick to a Ford, as they generally easier to repair, had Renaults in the past more expensive and special tools. 

so would consider a focus sized ford alternative. Budget wises not sure last focus was around 7k. But they was years ago.
what’s available for 15-20k say and what would 25k bring to the party 

Fords used to be easy and cheap to repair, but I wouldn't say that was the case any more.

For the budgets you mention, you could be looking at, for example, a very decent Golf, Audi A3, SEAT Leon or Skoda Octavia from the VW Group, Mazda 3, Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla hybrid (which many on here would recommend it you don't mind a non-manual). 

I'd avoid Peugeot/Citroen petrols as many have the "Puretech" engine which suffers wet belt issues.

Stretching to £25k would get you a pre reg example of most of the above with delivery mileage. 

Just have a trawl through AutoTrader or similar to get some ideas and see if you can narrow it down a bit. 

51 minutes ago, Biggerboat said:

what’s available for 15-20k

For that sort of money, I'd buy a 2019-2020 Mk4 Focus Titanium X 1.5 EcoBlue (yes I know it's diesel but it does seem to be the best engine).

Once you get to 2021 onwards, the build quality gets worse, and the toys get less and less. By the time you get to 2023 even the top spec models are so poor that a few years ago they would have been classed as a Zetec

Hi

I suppose a late mk3.5 is to old for you?

Paul

If you do go for a MK4 Focus then I would recommend the 1.5 Petrol Engined one if you can get one. It is far superior to the 1.0 one, has almost Diesel like Torque, is quite fast when needed and the difference in Fuel Consumption compared to the 1.0 Petrol car is tiny.

15 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Just have a trawl through AutoTrader or similar to get some ideas and see if you can narrow it down a bit. 

Just one example of what you can find in the £20k to £25k bracket:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411276774627?

Must admit I didn't find the fuel consumption difference tiny.  Admittedly I didn't drive either for long but the 1.5 150ps was only getting 37mpg avg, whereas the 1.0 155ps MHEV was 45mpg avg.  Both urban only, I suspect the 1.5 would have been better on the motorway.

The 1.5 EcoBoost also comes with proper rear suspension up to 2019, which is the main reason I chose that engine first.  Plus needing to move away from DPF's.  1.5 EcoBlue only ever came with twist beam.  (Except for estates, which all got IRS regardless of engine type).

Interesting one on the 1.0 vs 1.5 consumption.

Different car obviously but I don't find the 200ps version of the 1.5 in the Fiesta that much different, in everyday driving on mixed roads, to the 1.0 (140) I was driving immediately prior. Best I ever got from the 1.0 was 53, 1.5 has achieved 49 (both tankful measured from brim to brim). Averages I would say low 40's for the 1.5, vs mid 40's for the 1.0. 

What I do find, just from glancing at the dash read outs, is that the average mpg in the 1.5 takes much more of a hit from, say, doing short trips in low temperatures, as recently, and takes a lot longer spell of "normal" driving to climb back up again.

 

51 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Must admit I didn't find the fuel consumption difference tiny.  Admittedly I didn't drive either for long but the 1.5 150ps was only getting 37mpg avg, whereas the 1.0 155ps MHEV was 45mpg avg.  Both urban only, I suspect the 1.5 would have been better on the motorway.

The 1.5 EcoBoost also comes with proper rear suspension up to 2019, which is the main reason I chose that engine first.  Plus needing to move away from DPF's.  1.5 EcoBlue only ever came with twist beam.  (Except for estates, which all got IRS regardless of engine type).

I was comparing the Fuel consumption to the Non PHEV engined 1.0 cars. 

I get over 50 mpg on a journey without trying, low to mid 40's in a busy city. 

The Vignale and 2.0 Diesel cars keep the Independent Suspension as well from memory. 

1 hour ago, Tizer said:

I was comparing the Fuel consumption to the Non PHEV engined 1.0 cars. 

I get over 50 mpg on a journey without trying, low to mid 40's in a busy city. 

The Vignale and 2.0 Diesel cars keep the Independent Suspension as well from memory. 

I don't think MHEV makes a noticeable difference to economy.  Perhaps there was a fault with my 1.5 if yours does low to mid 40s in an urban environment.  It had done less than 10k miles, but was not in good condition aesthetically.

Yes Vignale & 2.0 EcoBlue kept IRS.  I initially went for the 155ps engine, believing that to be IRS due to the power output - which the salesman agreed with.    But after doing my own research realised that wasn't the case, so I switched the order to a Vignale instead.  I could've dropped the engine power level down to 125ps in hindsight, but it was all a rush due to circumstances at the time.

Toyota Corolla

18 minutes ago, DaveT70 said:

Toyota Corolla

 

19 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Toyota Corolla hybrid (which many on here would recommend it you don't mind a non-manual). 

😀

If they want something to last as long as the last one

On 1/11/2025 at 10:46 AM, Biggerboat said:

So we’re liking for a Focus style car with 5 doors, maybe no more than 5 years old. With  a good spec like cruise, heated seats, air con, twin airbags and CarPlay, Petrol 

what models years would you recommend and what pitfall should I be aware or on these models eg like the dashboard instrumentation cluster issue?

Focus style plus not falling apart after 18 months like my MK4 did

The best brand for new cars is Dacia. Duster lpg best then Sandero.

For everyday simple way of driving, no special requirements. It is the best.

 

About ford as recommended perhaps 1.5 focus diesel.

2 hours ago, Bol said:

The best brand for new cars is Dacia. Duster lpg best then Sandero.

They're certainly good value and the new Duster did well in the 2025 Car of the Year.

59 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

the new Duster did well in the 2025 Car of the Year.

Do they only come in yellow? 😁

7 hours ago, unofix said:

Do they only come in yellow? 😁

In view of your interest, I just checked that for you, Sir.

The entry level "Essential" comes in Glacier White (foc), Shadow Grey, or Dusty Khaki (so you don't even have to wait for it to look dirty😀). The higher specs also offer Pearl Black, Terracotta, Cedar Green and Sandstone. All but the white are £650 extra.

Joking apart, they do seem good value. Folk up the Dales seem to agree - the 4x4 in particular is very popular.