General focus 1.6 tdci zetec to GP 1.4 16V eleganza?

[HertsJoaTMoN]

Hi all. New here.

Going to replace my Ford Focus 1.6 TDCI in a few months. Of all the options I'm considering I think a Grande Punto is currently top. I dont do long distances any more so want to switch to a petrol and I fancy a car with lots of comforts like leather interior and cruise control. Wanted something a little smaller, cheapish to run but with similar performance to my current car (0-60 is 10.6). Price rise I'm looking around £5k with relatively low mileage.

My top choice is the 1.4 16V Eleganza.

You're all obviously GP fans so may be biased, but am I making the right choice or are there better versions of GP I should consider for a balance of cost to run / performance?

I love that its only insurance group 9, I see that the 1.4 TJET is group 15 and group G tax although its significanly nippier.

I'm not going to be pushing it hard, it will mostly be for commuting to work and pottering about here and there in the evenings and weekends.

I probably wont be modding it, but am undecided on that. I had considered an induction kit, but I dont think id get much gain from it.

A Corsa 1.4T Black edition looks to be a good value to run for the performance but is more expensive up front. I've been told there are issues with the VW TSI engines and I should avoid them out of warrenty which rules outs Golfs, Polos, Fabias, and Ibizas. Nothing else really stands out.

 

[HertsJoaTMoN]

Bit more information.

I had done 60k in my Focus when the turbo popped. Turns out this is quite a common fault with my engine but it cost me £1500 to get everything fixed in the end. I dont think the garage I was using did a particularly good job with my services, but I have a new mechanic I use now who I'm far happier with.

I'll have to replace the DPF filter soon as well as needing new shocks. I figured rather than do that, I should just part ex at a dealership and get something cheaper to run which I would enjoy more.

I got the deisel focus for long commutes but I dont do them any more.

 

[Jacob]

I don't have the eleganza but everyone who does seems to love them.

A lot of the common gp issues apply to all models so check that stickied thread out.

If you're going to be doing any performance mods I wouldn't bother on an N/A 1.4 as it'll not be beneficial whereas it would on the tjet but from the sounds of things the tjet would be an unnecessary expense and they're not usually as well equipped as eleganzas.

 

[HertsJoaTMoN]

Thanks, it was between a sporting or an eleganza in terms of trim, but I think the eleganza seems just that little more luxurious and I've had enough of driving in a car with standard spec. I will miss the low end torque of my focus but I need to say goodbye to deisels.

 

[rayrayli88]

Consider a Fiesta, will have similar layout as your Ford Focus and will be cheap to fix or mod if you want to. As you know, they'll be tonnes to look around for and if you don't mind buying privately you could save yourself a few pennies.

Fiesta Zetec is pretty decent trim (post 2008 newer model look)
Could probably pick up a 1.4, 30k on the clock, 2 owners for £5k mark
Then if you don't mind a few more miles on the clock, Fiesta ST is always an option for your price bracket.

IMO, Fiats are a nicer drive though, having owned a Grande Punto MJET 1.9 Diesel for a few years, when I drive my wifes Fiesta it isn't as fun to drive.

Or you can do what I did, switch to a Honda Civic Anniversary Special Edition which will blow... your... mind - but insurance will be higher!

 

[HertsJoaTMoN]

The new shape Fiestas seem to be fairly more expensive than the GP. I was looking at the 1.6, but its marginally slower acceleration, and 4 insurance groups higher. They are nice cars and were my initial target before I started my research.

I want something that strikes a balance between cost and performance, so nothing slower than 11.5 0-60 and nothing with combined mpg lower than 40. Insurance group 9-15.

I think at the end of the day it will come down to what is available at the time for the right money. less than 40k mileage.

most likely:
GP 1.4 16V Eleganza
Fiesta 1.6 Titanium
Corsa 1.4T Black edition

Maybe the TJET if im feeling a little more saucy.

I really like the new 1.0 98bhp ford engines in the fiesta but they are way out of my price range. My girlfriend has a mini cooper but I dont like that.

[edit] oh, im from Herts (hence the name) as well, just noticed on your info

 

[HertsJoaTMoN]

My short list so far...

 

[middo85]

The GP is a good car for the money and for what you want the 1.4 16v eleganza would be the best choice.

The tjet is quicker but you will only get 40mpg if you drive it steady everywhere so you wouldnt benefit over the 16v.

My brother has an 09 plate 1.4 Fiesta titanium. It is a nice car to drive and well equiped but he wishes he went for the 1.6 as its a little gutless.

Avoid the older fiestas as they are very dated now.

Corsa's are the same chassis as the GP but have horrid interiors that make a GP seem quite luxurious. The petrol engines are rougher than the Fiat alternative (except VXR) and they are pricey to insure as lots of chavs drive them.

Vag cars are no better built than anything else and will be basic compared to Fiat/Vaux or Ford. They also arent as reliable as people think.

 

[jameshobiecat]

I wouldn't consider any petrol gp other than the t-jet. Thrashy na engines are old hat, you'll feel you need the torque of a turbo having been a diesel driver.

 

[Ckem247]

I wouldn't touch a vag, especially tfsi models engines are like chocolate, my mum owns a new shape fiesta and it feels like a boat nice to drive but, swift sport is the only small car if have otherwise of mine

 

[HertsJoaTMoN]

Done some more comparisons between the Fiesta and the GP.

Looks like the fiesta is just edging it in terms of stats, but that could all change come a test drive. I like the TJET engine, but think the sporting trim is lacking a little in comparison to the other 2. Was suprised to read it only had 5 gears as well.

 

[HertsJoaTMoN]

Looked at the prices again and it looks like the GP is about £1k cheaper, with the Eleganza being less than the Sporting TJET.

With budget being a key area for me this could swing things...

 

[middo85]

Done some more comparisons between the Fiesta and the GP.

Looks like the fiesta is just edging it in terms of stats, but that could all change come a test drive. I like the TJET engine, but think the sporting trim is lacking a little in comparison to the other 2. Was suprised to read it only had 5 gears as well.

The fact the tjet has 5 gears is a positive as the 6 speed box is crap.

 

[HertsJoaTMoN]

The fact the tjet has 5 gears is a positive as the 6 speed box is crap.

Crap as in poorly geared or as in fragile?

 

[middo85]

Crap as in poorly geared or as in fragile?

Fragile, they are famously weak gearboxes. Its a Vauxhall gearbox designed to fit a 6 speed box where there is limited space.

 

[jameshobiecat]

I do think the t-jet could do with a (different) 6 speed box though. It's quite low geared and thus not as economical or refined as it might be on the motorway. On the plus side, it accelerates well at high speed so you rarely need to drop out of 5th on the motorway. A na fiesta with a 6speed box is probably a lot more work.

As for the t-jet spec, the two things I miss are cruise control and climate control; both were options but rare on earlier cars, cruise became standard on series 2 cars (late 2008ish???). Not having leather is a blessing, it doesn't suit a car as small as the gp and is hot in summer but cold in winter.

 

[middo85]

I do think the t-jet could do with a (different) 6 speed box though. It's quite low geared and thus not as economical or refined as it might be on the motorway. On the plus side, it accelerates well at high speed so you rarely need to drop out of 5th on the motorway. A na fiesta with a 6speed box is probably a lot more work.

As for the t-jet spec, the two things I miss are cruise control and climate control; both were options but rare on earlier cars, cruise became standard on series 2 cars (late 2008ish???). Not having leather is a blessing, it doesn't suit a car as small as the gp and is hot in summer but cold in winter.

I agree 100% with the first bit. I cant recall ever dropping down a gear from 5th at motorway speeds.

Mine has cruise but i rarely use it, only really bother on motorways or roads with average speed cameras where traffic flow is at an even speed.

Dual zone climate is a bit of a gimmick IMO, especially in a small car when you are so close in the front anyway

 

[kyle96]

I wish i had duel zone climate in my car! being able to set the temperature would be great too, my aircon is power so once you've cooled down it gets too cold, then you have to turn it off then on and so forth...

A lot of people call cruise control pointless but if your going round areas with speed cameras and just general motorway driving i reckon it's well worth it, I wish I had it on my mjet, I could have got a later model, but I wanted one without the dpf

IF you're going to get a gp id seriously consider getting a tjet if you can, obviously I personally prefer the mjet but that's a bias, good fuel economy and 175bhp

I drove a mito with the 1.4 16v engine, it's nippy but personally I wouldn't chose it

 

[HertsJoaTMoN]

Climate control is a must for me as my girlfriend likes the car to be a sauna and i like it cool. I hate it when im driving and she cranks the heat up because she has cold feet and nags me if I complain or open a window.

I love cruise control. On a long journey or speed camera area its great to give your feet a rest and let the car take over. I've had it on a few hire cars and my parters old 1 series. Miss it.

I tend to sit at about 80 on most motorway journeys, so I think a 6th gear would be good. Wish I had it on my Focus as I'm sure I'd be saving a reasonable amount of fuel with it.

As for the 6speed on the Starjet, the only evidence I can find on this forum is from a guy who taught his son to down shift early and had to have 2 boxes replaced. The garage said he had over reved it more than the maximum that the binary counter could count (255). I tend to use engine breaking but never more than about 4k RPM and I'm not going to be thrashing it about. Im more swung by the ecomony of the starjet with the luxury of the eleganza trim than the speed of the TJET sporting.

I dont do enough miles on my daily commute to warrent a deisel and I dont want to have issues due to not getting the engine up to temp to clear out the DPF and other such issues. Fortunately I dont drive in London so the new Diesel Tax isnt an issue though.

 

[JimbbobW1977]

I went from a GP 1.9 m-jet Elegenza to a MK3 Focus 2.0tdci - and haven't missed the GP one bit.

For me, I had far to many reliability issues with my car to even consider recommending it over the list you have produced.

The GP has a lot of niggily faults and design flaws that often pop up, buying at the age your looking as it is around the time the GP starts to show faults. Upto around 20k miles they seem fine.

If it was me it would be the Fiesta for ease of ownership and better engine. The 1.6 is a good engine. And that's not because I'm being biased because of my swap, the Fiesta is the far better car.

A recent test in what car was of the Fiesta, Audi A1, Citroen DS3 and Alfa Mito. The Fiesta won.