Focus 1.6 Zetec - any good?

[dr_gn]

All, the missus’ 1.6 Civic auto (2001) has rusted away, and she needs a replacement.

Mainly for 10 mile and back commutes (50/50 motorway and town).

Looking at a few 2012 era 1.6 Zetec Foci autos (5 door). They seem to be around £5k - £6k

Are they any good? Anything to look out for?

Thanks.

[ZX10R NIN]

Yes they're a good reliable cars also look at the 1.6 Astra auto:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406090...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407061...

Elite:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406281...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405189...

Later gen:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406200...

[Dog Biscuit]

The 1.6. zetec is pretty old and whilst reliable its poor power output and lowish mpg make it look a bit of a poor choice for me

[stevemcs]

Buy another Honda, in fairness there is nothing wrong with the Focus apart from the gearbox (auto)

[dr_gn]

Thanks all.

Found another one, more local, manual box.

To be honest we need something pretty urgently. Is the equivalent Civic any better for similar cost (up to £6k?)

Thanks.

[ZX10R NIN]

No they're all pretty good to be fair.

[Harry you Potter]

Bought one on Friday with the 1.6 VCT 105 engine. It’s good enough but sometimes struggles with putting power down. I’m used to hot hatches so this is a bit different.

Build quality wise it’s really good. One thing I would say to you is avoid one which has the EPAS. These can be unreliable and cost about a grand to sort out if they go wrong. 2013 onwards examples have the hydraulic PAS instead so worth getting one with that.

[Jamescrs]

Ford's 1.6 Zetec engine in my experience is about as reliable as it gets for motoring, not the fastest thing on the road at all but as bomb proof as you could hope for and with a manual gearbox it shuld be reliable motoring as long as maintained

[blue_haddock]

stevemcs said:

Buy another Honda, in fairness there is nothing wrong with the Focus apart from the gearbox (auto)

The 1.8 Civic is relaible and economical so i'd go for that over a focus

[dr_gn]

Thanks all.

In general, are the EcoBoost engines not too durable?

[dr_gn]

blue_haddock said:

stevemcs said:

Buy another Honda, in fairness there is nothing wrong with the Focus apart from the gearbox (auto)

The 1.8 Civic is relaible and economical so i'd go for that over a focus

What year/mark is that?

I was also looking at Seat Leons a few months back. What's the opinion on those? I was going to go for the auto, but manuals seem to be more reliable.

[blue_haddock]

dr_gn said:

blue_haddock said:

stevemcs said:

Buy another Honda, in fairness there is nothing wrong with the Focus apart from the gearbox (auto)

The 1.8 Civic is relaible and economical so i'd go for that over a focus

What year/mark is that?

I was also looking at Seat Leons a few months back. What's the opinion on those? I was going to go for the auto, but manuals seem to be more reliable.

Something like this one

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405310...

[Shabaza]

Prime candidate for a Nissan Leaf from whats described

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406271...

[trevalvole]

dr_gn said:

In general, are the EcoBoost engines not too durable?

I gather the general advice is to avoid the 1.0 EcoBoost. They have a wet timing belt which, iirc, needs replacing at 10 years and is expensive. I also recall instances where perhaps they haven't been serviced as they should, where the belt has frayed and blocked the oil passageways. There's also what automatic gearbox they have - if it is the dual-clutch, then I'd avoid that too.

[dr_gn]

trevalvole said:

dr_gn said:

In general, are the EcoBoost engines not too durable?

I gather the general advice is to avoid the 1.0 EcoBoost. They have a wet timing belt which, iirc, needs replacing at 10 years and is expensive. I also recall instances where perhaps they haven't been serviced as they should, where the belt has frayed and blocked the oil passageways. There's also what automatic gearbox they have - if it is the dual-clutch, then I'd avoid that too.

Yes I saw the belt disintegration thing and wondered if it applied to all engine sizes.

[Drive Blind]

Harry you Potter said:

One thing I would say to you is avoid one which has the EPAS. These can be unreliable and cost about a grand to sort out if they go wrong. 2013 onwards examples have the hydraulic PAS instead so worth getting one with that.

my sister had a 2012 focus until last year, intermittent issues started with the steering. Local garage quoted 'common issue' and £££s to fix.
Got traded in about 2 months later.

[valiant]

dr_gn said:

Thanks all.

In general, are the EcoBoost engines not too durable?

I’ve had both the 1.6 and the ecoboost in Focus’ (Foci?) and there’s good and bad in both engines.

The 1.6 is as old as the hills and just as reliable. It’s a gruff unit and not terribly refined or economical when compared to the ecoboost but it will soldier on when all other bits of the car fail around it. Just keep it serviced and you’ll have a decent reliable car.

The Ecoboost is a decent little engine. It’s pretty economical but you won’t get anywhere near claimed figures and it’s a peppy little unit and is actually quite nice to drive on motorways as it will rev less at 70mph and there’s a nice dollop of torque at that point making overtakes a breeze.

Big issue is the timing belt (I won’t bother with the overheating thing as that should be sorted in the age of car you’re looking at but one caveat is as soon as you see it begin to overheat, shut the engine down as soon as humanly possible and instantly if you can otherwise you’ll cook the engine and turn it into scrap) should now be changed (every 10 year but I’m hearing that you shouldn’t really wait that long). It’s a fairly big job that most garages will not do due to needed specialist tools so you’re at the mercy of main dealers who’ll charge a minimum of a grand to do. Make sure you look for evidence it’s been done or negotiate accordingly

Ecoboost have a reputation but they’ve made millions of the things and most will be just fine. I had an early one for three years and it didn’t put a foot wrong.

[trevalvole]

dr_gn said:

Yes I saw the belt disintegration thing and wondered if it applied to all engine sizes.

It looks like the 1.6 EcoBoost has a dry belt - that's the limit of my knowledge.

[ZX10R NIN]

dr_gn said:

Yes I saw the belt disintegration thing and wondered if it applied to all engine sizes.

The 1.6T has a normal belt avoid the 1.0T the same applies to the PSA 1.2T & the Honda 1.0T.

[dr_gn]

Thanks all.