robby

ok - fed up with the 325ci, scoob too silly on insurance so 98% decided on an ordinary car which i don't have to worry about much when i park it up.
2 choices come up -
1. Focus 1.8 (zetec or ghia)
2. Astra 1.8 sri or sxi

does anyone know the figures on these cars? (don't want a tortoise but know i'm not gonna get a speed machine)

both cars are around the 2002 age

cheers

Big Col

Astra will be quicker with 125bhp. 0-60 in about 9 secs.

Don't have any road test figures to back this up though....

Trumble

The 1.8 focus is dog slow - we got a 2 litre ghia its not too bad.

Also the focus is a much better driver than the astra.

Dont get the one with ESP ... .. .

T.

robby

going to look at a 2.2sri astra tommorow - full bodykit, etc

DavidChief

The Focus is a superb drive. Very entertaining chassis and steering. Astra on the other hand is a bit dull.

The 1.8 and 2.0 Focus are both fairly slow. But the 1.8 is a much nicer engine than the 2.0. Better fuel economy too.

Brendan Hughes

I just rented a Y plate Astra 1.7 for 2 weeks. Frankly, hated it. VERY heavy steering, gutless engine, didn't like the gearchange. I found it hard work to drive. From what I've heard, I'd choose a Focus every time.

(The only thing I thought was cool was the bonnet lock - pop it from inside the car, and instead of having to hunt around for the lock under the bonnet, a tab pokes out of the grill with "pull" written on it )

Daz34

Focus everytime. Should get a good deal on it as well.

SiPie

Sold the impreza in Jan this year reluctantly and bought a 1.8 zetec...

The engine is obviously a bit gutless but the chassis makes up for it

VERY GOOD

On paper the astra may appear quicker but for sheer entertainment the focus wins hands down

SCOSaltire

get a Focus TDCi
The 115 bhp one
its a diesel - no buts - ace engine, ace chasis

ScoobyJawa

Focus - no question. Mate has a 1.8 and its fine - plenty nippy enough and handles really well. Much better drive.

Cider boy

Yep - Focus is a great car.

As said above go for the 1.8 over the 2 litre, it's much smoother, better MPG and lower insurance for very little difference in speed. I'd also look for a Zetec with climate pack (a/c, heated screen & mirrors) over the ghia as the latter is full of horrible fake wood and (IIRC) is also a higher ins group.

Matt

robby

well had a look at a 2.2 astra sri today at a dealers -it was on his pitch ready for sale with a few extras - scrape on front spoiler bad), scrape on front bumper, scratch down n/s, scrape on rear bumper and 2 bl**dy bid dents (through paint) on rear pillar

think i might go with a bug eye 01 reg scoob i've been looking at instead

Abdabz

Astra everytime for me. Last drove a focus about 2 years ago. The visibility at the back was crap, the engine didnt feel at all responsive - At the time I was hiring cars quite often due to high business mileage on my the Celica GT and I honestly found that even the Fiat Bravo was a better drive than the focus - I kid you not!

As for the astra - I posted a while ago about my brothers 52plate SRI Turbo - Absolutely superb - handling/ride, performance, looks all top drawer. I got shot down for the thread, but months later stand my ground and wouldnt own a focus if one was given to me... Straight to my local vauxhall dealers to make a deal!!!

Shame the 2.2SRI you went to see was in poor nic mate - some good deals on them knockin about following the new shape launch...

P

P

DavidChief

Riiiiiiiight.

robby

well bought a car subject to test drive (it's 220 miles away) - it's a .................................................. .................................................. ......................bug eye :-))
how this sound - 2001 (x), 40k, fssh, full mot, mint, standard, cat1 alarm, silver - £10800 from a dealer (not scoob dealer)

Senior_AP

Focus' are flimsy and gay. Get an Astra.

Senior_AP

Cheap cheap cheap, tinny flimsy and horrid.

Astra atleast feels relatively solid, if not very exciting to drive.

I had a 1.6 Focus as a hire car when I did a training course - just felt flimsy. Astra is functional, as is the focus but much better put together.

Senior_AP

When comapring cars I go for "could I live with this".

Astra - uninspiring, boring.....as is the focus but the Astra feels a million times more solid.

Modern Fords are generally ****.

Yeah yeah yeah "focus is fun, good chassis, excellent drive". But after the first week of ownership, when driving like a **** goes out the window you'll appreciate the soildness and comfort of an Astra over the focus.

I guarantee which will last the longer.

Senior_AP

If I was after a regualr car, a car that served a purpose I'd choose the Astra. Its build far better. Its quieter at speed and just feels a more expensive car. Bland it may be but thats then point of this thread "park it anywhere".

All modern Fords (UK Fords) are shocking and feel flimsy, cheap and tacky.

Driven a Focus, Mondeo and been passenger in a Mondeo. Fords are grot these days. Flimsy grot.

Astra is cheaper to fix to.....

Senior_AP

You just contradicted yourself there......


Solid - Astra, not the Focus.

Senior_AP

Astra is more solid than a Focus.

Drunk - Wish I was!!

Senior_AP

"......or doing my make up in the rear view mirror so I would prefer a solid, and sometimes entertaining drive...."

See above, Jason. You said that.

As for "a better drive". Focus may be more entertaining but but as I said, after a week of ownership that becomes irrelevent when you realise how shocking the quality is.

(I know he bought a Scoob but....) .... originally the thread was a after a good day to day car. Astra is less fun to drive....but a better car in terms of build and quality, which is what really matters on a car you wanna be able to "park anywhere". .

Dream Weaver

We have a Focus 1.8 Zetec and I find it far from slow. It needs stirring, but once moving it is very good fun.

The handling is superb and the overall build quality has been great. We bought it 12 months ago and have covered 10k trouble free miles.

Would have a Focus over an Astra any day of the week.

Dream Weaver

Not in my world. Have lived with both (friend had an Astra until recently) and our Focus shat all over it in every department.

CraigH

What bollox. Mondeos are fantastic cars - cheap, cheap to run, cheap to repair, refinded, comfortable, handle well.
Vauxhalls - Vectra - what a pile of cr4p. Cheap, cheap to run, horrible to drive, to sit in, unrefined, awful awful suspension. Vauxhall engineers seem think that if the suspension is hard, it handles well.

Focus's are great fun cars, but I do agree the build seems very plasticky and flimsy. Astras may be more solid, but if you want solid and dull, you'd be better off wth a Golf.

ScoobyJawa

I don't think you can compare the Focus to the current astra either - try comparing it to the astra that was around when the focus came out

You'll be able to compare the new focus to the current astra, much fairer comparison.

Senior_AP

I think modern Fords are flimsy feeling having driven a Focus and a Mondeo. Wow - didn't know you'd bite my bollox off for having an opinion that differs to your Craig.

Just prefer (when buying a normal car) something that feels solid. Its all opinion again.

Anyway, moving on...

Senior_AP

I prefer a car that feels solid over something fun. I had a 172 Clio, great to drive but I did not like it one bit - felt cheap. I found a Vectra GSI a better car. Granted, not as fun but it felt better.

Its all down to opinion. I just prefer a more solid feeling car than something that you can thrash around.

Agree to disagree....

CraigH

How old are you? 25 going on 50?

Wasn't biting your bollox off - I'd be far less subtle if I was

you said

"Modern Fords are generally ****"

I said

"What bollox"

comprendez?

Senior_AP

You said something like "prefer a solid...."

If you think the Focus is more solid than the Astra then you did not contradict yourself and I apologise.