View Full Version : Your View on the ford Focus??
Well its come down to a toss-up between a '98' 1.6 Ford Focus 5dr Zetec for about £600
or....
an '88' 1.2 Vauxhall Nova 3dr 1.2 Merit for £400
Both are hatchbacks...
I don't know a lot about Focuses, but wasn't impressed by the Escort I had, so was wondering if anyone could give me an honest insight into them...
The comparion....
Focus: 2 owners, owned for the last 5 years by a rather 'large' lady, has done around 80k, in green, s/h, with unknown amount of mot and tax, goodish condition
Nova: 1 elderly lady owner, 33k, gun metal grey, 2 months tax, 8 months mot, needs some work on the passenger sill and other bits and bobs but nothing major,
So I need an honest opinion on Focuses not just ford bashing, I know their not the best, I also know this is a Nova site but please be honest!
Also bear in mind I'm in my final year at uni so don't have a huge amount of time at the moment!
For £600 i would get the focus. Thats a bargain.
Pistol Pete
25-03-09, 08:20 PM
lol 2 cars that are miles apart in terms of comparison.
Focus, newish car...Nova...well yeah lol you see where i am going. £600 is a good price though. I'd go for the Focus. Looking at getting one myself, when things pick up work wise (a diesel though)
napalm_27
25-03-09, 08:23 PM
focus's are ok cars
but the nova is a low miler
and a little bit of welding is nothing really
the mk1 focus is a great car, nothing like an escy. they eat rear susp bushes and arms, and ecus die a bit. at 600 id buy it mate, its very cheap. they handle well too. and the spec is good on em.
1.6 is a bit underpowerd for such a "big" car, but the Focus chassis is a hoot to drive/abuse :D
focus's are ok cars
but the nova is a low miler
and a little bit of welding is nothing really
The Nova shouldn't need any welding, just a bit of tidying...
If I buy the Nova, I may still have enough £££'s left to buy the Focus and just let it sit until the V5 comes through
why's the focus so cheap? A 98 focus for £600? I sold a Seat Ibiza for £1500 and that was only a year younger.
The focus (unless its a dog) will be stronger body wise + its bigger - but - and this will sound daft I'd go for the Nova.
Why? When IO drove the Seat for 6 years it was a nicve comfortable car - reliable and great on economy but it was boring. The Nova though - that's an entirely different kettle of fish. I look forward to driving it - listneing to it squeak and rattle - I like the buzz you get driving around in a car that you just never see any more!
Nova_Tek
25-03-09, 08:36 PM
I'd personally get the Nova because I know that after a while or when I have some disposable income that I would want to modify it.
The Nova being a low miler and in a decent condition and only needing a tidy up means that its a good base to start on. Plus you can fit an XE for not that much :D lol And like Ade mentioned its gonna stand out in one way or another as there arent many around.
But thats my thinking.
dave.gsi
25-03-09, 08:41 PM
buy the focus, its a much better everyday car.
save up some money when you leave uni and get a nova to work on/ weekend car
I had a 1.6 Focus and it was really poor performance wise. Had a 'Zetec' model so had all the electric windows, AC etc. They are really nice cars to drive and are comfortable but with the smaller engines they are really boring. Focus does sound cheap though, if it is spot on i would probably buy that because it SHOULD be more reliable than an old Nova.
I enjoy driving my Nova's but im pretty fed up having them as an everyday car now, i much prefer to use them at weekends etc and have a nice normal comfortable car to drive about during the week.
jimbob-mcgrew
26-03-09, 12:06 AM
as much as i rate vauxhalls over fords, id have to say the focus as its so cheap. 1.8's are good, not sure what the 1.6 will be like speed wise, most probably quicker than a 1.2 nova.
prob the best things i can say about them is they handle well at high speed, are fairly good motorway cruisers, and in winter the heaters warm up fast to cure the cold.
dj_wudgey
26-03-09, 09:40 AM
why's the focus so cheap? A 98 focus for £600? I sold a Seat Ibiza for £1500 and that was only a year younger.
The focus (unless its a dog) will be stronger body wise + its bigger - but - and this will sound daft I'd go for the Nova.
Why? When IO drove the Seat for 6 years it was a nicve comfortable car - reliable and great on economy but it was boring. The Nova though - that's an entirely different kettle of fish. I look forward to driving it - listneing to it squeak and rattle - I like the buzz you get driving around in a car that you just never see any more!
im with ade id go for the nova i love driving mine its a experience every time lol!! also my mates 1.6 focus is so so slow i p*ss all over it in my 1.3sr!!!
Pistol Pete
26-03-09, 09:57 AM
£600 is the going rate for them. Its only a 1.6. Go for the Focus. If you are at uni you want a car that will be reliable and that is not going to be a £££ pit. A Nova is bound to need welding, or some sort of work doing at some point. The Focus is less likely to need £££ throwing at it, IMO.
Welsh Dan
26-03-09, 11:31 AM
Go for the focus as a daily plodder.
Turns out the focus isn't all that, think I'll be returning to Nova ownership!
Im with ade, the focus is and will always be a boring car (unless its an RS or somthing)
Nova is perfectly good everyday car if you dont go moddifying it. £400 isnt bad either, cheaper than the focus anyway
F**k the focus thay are horrid to drive and just genrelly(sp) feel tacky i would rather have the nova i no thay aint much better but at least its a vauxhall
Pistol Pete
26-03-09, 08:21 PM
lol i guess you've driven one then? I still dont understand how you can compare the 2. 15 years apart!!! Oh but then its not a Vauxhall....
yes i have driven both. to be fair the nova wins hands down i know the age gap is massive. i had a nova as a daily and when i drove the focus i hated it it had uber body role you felt like the pedels where under the seat and i found to be half comfy you had to sit bolt upright.
Pistol Pete
26-03-09, 08:52 PM
lol probably beacuse the Focus was standard and you were used to the Nova.......so yes it would win!
erm i had a vectra when i had the focus as a curtasy(sp) car. i think the fun factor of a nova evan standard is alot better then a focus. PLUS if you keep a nova basic there is not much to go wrong and when it does thay are easy to fix and work on
scotty GSI
27-03-09, 12:07 AM
Take the focus man, theres a few pounds to be made on that, its very rare ive seen any for sale under a grand ( dont know if thats a regional thing, mabey their dearer up here???).
o.k it might not set the world on fire but it will be fun in the twisties. Run it for a year and sell it for what you paid for it :thumb:
stupot89
27-03-09, 01:34 AM
i have owned both a focus and a nova my focus was the 1.6 saloon which was not slow at all. ive gone from that to a nova and wot a difference the nova handles better cos its half the size but no where near as fast YET persnoally there both good cars
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