From: Mrcheerful on
Chris Whelan wrote:
> On Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:36:05 +0100, john hamilton wrote:
>
>> "Chris Whelan" <cawhelan(a)prejudicentlworld.com> wrote in message
>> news:b5IWn.40837$U%7.377(a)hurricane...
>>> On Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:37:58 +0100, john hamilton wrote:
>>>
>>>> Would anyone know in what year the Toyota Corollas switched from
>>>> timing belts to timing chains please. Since we are thinking of
>>>> buying a used one, and would need to know if it ( a belt) has been
>>>> renewed. Thanks.
>>>
>>> 97-02 - depends on engines size; 1.3 and all diesels are belt, 1.4
>>> and
>>> 1.6 petrol are chain.
>>>
>>> 02-07 - all petrol are chain, all diesel are belt.
>>>
>>> Source: Autodata.
>>>
>>> Note that it's not unknown for the chaincam ones to shatter the
>>> plastic sprockets, leading to the same damage as a broken belt.
>>> This has happened on some cars under three years old.
>>>
>>> Variable valve timing engines can apparently suffer from high oil
>>> consumption after 40K - up to 1 litre every 600 miles. Chris
>>
>>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ell after hearing about that oil consumption , I have to tell you I'm
>> looking for a cheapish six or seven year old medium sized car, with
>> the emphasis on *reliability*.
>>
>> Is it now down to a 1.3 or 1.6 ford focus, or something else that
>> you would you recommend ? Thanks.
>
> ITYM 1.4 Focus?
>
> In the main, Corollas are reliable, but dull. Allegedly, some UK built
> ones are not so reliable.
>
> I need to declare an interest; I've owned two Focuses over the last 11
> years, and would buy another tomorrow, so my comments need to be seen
> in that light.
>
> The Focus has an excellent reliability record; Google will tell you
> more. I had my first one from new, a 1.8, for 10 years. I did 100,000
> miles in it. Apart from routine servicing and consumables, it cost
> less than 100UKP in parts.
>
> It never failed to start, and never broke down. The only thing that
> stopped it unintentionally was driving it into the back of a
> Discovery, or I would still have it!
>
> I replaced it last year with an '03 1.6. The 1.6 engine is slightly
> smoother, slightly more economical, but I sometimes miss the extra
> performance.
>
> The 1.6 has a tall top gear. 5th is almost a "motorway only" one. I
> don't find it a problem, but if you regularly travel with the car
> fully loaded, and mostly on hilly main roads, the 1.8 would be a
> better bet.
>
> Forget the 1,4; you will have a job finding one, and they are just too
> slow.
>
> Lots of these cars have been sold, so you should have lots of choice;
> find a good '04 one in a spec you like, service it properly, and I
> doubt you will be disappointed.
>
> Chris

Things that I see often faulty on Focus: clutch master cylinder, tailgate
struts, water pumps, window regulators, vehicle speed sensors, dashboards,
clutches. Thermostat housings.


From: john hamilton on

"Mrcheerful" <nbkm57(a)hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:so_Wn.52676$sD7.48811(a)hurricane...
> Chris Whelan wrote:
>> On Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:36:05 +0100, john hamilton wrote:
>>
>>> "Chris Whelan" <cawhelan(a)prejudicentlworld.com> wrote in message
>>> news:b5IWn.40837$U%7.377(a)hurricane...
>>>> On Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:37:58 +0100, john hamilton wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Would anyone know in what year the Toyota Corollas switched from
>>>>> timing belts to timing chains please. Since we are thinking of
>>>>> buying a used one, and would need to know if it ( a belt) has been
>>>>> renewed. Thanks.
>>>>
>>>> 97-02 - depends on engines size; 1.3 and all diesels are belt, 1.4
>>>> and
>>>> 1.6 petrol are chain.
>>>>
>>>> 02-07 - all petrol are chain, all diesel are belt.
>>>>
>>>> Source: Autodata.
>>>>
>>>> Note that it's not unknown for the chaincam ones to shatter the
>>>> plastic sprockets, leading to the same damage as a broken belt.
>>>> This has happened on some cars under three years old.
>>>>
>>>> Variable valve timing engines can apparently suffer from high oil
>>>> consumption after 40K - up to 1 litre every 600 miles. Chris
>>>
>>>
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ell after hearing about that oil consumption , I have to tell you I'm
>>> looking for a cheapish six or seven year old medium sized car, with
>>> the emphasis on *reliability*.
>>>
>>> Is it now down to a 1.3 or 1.6 ford focus, or something else that
>>> you would you recommend ? Thanks.
>>
>> ITYM 1.4 Focus?
>>
>> In the main, Corollas are reliable, but dull. Allegedly, some UK built
>> ones are not so reliable.
>>
>> I need to declare an interest; I've owned two Focuses over the last 11
>> years, and would buy another tomorrow, so my comments need to be seen
>> in that light.
>>
>> The Focus has an excellent reliability record; Google will tell you
>> more. I had my first one from new, a 1.8, for 10 years. I did 100,000
>> miles in it. Apart from routine servicing and consumables, it cost
>> less than 100UKP in parts.
>>
>> It never failed to start, and never broke down. The only thing that
>> stopped it unintentionally was driving it into the back of a
>> Discovery, or I would still have it!
>>
>> I replaced it last year with an '03 1.6. The 1.6 engine is slightly
>> smoother, slightly more economical, but I sometimes miss the extra
>> performance.
>>
>> The 1.6 has a tall top gear. 5th is almost a "motorway only" one. I
>> don't find it a problem, but if you regularly travel with the car
>> fully loaded, and mostly on hilly main roads, the 1.8 would be a
>> better bet.
>>
>> Forget the 1,4; you will have a job finding one, and they are just too
>> slow.
>>
>> Lots of these cars have been sold, so you should have lots of choice;
>> find a good '04 one in a spec you like, service it properly, and I
>> doubt you will be disappointed.
>>
>> Chris

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Things that I see often faulty on Focus: clutch master cylinder, tailgate
> struts, water pumps, window regulators, vehicle speed sensors, dashboards,
> clutches. Thermostat housings.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So the Top Man is saying to go for the Corolla? (or something else)


From: Chris Whelan on
On Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:30:45 +0100, Stu wrote:

> On Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:18:24 GMT, Chris Whelan
> <cawhelan(a)prejudicentlworld.com> wrote:
>
>>The 1.6 has a tall top gear. 5th is almost a "motorway only" one. I
>>don't find it a problem, but if you regularly travel with the car fully
>>loaded, and mostly on hilly main roads, the 1.8 would be a better bet.
>
> No such issue with mine. It will happily cruise in 5th at 45 and at 70
> it's doing about 3250rpm. Maybe they changed the gearboxes on the new
> shape?
>
>
> Stu

The OP is asking about six or seven year old cars, so this will be the
Mk1 and Mk1.5 shape. IOW, pre-2005.

70 = 3,000rpm, and at 6,500rpm it's geared for 152mph!

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.
From: Chris Whelan on
On Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:29:55 +0100, john hamilton wrote:

[...]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Things that I see often faulty on Focus: clutch master cylinder,
>> tailgate struts, water pumps, window regulators, vehicle speed sensors,
>> dashboards, clutches. Thermostat housings.
>
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> So the Top Man is saying to go for the Corolla? (or something else)

To be fair, the Focus is 11 years old now and a lot have been sold. It
would be surprising to not find some older ones with faults.

Of those listed, they are either things that are expected on any car, and
are mostly cheap fixes. A lot also depends on usage.

For example, tailgate struts will fail much sooner on a car where the
tailgate gets very frequent use. They were still perfect on my 10 year-
old car. A replacement pattern pair are only around 35UKP.

The vehicle speed sensor problem mainly affected early cars; later ones
used a modified connector, and so would any replacements. It's a 40
minute job if you are handy, and the sensor is 25UKP

Ford responded to complaints of dashboard failures on cars from around
'02 by dropping the price to cost.

Clutch failure is pretty much dependent on the driver. I've been on the
road since 1962; I've had the complete range of cars, from new to sheds.
I've never needed to replace the clutch on any of them. Some drivers
appear to treat them as a consumable however! AFAIK, the Focus doesn't
have a problem in this respect.

Apart from my two cars, there are another three Focuses in the family,
all over 5 years old, and all trouble-free. Of course, that's a *very*
small sample size in the greater scheme of things!

Other makes and models owned by friends and family have been much less
reliable, mainly French ones!

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.
From: Mrcheerful on
john hamilton wrote:
> "Mrcheerful" <nbkm57(a)hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:so_Wn.52676$sD7.48811(a)hurricane...
>> Chris Whelan wrote:
>>> On Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:36:05 +0100, john hamilton wrote:
>>>
>>>> "Chris Whelan" <cawhelan(a)prejudicentlworld.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:b5IWn.40837$U%7.377(a)hurricane...
>>>>> On Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:37:58 +0100, john hamilton wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Would anyone know in what year the Toyota Corollas switched from
>>>>>> timing belts to timing chains please. Since we are thinking of
>>>>>> buying a used one, and would need to know if it ( a belt) has
>>>>>> been renewed. Thanks.
>>>>>
>>>>> 97-02 - depends on engines size; 1.3 and all diesels are belt, 1.4
>>>>> and
>>>>> 1.6 petrol are chain.
>>>>>
>>>>> 02-07 - all petrol are chain, all diesel are belt.
>>>>>
>>>>> Source: Autodata.
>>>>>
>>>>> Note that it's not unknown for the chaincam ones to shatter the
>>>>> plastic sprockets, leading to the same damage as a broken belt.
>>>>> This has happened on some cars under three years old.
>>>>>
>>>>> Variable valve timing engines can apparently suffer from high oil
>>>>> consumption after 40K - up to 1 litre every 600 miles. Chris
>>>>
>>>>
>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> ell after hearing about that oil consumption , I have to tell you
>>> I'm
>>>> looking for a cheapish six or seven year old medium sized car, with
>>>> the emphasis on *reliability*.
>>>>
>>>> Is it now down to a 1.3 or 1.6 ford focus, or something else that
>>>> you would you recommend ? Thanks.
>>>
>>> ITYM 1.4 Focus?
>>>
>>> In the main, Corollas are reliable, but dull. Allegedly, some UK
>>> built ones are not so reliable.
>>>
>>> I need to declare an interest; I've owned two Focuses over the last
>>> 11 years, and would buy another tomorrow, so my comments need to be
>>> seen in that light.
>>>
>>> The Focus has an excellent reliability record; Google will tell you
>>> more. I had my first one from new, a 1.8, for 10 years. I did
>>> 100,000 miles in it. Apart from routine servicing and consumables,
>>> it cost less than 100UKP in parts.
>>>
>>> It never failed to start, and never broke down. The only thing that
>>> stopped it unintentionally was driving it into the back of a
>>> Discovery, or I would still have it!
>>>
>>> I replaced it last year with an '03 1.6. The 1.6 engine is slightly
>>> smoother, slightly more economical, but I sometimes miss the extra
>>> performance.
>>>
>>> The 1.6 has a tall top gear. 5th is almost a "motorway only" one. I
>>> don't find it a problem, but if you regularly travel with the car
>>> fully loaded, and mostly on hilly main roads, the 1.8 would be a
>>> better bet.
>>>
>>> Forget the 1,4; you will have a job finding one, and they are just
>>> too slow.
>>>
>>> Lots of these cars have been sold, so you should have lots of
>>> choice; find a good '04 one in a spec you like, service it
>>> properly, and I doubt you will be disappointed.
>>>
>>> Chris
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Things that I see often faulty on Focus: clutch master cylinder,
>> tailgate struts, water pumps, window regulators, vehicle speed
>> sensors, dashboards, clutches. Thermostat housings.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> So the Top Man is saying to go for the Corolla? (or something else)

Whatever one person recommends there will be someone else says nay.
I like driving Focuses, but I hate the high expense of their running costs.
I would not buy a modern Ford or Vauxhall(full stop).
I would buy almost any Japanese built car, their quality is so much higher.
My neighbours Avensis is 12 years old and the only 'fault' was when the
battery died at ten years old. It drives like new, the bonnet is only
opened once a year and it uses no oil in that time. My Lexus is 14 years
old, runs like a watch, no oil consumption, no rust, still original exhaust
(as is the neighbours avensis)!!! but did need a radiator (leaf trap design)
Another neighbour has a CRV: only fault after 10 years was the back box pipe
rotted through, but it was easily welded back together. Customers Nissan
Primera, only ever needed oil and filters over a 6 year period and was like
new despite being 15 years old (she has now stopped driving)
I do not find recurring faults on Japanese cars, but I do on 'English' ones
like Ford and Vauxhall, and don't get me started on Mondeo faults. I
dislike newer French cars intensely mainly due to difficulty and expense of
servicing. Modern Volvos seem to have lots of faults, likewise modern
Mercedes. I don't see any BMW nowadays but have found them to be well built
in the past. VAG stuff used to be OK but now seems to be going downhill.

Top marque for me is Toyota group followed by Honda.