Your opinion please guys

[matt2905]

Hi, iv'e not contributed here before so i just want to say hi to everyone and thanks for any help i get

I'm in a pickle of a situation.

The gf wants her own car so we went looking at focus's the other day.

(i got a BF falcon so wanted to stay in the ford family )

Now i can get last years model 03/2011 LV mkii Zetec Auto with all options including leather, premium sound, parking sensor, body kit foggies etc .
$20,000 with 44,000kms

or

I could buy a new LW Trend Auto with all the features of the LT (except no leather) for around $24,000 (before haggling).

I realise i could get a LW ambiente for under $20,000 but its too low spec for us.

My question is which would you choose??

Pros- of the LV is it looks better at the back anyway (dont like how the LW's headlights wrap round rear quarter but its not gonna be my car anyway) its fully spec'd, was $32,000 only 14months ago (iv'e seen the receipt) and is in mint condition. Plus i figure as its the last of the last it should have all (if any) problems fixed that previous gen's got.
Cons- i figure it must of worked hard to do 44,000km's in 14 months but its got full dealer service, an obviously its older.

Pros- of the LW new car! lol don't have to pay the $630registration charge to the RTA!
Cons- new generations tend to have teething problems, is it gonna be reliable? I don't really like the looks as much, too funky for me inside (although again not my car)

Also to consider there both a 2.0Auto with the new LW getting slightly more kw (120kw) than the 107kw LV although i can bump the LV up with CAI and a cat-back.

Also the LV has lost $12,000 in just one year surely depreciation will slow down abit now? whats the LW gonna loose this time next year ummm.

Have i missed anything? warrenty is 5 years on the LW 4 years on the LV

Would love to hear owners comments on both cars too, before anyone says let my gf choose she's useless shes got her heart set on getting her own car so much she don't care what it is lol!

Thanks guys.

[poppa smurf]

I'd go new!

[prydey]

personally i'd go new as well, purely based on looks. looks are subjective though and you have already stated that its not exactly to your liking.

if both are specced to a level you would be happy with, i would go the newest one.

lw for me.

[matt2905]

LW 2 - LV 0.5 (its kinda had my vote, damn! lol)

any more bids?

[jonohoang]

Lw

[Yellow_Festiva]

LV... only caus I got one.

If you are buying for the long term get the new model, if you are the kind that changes over cars every few years get the older one.

[matt2905]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

LV... only caus I got one.

If you are buying for the long term get the new model, if you are the kind that changes over cars every few years get the older one.

True its probably gonna be with us for few years, in the future when kids arrive i can see us trading it along with my falcon for a Territory.

Thanks for everyones input.

[Russ]

It won't have lost as much as $12k in value, they were running them out for $26,990 drive away with leather (auto) so $20k asking price with 44,000k's travelled in 12 months it hasn't depreciated too much really.

I'm still not sold on the style of the new ones myself but I guess for an extra $5k I would probably go new as well

[kevino]

I would be looking at some very good assurances from the dealer on the ''powershift'' transmission before going new.
There is a heap of grizzles on the Focus and Fiesta site about this ''auto''.

No grizzles about teh old models auto.

[matt2905]

Originally Posted by kevino

I would be looking at some very good assurances from the dealer on the ''powershift'' transmission before going new.
There is a heap of grizzles on the Focus and Fiesta site about this ''auto''.

No grizzles about teh old models auto.

Really? Thats kinda why i wanted to go for last of the last LV, ummm tough choice, common sense says LW my heart says LV, looks like back to the dealers for 2nd viewings,

Cheers guys I'll let you know what i end up with

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by matt2905

Really? Thats kinda why i wanted to go for last of the last LV, ummm tough choice, common sense says LW my heart says LV, looks like back to the dealers for 2nd viewings,

Cheers guys I'll let you know what i end up with

Either way, the car you buy will have factory warranty.

Also, is there any difference in powershift tramsmissions between LV and LW? Don't think there is???

[rand0mn00b]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Either way, the car you buy will have factory warranty.

Also, is there any difference in powershift tramsmissions between LV and LW? Don't think there is???

can't comment on the powershifts as found in the LV diesel

but the petrol models came with a regular auto, not one of the dual clutch boxes

[In Focus]

No powershift in the LV, unless it's a diesel.

[matt2905]

Yea its just a 4 speed auto in the LV with tip-tronic, but whats so good about dual clutch anyway, it just changes faster? Does that mean u gotta replace 2clutches wen they wear?

[Russ]

They are a pretty complex unit so I imagine servicing and repair costs will be more expensive than with a normal auto transmission :( I would tell the GF she needs to buy a manual with man pedal as the Auto and Powershift transmissions will go straight to the thighs

[dannyhilton]

For a few grand more, I’d definitely go the LW. Put the Convince Pack on it for a few hundred bucks, and you’ve got a pretty feature packed car. Can’t comment much on the LV, but my LW is fantastic. The looks do grow on you; I find mine pretty sexy now! My transmission is great (had no issues with it apart from it wanting to get into a higher gear up hills, so it up changes, then needs to down change, but I just put it in ‘S’ mode and it works beautifully). All round it’s smooth, responsive and once your foot goes to the floor, it kicks down immediately!
From reviews the LV was a top car, and from experience the LW is awesome, so you can’t go wrong with either really! Good luck mate!

[4.0i OHC]

The LV is a much better driver's car.

[dannyhilton]

Originally Posted by 4.0i OHC

The LV is a much better driver's car.

While I do agree to a degree, and admit the electric steering does kill some of the feel (same issue when I upgraded to my MK7 Fiesta from a MK6 Fiesta) the LW is certainly a bloody good drive! And according to reviews, still one of the best (with the Mazda 3).

[MR4ORD]

There's a reason all the magazines rated the new focus as one of the best and a true competitor to the Golf, because it is bloody good.

Enough said, go the new LW

[blueoval]

Bottom line is it's the mrs car.

Will she know the difference between the 2 in how well it drives?

How long will she hold onto the car for?

While I know how you feel in getting the best bang for buck, if it were me looking at a car I would go a drivers car because I enjoy steering. But if it were my mrs choosing, I know she would want something that looks 'cute' in the right color and was nice to drive to do her daily stuff. She doesn't care as much for the gadgets and how the gearbox changes, as long as it does its job.

How often do you drive your mrs car? Is it primarily her car or 'our' car?

If it is her car, I would buy based on her needs, but with as many niceties thrown in and ease/cost of servicing. Also keeping in mind resale/trade in.

My 2c

[matt2905]

Originally Posted by blueoval

Bottom line is it's the mrs car.

Will she know the difference between the 2 in how well it drives?

How long will she hold onto the car for?

While I know how you feel in getting the best bang for buck, if it were me looking at a car I would go a drivers car because I enjoy steering. But if it were my mrs choosing, I know she would want something that looks 'cute' in the right color and was nice to drive to do her daily stuff. She doesn't care as much for the gadgets and how the gearbox changes, as long as it does its job.

How often do you drive your mrs car? Is it primarily her car or 'our' car?

If it is her car, I would buy based on her needs, but with as many niceties thrown in and ease/cost of servicing. Also keeping in mind resale/trade in.

My 2c

With you all the way, i'm a spirited driver lets put it that way, and i will be driving it 60% of the time i rekon, me an the girly work together an travel together she only needs it for 1-2days a week for shopping and tafe. Even when were together she wont drive because she 'scared' of me critisizing her driving.

So on that basis i want the mkii LV.

Both cars are red (must for her) and she loves them both equally.

We'll have the car at least 4 years i rekon, its wont work hard or ever do high k's we currently only do 200kms a week in my falcon for both of us, i rekon the focus will share 20-30 of that max.

Definatly leening towards the LV its D day tommo time to decide lol.

[matt2905]

Originally Posted by Russ

They are a pretty complex unit so I imagine servicing and repair costs will be more expensive than with a normal auto transmission :( I would tell the GF she needs to buy a manual with man pedal as the Auto and Powershift transmissions will go straight to the thighs

Iv'e begged an begged her to lemme get manual but she won't have it, shes red P and only tested in a auto she shes not allowed it anyway.

I looked for weeks to find a manual falcon before buying my car, but i couldn't find one for the right price/k's against getting a auto, its strange how they cost less to buy than a auto new and then are worth more 2nd hand!

A manual conversion is on the cards in the few months

[johnydep]

Originally Posted by kevino

I would be looking at some very good assurances from the dealer on the ''powershift'' transmission before going new.
There is a heap of grizzles on the Focus and Fiesta site about this ''auto''.

No grizzles about teh old models auto.

There has been some minor technical issues with the trans, but the recent flash upgrade of the PCM seems to have fixed it.

Most of the issues was/is driver perception. People get into these cars and expect the trans to perform exactly like a 'full automatic' transmission; they don't. These are 'manual' transmissions with a clutch and gear set up exactly like a manual transmission, with the added extras of solenoids and PCM to operate like an auto without the loss of power and fuel consumption of an auto.

Once you understand this, they're a good trans set-up.

Also, remember that this is not new technology. It was first developed in the 1960's, and used successfully commercially by VW for at least a decade.

[Franco Cozzo]

I've got an LV, I reckon the LW is better (except that LW TDCI doesn't have manual, gay as aids). Seriously, electric power steering is awesome, my WS Fiesta has it and that thing handles like a go-kart, who gives a rats *** about steering feel because you're not going to be driving the car at 100% of its capability all of the time anyway and it makes daily driving so much nicer when you can turn the wheel with your little finger haha.