What is the LV focus like on fuel ?

BoredGeorge · 11-11-2012, 07:54 PM

Is it worth forking out for the LW ? My AU is giving me the ANGRIES again !

Done with falcons. Don't like them beyond the AU.

In Focus · 11-11-2012, 08:02 PM

If you're going auto, the LW will be better on fuel (6spd dual clutch vs 4spd torque converter).

If you're going manual, there wouldn't be much difference, if any.

BoredGeorge · 11-11-2012, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by In Focus

If you're going auto, the LW will be better on fuel (6spd dual clutch vs 4spd torque converter).

If you're going manual, there wouldn't be much difference, if any.

The LV is a LOT cheaper than the LW.

Is the LW really that much better ?

Franco Cozzo · 11-11-2012, 10:16 PM

LW is much better build quality than the South African LVs, mine squeaks, rattles and cracks, killed a battery early on under 20,000km on the clock, blew an injector return line and cracked a injector seal at around 35,000km, replaced the OEM tyres at 25,000km as the front two worn completely down on the inner edges. Other than that its been alright.

The first LV I had wouldn't start the first go after being driven no problem on a cold start, no matter how many times it cranked second time around the key had to go to off, then back to ignition and start, then it would fire up no worries. It also had 4 out of round tyres from factory.

In Focus · 12-11-2012, 11:40 PM

The best economy I got in an LV Focus was on a trip to Mandurah and back (approx 50km each way) and an absolutely flat, smoothly tarred road, at between 80 and 100kph. Bearing in mind this was in a 4 speed petrol automatic with 2.25 people on board (3yo was the .25) or approx 170kg in weight, but the readout was 6.7L/100km. I also think she was about due for a service, but I was driving nun-like.

A few months back I did a longer trip, over 900km, with less attempt at economy and a fair bit of 110kph stuff, with the same 2.25 people on board, and finished with 7.1 or 7.2 (one or the other, might have just gone up in the final bit of city driving before arriving home).

That's the best you could expect, though. In city driving it's probably more like 9-10L/100km, maybe even nudging 11L in bumper to bumper stuff.

As for other problems, apart from a couple of rattles and squeaks in the suspension (easily fixed and possibly due to modifications), nothing. Battery did pack up after 2 years, but that probably wasn't really the car's fault.

I think the LW is a much better car, more (dare I say it?) grown up. That said, I think if you get a good LV it will serve you well, and the savings you make at purchase time will pay for a whole lot of petrol. If you prefer a manual, it will pay for even more.

Russ · 13-11-2012, 09:43 AM

It won't save you much in fuel, but IMO the XR5 Turbo would be my choice, unless you go with a diesel tuning possibilities are a bit limited with the N/A petrol models. I'm pretty happy with my LV and apart from the squeaking door rubbers (which are eased with the use of a dry lube stick) I can't really fault it too much. I get pretty consistent fuel economy of around 7.2 L / 100 km with a mix of 70% hwy 30% city driving and I don't drive like a granny either. My suggestion would be to search the forums and look for common faults with each model LV, LW, drive a few different variants of each (petrol and diesel) and make a decision from there