I can understand that mine is a 2002 Mk 1, 1.6 petrol auto and it is not great on fuel, the very best it will do is 30 mpg. I guess an automatic does not help at all. I was given the car by my mother and it had a low mileage for the year. I was skeptical about owning a Ford as I have always driven 90's Jap cars which were superb to be honest, and I thought the majority of 80's early 90's Fords were crap in comparison to the 80's early 90's Vauxhall's I used to own. I can forgive its crap fuel consumption as I got it given and do not do a lot of miles, the £250 a year for VED ****es me off too, but again because I got the car free I cannot grumble. Other than that though the car is quiet, nippy for what it is, handles superbly and has virtually no rust and is coming up to 11 years old. The amount of even older Mk 1 Focus' on the road around here makes me think that they are probably a pretty good car, I see very few Astra's similar age.
I expected later models Focus' would be better but I have not driven one. The thing that later Ford's appear to be good to me for is handling, driver involvment.
From what I have read common rail diesel cars are much more expensive to repair if they do go wrong than petrol cars. Which is why in my situation, doing not a great deal of miles I would be looking at a fairly economical petrol car (plus diesel more expensive at the pumps) when I replace mine.
Its a strange thing...you mention 'driver involvement'..and you're absolutely right, they are keen, responsive, every twitch of the steering wheel feels purposeful. All of that should be a good thing, and is...BUT, i don't like that in a car, i like to relax, lean back and have a much more chilled style of driving. Vauxhalls always were relaxed to drive, due to their American heritage i assume.
True as well about older Astras Vs Focus. Now you mention it, there are loads of older Focus, not so many Astras. That must tell us something
My Focus 1.6 petrol, , 57 plate would struggle to do 45 mpg when i drove like a saint, ridiculously carefully. I always felt like you had to be 'alert or switched on' when driving it, i just never relaxed in it. TBF, it was a fairly base model, but had loads of bootspace. Bike could go in complete, that was a bonus as well. Engine felt unrefined, raucous, but responsive if you gave it welly, but equally it was doubly heavy on fuel if you did.
Astra 1.6 SRI, petrol, 2010, easily do 45 mpg, currently doing 51 mpg with care, comfortable, quiet, relaxed, more refined (TBF it is a better spec than the Focus), but the boot is pokey.
Horses for courses i guess...
