Auris Sr Or Focus Zetec

[shanksportif]

Hi,

I've been weighing up new car options for the last couple of weeks and have managed to narrow it down to a 3 door Auris SR 1.6 or a Focus Zetec 1.6 (probably both around 08/09). I was considering a Civic too but have ruled it out on account of poor visibility. I've had a 1.3 Starlet for the best part of 10 years now so I'm overdue an upgrade!

I know this is the Auris section of a Toyota forum, but I was hoping I'd be able to get some advice/opinions on the above; which is a pretty big decision for me!

I've test driven a Focus and a 1.6 Auris (TR and T-spirit, the showroom didn't have any SRs) - I have to say I think I preferred the drive of the Focus; I found the handling and driving position better (again, haven't driven the SR, and not sure if the Auris has a height adjustable drivers seat or not?) although I think the Auris is a bit faster on paper, and did seem quieter (although I didn't get chance to test either of them above 50mph).

They both seem to have similar Honest John MPGs, and would cost roughly the same price. I would tend to think the Auris would be more reliable in general, although I hear the Focus is meant to be reliable too. And I think the Focus is slightly smaller, possibly making it easier to park in tighter spaces around town.

Could you give me some (non bias if possible!) thoughts and opinions please?

Thanks!!

[FROSTYBALLS]

In fact it is the Auris which is smaller than the Focus - and width-wise quite a bit narrower (important if you use a garage).

Focus Zetec - length 4337mm, width 1879mm, height 1497mm

Auris SR - length 4220mm, width 1760mm, height 1515mm.

I can easily get an Auris into my garage without folding the door mirrors, and can get out of the car OK. Back in 2008, I Had a Focus hire car for a couple of weeks - with the extra width I had to angle the car very carefully when in the garage, to be able to open the door and get out.

[buklau111]

Auris is a nice car, could do with better functions thats all. Focus, not a nice car really and doesent stand out, whereas if you have a white auris, 2010+, I tell you it looks amazing. My auris, 11 plate is under warrently like ALL Toyota's under 5 years old for free. Ford on the other hand has many functions such as parking sensors etc but Auris does not. If I had a choice between Auris and Focus, I would still go for my Auris, 1.3 does the job on the motorway and the 5 year warrently gives it an extra blast. Knowing that it is a Toyota, its got plenty,plenty,plenty of juice inside it.

Go for a Auris, 2010+ facelift model looks better, get it in white :P

[buklau111]

Forgot to mension, Auris does have height adjustable seats and a huge windscreen which enhances visibility.

[shanksportif]

Ahh really, interesting that the Auris is smaller - the focus definitely seemed smaller when driving it. I think maybe because the dash board isn't so big/long, making it easier to see the road/front of car. It looks smaller from the outside too I thought.

It's the pre face lift Auris I'm looking at - as my budget's around £6000 the 2011 Auris is out of my price range...

[shanksportif]

Also, does the pre face lift Auris SR have different suspension to the TR/T-spirits etc?

[FROSTYBALLS]

No - the 1.33 and 1.6 petrols and the 1.4 and 2.0 litre diesels have torsion beam rear suspension. The 2.2 litre DCAT diesel has multi-link rear suspension.

You can download the April 2009 Auris brochure from here - http://www.toyota.co.uk/owners-info/vehicle-information

Scroll down to Previous Model Brochures.

This will confirm specifications for the Auris range around the year you're looking at.

[shanksportif]

Ahh thanks - although the brochure strangely leaves out the 1.6 SR? I thought it might have the muli link suspension as it has (correct me if I'm wrong) lower springs than the rest of the 1.6s. Do you think being slightly lower would affect the handling much?

[Cyker]

Yeah, one thing Ford do really well is driving feel in their cars; It's the one thing my crap old Fiesta does better than my Yaris!

But I think you pretty much have it right - The Fords tend to have more toys and has better driving feel, but the Auris will be more reliable in the long run.

TBH If you're going second hand and if you want something that lasts, I'd lean more toward the Auris. I find Fords, esp. the higher specced ones, tend to develop annoying niggly problems after 3-4 years, sometimes even faults that Toyota would issue a recall for but Ford would probably just ignore.

That said, I don't know what the newer ones are like so maybe they've improved!

[FROSTYBALLS]

I have a feeling that the 1.6 and 2.0 D4D SR may have been dropped for a while (around 2009). It definitely doesn't feature in the February 2009 or the June 2009 brochures.

It is included in the June 2012 brochure which I got when I bought my current post facelift Auris - and torsion beam suspension is described as fitted across the board in all petrol/diesel Auris models.

[Raistlin]

My wife's company car is a 1.6 diesel with 6 speed box and every bolt on goody Ford do and it moves like soil of a shovel, it is one of the most pleasant cars I have ever driven.

Admitted it is only 13 weeks old and it is diamond white but I have taken it on a 600 mile round trip in a day and still felt as though I could do more in it.

My first car was an Escort Mexico and this is just as much fun.

[buklau111]

Thing is that I personally buy cars from auctions (yes im only 15 but hey!). I brought my mums auris dirt cheap with 30k miles on it back in January. £6000 is enough to buy one we spent roughly the same amount too. It was a bargin for a 2011 plate in white! You can get it.

[frankie406]

Toyota all the way!! i just bought a 2010 facelift 1.33vvti TR 3door...cracker wee car.had a hyundai i30 1.6crdi 2010 couldnt wait to get out of it.had the i30 just under 6months.so if i was you a toyota auris in white is beautiful...

[FROSTYBALLS]

Like mine:

[frankie406]

Class frosty!!! would of liked a white one myself but i got a stunning dark blue one!

[Raistlin]

A star is born

[buklau111]

My mum has the same one :D just without the black border things which look ugly!

[FROSTYBALLS]

My mum has the same one :D just without the black border things which look ugly!

That is just your opinion. The purpose of the bodyside mouldings is to help prevent dents, marks, etc being made by other people opening their car doors against mine. I prefer to have the bodyside mouldings rather than dimpled sides.

[Raistlin]

I have the body side mouldings and many at time an old dear or stressed mum has bashed my car with their door in the Waitrose car park but no damage yet

[FROSTYBALLS]

I have the body side mouldings and many at time an old dear or stressed mum has bashed my car with their door in the Waitrose car park but no damage yet

Waitrose has a better class of customer.

[Raistlin]

I know, I shop there...

[forevered]

i have the sr model, and it does handle better than tr tspirit models due to the lower suspension and wider lower tyres, but you will feel potholes more for sure

[smudge-1991]

My mum has the same one :D just without the black border things which look ugly!

That is just your opinion. The purpose of the bodyside mouldings is to help prevent dents, marks, etc being made by other people opening their car doors against mine. I prefer to have the bodyside mouldings rather than dimpled sides.

ye i hav dimpled sides in my sr and it f**ks me write off that people do it but it is better to have mouldings and if you didnt want em black then get them colour coded