Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 buying advise

Sniper123

Sniper123

Sniper123

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Hi

As some of you already know, I currently own a 1.1 Saxo. My sister finally got a job, so I'll be giving her the Saxo as soon as I get myself another car!(Perfect excuse for a new car;))

I have £2000-£2500 to spend. I've been on autotrader most of today looking, but there isn't much local without me going 200 miles for a look. My postcode is PL26 8EF.

While I wait for something to pop up could you please let me know what I should be looking for, for the money?

Also, what kinda things go wrong at certain mileages?


Thanks
 
They're very common cars so don't be tempted to buy one with faults at a cheap price when you can buy a really good one for the budget you're looking at. They're around 10 or so years old now and a lot of them haven't had their timing belt changed etc.

I purchased mine 1.6 Ghia in October. Asking was £2000. I managed to get him down to £1700 because:
- Timing belt and tensioners needed changing
- Front disks and pads needed changing.
Stuff like that need changing on any car of that age so if the guy hasn't had them changed, especially the belt, bring him down in price.

I picked it up with 85k on it, and I've taken it to 88k. They're solid cars. Not luxorious nor particularly fast but it'll be much more noticebly faster than your Saxo (I've driven both so I know!)

If you can, try to aim for the facelift version.
 
For £2500 you'd be looking at around 80k miles, A/C if you're lucky, climate pack if you're even luckier.

Nothing really to worry about with them, the only fault that I can think of is the ignition coil which may cause the car to feel a bit like a diesel.
 
Ricochet J said:
They're very common cars so don't be tempted to buy one with faults at a cheap price when you can buy a really good one for the budget you're looking at. They're around 10 or so years old now and a lot of them haven't had their timing belt changed etc.

I purchased mine 1.6 Ghia in October. Asking was £2000. I managed to get him down to £1700 because:
- Timing belt and tensioners needed changing
- Front disks and pads needed changing.
Stuff like that need changing on any car of that age so if the guy hasn't had them changed, especially the belt, bring him down in price.

I picked it up with 85k on it, and I've taken it to 88k. They're solid cars. Not luxorious nor particularly fast but it'll be much more noticebly faster than your Saxo (I've driven both so I know!)

If you can, try to aim for the facelift version.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll deffinetely make sure all of the above is checked when I look at 1.
 
If its pre-facelift, also check the passenger side front and rear footwells to make sure they are dry. Foci are notorious for leaking down the windscreen and through the pollen filter housing. Check the panel at the bottom of the screen is flush and hasn't warped away from it.

Ours did it last year, and other people who own them that I know have all had the same issue. It's easy to fix but no fun drying to dry the carpets out :p
 
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Nismo said:
If its pre-facelift, also check the passenger side front and rear footwells to make sure they are dry. Foci are notorious for leaking down the windscreen and through the pollen filter housing. Check the panel at the bottom of the screen is flush and hasn't warped away from it.

Ours did it last year, and other people who own them that I know have all had the same issue. It's easy to fix but no fun drying to dry the carpets out :p
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
I've had my 1.6 Zetec (53, 66k) for about 8 months now, the only thing that has turned faulty is the driver's side electric window - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
 
I've had my 1.6 Zetec for around 8 months now and I can't fault it.

It's not amazingly fast but fine around town and will happily sit at 80-85 on the motorway all day long. I tend to get around 350-380 miles to a tank with mainly town driving.

I paid £2800 for a 52 plate on 82k, i've put another 7k on since I got it and it's been fine. Try and get one with the climate pack if poss, this will get you heated front and rear screens and air con.

Dunno if modifying is your thing but i've done a few things and imo it's a tidy little motor, certainly could have done a lot worse for a first car anyway!

usrears5.jpg


Edit: My friend has a 1.1 Saxo and the Focus is a much nicer place to be, especially on the motorway.
 
I have a 1.8 Focus Collection 2000 model, cost me 2k, and has gone up to 2.5k with bits I've had done, full servicing etc, however it's a solid car and has only done 56k. Really happy with it, its not the fastest but its comfortably faster than most 'small' cars, and in comparison its quite a smooth, comfortable drive with lots of space. Quite happy with it :)
 
Alexrose1uk said:
I have a 1.8 Focus Collection 2000 model, cost me 2k, and has gone up to 2.5k with bits I've had done, full servicing etc, however it's a solid car and has only done 56k. Really happy with it, its not the fastest but its comfortably faster than most 'small' cars, and in comparison its quite a smooth, comfortable drive with lots of space. Quite happy with it :)
Click to expand...

I'm confused. How does a service add an extra 25% of the value to a car?

If you mean by modding as well (wheels, lowering, etc) then they will only devalue it if anything.
 
[TW]Fox;13821703 said:
He means he spent £2k on the car then a further £500 on servicing and bits and bobs.
Click to expand...

Ah right, thought he meant he paid £2000 and it was now worth £2500 because of the service and other stuff.
 
Exactly what fox said. The car has probably cost me 500 quid less than a showroom would, and with the service and parts it should be good for a good few thousand miles. So happy with the car and what it cost me. Got to improve the sound system next!
 
I'm laughing at the people who think that think that the guy will get lucky getting aircon and climate pack! :D :confused:
It's not an Aston Martin with selected features. The Foci without the climate pack and aircon cost the same with the climate pack and aircon. So just look for Foci with them two on.
 
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