1998 Focus Zetec, 1.6 ltr. Will it be a good first car?

Keltik THC

Keltik THC

Keltik THC

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a family freind is selling her Ford Focus before going travelling, its been in her family since it was brought brand new... her mother owned it and then she did.

It has a couple of slight dents on the rear bumper but nothing major and no crashes in its history.

Her father who is a car mech advised that I need to replace the front springs as its creaks slightly although i have a freind who is a ford technician who has focus springs lying about he can fit for me.

one of the rear doors is slightly buggered, someone tried opening it with a bit too much force when it was iced shut.. it locks but doesnt open every time.

Nothing wrong with it aside from the above, never had a problem starting up in the whole 12 years.

New tyres, MOTd until October and 6 months tax.

She wants £500, £600 including the tax.

this will be my first car and i know nothing about them so just wondered if this is a good buy? my freind thinks it is a good buy but he loves focus's so maybe a bit biased!

webuyanycar is quoting it at about £900 but thats without the dents/door issue and spring.

any advice?
 
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Go for a drive in it, but at that price it's worth just grabbing and worrying about anything else later...
 
Sounds like a really decent first car, and they are very rare with that sort of history. Go for it.

[OcUK]YOU SHOULD BUY A 20 YEAR 7 SERIES BMW INSTEAD THOUGH[/OcUK]
 
£600 for a taxed and tested Focus that isn't a complete shed is a bargain, and will make an excellent first car. Creaking from the front is very common, but check if the springs are definitely broken. It could be the anti-roll bar drop links, much easier and cheaper to replace.
 
thanks for the advice guys, i'm definitely convinced.

Insurance isnt too bad considering im a new driver, £400 for the year... although thats only 3rd party, fire and theft... not sure if theres any point on getting fully comp for a £500 car?

I'm 25 later this year (supposedly the magic age for lower insurance) and i'll have my no claims (hopefully) so it should be considerably cheaper in 2011... although i do plan on buying a Hilux in a year or two once the insurance is affordable.

thanks again peeps.
 
Go for it. Focus are solid cars suitable for a first timer.

I had mine after owning a Orion for 6 months and gave me 5 years of totally fault free motoring.
 
My insurance reduced radically when I hit 21.

But that was due to many of the cheaper insurers not covering under 21s on interesting cars.

I used to borrow a MK1 Focus a lot, and absolutely loved it, such a lovely car to drive. In fact, its the only reason why I bothered looking at a focus this time around.
 
well its now bought, picking her up on Sunday.

i know a ford tech who said he will fix the rear door, the front springs and hes found me a set of 15" focus alloys and brand new tyres (it has hub caps at the moment.. disgusting).. hes found 17"s but that would mean lowering the springs etc.. and i cant be bothered with that at the moment, no need for a car im just using to get my no claims bonus up. As im a mate he said hed do it all for around £100 including parts! nae bad.

just going to pick up my kenwood head unit so i can play mp3s and use the parrot unit and i'm sorted! although i'll probably feel the urge to buy some decent speakers, because im pretty sure it has the standard focus ones.

looking forward to having my own car for once!
 
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