10 year old mk1 Focus or newer mk2 Focus

Five_Star · 16 Mar 2012 at 13:43

I’m trying to think of reasons why I shouldn’t buy a mk1 10 year old Focus and should instead get a 2008+ mk2.5 facelift Focus for a family car.

Personally I feel that the drive from a mk1 Focus is better, they are a smaller car and I prefer the styling on the non sporty models over the mk2.

We’d be looking at probably the 1.6 engine or the 2.0 petrol, no diesels.

The newer mk2 cars will obviously have fewer owners, but should that matter if the service history is there?

Although I keep thinking that by getting the older car and saving 3k-6k on the purchase price it gives me some ability to refresh the older car? Is this a falsity though as while it will increase the drive and feel of the car for me when I come to sell it on I’ll still have a 10+ year focus (albeit with new suspension & brakes etc)

The main benefit for the newer mk2 is that generally it’ll have done less miles in less time, but should that be a problem at this price point, and should I let it affect my decision?

Two example cars

mk1
mk2

Edit: they are not two I intened to buy, just examples close to me I and going to look at to help me decide mk1 vs mk2

Bat · 16 Mar 2012 at 13:48

Depends on lots of things really. The Mk1 will be more likely to develop issues with corrosion and things wearing out. I'd be looking at a cheaper Mk1 to make it truly disposable if going that route personally.

What mileage do you do? Are you able to to any work yourself?

grudas · 16 Mar 2012 at 13:48

why would you buy an mk1 for that much?!

Janesy B · 16 Mar 2012 at 13:49

Don't spend £3,200 on a 2002 Focus please.

Howard · 16 Mar 2012 at 13:49

That mk2 makes the mk1 look like really bad value for money. It's a no brainer, really

NathWraith · 16 Mar 2012 at 13:49

mk2 all the way

Five_Star · 16 Mar 2012 at 14:09

They are just two examples close by that I can go look at for comparison. I know the dealer for the mk1 seems to think its a stunning low mileage car but its still 10 years old!

Given there are so many Ford Focus cars about I'll be taking time to find one that is a better price. At this end of the market would you always put price first?

I'll certainly be doing a lot of the basic work myself, oil, brakes, although there isn't that much that has gone wrong with any of the three previous Focus we've had, other than basic servicing the diesel one suffered rear bearing failures.

So, other than value for money are people suggesting that mk2 or the mk2 over the mk1 in general?

Imy · 16 Mar 2012 at 14:09

I loved my MK1 but given those 2 choices the MK2 makes more sense at those prices.

Tinders · 16 Mar 2012 at 14:12

MK1 is the better car to drive and looks nicer on the outside, but the MK2 is a more grown up car and is by far the better car to sit in. I'd not be looking to spend anywhere near 2k on a MK1 tho.

Janesy B · 16 Mar 2012 at 14:15

If you want a family car that you want to use and abuse over a long period of time get the MK2.5. I would say get at least the 1.8 if you were to get the newer car.

Malc · 16 Mar 2012 at 14:55

The main benefits of a MK2 over a MK1 is that the range of engines are better and the interior is better. The 2.0 litre in the MK2 is about 150 million times better than the 2.0 litre in the MK1. It's more powerful, more efficient and it's chain cam which means no belt replacement.

Why dont you go somewhere in the middle? Get a 2005-2007 MK2 2.0 Petrol?

You should pick one up for under £3500. The benefits of the MK2 without a massive difference in cost. It's what I did for the missus' first car. I ended up getting a 55 plate MK2 Ghia 2.0 Petrol with 1 previous owner, FSH and 90K on the clock for £3100. If you need lower mileage then it'll be more money. However if you're going to keep it until it dies or it's worth pittance, just buy on condition.

Brookert · 16 Mar 2012 at 15:17

The mk2 feels more solid in the cabin compared to the mk1. Personally I wouldnt go for a mk1 now, as clutch problems are common.

mk2 focus is a great drive, very comfy on long journeys, used to use one to do Brighton to central wales and back in a day.

DanTheMan · 16 Mar 2012 at 15:33

I spent less than £3200 on a similar focus, also a 2002 plate over 4 years ago. If you're going to buy an mk1, I would budget £1500 and run it to the ground, otherwise I would spend ~£4k on a decent mk2.

Meetgrinder · 30 Mar 2012 at 17:17

Guy at work flogged his ST170 recently for about £2k I think, and he was pleased to get that. Think it was an 03 plate or something around there (Mk1 shape anyway).

The 'sweet spot' between performance and economy has to be the 1.8 petrol. The diesel is crap in the Focus (and smokes like a chimney in the Mondeo) being not particularly frugal or pokey - germans do better. 1.8 petrol always did around 420-450 miles on a tank, the 1.6 about 40 more, and that was in the hands of crazed train drivers wanting to get home in a hurry.

They all handled really well, and chances were there'd be none left in the car pool but loads of crappy civics with tiny petrol tanks and fiats with bits falling off. Probably best cars we had to drive about and we had all sorts aside from German stuff.

Now we drive about in Corsa Vans, so the fun has gone out of driving at work

I'd suggest a 1.8LX for low insurance and reasonable performance/economy and loads to choose from. Choose Black, Silver or Blue, no naff colours and pick the lowest mileage car you can. Another guy at work got a 2.0 ghia for £1200 with reasonable miles, so a 1.8 for that sort of money has to be achievable.

OpenToSuggestions · 30 Mar 2012 at 17:54

Meetgrinder said:
Guy at work flogged his ST170 recently for about £2k I think, and he was pleased to get that. Think it was an 03 plate or something around there (Mk1 shape anyway).

The 'sweet spot' between performance and economy has to be the 1.8 petrol. The diesel is crap in the Focus (and smokes like a chimney in the Mondeo) being not particularly frugal or pokey - germans do better. 1.8 petrol always did around 420-450 miles on a tank, the 1.6 about 40 more, and that was in the hands of crazed train drivers wanting to get home in a hurry.

They all handled really well, and chances were there'd be none left in the car pool but loads of crappy civics with tiny petrol tanks and fiats with bits falling off. Probably best cars we had to drive about and we had all sorts aside from German stuff.

Now we drive about in Corsa Vans, so the fun has gone out of driving at work

I'd suggest a 1.8LX for low insurance and reasonable performance/economy and loads to choose from. Choose Black, Silver or Blue, no naff colours and pick the lowest mileage car you can. Another guy at work got a 2.0 ghia for £1200 with reasonable miles, so a 1.8 for that sort of money has to be achievable.

The girlfriend has a 1999 1.8 petrol Focus. It has no 'sweet spot', it drinks fuel like a fish. The car has amazing reliability though.

ps3ud0 · 30 Mar 2012 at 18:06

Werent the Mk1 1.8 awful (not much better than the 1.6 performance-wise but drinks like the 2.0?) while the Mk2 1.8 is far better?

ps3ud0 :cool:

naefeart · 30 Mar 2012 at 18:25

A couple of years ago I bought the gf a 2001 Mk1 Focus 1.8 Zetec, 1 owner and 34k. It's now 47k and we've had it up and down the country a few times without issue. Just passed it's mot last week, needed a fog light bulb.

I paid £1700 and thought that was 'ok'. It's nice to drive and handles really well. Just enough poke to keep me happy when I 'borrow' it.

I got it because I was convinced she would prang it and didn't want that to happen to something new. Hey presto it remains largely unmarked.

I put winter tyres on it and it kept us mobile through 2010/2011 in the snow. The heated windscreen was a godsend.

The only annoying thing is that both rear arches are showing signs of corrosion. I see this in lots of similar aged mk1s.

When the time comes I will look to get her something new. However for the time being we'll just run it into the ground, as it isn't throwing up any bills.