Quick Advice!!!

Ging3r · 30 Mar 2012 at 22:34

Going to look at buying my first car tomorrow

Been looking at focus' and having a look at this tomorrow:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ue/postcode/ox76jg/radius/30/page/3?logcode=p

Called him tonight and he's selling it on behalf of his mum but it doesn't actually have full service history as it's only been serviced every 10,000miles which did worry me slightly.

Any advice on what to look out for?

Thanks!

Rybo89 · 30 Mar 2012 at 22:40

win win, you win at first car choice.

Janesy B · 30 Mar 2012 at 22:46

So it's only been serviced 3/4 times in 9 years? It's due a cambelt change so if it hasn't been done, it'll need doing sooner than later.

radderfire · 30 Mar 2012 at 22:48

You want to do some homework to educate yourself on how to buy a second hand car. Here's a start:

http://www.usedcarexpert.co.uk/free-advice/

http://www.usedcarexpert.co.uk/free-advice/uce-used-car-buyer-pack.pdf

Rgds

Vince · 30 Mar 2012 at 22:49

Generally solid cars and a good choice imo for a first car. Fairly cheap to run but give it a good look over, 37k is not a lot of miles and with no service history im fairly sceptical given the age but don't always let that put you off.

Give it a good check over, you can get a pretty good idea of how many miles it has really done from the interior, foot pedals and steering wheel. I ran a zetec (not in a focus) for many years and put about 90k on a 1.8 lump without too many issues and barely any servicing.

Berger · 30 Mar 2012 at 22:50

Would you not want it serviced annually even with such a low mileage. 3 services in nearly 10 years isn't much...

Mis-matched rear tyres too worth a look at.

Ging3r · 30 Mar 2012 at 23:03

I've been looking over AT for a while now, only just have the time now to actually get out and look at some.

After a bit off googling, does £100ish labour then £50ish for parts sound about right?

The servicing side really does put me off a bit, but I'm going to go see it anyway just to get an idea of what sort of thing I'm looking at.

If that one was ok, i think I'd want to put it through a service straight off.

Atleast it's a good bargaining point

Rybo89 · 30 Mar 2012 at 23:37

how do you guys know if it has only been serviced 3-4 times? it says FSH which to me means it has been serviced at least once a year?

Am i missing something?

G J · 30 Mar 2012 at 23:43

It's been serviced by miles I'm guessing rather then miles + age.

The_Abyss · 30 Mar 2012 at 23:48

2 owners over the last 9 years is ok. I'd be interested in how long the previous owner had, which may indicate what sort of use it had. I'd guess, if the mileage is genuine, that it has either had few trips or more very short trips which isn't always the best for a car.

There's always going to be an element of risk with a car this old, and it will come down to purely how confident you feel and how you like driving it.

Ging3r · 31 Mar 2012 at 00:01

Rybo89 said:
how do you guys know if it has only been serviced 3-4 times? it says FSH which to me means it has been serviced at least once a year?

Am i missing something?

I called the guy up and said it only had 3 service stamps, which he obviously thinks is FSH. Going to take this angle to get some money off if everything else seems ok

Will let you all know tomorrow how it goes

Rybo89 · 31 Mar 2012 at 07:42

O wups, i should have read the whole OP.

Was wondering why everyone turned into mystic meg.

robj20 · 31 Mar 2012 at 07:53

Will need the timing belt doing soon, do the waterpump and alternator belt as well at the same time. Shouldnt be more than £200 for the lot including labour.

Good cars i have just got a 53 plate 1.6 LX.

Kenai · 31 Mar 2012 at 08:05

Rybo89 said:
how do you guys know if it has only been serviced 3-4 times? it says FSH which to me means it has been serviced at least once a year?

Am i missing something?

As I said in the 'What is FSH?' thread - I would never assume it means anything more than having the full history of whatever servicing it has had. However technically correct or incorrect people feel that is, I never make the assumption it means anything more than that.

Ging3r · 31 Mar 2012 at 22:26

Went to see it today but was a no go.

The exterior looked really nice just the odd little scratch here and there, but the interior just really didnt add up. Looked like it had done 137k rather than 37k. Stains all over the seats, not nice at all. Service history was the killer as i thought though, last serviced in '09 and had only done about 2500miles since then with only 2 other services and 20k between 2nd and 3rd :/

Also the clutch felt like it didn't have much left in it according to my dad (I can't drive them due to lack of insurance

)

Saw one at a local garage so had a look in, but not great either, had pretty bad corrosion on the rear arches.

So today hasn't giving me much hope, will try to have a look at another couple this week but may consider upping my budget by a few hundred to get something more up to standard

Rybo89 · 31 Mar 2012 at 22:51

Well like i have said in a post i put earlier in another thread, soon as alarm bells start ringing , leave it...

I had someone think he had FSH on his Focus ST, it had 1 stamp since 2007....

Brookert · 31 Mar 2012 at 23:16

Rybo89 said:
Well like i have said in a post i put earlier in another thread, soon as alarm bells start ringing , leave it...

I had someone think he had FSH on his Focus ST, it had 1 stamp since 2007....

Sadly, fast fords tend to fall into idiots hands who think a car needs to go to a garage only when something breaks.

Its a shame about the car op, could have been something good for a first car. Mine was on 36k when I got it three years ago. on 60k now and hasn't had a problem outside of normal wear and tear.

The_Abyss · 1 Apr 2012 at 07:32

Ging3r said:
Went to see it today but was a no go.

The exterior looked really nice just the odd little scratch here and there, but the interior just really didnt add up. Looked like it had done 137k rather than 37k. Stains all over the seats, not nice at all. Service history was the killer as i thought though, last serviced in '09 and had only done about 2500miles since then with only 2 other services and 20k between 2nd and 3rd :/

Also the clutch felt like it didn't have much left in it according to my dad (I can't drive them due to lack of insurance )

Saw one at a local garage so had a look in, but not great either, had pretty bad corrosion on the rear arches.

So today hasn't giving me much hope, will try to have a look at another couple this week but may consider upping my budget by a few hundred to get something more up to standard

That's a shame but you did the right thing. I wouldn't necessarily move up in budget yet - there are plenty of these cars around and it is just a question of being willing to put in the time to find a decent one.