Replacing Focus Mk1.5, with what?

LadFromWales

LadFromWales

LadFromWales

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Looking to replace my 51 Focus Mk1 facelift 1.8 petrol pretty soon. Just passed it's MOT but will likely need the sills and arches welding and a new exhaust for next years, still on it's original :)

Around £4000 budget but could stretch to £5000 if needs be.

I was going to be boring and go for another Focus, Mk2 facelift as these seem to be available in the £4000 range now, in Titanium guise too.

Other things I've had a look at are VW Golf and Honda Civic. Still leaning towards the Focus though!

Most journeys are short and in traffic commuting, and mileage is around 10k so no need for diesel.

We have a baby on the way so enough space to fit pram or pushchair and all the baby bits in when we go places is essential, and 5dr of course :)

Any advice appreciated :)
 
ST220 hmmm...! Seems like a massive amount of car for the money. One on AT with FSH and 2 owners, xenons, leather for £2490 http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/ford/mondeo/used-ford-mondeo-3-0-st220-5dr-leicester-fpa-201503051462097?atcido=soc-cars-twt001
That's an 04 though so will be looking to get newer than that. Bushes are past there best on my Focus so hopefully getting a newer car will keep that problem at bay during my ownership! I can't imagine the ST220 is all that good on fuel though? Though to be fair on short journeys I only average 25mpg from my Focus!

I've looked at the Mazda 3 but it's looks don't do it any favours, unless I'm looking at the wrong photos?!
 
I could live with around 300 miles from a tank driving in town, would an ST220 achieve this?
Anything to look out for with a Mondeo? Xenons and parking sensors would be nice, the former not being available even as an option on a Mk2 Focus!

Insurance is cheaper than I expected, having had a license for less than 2 years, but am over 25, cheapest for a Mondeo ST220 come back at £648, with the cheapest for a Mk2 facelift Focus Titanium 2.0 coming in at £372. I paid around the £650 mark to insure the Focus I have now for it's first year! Tax is £480 a year though :|

I was thinking newer car would mean less age related problems with things like the rubber suspension components etc. I'm sure I read that Ford supply the bushes alone for the Mondeo and it is much easier for a garage to fit them than it is to obtain the right tool to replace the Focus ones in situ, which is the only option for a 13 year old Focus with all it's suspension bolts seized tight!
 
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Yeah after a sleep and a think I am back to Focus Mk2 facelift Titanium.
A Mondeo ST220 would be lovely but it'll cost a fortune to fuel with most trips being short, and I want newer tbh.

UHT, your focus has heated leather and bluetooth and xenons? I'm sure the Focus Mk2 never come with bluetooth or xenon even as options from the factory. Still could be interested if it's the facelift and you're not too far :)
 
My trip to work and back is around 4 miles each way with stop start traffic, barely enough to warm up the engine, especially during winter the temp gauge barely rose from the bottom. Longer journeys I can get 380 to a tank but with most of the trips being to work and back I max out at 300.
The 1.8 wasn't ever known for being good on fuel, using the same as or more than the 2.0 for less output. Just makes lots of noise and doesn't get anywhere quickly.

The ST220 looks to be a hell of a lot of car for the money, with all the good bells and whistles included as standard. Interior quality looks to be a lot better, with nice recaro leathers included as standard. If I test drove them both I'd pick the ST220, but my major concern is it'll just drink fuel running on a cold engine to and from work daily. If my journey were a little longer and not stop start it'd be a no brainer.

Something tells me the Focus MK2.5 2.0 will be better on fuel than my Mk1.5 1.8, and given the mainly short trips, the ST220 as you say will probably barely be touching 20mpg :(

There are no ST220 or Focus Mk2.5 titanium anywhere close to me on AT, so some serious travelling will be needed to even get a test drive.
 
I would really like a Mondeo ST220 as I'd feel like I'm getting much more for my money with all the standard kit and better quality, and power etc but I just know with the short trips it'll be living at the filling station :(

Yeah having had a quick look a Focus ST is out of budget just now.
I'd imagine boot space will be adequate for now in a Focus Mk2.5. I've managed to fit a pushchair and other baby bags, and shopping in my Mk1 boot before now!

This will be my second car purchase so I am really trying to avoid buying a lemon. Any advice whittling down the ads on AT/PH or even eBay (not even looked there yet!) would be appreciated. I am willing to travel to inspect and purchase, by train or taking my car as PX, distance is no object, well perhaps a tank of fuel each way max :)
 
£3995 92000mi FSH
£3995 51000mi CAT D with parking sensors and in black SH
£4222 73423mi FSH.. Only one I've seen with climate ccontrol too
£4665 50000mi SH
£4995 68000mi FSH has parking sensors and in a OH approved colour
£5000 42000mi SH
£5295 50000mi FSH, has NAV (meh)
£5450 FSH has parking sensors

I know that just because a seller lists FSH doesn't always mean what it should hah :)
Parking sensors would be nice, cruise is unnecessary though the 4 spoke wheel does look better. Stock headunit is fine and leaves scope for replacing it with the chinese android ford-alike headunit down the line :)

I have looked at Zetec S but they are out of budget. The 1.6 in the ebay one would probably feel a little underpowered in a Mk2.
 
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£4222 73423mi FSH.. Only one I've seen with climate control too

This one looks ok, can be moved to Wrexham for free* too so not as far a trek as the others. Has digital climate control but no parking sensors, but a quick google shows they are pretty simple to add. It appears to have seat covers, hopefully to protect the immaculate seats below rather than to hide worn fabric. 17" alloys which pretty much all the Titaniums seem to have.

From the pictures and the walkaround video of the car available at Evans Halshaw's site I can't tell what colour it is. It says blue... EDIT: Ahh, Avalon Blue...and one owner too according to eBay's seller tool!

I do really want black, I wanted a black Mk1.5 but I was in a hurry and none come up within reasonable distance. I am prepared to forgo black again if I can get a Focus Mk2.5 Titanium 2.0 with no damaged bodywork, everything in working order, FSH and within budget. Need to factor in taking it for a service and paying for the years insurance too and and perhaps tax too (rather than monthly)

Not seen a Zetec S 2.0 for anywhere near £5k :(

* £200 deposit refundable on purchase or viewing/test drive
 
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Cheers for the links :) Both of those Zetec's are only 3dr though :(
I've looked at other videos of Avalon Blue Focus, doesn't look too bad but it wouldn't be my first choice of colour.
The Evans Halshaw car was listed at £44xx on the weekend so they must have recently reduced it. Does anything look wrong with it besides it's subpar colour?

EDIT: Just saw your second post...3dr. Needs to be 5dr with little'un on way :)

The private one you've linked to does look nice in the deep blue with the rear privacy glass, and parking sensors. All but the one at Evans Halshaw don't have climate control though. Is this a big loss? The listing mentions a few minor marks which I can't see in the pictures, and apparently kids removed the badges on the back?! Does look nice but I can't stretch to £5450. Wonder if they could be convinced to let it go for under £5k...
 
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I mean control like you probably have in your Mondeo, automatic air conditioning, set and forget temperature etc rather than twiddly knob manual AC.

Think the car at EH is worth a look at all?

Can you see any marks on the car in the private listing you linked to? How much can one reasonably knock off a £5k~ car when paying cash? Is over a grand more than the car at EH and has manual AC, but is a year younger and has done less than 40k
 
I give Evans Halshaw a ring just as they were closing to enquire about getting photos of the car. The girl on the phone said it looks like that's the seats but I said they are definitely covers, and that I'd like to see how it looks inside before I travel. Should get something by email tomorrow :) Really not sure on the colour though, looks like a light blue. I thought it was ok initially but the more I look at it the more I think I'd prefer a darker colour!

I have a 1.8 in my Mk1.5 now and the 1.8 Mk2.5 being a bigger heavier car has a slower 0-60. Would like a little bit more oompf to allow safe overtaking manoeuvres and a little more fun when pressing on.
 
@ShiWarrior the rear window and the rear doors appear to have privacy glass. Should the front doors have privacy glass too? Yeah the more I look at the colour the more I hate it so ill likely be steering clear of that one!

@Tesla I'll take a look at the Mazda 3, not too keen on the shape of its rear end but I'll give them a gander :)
 
Yeah that colour really isn't brill. It doesn't look blue or grey or silver. Really annoying as it is the closest Titanium Mk2.5 2.0 to me and can be moved even closer for free, has automatic climate control and acceptable miles for the age, and just a single owner from new. The photos are bad but there is a video clip walkround on the site that I linked to above, the privacy glass can be seen then, but the windows are mostly down.

I plan on keeping this car for 4+ years so i'd rather get a colour I really like :)
 
I was due to be visiting UHT to view/buy his Focus, but the engine blew when he took it for a spin to charge the battery yesterday :eek:

The hunt continues!
 
It's in Pontypridd, so 240 mile round trip or there abouts from Anglesey.
Perhaps the original owner didn't fancy leather? Does seem to have everything else according to Etis. I really want Mk2.5 but could accept Mk2 if the price is right!. Wonder if it's worth a trip there tomorrow. Is it worth calling ahead to ask for his lowest cash price?
 
ShiWarrior how is the 1.8 Mk2.5 when it comes to things like overtaking? It has a couple extra BHP over the 1.8 in my Mk1.5 but is heavier. Have to drop to third to overtake safely...forth and fifth planting my foot just results in more noise and not much more go unless the revs are over 2500.

The Mk2 looks boring even compared to my Mk1.5 so it'll be the Mk2.5 I'll be waiting/looking for, and has some weird niggles like water running into the car through the doors when opening them, with no fix.

I'm not sure what it is about the Mazda 3 but it looks so dull compared to a Mk2.5 focus. Perhaps I'm looking at the wrong ones! Bigger boot though.
 
Thanks for the links :) The latter is out of budget sadly.

£5700 for the 2.0 2010 Titanium with heated seats and keyless entry/start
£5450 for the 1.8 2009 Titanium with heated seats and keyless entry/start, and sports pack but for some reason has rear drum brakes?! Even my Mk1.5 has discs all round.

I can't really afford more than £5k, wonder if either of the above would consider coming down to anywhere near that.
 
Both are a fair distance away and a little out of budget for me :(
Think it's worth giving the seller of the 2.0 a call and making it clear that I've got £5k cash and no more? He'll probably just laugh at me!
or the 1.8...I just want the little extra power of the 2.0 tbh but budget budget budget

I'll have a little more once I've sold my car but I need my car before I get the new one :)
 
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