My 20 year old son who's at Uni has been looking for some time for a Focus 1.6 Zetec 3 door in black. After looking at a few he's bought a 2002 car with the climate pack.
He did this himself and as he has a good head on his shoulders I was happy to let him get on with it on the basis he could always phone me for advice - which he often did.
The car he bought has done 88k & my advice to him was it was too high and to pass it by. However, I agreed it was his final decision.
He bought it at what seems to be a long established trader who had sourced the car from a nearby main dealer and came home with it last weekend. Having seen it I am impressed. 2 owners with FSH + invoices. 4 nearly new Firehawk tyres and cambelt, tensioners etc plus waterpump changed April 08 at £496.
Major service Feb 09 £350. Front discs/pads changed in Sep 07
Car came with a new MoT plus all previous ones & the Mot history confirms only problems as being due to tyres.
Seller provided clear HPI check --- my son also did his own to get full protection.
The car has clearly been very well looked after both inside and out and it drives and sounds spot on.
I still feel uneasy about the mileage as it is the highest of all the cars he's looked at. I would be glad to know any views on this --- I understand Focus's are fairly tough cars & if looked after can take high miles. I know nothing is guaranteed but would welcome what will hopefully be re-assurance on this.
My son isn't bothered at all and is delighted with purchase --- I just hope he remains just as delighted with his judgement!
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I am in the market for this exact car, I am a bit angry your son has beaten me to it as this is the car I want!! At 88k I would be more than happy with it, personaly on a Focus 1.6 if its been driven well and properly serviced even 150k is not a problem but that is a big iff, some need a new engine at 70k others will do another 150k.
88K is really really nothing how much did he pay for it if you don't mind me asking? What it is worth I have seen a 52 reg one 1.6 with 122k on for £2k with FSH but I decided at this milleage there are two many IFs, but at 88k the engine is just warmed up!
Your son has most likely bought a brilliant car which has another 10 years life in it.
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Thanks for the re-assurance Rattle!
Bearing in mind how how many Focus about it seems the 3 doors in black, particularly in 1.6 guise.
The window price was £2995 -- a tad high.
I gather they'd only just got it in so he didn't have the lever of it having sat on the forecourt for a while. Anyway, whilst my son is 'only' 20 he's no fool and can be a bit persistant.
As an opening gambit he offered £2400 cash which was robustly declined! Having seen the car I'm not surprised!
In the end thet shook on £2750 plus 6m RFL and they agreed to refurbish the alloys which had the usual kerbings ----- They now look spankers. They also put new reg plates on, but this may have been the norm --- these do finish the car off nicely thou'.
As said, if they'd had the car hanging around for a while he may have got a better deal --- but I think this particular one would have gone fairly sharpish!
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I think your son has made a very astute purchase. As you say, a tad expensive, but if he has got what he wants as a result then that slight premium will soon be worth it.
I really wouldn't be concerned by the mileage. I would be very surprised if that particular car couldn't easily do another 88k without any real bother.
I run my cars to high mileages and the Fords in particular seem able to cope with it very well. Better in fact than a number of allegedly more premium models/brands I have similarly abused.
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My 1.8TDCi Zetec has 80k on it and still looks the part.
Goes like a bomb, no rattles, still polishes up well.
If you get a good 'un, and it sounds like your son has, there's not much to beat a Focus.
As regards the money, I think the basic trade value of your son's car - and mine for that matter - is about £2,000.
So the price your son paid for a car prepared to a good retail standard sounds spot on. Plenty of Focuses of similar age and spec are advertised at £3/£4K.
Don't know what you drive, islandman, but have a go in the Focus, you'll be impressed.
Holds the road and goes where you point it, which is also good for an inexperienced driver.
Edited by ifithelps on 17/02/2009 at 19:25
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ifithelps -- I have driven it and I was impressed ------- not a bad endorsement from a guy who's daily wheels is a BMW 330cic!
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Out of my budget anyway ;). I have never driven a Focus yet but the ones I have sat in have always impressed me. A much needed improvement on the Escort.
Your son has also got the perfect sweet spot on a Focus, its lost most of its residuals already but in terms of the mechanics and bodywork should still give years of trouble free service.
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island, your son is obviously an intelligent chap. ifitheps and humph know their stuff. The price is possibly a couple of hundred too steep for an 02 car, being a three door but these cars are in demand and someone would have snapped it up jolly quickly if your son hadn't.
Mine's done approx. 74k on a T-plate (1999, bought in '02) and I absolutely adore it. No rattles, nothing has EVER "gone wrong" with it (apart from the usual wear and tear of course), even from cold it's solid, willing and a joy to drive. The dashboard pastics are a bit rubbish but don't be fooled - it's a tough beast. I even feel a tiny bit guilt when I look at other cars...
Now I'm looking for an upgrade, I'm in no hurry whatsoever. My next car has extraordinarily big shoes to fill.
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