Buying advice - Focus
Discussion
Hello, I had a query I hoped I could put to the ford section and get some advice from you guys.
I am looking into buying a focus 1.8 or 2.0 petrol, manual, from T to about 01/02 plate and the ones I am looking at seem to be about 60K to 70K miles. I want to know if there is any major servicing at around that mileage I should know about. My guess was things like timing belt and such the like but I don't know enough about fords. Anyone got any pointers??? I don't really want to buy something thats going to need a major (expensive?) service just round the corner.
I am looking into buying a focus 1.8 or 2.0 petrol, manual, from T to about 01/02 plate and the ones I am looking at seem to be about 60K to 70K miles. I want to know if there is any major servicing at around that mileage I should know about. My guess was things like timing belt and such the like but I don't know enough about fords. Anyone got any pointers??? I don't really want to buy something thats going to need a major (expensive?) service just round the corner.
Thats a bit spooky, was just about to ask if anyone knew what mileage the timing belt was due.
To help answer your other questions, had a 1.6 on an s plate upto 100k and it cost me nothing other than basic servicing and a cam belt at 70k.
Now have a '03 2.0 which i've had since a year old, done 30k in the last 2 1/2 years and until recently it's cost me nothing. Then the coil failed but didn't throw the warning light up, noticed performance was dropping so took it to main dealer to investigate. Took them 6 days to find fault (This is a BIG main dealer as well). Turns out when the coil failed it was throwing un-burned fuel in to the Cat so that died, they wanted £700 to sort, paid them £70 for diagnostics and then did repair for £185 and 1 hours work.
Overall i can't recommend car enougth, decent performance for the money and great handling. Would definetly go for the 2.0, my dad has a 1.8 and as i said i had a 1.6, real-work performance difference is worth the extra (Although on paper there isn't much in it)
To help answer your other questions, had a 1.6 on an s plate upto 100k and it cost me nothing other than basic servicing and a cam belt at 70k.
Now have a '03 2.0 which i've had since a year old, done 30k in the last 2 1/2 years and until recently it's cost me nothing. Then the coil failed but didn't throw the warning light up, noticed performance was dropping so took it to main dealer to investigate. Took them 6 days to find fault (This is a BIG main dealer as well). Turns out when the coil failed it was throwing un-burned fuel in to the Cat so that died, they wanted £700 to sort, paid them £70 for diagnostics and then did repair for £185 and 1 hours work.
Overall i can't recommend car enougth, decent performance for the money and great handling. Would definetly go for the 2.0, my dad has a 1.8 and as i said i had a 1.6, real-work performance difference is worth the extra (Although on paper there isn't much in it)
Edited by Focus2.0Zetec on Tuesday 5th December 20:56
Edited by Focus2.0Zetec on Tuesday 5th December 20:57
Mines now on 50k and i intend to keep it till it dies, then i hope to get a S1 Lotus Elise, unfortunatly due to the fact i'm doing my house up at the moment i need something sensible, can't see me getting a 4m length of guttering home in/on the Elise, could be a laugth though.
Regards
Chris
Regards
Chris
Best real world cars out there. Nuff said.
I ran my W reg 1.8 from 17,000 to 107,000 and only things that needed replacing outside of service was the spring that makes the gear lever stay in the middle and a thermostat housing leak. Cambelt is 100,000 miles. I was pretty slack at servicing it, and it didn't seem to mind. The 1.8 is a bit smoother than the 2.0 and I didn't find a whole lot of difference in the performance, although I think that my 1.8 was a good example... IB5 gearbox in the 1.8 cars is nicer than the MTX75 in the 2.0 too.
Paul.
I ran my W reg 1.8 from 17,000 to 107,000 and only things that needed replacing outside of service was the spring that makes the gear lever stay in the middle and a thermostat housing leak. Cambelt is 100,000 miles. I was pretty slack at servicing it, and it didn't seem to mind. The 1.8 is a bit smoother than the 2.0 and I didn't find a whole lot of difference in the performance, although I think that my 1.8 was a good example... IB5 gearbox in the 1.8 cars is nicer than the MTX75 in the 2.0 too.
Paul.
Also watch out for rear wheel bearings, they seem to go quite a bit. I've had 2 on mine, but over 45,000miles so not all bad.
The centering spring on the gear select is a £3 part and 15-30 mins to fix yourself.
Coil packs seem to go aswell, very easy to change yourself 10 mins tops.
Love mine to bits, but shall be selling next year for something more economical for my commuting to work, but i can still get just under 400miles per tank in my 1.8.
I believe the timing belt is every 60,000 or 6years (Although I have been told differently by different Dealers
) Best to change the aux pulleys at the same time as these also tend to squeal at the time the belt needs changing, mine is at the moment.
Get one though you can't go wrong.
The centering spring on the gear select is a £3 part and 15-30 mins to fix yourself.
Coil packs seem to go aswell, very easy to change yourself 10 mins tops.
Love mine to bits, but shall be selling next year for something more economical for my commuting to work, but i can still get just under 400miles per tank in my 1.8.
I believe the timing belt is every 60,000 or 6years (Although I have been told differently by different Dealers
) Best to change the aux pulleys at the same time as these also tend to squeal at the time the belt needs changing, mine is at the moment. Get one though you can't go wrong.
trevorw said:
Also watch out for rear wheel bearings, they seem to go quite a bit. I've had 2 on mine, but over 45,000miles so not all bad.
The centering spring on the gear select is a £3 part and 15-30 mins to fix yourself.
Coil packs seem to go aswell, very easy to change yourself 10 mins tops.
Love mine to bits, but shall be selling next year for something more economical for my commuting to work, but i can still get just under 400miles per tank in my 1.8.
I believe the timing belt is every 60,000 or 6years (Although I have been told differently by different Dealers ) Best to change the aux pulleys at the same time as these also tend to squeal at the time the belt needs changing, mine is at the moment.
Get one though you can't go wrong.
The centering spring on the gear select is a £3 part and 15-30 mins to fix yourself.
Coil packs seem to go aswell, very easy to change yourself 10 mins tops.
Love mine to bits, but shall be selling next year for something more economical for my commuting to work, but i can still get just under 400miles per tank in my 1.8.
I believe the timing belt is every 60,000 or 6years (Although I have been told differently by different Dealers
) Best to change the aux pulleys at the same time as these also tend to squeal at the time the belt needs changing, mine is at the moment. Get one though you can't go wrong.
Try only getting 300 from the 2.0, bit of a shock after getting 425 from the old 1.6. Asi said coil pack went on my 2.0 recenty.
Regards
Chris
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