100k + miles in a boggo Ford Focus...bad thing?

[TonyHetherington]

Hi all,

Just a general question really. I'm looking at getting myself a run about and am keen on a bog standard Ford Focus 1.6 - the only necessity is air con. I am looking at around £2k, and cars with prices of 2.5k look ok, but many have high mileages.

Now, you can tell I've only ever bought sports cars before.......would 100k in a Ford Focus (say of around 1998/99) be ok? I mean I'm not expecting faultlessness, but I do want a car I can not 'care about', so to speak, and just get in and turn the key to go to work, and everything work fine (I have the Lotus for breaking down in ).

So, 100K....is it ok?!

Appreciate your thoughts
Thanks
Tony

[vixpy1]

I have heard rumours that they are fairly bullet proof, however.. its like every car, buy a bad one and it will cost ya.

[speed8]

Make sure the cambelt is changed. It should be done at 100k.

Can't offer any help on the older ones. Ours is a 53 reg but at 45k absolutely no probs at all (although we've just changed the clutch due to the first owner being a driving school).

[Podie]

The 1.6 is one of the better engines, and nicely matched to the gearbox IMO.

TBH it should be no different to any other high(ish) mileage car. Life expectancy of cars of this age are assumed to be 250,000miles.

Ex-fleet cars are often a good buy as they have been well maintained.

[Podie]

What about something like this - www.pistonheads.com/sales/120679.htm (assuming the claims in the ad are true)

[trevorw]

Can't fault my Focus, heres a good one by the looks of it

www.pistonheads.com/sales/125752.htm.

[mr brightside]

The wifes 1.6 ghia on a w plate is faultless, except for the reason in my other post.
73k but feels like new, excellent cars.

Edited by mr brightside on Tuesday 30th January 21:22

[Podie]

Depending on the size of car you want, you could get a sensible mileage Mondeo... maybe even a high(ish) mileage ST24 (V6) if you look around.

[TonyHetherington]

speed8 said:

Make sure the cambelt is changed. It should be done at 100k.

Ooo that's important. Thank you! There's a fair few at or around 100k so a good question. Ta!

Podie said:

What about something like this - www.pistonheads.com/sales/120679.htm (assuming the claims in the ad are true)

I had seen that but, to be honest, I am not a huge fan on that shape Escort and, importantly, I need to be able to fit my drum kit in the back - a Focus would be perfect for this. And, surprisingly, so would a KA have been

Podie said:

Ex-fleet cars are often a good buy as they have been well maintained.

Any idea how I would be able to get an ex-fleet car?! I mean is there somewhere specific I would go rather than Autotrader, or is it just luck in finding one?

trevorw said:

Can't fault my Focus, heres a good one by the looks of it
www.pistonheads.com/sales/125752.htm.

Thanks! Yup I had seen that one too (by the way, HOW dangerous is it typing in to that box at the top of the classifieds "any car on PH, £2k - £3k". The thoughts going through my mind! 40k mile A8 4litre V8, sir? raaaaaaa! Anyhow that car did look spot on, and to be honest I'd have been there like a shot had it not been in York (I'm north Kent). If I don't find anything closer over the next couple of days, he'll be getting a phone call

mr brightside said:

The wifes 1.6 ghia on a w plate is faultless, except for the reason in my other post.

I like the sound of that. Thanks

Podie said:

Depending on the size of car you want, you could get a sensible mileage Mondeo... maybe even a high(ish) mileage ST24 (V6) if you look around.

Such naughty thoughts have been going through my mind. There's some 52 plate Mondeos (the new boxy shape, I don't know the model designation) for not so much more which I think is a cracking car but a bit too big for what I want. I think the Focus is the perfect combination; a town car which basically will get me 7 miles to work every day (it's doing my Elise no favours at all that trip), but is also big enough that now and then I can take it on the motorway for trips to PH events etc and not hate it. The KA on the motorway was fine, but to do the 90mph average my Elise did, it would be a real struggle - almost tiring!

-----


Thanks all for your thoughts. Does anybody have any other little tit-bits to look out for, an example being the cambelt as mentioned? What's the service interval? Looking forward to getting this actually!

Tony

Edited by TonyHetherington on Wednesday 31st January 09:21

[TonyHetherington]

I'm seeing a few diesels for sale. Is it an advantage in any way to get one of the diesels?

[wheeljack]

TonyHetherington said:

I'm seeing a few diesels for sale. Is it an advantage in any way to get one of the diesels?

If you can stretch to a 115ps tdci diesel, do it!

A little bit short on initial pickup and probably could do with a 6th gear, but the midrange shove and well matched gearing more than makes up for it. If you drive it sensibly it is possible to get well over 50mpg. Generally if you drive it like a dick (like I do ) then 45mpg normally and 40mpg if really caning it. I've done 40000miles in just over 2 years and it has been faultless.

[hugoagogo]

the base tddi diesel is very dull, but extremely reliable. cam belt change is i think 240,000kms, minor oil change service 20k/12500 miles

i've got 160thou km in my 03 estate (mostly flat-out autobahn) without a single prob

[Mattt]

The early 1.6s do tend to drink a bit of oil as they get older, there was a revision with the facelift but it is often argued what was actually changed other than cosmetic & MAF to tMAP - I would like to think there were some changes to the bottom end but you can never really tell.

As said, for a cheap hack I would go for the TDdi - much better economy than the TDCi and fairly bombproof (old design, cheap parts etc).

[focus2.0zetec]

I used to have a '99 1.6 and had that upto 100k and it never missed a beat, great car for the money, now got a 2 litre on a 03 plate at the moment and although noticably quicker, the 1.6 is a smoother engine.

As a general hack they can't be beaten, cheap to run, fun to drive (For a family hatch) and reliable.

Regards

Chris

Edited by focus2.0zetec on Wednesday 31st January 22:00

[Frik]

Make me an offer.

[trevorw]

Its temping, but I'll say no for now.

[NST]

i'm currently running 1.8TDCI 115ps. (2 years old and 39K) i would go for the 1.6 petrol, for sure it is slower and less economical but also less likely to break down.

i've had my focus in 4 times to sort out the poor fuel consumption (last remap gave some good results). drive it on the motorway and keep it to less than 70mph will give close to 50mpg, drive at 60-65 and your looking at 52mpg. drive normally (keeping with traffic..) you will get 45mpg on a run *alot* less if your start knocking on 90mph. mixture of driving will get you around 38-40mpg. good mid range performance for a 115ps.

i have recently had the diesel pump replaced, and variable gearbox speed sensor and 2 instrument clusters. things to look out for are throttle surge in 1st and 2nd gear (WOT then lifting off can sometimes means the engine revs continue to climb for 2 secs and then drop. is very random though.

the 1.6 imho is a nicer drive even if doesn't have the performance. saver choice imho.

i find the driving position horrible, so you may want drive one first and see if you can get comfortable.

[TonyHetherington]

Thanks everyone for the comments (for some reason I hadn't spotted last night's!).

Going to see two this weekend - a 1.8 TDi with 87k, and a 1.6 petrol with 70k (full leather, yum)...both with air con, alloys, one in blue one in silver at a few hundred under £3k. Can you argue with that? I think not!

Rich- I'll be honest it was talking to you that's made me do it. I love the Elise but just really want a normal everyday car now. The elise is staying, cant see me getting rid of that for a long time, but it's not going to take me to work and back, the gym, tescos etc anymore. Did want a KA but thought I'd regret it when I need to do some major miles (which does happen a fair bit, and I just always find ways to not drive as I don't want to put crap miles on the Lotus)

Anyway, looking forawrd to it

Thanks again everyone. Oh and sorry forgot to say, to the last poster, interesting your comments about the fuel consumption etc, I'll certainly look out for the lurch in first/second.

Tony

[mattyboy101]

I don't think the TDdi suffers the same fault, the TDCi has a fly by wire throttle - whereas the TDdi is mechanical.

[TonyHetherington]

It's a TDdi that I'll be looking at tomorrow, thanks