In the early days of Ford Direct, some cars were rumoured to be those that had been returned under the Ford Commitment (a scheme where cars with persistent or certain serious faults within a certain timeframe would be replaced FOC). The story was that the car had been shipped back to Ford Technical, "fixed", and then sent on to the Ford Direct prep centre for its usual valet and checks, before being sent onto the forecourt.
I don't ever recall a serious problem with a Ford Direct car that we sold. The appalling state that some new Ford cars were being delivered in at that time (misbuilds, damage, slack pdi checks) often made them a better bet than new quite honestly.
I am talking over a decade ago here, by the way.
Cheers
DP
Edited by DP on 08/05/2008 at 10:24
|
|
Have had one ford, an Orion 1.6 Ghia Injection back in the 80's but none since. Ford are not even on my current shopping list which is mainly Italian and Japanese. However, I recently had the chance to compare a new Mondeo TDCi 140 and a new BMW 320d. The Mondeo was a company car which I had for a week and 1000+ miles and the BMW was my brother in laws who lent it to me for a few days while he went watching his beloved football team try to conquer Europe. My conclusion, were it my money, I would be buying the Mondeo. There was no area where it felt inferior to the BMW. If fact, for motorway cruising, I found it better. The whole build quality of the car was impressive. Unfortunately, I could not justify the Mondeo for just my wife and I and it does take a bit of parking. However, I would not need much persuading. What this all brings me to is that perhaps I should put the Focus on my list. It is a bit more common than some I am considering and it is not the best looking, however, if it is anything like the Mondeo, it could be my next purchase.
|
|
|
Never quite understood why anyone would buy a nearly new Ford, when you can often buy a brand new one for similar money, with the advantage that you choose the colour, engine, spec, get 3 years warranty, 0 miles, brand new everything (i.e. no wear on tyres etc), and it hasn't risked being ragged to death by someone.
We bought a brand spanking new 1.6 Sport + metallic and a couple of other extras (mats, mudflaps, etc) for a shade under £10k.
Most ex-Ford cars (beit Ford or Ford direct) are ex-Hertz hire cars. sure most dealers will spin you a line and tell you it's an ex Ford managers car..... don't believe the hype!
Little give-aways to look for are : small rectangular sticker on rear door (usually with a dark blue magnetic stripe) - this is the hertz asset tracker which is used to check cars in and out. Also look under the boot carpet - they often forget to take the yellow sticker out which is used by Hertz staff to log damage to the car. But in essence, pretty much any <18 month old <15,000 mile Ford car with "Ford" on the log book will have been a hire car.
|
Never quite understood why anyone would buy a nearly new Ford when you can often buy a brand new one for similar money with the advantage that you choose the colour engine spec get 3 years warranty
I chose the model, engine spec, and colour, and got the balance of 3 years warranty. It came with 2 factory fitted options. The price was £1000 under list for a car of that age, i.e. 16 months. It had only done 4000 miles and was in showroom condition. Absolute bargain.
Most ex-Ford cars (beit Ford or Ford direct) are ex-Hertz hire cars.
The V5C for mine gave the name of the first registered keeper, with his address as c/o Ford Motor Co. Ltd., Eagle Way, Warley, Brentford, CM13 3BW. The keeper's id chip was still stuck on the top of the fascia.
L'escargot by name but not by nature
Edited by L'escargot on 08/05/2008 at 14:45
|
We hire 1.6 Focus's when on holiday in Cyprus.
I have to say, what a fantastic car - a very smoothe drive, high quality interior, and very economical at 50-60 mph
I never thought I would like a Ford so much, but this is a brilliant car
MVP
|
I just never realised how good my Fiesta was the other day. Had to drive a 1.2 07 plate Clio III, I was expecting it to drive lovely compared to my Fiesta, but the handling, gearbox and clutch felt so much nicer.
My Fiesta has had a very hard life, has only got 70k on the clock but its all city miles. There are a few faults like a tendancy to drink oil but it still drives like a new car, this has the 1.3 Endura unit too which was never a smooth engine to start with.
So far I have only owned two cars, both have been Fiesta's but will need a second car by the end of the year another Fiesta it will be - can't afford the insurance on a Focus.
|
Fiestas are one of the most underrated cars around IMHO. We bought a 97P 1.4 Chicane (Si suspension, "sports" seats, and white dials) but with the 90PS 1.4 Zetec engine. In a car barely breaching 900kg, and with an engine that puts some 1600s to shame with its sheer guts and willingness to rev, it felt remarkably lively.
Bought with 70k on the clock with a heater control valve problem which was causing it to overheat whenever the heater was turned off. Eventually got to the bottom of it, and it rewarded with 27,000 miles and just under 3 yrs of hassle free motoring. I had to change the lower arms and arb bushes, but that was literally it outside of routine servicing.
The hard part of buying a Fiesta is finding one that's even been half looked after. Most aren't even serviced once the warranty runs out if the 6 or 7 we viewed were anything to go by. Ours had a full Ford main dealer history and even when sold at 97k still pulled like a train, handled like a go-kart, regularly returned over 40 mpg, and felt as taut as new. The engine was as smooth and willing as ever. Held out for top money for it, and as suspected, it sold to the first person who came out and drove it (a Ford dealer tech of all people!)
If looked after, they're good for big mileages, parts cost peanuts, and the Zetec engine is one of the best small power units around IMHO. Gutsy, frugal and willing. And as Rattle says, you only realise how good the chassis is when you compare it to an equivalent Polo, Corsa or Clio - it really is in a different league.
Just be prepared to hunt hard for one that hasn't had the bejeesus beaten out of it and has seen the recommended maintenance. They really are few and far between, I guess because it's seen as a cheap, plentiful car that's easier to replace than look after.
If I were in the market for a cheap supermini, I'd have another tomorrow.
Cheers
DP
Edited by DP on 08/05/2008 at 21:28
|
|
|
|
|
|
