I have seen a Ford Focus 1.6 LX which is an ex motability vehicle with 18000 miles and is a 2005 model (the last reg of the 1998-2004 shape Ford Focus) priced at £4999.
I noticed on the registration plate when I looked at the car at the Ford garage that it said GB
I wondered if you can give me some advice about whether this car, from what I have told you, seems a genuine buy remembering that the garage the car is at is a Ford main dealer with 3 months warranty.
Also the saleman said it had serivce history
Thanks.
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Only 3 months warranty at a main dealer? Something seems wrong there, all the Ford dealers I have been to have offered 12 months on their used cars. As for if it is genuine it is impossible to say from the information you have given us. It probably is genuine but I would want more than a 3 month warranty on a 4 year old 4k car.
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3 month is standard warranty by law. Garages that give you 12 months are charging you for it. Try and haggle over the price on the warranty if you want 12 months. They but the warranties in at around £100 and resell for £300 so plenty of profit in there.
Also dont get caught out buying a 12 month warranty when the car already comes with 3 months. If you buying an extended 12 month warranty you should be gett ing 15 months of cover. 12 + 3.
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My point was if they were giving the bare mimimum is because they suspect something will go wrong in 6 months time?
I had an argument with a garage a few months back as they told me their car dosn't come with any warranty, I said well what if my HG goes the next day he says they will look at it but won't get taken for a ride. I might actually see what trading standards have to say about that.
So I ignored what seemed to be a really good car because the seller would not trust it enough to offer a proper warranty, their main business was repairing cars too, so if anything did go wrong it costs their time and labour to repair, its not like they will have to pay another garage to repair it.
3 months later the same car is on the forcourt still unsold and its only a £750 Corsa!
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jp - are you specifically after the original shape?
I'm looking to update to the newer shape myself. Please see this one at cargiant:
www.cargiant.co.uk/Ford/Focus/details-404670-Ford-...p
Same price and all the guarantees that buying from a dealer brings. I have witnessed colleagues treated well by them. HJ has often recommended them in the past, I think this still holds true.
Re the car you mention, of course, the attraction for you is the main dealer bit but agree with the other poster who says 3 months is stingy. If they're confident of the car they should extend it to six months (edit: or twelve as Rattle mentions) if they know you're serious. If not, I'd walk away i think.
Edited by FocusDriver on 01/01/2009 at 23:33
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Mrs has owned the exact same car (1.6 LX) for a year but new shape (06, approx 20k miles) and, although she doesn't do a lot of motoring, she loves it. I drove it a few times for longish journeys last year and thoroughly enjoyed the drive, comfort etc. With my regular car being a 3.2, the 1.6 felt a bit slow at times (!!) but even she has commented that it doesn't quite have the guts of the 1.8 it replaced. It seemed reasonably economical and there is loads of boot space etc for the class of car.
Due to her low mileage we haven't had it serviced yet, but I'm really not expecting any surprises (but then they wouldn't be surprises, would they!!)
I'd hold out for more than 3 months warranty though...
Edited by smokie on 02/01/2009 at 09:45
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There are some 2008 Focuses on the Forddirect website for £7,499.
Style spec - similar to LX.
Ford guarantee the provenance, which the OP seemed concerned about.
Two years warranty, two years RAC and a few other benefits.
No MOT to worry about for a couple of years.
Easy for me to say, but it might be worth trying to scrape together the extra coin.
Edited by ifithelps on 02/01/2009 at 10:40
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There are some 2008 Focuses on the Forddirect website for £7 499. Easy for me to say but it might be worth trying to scrape together the extra coin.
Or this "as new" Sport model with just 4,300 miles on for £7,900 www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=5&t=70...4
;-)
which is his !
Edited by Pugugly on 02/01/2009 at 13:28
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Things to watch out on this shape focus are the front wipers -when you select the one sweep (one push down on the stalk) they dont return to the correct position. Mine was fixed under warranty.
Also watch out for rust around the door mirrors - you have to look very close. The mirrors vibrate when driving and over time rub the paint and cause rust.
I had an 05 3 door and it was a great car apart from the above problem.
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