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The law always confuses me, I thought it was 3 months? Also why do so many traders say they have no warranty with their cars? Are they illegaly selling the cars?
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The law always confuses me I thought it was 3 months? Also why do so many traders say they have no warranty with their cars? Are they illegaly selling the cars?
All explained here:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/faq.htm?id=43
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Oh, and have a look on Autotrader - there are loads around the £1500 mark. 99/2000 cars with around 100k, many of which have had the big cambelt service at 100k, so you wouldn't need to worry about that. In fact, in that respect a 100,000 miler is probably a better bet than a 90,000 miler.
These are well built cars which shrug off high mileage. I took an 02 car to 100k with nothing other than servicing, tyres and a replacement auxiliary belt and tensioner. Still drove perfectly at the end.
Look at the mileages on some of them. Loads at 180-190k+ and one at 274k!
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Yeah thats where I found this Autotrader :). I have always been put off high milleage cars yet its quite stupid as I do low milleage anyway, a newer body is more important to me than an engine with low milleage. My last car had plenty of life left in terms of engine, but I sold it because it was rotten.
A mate bought one at 80k to replace his aging 106, he has now done 140,000 and said he has spent a lot less on repairs than he did in the 10k he did in his 106.
Mind you with my luck what ever car I buy will probably snap its cambelt and the gearbox will fall out on the A55 while being flashed for doing 50.1mph in a 50.
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What APR are you going to be paying on your credit card. A bank loan would probably be a lower %age if you can get one - 8% is a typical bank rate. Of course there 0% deals over 15 months on some cards so try for one them, perhaps?
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Credit card is 8.9% APR, the problem is on smaller car loans the APR tends to be high, I am self employed and although have credit history and never missed a payment, the fact I live at home and am still young counts against me too.
0% over 15 months thats pretty good I would imagine you need to meet strict criteria though, all mine wanted to know is household income and if I have any defaults, no to both have a credit card sir - its no wonder we have a credit crunch!
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Rattle,
Looks like you're about to buy a decent car that should be reliable.
Don't do it, son, you'll have nothing to post about and we'll have nothing to read. :)
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hehe probably can't afford it anyway, I am going to at least look at it though :) On a side note how does the bodywork of a Focus generaly last? If this car is as genuine as the add, the car mechanicaly last another 10 years on my milleage (not that I will keep it that long, but I have to provide my dad with cars as part of my living arrangment) so it could be a potential buy to keep in the family which does mean long term ownership. I think DP has touched on this but there is a good chance it will need a new cambelt and stuff like that anyway and I won't buy unless this dosn;t need doing for a few years.
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Cambelt on the Focus is, I think, 100,000 or 10 years - so a little while to go according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Having said that, I wouldn't leave it until 100k - the cambelt tensioner on my 1.6 99/T started to disintegrate at 92k and the rest of the engine had a lucky escape.
Reliable and economical apart from that, though, and should celebrate its 110,000th mile before the end of this week.
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But this Focus is almost ten years old on the original belt most likely so it will need doing in my ownership. Its £200 I would rather spend on tyres or beer so its a bit put off. This where a cheaper higher milleage Focus may make sense.
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My advice would be to find a tidy, full history 1.6 petrol example, as close to 100k as you can that's had that big cambelt service. £1500 should be plenty. 100,000 miles on a well cared for Focus is nothing, trust me, and if you're keeping it in the family, take advantage of the psychological 100,000 mile price drop, and buy a cheap car with plenty of life left in it.
If you're looking at a car where the belt is due, get some money knocked off (£250 would be fair). Maybe even haggle a belt change into the deal with the Ford dealer on this car if it's a particularly nice example and it's affordable.
Oh, and I have never seen a rusty Focus, even the early ones.
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If you are serious about a bid go straight to the dealer principal with your offer rather than one of the sales monkeys - you don't sound like you enjoy the bull$h1t you get from salesmen so I would give your best and final offer straight to the guy who can say aye/no.
Haven't bought from a monkey for years, and if the dealer is looking to shift stock you'll be surprised how quickly you'll complete the deal with a good discount.
Don't sound hesitant or apologetic when you speak to him - it's purely business, not a relationship building exercise.
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All dealer cars except the cheapest have a sizeable markup to allow for a part-ex, which I don't think you have? Offer £1500 cash to start with, and see what happens. If they don't take it seriously, walk away.
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Rattle, I have just looked on Autotrader. There are dozens and dozens of 1.6 Focus for under £1600. Some of them have full Ford history, many have high mileage, but some are in the 80,000 mile range. Why don't you have a look?
PS I'm glad that we are now in agreement on tyres!
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Went to see it today well just had a quick glanse, I am still ill so was not up to speaking to sales staff. It had a £2500 sticker on it, the tyres looked ok but were all different makes including a cheapo one at the front. It was just another Focus and the 1.4 is no cheaper to insure than the 1.6 for some odd reason so the 1.6 would be better for me.
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Just to let you know, I have had my mk 1 Y reg Focus for 7 years. It is a 1.8 petrol and has now covered 122k miles.
The handbook said to replace to cambelt at 80k miles, then the service dept changed this to 100k miles. I had mine done at 91k miles, one of the pulleys was split in two places. I had a lucky escape !
The only other problem i've had is the idle air control valve failure. That cost about £80 to replace at a Rapid Fit.
Good luck
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