Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy?

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 11:56
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - richmurr

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/black-ford-focus-for-sale/81322189

ive seen this ford focus for sale but it has a high milage. should i be concerned about this milage for the year/price etc.

thanks for all your replies last time, you have convinced me to get a 1.6 rather then 1.4 and very happy about it too

cheers

richard

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 12:43
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - Bobbin Threadbare

At first glance that's not bad. The price is a tad high; for that mileage I'd stick at £1k dead. I'd be cautious of the part service history though, and certainly ask what the car has had done (new clutch, cambelt, bushes, trim repairs and deffo anything major!). The mileage is fair for the age (124000 miles over 12 years is just over 10k a year) and I expect that the insurance will be reasonable on it. Also I don't reckon you've got any illusions of it being worth anything at all once you've driven it for a while!

It's also just passed it's MOT which is reassuring.

Now you've put the link up, make sure no-one off here buys it if you want it ;-P

Having said that I find you: www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20112238902...p

and: www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20112138825...p

The latter will even throw in a warranty!

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 13:27
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - Boulder2k9

The thing is is that there are literally thousands of these cars out there as Bobbin has just shown and many have lower mileages, better service history and so on.

The one you are looking at is expensive for what it is, but on a 11 year old car 124k isn't that much, its just more than many others out there. Insurance on a 1.6 will still be high enough age depending of course.

Those 1.6 petrol focuses do like to drink petrol though, I have heard that many times before, just a consideration before you buy.

My advice would be to shop around and find a nicer one though with a FSH and lower miles and better condition. As ever its up to you!

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 13:53
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - Bobbin Threadbare

I didn't notice my 1.6 drinking petrol but I guess if you've got a long commute a diesel is worth looking at as they have none of those new fangled bits that seem to keep crapping out on people.

Remember, the Focus was the most popular car in the UK for a very long time so there will be loads and loads of them about. I just put my home postcode into Autotrader and it pulled up a lot of them.

You can tell I am leaving my job and have nothing to do can't you...?!

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 14:32
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - madf

Two within 20 miles of here under £1k...and only < 110k miles..Both £895.. One private and one trade One had a new clutch...

I think £1k is too high and £1200 is exorbitant...

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 14:56
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - richmurr

all great advice. i was looking at a 1.4 but they seemed to be priced higher then a 1.6 and after talking to a few people they say you get better MPG out of the 1.6. i know MPG is the big issue now but surely its how you drive and what type of driving you do.

the cars you have shown me look great but there in manchester, im in london so car prices seem to be much higher then everywere else hence why im looking into essex.

i have loads of time to look for cars so i am just keeping my eye out for the right one. my budget is £1000 (howd you geuss) and im looking in the east london essex areas so if you see any driving about let me know.

thanks for all you great answers as when ever i see a car with over 100k on it i panic but maybe i shouldnt and simply compare it to the age of the car

cheers everyone

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 15:53
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - bonzo dog

At this sort of money you will not know what quality of car you are buying unless it is from someone you know & trust

My advice is to go by the condition of the bodywork & interior seats / trim. If these are in good condition its a fair bet the car has been looked after.

I know it's easy to say (not being my money) but if you get 18 months trouble free motoring it has been a good buy.

Good luck

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 16:15
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - richmurr

my thoughts exactly. if i can get a car with 1 years mot and tax then i think im probably quids in.

cheers mate

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 16:16
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - jamie745

My verdict. Not to buy.

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 16:17
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - richmurr

cheers!. i think your on the winning verdict

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 16:38
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - madf

When I looked at Focuses locally - see above- a 1.4 Focus was the cheapest £695...

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 16:55
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - richmurr

what area are you searching from?

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 18:53
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - madf

what area are you searching from?

Deepest darkest North Staddordshire : any further North and it's Cheshire. So a search can cover Stoke on Trent (expensive cheap cars as lots of poor) and Southern Manchester...(cheap cheap cars as lots of rich)

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 16:38
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - richmurr

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201120387789127/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/2000/model/focus/make/ford/postcode/rm137xh/page/7/quicksearch/true/radius/30?logcode=p

how about this?

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 16:43
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - jamie745

That looks in decent nick. Not sure why one lady owner is always a massive selling point though, ive met women who absolutely rag their cars.

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 17:37
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - Boulder2k9

How about this one, almost half the mileage of the one you posted, 12 months MOT, nice colour. I'm sure you could have that for 1k with some haggling.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201121388257396/sort/pricedesc/usedcars/price-to/2000/engine-size-cars/1-4l_to_1-6l/transmission/manual/fuel-type/petrol/model/focus/make/ford/postcode/sw1a0aa/radius/1501/page/46?logcode=p

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Thu 2 Jun 2011 19:54
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - Bobbin Threadbare

That looks a decent one 159man.

It's interesting to note how different areas have different prices for the same car - £1k is fair enough up here in Lancashire.

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Fri 3 Jun 2011 15:36
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - jamie745

You're not wrong. Here in East Anglia you can expect to pay a 30% premium over what you'd pay for the same car up in the North West. In fact i could drive a car from the North West to East Anglia and it mysteriously rises in value along the way.

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Fri 3 Jun 2011 05:25
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - 1litregolfeater

As a current Ford owner, and a past one, I'd say buy any make but Ford, they're still rust buckets.

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Fri 3 Jun 2011 09:28
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - richmurr

im a current for owner as well and my fiesta is brilliant, just need some more room in the back and a bit more power under me right foot so i can actually over take when needed haha.

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Fri 3 Jun 2011 21:51
Ford Focus - ford focus 1.6 buy or not to buy? - Lord Laughton

My brother has an 02 plate 1.6, I think he has serviced it twice in the 7 yesrs he has had it and it appears bullet proof. Not much in the way of poke but reasonable on fuel and roomy. I would exchange the wife's Fiesta for one any day but for the fact that they dont have isofix for the nipper. I like the look of them and for an oldish family hatch they drive and handle really well. Parts are cheap and they are reliable. Thousands out there so do shop about.

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