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Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec 5dr. manual. Year: 2000. Miles: 64k - £1,299


Bfg

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Just been down to my local garage in Ipswich to see a friend who works as a mechanic there, and his mate (also a mechanic there) is selling a Zetec. 

 

He says previous owner was an old boy, and that mechanically jobs have been done including the clutch last year. 

 

Car looks very tidy ..aside from some obscure but shallow dents - for example ; just under the rear window there's a row of shallow dents ..as if the tailgate had swung up and hit the underside of a garage door frame.   

 

don't know anything much about this or any modern car, so if interested you have to call and ask. I'm only passing it on because it looked a very decent car for not a lot of money, and the mechanic selling it (privately I guess, despite using the office copier !) is a really decent chap  (and otherwise big into 60's Vauxhalls)

 

post-20151-0-83533400-1484322470_thumb.jpg

 

..cheers Pete ;)

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I genuinely don't like to disparage posts like this, as it might stop people from posting interesting/bargain/obscure finds. But as nice as that looks, it's about £850 over priced.

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I genuinely don't like to disparage posts like this, as it might stop people from posting interesting/bargain/obscure finds. But as nice as that looks, it's about £850 over priced.

Yes it is well overpriced, even with the low mileage, have a look through the for sale posts and you'll find my mk2 focus which is a lot younger and just as nice for a grand (mine is sold though but you get the idea)
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I went to renew my insurance on my daily 2001 Peugeot this week; and could only get 2 companies other than who I'm with to quote (and the quoted were silly) I'm late 30s, with 20 years no claims

 

Don't know about over there, but for the reasons of inability to get insurance that has very little value here, literally 1-200

 

It looks lovely and tbh my Peugeots a grand oul thing; but because I had a choice of staying with the same insurance company for 35% more or paying 1000-1200 for a different policy (was quoted 330 to insure a 2015 Peugeot) I'm left with no choice but to buy something a year or two newer (I'm going to get another 307; they're so unloved and cheap and a 2.0hdi 90 has no dmf, DPF and I'll have a good one for bits)

 

GLWS

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In fairness though, if someone just wants a well cared for, fairly low mileage reliable car, it's probably ideal. As much as we're all 'experts' on cars and ttheir values, there's probably as many or more (of the public) who aren't and would buy it because it's a nice car for not a massive amount.

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Don't forget a lot of folk value low mileage very highly when buying a second hand car. Though it does look somewhat top end price wise, these are popular (with good reason) and it'll find a home.

 

Also, we tend to forget that most folk don't come on websites like this and so don't know how little a decent car can be bought for. I was absolutely open mouthed when I found this site and saw the money apparently good cars were changing hands for. Most people go to independant dealers or private sellers, they don't take pictures of their lunch on the way to pick up some sort of brilliant luxobarge for £200!

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I sell a few motors as well as working on a few in my spare time.

 

You're not wrong, in that people pay good money for good cars, and good money for not so good ones too, but that's above top end money even given the low miles IMHO.

 

Best of luck to him, but realistically a boggo focus with an drinky motor without the sporting labeles on it is going to struggle even with a mint body at that money.

 

 

If he's serious about moving it on, he needs to be ready to take a bid on it.

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My Family, myself included, bought a string of cars from that particular garage in the early 00s, all of which turned out to be accident damaged to various degress. Mine was worst, a Mk3 golf which had had a major shunt and been bent back out on a jig it was reckoned. It had the structural integrity of a wet paper bag and got scrapped after failing the first MOT I took it for after purchasing it (with a minty fresh 12 month ticket on it) as it was damaged the same side the fuel lines went down, nessitating their removal before any remedial work could commence.

 

I won't tar your mechanic friend with the brush, but I am deeply distrustful of the proprietor of that particular establishment. I sincerely hope his ethics have been realigned in the intervening years.

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Is it overpriced? I wouldn't pay that but a 64k well maintained Mark 1 Focus is a car for life really, if looked after. Of course the mouth breathers will see the W plate and think 'fukkin 'ell my fukkin mate brought a fukkin 56 plate fuh that and it's raaate mint apart from X/Y/Z".

 

£1295 for five years motoring is cheap really. Folk need to stop judging cars on the reg plate and consider whether it's actually a good car or not. 

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It didn't strike me as being very expensive at all, which I think shows how much you guys know ..and how little the general public (me included) know.  Furthermore we also don't know any particular make / model of car's weak points / what to look out for and what to avoid..  I don't think many of you appreciate, that combined - you guys are a veritable overflowing fountain of knowledge !!   B)

 

It does seem to me though - that many (..though certainly not all) of the bargain cars I hear about on this 'ere website need a good bit of knowledge to fix (as I say I know very little about modern cars) and that's why they're sold cheaply.   Even some of you marque enthusiasts come unstuck now and then.!  And how many are still awaiting resurrection as daily drivers, or end up as another parts car ? :oops:

 

To many of us (even readers of Autoshite) the prospect of buying a unknown type of car unseen, needing a bit of welding here & there,  with a mechanical problem,  needing cam belts, brakes or clutch,  having screwed up electronics, or whatever ..are cars we don't want to know about ..And it would take us half a life time and the cost of a new car to learn. 

 

For the likes of me, most modern cars are simply a reliable, and usually rather boring means of transport.  Whereas others (old timers for me) are interesting, quirky,  and usually a whole lot more fun.  Any car like this (.. they all look the same to me !), whatever the marque, the model, or the year - is to me in the former category. It's just another car.    

 

But.,  If I were to buy at £200 or even a £1000 motor, then sure as God made little green apples - I'd soon face a stonking great big bill to get it sorted.  I don't have the tools, a place to work on it, nor the interest - so I'd pay someone else to do it (hence I have a friendly mechanic). 

 

And all I'm suggesting with this 'ere car is that it's the mechanic and not the garage is selling it.  And he is someone who's always struck me as being knowledgeable and genuinely decent.  I see the respect that the other mechanics show him, so perhaps he's not all that bad.  And for me buying from someone who's genuine - is worth a premium selling price..,  'cause I know from experience - it would cost me much more if I were to buy from an anonymous shark, who picked the ticket at the auctions on the day before and is now 'selling it for his uncle'.  

 

Surely, most lower priced cars are sold because they are facing a big bill.?  Whereas, if this guy says it's a decent car and the jobs have been done, then (perhaps in my naivety) I believe him.   Yes I'd look, listen, drive the car, and even seek a second opinion before buying, but I personally believe that I'd stand a better chance of getting something good, than if I bought off e-bay.

 

I understood the Zetec had a pretty good reputation, and although this may not be the most desirable spec., to you who know best, I'm guessing it would make a pretty good family & commute car, as his Reverend suggests, for a good five years (a £-couple-hundred per year).  And then knowing the mechanic would almost certainly save the buyer in future maintenance costs (if the car were to remain local). 

 

47.1 mpg (extra urban) fuel consumption seems pretty good to me for a family / commute-mobile, as does 37.2 mpg for 'combined'.  I have a friend who has one (also in silver) and it seems to serve him very well indeed, though I'm sure he's been around the clock in his.

 

 

As stated.. I have absolutely no vested interest in this..  I'm just presenting an average Joe's point of view.  fwiw !?

..personally I'd prefer a beige Citroen Dyane.. so what might that tell you !?  :mrgreen: 

 

Pete ;)

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FFS. That's five minutes of my life I ain't gonna get back. Thanks

 

Yes, isn't it shocking he posted a polite, well composed and thought out reply? Absolutely outrageous, we should ban him for life. :roll: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I say nice one, Pete. If people like yourself didn't make an effort, then along the lines we'd all miss out on stuff being advertised and the potential of a cheap or interesting car, no matter what we think of the Focus.

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It didn't strike me as being very expensive at all, which I think shows how much you guys know ..and how little the general public (me included) know. Furthermore we also don't know any particular make / model of car's weak points / what to look out for and what to avoid.. I don't think many of you appreciate, that combined - you guys are a veritable overflowing fountain of knowledge !! B)

 

It does seem to me though - that many (..though certainly not all) of the bargain cars I hear about on this 'ere website need a good bit of knowledge to fix (as I say I know very little about modern cars) and that's why they're sold cheaply. Even some of you marque enthusiasts come unstuck now and then.! And how many are still awaiting resurrection as daily drivers, or end up as another parts car ? :oops:

 

To many of us (even readers of Autoshite) the prospect of buying a unknown type of car unseen, needing a bit of welding here & there, with a mechanical problem, needing cam belts, brakes or clutch, having screwed up electronics, or whatever ..are cars we don't want to know about ..And it would take us half a life time and the cost of a new car to learn.

 

For the likes of me, most modern cars are simply a reliable, and usually rather boring means of transport. Whereas others (old timers for me) are interesting, quirky, and usually a whole lot more fun. Any car like this (.. they all look the same to me !), whatever the marque, the model, or the year - is to me in the former category. It's just another car.

 

But., If I were to buy at £200 or even a £1000 motor, then sure as God made little green apples - I'd soon face a stonking great big bill to get it sorted. I don't have the tools, a place to work on it, nor the interest - so I'd pay someone else to do it (hence I have a friendly mechanic).

 

And all I'm suggesting with this 'ere car is that it's the mechanic and not the garage is selling it. And he is someone who's always struck me as being knowledgeable and genuinely decent. I see the respect that the other mechanics show him, so perhaps he's not all that bad. And for me buying from someone who's genuine - is worth a premium selling price.., 'cause I know from experience - it would cost me much more if I were to buy from an anonymous shark, who picked the ticket at the auctions on the day before and is now 'selling it for his uncle'.

 

Surely, most lower priced cars are sold because they are facing a big bill.? Whereas, if this guy says it's a decent car and the jobs have been done, then (perhaps in my naivety) I believe him. Yes I'd look, listen, drive the car, and even seek a second opinion before buying, but I personally believe that I'd stand a better chance of getting something good, than if I bought off e-bay.

 

I understood the Zetec had a pretty good reputation, and although this may not be the most desirable spec., to you who know best, I'm guessing it would make a pretty good family & commute car, as his Reverend suggests, for a good five years (a £-couple-hundred per year). And then knowing the mechanic would almost certainly save the buyer in future maintenance costs (if the car were to remain local).

 

47.1 mpg (extra urban) fuel consumption seems pretty good to me for a family / commute-mobile, as does 37.2 mpg for 'combined'. I have a friend who has one (also in silver) and it seems to serve him very well indeed, though I'm sure he's been around the clock in his.

 

 

As stated.. I have absolutely no vested interest in this.. I'm just presenting an average Joe's point of view. fwiw !?

..personally I'd prefer a beige Citroen Dyane.. so what might that tell you !? :mrgreen:

 

Pete ;)

Some very fair points, just because a car is older doesn't mean it's worthless, on reflection after looking at it again I think someone will get a good car with no known faults and a good few years motoring out of it, it won't do any better than about 30mpg though :)
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30 mpg tops!!!

 

I suppose to the unknowing £1000 for it wouldn't hurt too much but it's a bit strong for me.

 

Replacing a clutch at those miles concerns me to as they usually do at least double that, makes me think giffer mobile only done short journeys, possibly other mechanical/bodywork issues.

 

Still, I'm sure someone will have it eventually.

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.

 

.. yes,  to those of us who started our driving on one of these..

STREETGAMES_soapbox_cart_2.jpg

 

^ look at the joy on those faces..  'modern' cars just don't give you that sort of jubilation :mrgreen:

 

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.

 

. .  my first car (not so long ago in the big picture of things) had round headlamps and a chrome radiator grille (but without a hole in it for hand crank starting) ..'cause it were an 850 mini.  These 'features' are now back in fashion ;)

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