The rusty £150 focus

[Shirley Knott]

3 hours ago, Jazoli said:

No you don't you remove the trim panel from the inside of the door, done it many times.

Its a piss easy job to change the window reg and/or the door lock on them, it takes 30 minutes once you know how.

This. 

Or go for a poverty spec SDI or 1.4 with no CL or electric windows and forget about it all together.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not making out that MK4 Golfs are the second coming of Christ or anything, but they ARE decent whips. I think for whatever reason it's become popular for people to deride them, and that's a shame.  For me they offer just the right combination of galvanized body's (Wings aside) that earlier marques lacked, whilst still using arguably VW's most robust range of engines. The fact that there are soooo many of them on the road with 200k plus miles on the clock, and all at least 17 years old has to count for something?

[Jazoli]

10 minutes ago, Shirley Knott said:

This. 

Or go for a poverty spec SDI or 1.4 with no CL or electric windows and forget about it all together.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not making out that MK4 Golfs are the second coming of Christ or anything, but they ARE decent whips. I think for whatever reason it's become popular for people to deride them, and that's a shame.  For me they offer just the right combination of galvanized body's (Wings aside) that earlier marques lacked, whilst still using arguably VW's most robust range of engines. The fact that there are soooo many of them on the road with 200k plus miles on the clock, and all at least 17 years old has to count for something?

I agree, I see at least 3 or 4 every day on my short commute to work, I can't remember the last time I saw a mk1 focus, there aren't many other cars of this age in regular use.

[Dan302]

1 hour ago, Shirley Knott said:

This. 

Or go for a poverty spec SDI or 1.4 with no CL or electric windows and forget about it all together.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not making out that MK4 Golfs are the second coming of Christ or anything, but they ARE decent whips. I think for whatever reason it's become popular for people to deride them, and that's a shame.  For me they offer just the right combination of galvanized body's (Wings aside) that earlier marques lacked, whilst still using arguably VW's most robust range of engines. The fact that there are soooo many of them on the road with 200k plus miles on the clock, and all at least 17 years old has to count for something?

I think I was unlucky with mine and bought a bad one, it was really nice to drive but a bit of a lemon. I was lucky that my Focus was more solid than most. I preferred my Mk4 Astra over the Golf and the Focus but I've never been known for having good taste!

[Shirley Knott]

1 hour ago, Dan302 said:

I think I was unlucky with mine and bought a bad one, it was really nice to drive but a bit of a lemon. I was lucky that my Focus was more solid than most. I preferred my Mk4 Astra over the Golf and the Focus but I've never been known for having good taste!

I thought you had a Mk5?

[rickvw72]

I did 60k in my Mk4 Tdi 130. It was brilliant. They are a good size, well built, cheap to run and easy to fix.

Ive been in the motor trade since school, and fitted precisely zero window regulators, or central locking parts to Mk4 golfs. On the other hand...
 

Ive put probably a dozen central lock mechs in Rover 75s in that time, and probably about 20 odd Ford Fiesta and Focus window regulators. Maybe the ones in the midlands are different somehow?

The mk4s real faults are the average handling, worsened with a heavy diesel up front. Other than that they are an excellent car.   Everyone is an expert on them some how and usually you get the classic advice summarised as such...

”I had one it was excellent” and “never owned one, they are shit”

 

[twosmoke300]

It’s funny how different areas / garages have different runs of jobs . I’ve been a mechanic for 23 odd years and have never put a window reg in a fiesta or focus .

vag stuff seems to be a monthly occurrence . 
 

The mk4 was a pretty good car when fitted with the PD motor but the petrols were pretty shit with plenty of issues . 
 

But foci are rusty buckets ! 
But then again I’ve changed a few golf rear axles for being rusted out .

[Matty]

11 hours ago, twosmoke300 said:

“ all service parts they are m8”

Must just be luck then. 400 to buy 3 years and 3 tests later its had 2 top mounts a ball joint and 2 drop links. Daily driver too. No VAG apologist here, but there's at least 3 lads on here with high mileage mk 4s who don't seem to spend much time mending them

[Dick Cheeseburger]

26 minutes ago, rickvw72 said:

I did 60k in my Mk4 Tdi 130. It was brilliant. They are a good size, well built, cheap to run and easy to fix.

Ive been in the motor trade since school, and fitted precisely zero window regulators, or central locking parts to Mk4 golfs. On the other hand...
 

Ive put probably a dozen central lock mechs in Rover 75s in that time, and probably about 20 odd Ford Fiesta and Focus window regulators. Maybe the ones in the midlands are different somehow?

The mk4s real faults are the average handling, worsened with a heavy diesel up front. Other than that they are an excellent car.   Everyone is an expert on them some how and usually you get the classic advice summarised as such...

”I had one it was excellent” and “never owned one, they are shit”

 

I also have lots of time for the PD130 mkiv Golf. Infinitely better and more refined than the mk3. If I needed a cheap 50mpg+ runner for <£1k, I'd have another tomorrow. 

[Matty]

10 minutes ago, twosmoke300 said:

It’s funny how different areas / garages have different runs of jobs . I’ve been a mechanic for 23 odd years and have never put a window reg in a fiesta or focus .

vag stuff seems to be a monthly occurrence . 
 

The mk4 was a pretty good car when fitted with the PD motor but the petrols were pretty shit with plenty of issues . 
 

But foci are rusty buckets ! 
But then again I’ve changed a few golf rear axles for being rusted out .

Ah now if your on about rot. Its as rotten as fuck ill admit that 🤣

[rickvw72]

Mk2 Focus appear to rotting well now too.
Some petrol golfs with bore wear issues was the worst I’ve seen, always 1.4 / 1.6 16v engine. 

 

[Tock]

My two cents on the focus mk4 golf debate as an owner and mechanic.

I had a 3 door 1.6 zetec focus that was around 6 years old many moons ago.

That was a wonderfull car and never ever put a foot wrong in the 6 years i owned it.

I brought it with 70k on the clock and sold it with 140k on it.

All it required was servicing and tyres.
Every year all the arch liners came out and was jet washed and waxed every summer.

Hence no rot on it at all.

It was great fun to throw around and the gearshift was a delight.

The 1.6 zetec se engine was slow as hell though..

My current golf is a 1.9 gttdi 115hp unit.

It constantly fills up with water when it rains typical of all vw products ive found.

Handling is quite poor tbh relatively firm with bodyroll and lifeless steering.

The engine is a cracker though useable power and 50mpg on a run.

Reliabilty wise most tdi golfs are abused to hell and back and the previous owner did the bare minimum.
Hence they are usually in a pretty poor state of disrepair.

My current car upon purchase had to have a comprehensive rebuild and a new cambelt and water pump as the belt was overdue by 5 years upon purchase.

The focus is the better car no question.
But like every ford the rot is killing them off now and as a result the vw is the better bet as a cheap banger.

Make no mistake though back in 98 you honestly needed to give your head a wobble if you picked a 1.6 golf over a 1.6 focus.
It was leagues apart.

Every generation focus after the mk1 has been a massive dissapointment in my eyes.

It was leagues better then anything else in its class.

We can thank richard perry jones for that .

[Matty]

4 minutes ago, rickvw72 said:

Mk2 Focus appear to rotting well now too.
Some petrol golfs with bore wear issues was the worst I’ve seen, always 1.4 / 1.6 16v engine. 

 

Mines an early 20vt. To be fair it is 22 now. Wings are crispy and its just starting to go on the back of each sill. Still solid structurally just getting tatty cosmetically

[Matty]

5 minutes ago, Tock said:

My two cents on the focus mk4 golf debate as an owner and mechanic.

I had a 3 door 1.6 zetec focus that was around 6 years old many moons ago.

That was a wonderfull car and never ever put a foot wrong in the 6 years i owned it.

I brought it with 70k on the clock and sold it with 140k on it.

All it required was servicing and tyres.
Every year all the arch liners came out and was jet washed and waxed every summer.

Hence no rot on it at all.

It was great fun to throw around and the gearshift was a delight.

The 1.6 zetec se engine was slow as hell though..

My current golf is a 1.9 gttdi 115hp unit.

It constantly fills up with water when it rains typical of all vw products ive found.

Handling is quite poor tbh relatively firm with bodyroll and lifeless steering.

The engine is a cracker though useable power and 50mpg on a run.

Reliabilty wise most tdi golfs are abused to hell and back and the previous owner did the bare minimum.
Hence they are usually in a pretty poor state of disrepair.

My current car upon purchase had to have a comprehensive rebuild and a new cambelt and water pump as the belt was overdue by 5 years upon purchase.

The focus is the better car no question.
But like every ford the rot is killing them off now and as a result the vw is the better bet as a cheap banger.

Make no mistake though back in 98 you honestly needed to give your head a wobble if you picked a 1.6 golf over a 1.6 focus.
It was leagues apart.

Every generation focus after the mk1 has been a massive dissapointment in my eyes.

It was leagues better then anything else in its class.

We can thank richard perry jones for that .

I've a mk6 fiesta ST that I've had for less than a year now. Ive been in all the arches and all under it to waxoil it and it has no rot whatsoever. Seems strange that mk2 focus are starting to rot when it's a contemporary of the mk6 fiesta. 

What I would say on the ford vs VW debate is that whilst I admire the golf I have as a good dependable motor I don't love it. The fiesta im constantly looking for an excuse to drive it. Ford just seem to get the fun factor right

[Jazoli]

The Focus is undoubtedly the better drive, I had a 1.6 and 1.8 petrol and a 1.8tddi mk1 and a 1.6 mk2 and they just drove so well with perfectly weighted controls and ride and handling in another league to the 4 pudding mk4 golfs I've owned, the first time I drove a focus when my escort company car was in to be fixed again I was gobsmacked at the steering feel.

[rickvw72]

Yeah the Focus had a great chassis. When new a good car.

At 15 years old something like this though Focus - all dead, Mk4 Golf plentiful. 
Probably a simplistic method to judge, but sums it all up. 

 

[Tock]

The best car i have driven was a puma 1.7 vct
Honestly it had a feel that no other car had
All the controls pedal perfectly balanced.
The steering you could feel everything that was going on.
Not harshly damped and loads of grip with minimal body roll.
And a snick snick gearchange with an engine that reved with ease.
In the mid to late 90s no one could hold a candle to any ford on a b road blast.
Again its the typical ford rot thats kilked almost every single one of them.

[Dan302]

1 hour ago, Shirley Knott said:

I thought you had a Mk5?

Mk4 Golf pd 150 which was an absolute nightmare and I spent way too much fixing it, this was followed by a mk5 Golf SDI which filled its sump with diesel every week or so. Then came the mk1 Focus. 

The mk4 Astra was a stop gap while the first Golf was being fixed and it was brilliant, I should have kept it instead of the Golf!

Kia Ceed now which I really like.

[Daviemck2006]

I've never had a focus, or a golf but as the current owner of a certain bora 1.9pd 130 which has been through a few hands on here, it is now just returned to the road after a three month lay up purely as I was unable to do the brakes outside due to my health and poor weather, the bora is a mk 4 golf with a boot and is the most reliable cars I have owned. It's now on 245K and exists now purely for me to do deliveries with a couple of nights a week. Only breakage been drivers door mirror twice, the drivers door opening cable. A few minor things for mot. Brilliant car.

Sent from my SM-T585 using Tapatalk

[danthecapriman]

There still seems a good amount of first gen Focus around down here. I think I can easily spot at least a few on the road every day. Although the most numerous are the the last couple of year plates, 03/53, 04/54 rather than the earlier ones. Some of them are looking a bit worse for wear though! I did see a bright yellow W reg one not long back. 
The one for me though would be a saloon 2.0 Ghia in that pale metallic gold colour they did.

Ive got a soft spot for this generation Focus though. My parents bought one brand new on an 02 plate, it was only a 1.6LX 5 door hatch but it was the first brand new car they’d ever had and they kept it for years and put over 130k on it. It was almost faultless throughout that time though and it was a really nice car to drive. Worst thing that happened to it was the speed sensor fault and the instrument binnacle was one of the ones that used some new eco solder on all the connections which broke down over time stopping the instruments working properly. A local guy knew how to fix them though so he stripped it out and resoldered it all, it was fine after that. 
They replaced it with a used mk2 Focus 1.8 Duratec which was an absolute nightmare from the start, it wasn’t a patch on the mk1 and they got rid of it within a few months getting a 16 reg Fiesta 1.25 ex demo car instead, which has been a brilliant little car.

 

[mitsisigma01]

Saw a nice T reg Focii today, couldn't see any rust from 10 yards, might see it tomorrow for a quick picture opportunity 

[Isaac Hunt]

Shame it got a bit hot.  

If the welding gets done for free, then as the chaps say, an interior should not come to big pounds. 

There is the faffing about time factor though, finding one.  

My MGZR has a near mint full set of Monaco Half leathers ex breakers yard.  Cost me £40.  Kin struggle to get the drivers seat out though, cos bolt TADTS rusts in on drivers side by the exhaust tunnel.  Hammer and cold chisel soon had the chunk of floor cut out.  Then the same sheared off on mine, had to drill it out.  

I even got a mint headlining out of another one.

Both were ‘stumbled on’ whilst down for other stuff and I thought, can’t let that get away, so stayed a bit longer and liberated them.

My original drivers seat was split to buggery and the original headlining made Nora Batty’s tights look tidy.  So neither were a total indulgence.  

 

 

[junkyarddog]

This old thing has been a faithful servant for the past 17 years give or take.

'99 1.6,starting to rust a bit now but for 22 years old it certainly ain't bad.

Hopefully it will last another few years.

[Bren]

We had a diesel ghia estate. It was great - punchy, economical and it had nice bits like the 6 disc autochanger. Sadly we out grew the car - this, and the fact the sills were suffering meant it had to go. It could have lasted quite a few years but we sold it and it appeared to have been scrapped not that long after.

One thing I have noticed with the golfs - clean, looked after examples are getting expensive.

[Shirley Knott]

9 hours ago, Dan302 said:

Mk4 Golf pd 150 which was an absolute nightmare and I spent way too much fixing it, this was followed by a mk5 Golf SDI which filled its sump with diesel every week or so. Then came the mk1 Focus. 

The mk4 Astra was a stop gap while the first Golf was being fixed and it was brilliant, I should have kept it instead of the Golf!

Kia Ceed now which I really like.

Ah, that's frustrating.

I think like with anything there are good ones and bad ones, luck of the draw really.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Golf MKIV 130PD Estate owner here.  Irritating small faults aside (drivers seat adjustment broken, rear wiper motor, etc.) it's a bloody good car and in the nearly-five years I've owned it I've put 100,000 miles on it and the only major fault was as a result of me not paying attention to the creaking DMF.  Which creaked for 50K miles before it gave way.

I must admit that I have a massive soft spot for the MKI Focus.  My Mum bought one - a 1.8 petrol LX Estate in 'Pacific Green' when I was about 12 to replace her Volvo 240 (which was my favourite of the childhood cars) and I thought it was seriously cool at the time.  Really nice place to be.  Mind you, I still remember getting hammered at a party when I was 14 and being sick in the back.

It saddens me to see the  MK1 Focus turn to rust because they really were fantastic cars and miles better than the Escort they replaced.  Dragged Ford forward (along with Ka) in terms of design and massively influenced others.  Lady Grumpius has a MK2 Focus and it's a very good car but it doesn't feel as special.

In conclusion?  My Mum had two of the greatest cars of the 20th Century.  A Volvo 240 and a MK1 Focus.  Then went and bought a Ford Fusion.  Diesel.  1.4.

[Vince70]

I’ve got to admit I was never a Golf MkIV fan as I always thought they were a bit bland looking and its a bit of a wallowing old thing but after getting given my badly neglected example it’s growing on me.

When driving it everything seems very well screwed together and it’s proved the reliability stakes being that it’s not had a service or a penny spent on it in 7 years and 40 000 Miles and it’s still rot free even though it’s lived on the seafront and never been washed in all that time.

My bugbear is those horrible rubber coated plastics that 90s VAG use as it looks terrible with age and everyone I’ve had I’ve removed the rubber and polished the plastic.

I also had a late example Mk1 Focus Edge diesel once and it was a far better  drivers car and far better looking in the styling department and didn’t cost that much in the way of repairs although the window regulator went  (hasn’t on the golf)   and even though it was a looked after example the rot wanted to get into the car and would have to keep the waxoyl at hand to stop it getting a hold on the thing and that was about 6 years ago and the Focus was an 05 plate so was relatively new at around 10/11 years old compared to the old Golf.

I’m not a Ford Basher as Ford really do know how to make a cheap fun car and we still have two Mk1 Ka’s which believe it or not are completely rot free which is a miracle but that’s because one of them has only done 19000 and the other was waxoyled to death when we got it plus the previous owner had paid out extra on some Ziebart style  rust protection on day one of ownership so I guess she learnt from her mistakes of buying an earlier Ka  previously.

 

[Shirley Knott]

The tricky thing I've found with the Mk4's is that even cars which are absolute nails still feel decent enough to drive (Read into that what you will) Take for example my recent roffle win GTi... It's done 120k, sat for pretty much three and half years without moving, has no service history worth mentioning, no timing belt history and yet remains totally rust free and feels fairly tight and solid to drive with nothing untoward jumping out at you. You've got to watch out! I'm going through it now to sort everything out and it's only getting light, albeit daily use until then.

Re Focai (Plural?), I've never driven one, much less owned one so I can't really comment. I've read many reports that they handle well, which admittedly is the Golfs achilles heel.

[2flags]

Had lots of Focuses, both petrol and diesel. I have them as driving school cars. The latest incarnation is very good if somewhat larger than the Mk1. My recollection of the Mk1 is that it handled really well but the 1.6 was somewhat gutless. The 1.8 went well but was somewhat thirsty. Not good in my profession. The diesels, up to the latest ones were great. Now however, unless you are constantly on the motorway, avoid diesels like the plague. The 1.0 ecotech engine is superb. 18000 miles servicing and giving no problems at all. The latest diesel needs oil changes every 3000 miles, the DPF filter blocks up at 26000 miles and put the engine management light on. [Can't take it out on test if the light is on.] All in all great cars. Must have had at least 20 over the years.

[junkyarddog]

This old thing has hauled some shite over the years,only captured these two though.

Tows quite nicely, if rather slowly. 

 

[sierraman]

The 1.6 diesel in the Mk3 isn’t a bad unit.