Would a slightly clapped out focus make a good buy?

[Lankytim]

Following on from my purchase of a slightly shagged Astra, the seller of the Astra's dad must have been impressed by my O level in shiteology and offered me his clapped out 51 reg 1.6 Focus for a bargain price- £500. Its got a bit of tax and test on (but I forget how much) BUT its an ex driving school car with the HE-MAN dual controls recently removed and a big square on the roof where the sign used to be. My mates dad has owned it for a couple of years but I doubt he would have serviced it and I dare say its overdue a cambelt change. 114k, looks pretty tidy except the bottom of the passenger side doors have gone rusty, maybe a sign of a poorly executed repair in the past. I'm not expecting perfection here, just a cheap snotter to blat about in.

 

Got to be honest on this one, its cheap, its a focus with tax and test and the love/hate relationship with the Audi is starting to get to me. What's the absolute worset that can happen when buying a dodgy focus?

[Cavcraft]

What's the absolute worset that can happen when buying a dodgy focus?

 

You can't find a buyer within the hour.

 

Despite my loathing of them that does seem cheap and I reckon with some spit and polish I'd be surprised if you didn't see at least a 50% mark up on that.

[Alexg]

I dont think thats cheap. Its a 10 years old car that needs a service, cambelt and is rusting. £500 can buy better

[trigger]

Yeah but it's a 10 year old FOCUS so it's worth at least £1000!

[scruff]

Worth a punt if you can be arsed - especially if you can DIY the belt - potentially a nice little earner

[Tayne]

As it sounds a bit shabby, check the rear beam for rot.

 

I looked at a Focus a few years back and it looked like it had been launching boats into the sea.

[Richard]

Walk away. Things will break on it that you didn't even know cars had, and each one of them will cost a king's ransom to put right.

[RedSparrow]

Aren't driving school cars usually well looked after?

 

You could probably find a better one for the money though.

[Wilko220]

I agree - £500 isn't exactly a giveaway. You could surely get better for that.

[Guest]

It is cheap for a Focus, but that only reflects how overpriced they are as used cars. I wouldn't have it for myself, but I'd quite happily rotate it back on to someone else and then buy a different car.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Thing is, it's not an old T reg thing but a 51 plate. Cleaned up, that would sail away for £1100

[dollywobbler]

I'd go for it. I really like the Focus. It might be over-priced second hand because it's actually good? Much prefer these to the subsequent version.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I don't think they're expensive. A 51 Plate Golf 1.6 in good nick would be a couple of grand and Astra 4's are about the same money as a Focus and like the Focus, are reasonably well made and durable.

[Station]

I wouldn't have one for a driver, but I would tidy it up and sell it for more. Is it silver by any chance?

[Cavcraft]

Door rust would be an absolute doddle to sort out with a couple of hours and some rattle cans. Roof would possibly buff out or just lob some bars and a roofbox on it, meet the potential buyers at a motorway service station then throw your sim card away on the journey home.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Or a trip to U Pull It which is infested with buggered Foci in most colours.

 

I've seen some remarkably rusty ones of late where a rust rat has eaten the botton 2-3 inches of the doors.

[Danblez]

Rust along bottom of the door will have come from the inside out. The seams along the bottom of the inside trap water, noticed mine starting when less than 7 years old. Can also be observed on many poorly maintained models of around that age. In fact probably worth a good squizz underneath around the rear wheel well also as mine had some impressive surface rust there too.

 

Unusual for ford to rot out the rear wheel well!

[trigger]

I had a 04 plate Ghia when it was still 3 1/2 years old and that has started to go rusty on the boot.

[Cavcraft]

The rear quarters (especially on two doors) like to rust as well I've noticed.

 

However I still maintain it's (almost) irrelevant in Tim's case because the car is almost too cheap to worry about things like this. If it starts/drives o.k and doesn't look like it was parked by feel it'd be hard to see how he could lose out if he fancies turning himself a few quid.

[Lankytim]

I wouldn't have one for a driver, but I would tidy it up and sell it for more. Is it silver by any chance?

 

Yep, its silver!

 

I've asked for some more details, i.e exaxt amount of tax and test, list of bad things e.t.c. The square on the roof where the sign used to go looks like a sheet of sticky back plastic used to prevent any scratching. A kettle of hot water and a polishing mop should sort it. I have heard that the 1.6's can get around 45mpg, if so thats pretty good!

[sporty-shite]

I'd be on this like a fat kid in the biscuit tin. I'm pretty sure that a day's hairdryer and polish on the sticky roof, and a bit of shimmying on the doors could turn a healthy wage. If I was selling it on (which I would) I wouldn't even give the belt a second thought.