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Buying a car in February

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  • 18-02-2008 3:30pm
    #1
    Hedgepig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭


    Hello,

    I'm going to buy a new car I have around €8k to spend, and I saw a few cars that I liked today. One was a nice very clean 01 Ford Focus 1.6i LX with zetec engine and some extras, 70k miles - they're asking €8500 but I could get a chunk off that. Only downside is, the dealer told me they've had it since late last year. I know that January is a very busy month for buying second hand cars - is it a bad sign if this Focus was not bought? Is the price too high? He did say that they dropped the price recently, so maybe they were asking a lot more...

    For the same price I could get a similar 02 Focus (not quite as nice) from somewhere else, or an ~02 Avensis, or an 01 Laguna or an 01 Volvo s40... any recommendations on what to avoid or what to consider?

    Thanks in advance


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    #2
    pete4130
    Registered Users Posts: 3,944 ✭✭✭pete4130


    That seems too much for an '01 Focus with those miles imo. I sold my '00 Focus estate last month with 80K on the clock for €4k. Got a newer focus and didn't want it sitting around not selling so let it go cheap.
    You should be able to get a '01 or '02 with about 70k on the clock for between €5k & €6k. Tons out there in private sales so its worth paying to get it checked out 100% by an independant mechanic of you see one you like. You'll save a good bit compared to going to a dealer. The Focus is pretty cheap to keep running and repair, so a private sale isn't a bad idea once it checks out.


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    #3
    Stephen
    Registered Users Posts: 18,484 ✭✭✭✭Stephen


    The 1.6 is probably not as easy to sell as the 1.4 is here in good old Ireland either.


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    #4
    Churchy
    Registered Users Posts: 258 ✭✭Churchy


    I sold the wife's 2005 new model Focus 1.4 5dr with only 19k for £5,995 (Stg).

    Have you checked up north? Good selection of clean cars around at sensible money.

    Sis in law is about to sell her 03 1.4 Cl soon , 66k miles @ £3,495 (stg).
    (watch autotrader for it)

    Those prices south of the border seem crazy for such old cars.


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    #5
    domania
    Closed Accounts Posts: 79 ✭✭domania


    Crazy money for one. I just bought a 03 Focus for 8K from a main dealer. Haggle, Haggle, Haggle.

    What ever the price it's advertised for you should knock around 1500 off for a straight deal (i.e. no trade in)

    So search Carzone for cars priced in around 10 to 9K and you'll find something.


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    #6
    Hedgepig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭Hedgepig


    Thanks for the advice. The reason I want to go with a dealer is because I want to trade in my old Mitsubishi Colt which would be a lot of hassle for me to get NCT-worthy or to sell. Not a bad idea checking up north... I'm in Cork so it would be a long haul, but if it saves me over €1000 when all is said and done then I would be glad to have my first trip to NI - might even swing by the Giants Causeway in my new car :) Will take another look on carzone and see what I can dig up.


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    #7
    JHMEG
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    BTW, there is no such thing as a "zetec engine". Zetec is a trim level, like LX and Ghia.


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    #8
    Invincible
    Registered Users Posts: 6,124 ✭✭✭Invincible


    There's a site for cars in the north, www.usedcarsni.com
    Check www.ros.ie to see what the particular model will cost in vrt here.
    Good luck!:)


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    #9
    Hedgepig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭Hedgepig


    JHMEG wrote: »
    BTW, there is no such thing as a "zetec engine". Zetec is a trim level, like LX and Ghia.
    http://www.answers.com/topic/ford-zetec-engine. The trim on this one is LX, but the engine says Zetec on it.


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    #10
    bazz26
    Registered Users Posts: 51,155 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    If that Focus has been sitting there since last year it is because the asking price is just daft. You'd probably pick up a 2003 Focus for €8,500 these days.

    By all means shop around.


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    #11
    domania
    Closed Accounts Posts: 79 ✭✭domania


    What year is your old Colt? Is it worth more money than a straight deal saving? If not the buy the car for a straight deal price and the sell your old one privately. If it's too old and needs too much work to sell that way then bring it to a scrap yard and put it off the road for free. Pouladuff Dismantlers in Cork are licenced to scrap cars for free. You will get a cert of destruction to prove you scrapped it. Then job done.


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    #12
    JHMEG
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    Hedgepig wrote: »
    http://www.answers.com/topic/ford-zetec-engine. The trim on this one is LX, but the engine says Zetec on it.
    Sorry, I should have said that zetec is a branding, not a technology.


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