How Much Should I Offer For This Car

signs

A friend on mine has offered me first refusal on his car as below.

Only problem is that although I like this car and it would be great for work, is that he said he has had two or more taximen look at this and would like around €18k.

Make/Model: Ford Focus LX Estate 1.8 Tdci 100/115 Bhp (not sure yet, he says 115)
Year: Early 2004 Dublin reg
Colour: Light metallic blue
Milage: 35,000 miles
Bodywork: Good
Interior: Great
Has full service history
Has original Ford alloys, spots, factory fitted electric sunroof, Pioneer MP3/CD player, ABS, all electrics.

Any info would help, thanks in advance.

seatleon2000

Estates go for less..

http://www.carzone.com/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=185693

masteroftherealm

(snip) apologies just read teh other one

unkel

€18k for a two year old Focus seems expensive to me...

A brand new one (115bhp) lists at €26k, so say €23k cash

bazz26

signs wrote:

A friend on mine has offered me first refusal on his car as below.

Only problem is that although I like this car and it would be great for work, is that he said he has had two or more taximen look at this and would like around €18k.

Make/Model: Ford Focus LX Estate 1.8 Tdci 100/115 Bhp (not sure yet, he says 115)
Year: Early 2004 Dublin reg
Colour: Light metallic blue
Milage: 35,000 miles
Bodywork: Good
Interior: Great
Has full service history
Has original Ford alloys, spots, factory fitted electric sunroof, Pioneer MP3/CD player, ABS, all electrics.

Any info would help, thanks in advance.

That is expensive especially a straight cash deal.

The estate more than likely has the 100bhp 1.8 TDDi engine, the 115bhp TDCi engine was only available in the Focus van or Ghia spec which as far as I know was not available in the estate version in Ireland.

Since it is also the old model Focus I would be expecting it for around €16k straight cash. I doubt the taxi men would be willing to pay €18k for it either. Also the extras mentioned above add no extra value to the car, they just make it easier to sell.

Rudolph Claus

the 115bhp TDCi engine was only available in the Focus van

Are all the focus vans 115hp. I thought the focus van were only 100hp? Was there 2 different engines available in the van?

bazz26

Well any MkI Focus vans I have seen were all the 115bhp version.

Tipsy Mac

I'd say 16k cash, as it's early 2004 it's the previous model and is the one which will depreciate most as if you are trading it in later people will be much more inclined to go for the current model.

signs

Thanks for the input, I'll have to think this over a bit more.

PS - Engine definitly a Tdci, this would be a plus factor for me as I drove a 90 bhp Tddi Mk2 Focus for 40k miles and didn't like the performance/economy.

Lump Basher

signs wrote:

Thanks for the input, I'll have to think this over a bit more.

PS - Engine definitly a Tdci, this would be a plus factor for me as I drove a 90 bhp Tddi Mk2 Focus for 40k miles and didn't like the performance/economy.

I suggest you make first refusal and buy one on Carzone.ie

optiplexgx270

offer 16.5 and go to a max of 17

unkel

optiplexgx270 wrote:

offer 16.5 and go to a max of 17

No! I would not spend a cent over €14k tbh

optiplexgx270

unkel wrote:

No! I would not spend a cent over €14k tbh

have you even looked at similar models?

unkel

optiplexgx270 wrote:

have you even looked at similar models?

Not quite sure what you mean there, the €17k might very well be the going rate. But at €17k second hand for a two year old car you'd depreciate about €3k per year for the first two years

Just use common sense. About €23k would buy you a brand new one going with the same €17k after two years would still depreciate €3k per year. Obviously better buying new if it doesn't cost anything more* and you'd have a full warranty!

*apart from the opportunity costs of having to finance a larger initial purchase

optiplexgx270

What??

New is 23K - 2 years = 17K
which is my max advice to pay so what are you on about???

unkel

optiplexgx270 wrote:

so what are you on about???

Apologies for not making myself clearer. Buying new @€;23k would cause a depreciation of €3k per year. Buying a two year old second hand @€;17k would still cause a depreciation of €3k per year (leaving it to be worth about €11k when 4 years old - this is optimistic enough)

So my point is that it is better to buy it new rather than second hand because it won't cost any more

optiplexgx270

Thats of course assuming the OP can just conjure up the money

unkel

optiplexgx270 wrote:

Thats of course assuming the OP can just conjure up the money

Indeed, see my note on opportunity costs

Also, the second hand market has been a buyers one for some time. This will be even more so soon, when the SSIAs will mature from April. Second hand prices will go down even further. I know I shouldn't, but a 7 year old €150k car when new for now only €10k might be tempting

maidhc

unkel wrote:

Also, the second hand market has been a buyers one for some time. This will be even more so soon, when the SSIAs will mature from April. Second hand prices will go down even further. I know I shouldn't, but a 7 year old €150k car when new for now only €10k might be tempting

I doubt if the SSIAs maturing will have any effect on the €150k car market, it is only 6mths depreciation.

optiplexgx270

maidhc wrote:

I doubt if the SSIAs maturing will have any effect on the €150k car market, it is only 6mths depreciation.

7 YEARS depreciation i think you mean and yes could very well be €10K