Has this potential.

Joey the lips

Hi FOLKS

you have been good to me a novice the last few weeks. I saw this car last week and I initially like it... Not to fond of the sales man as he told me wife its a 1.4 and she was insulted to think he thought her daft but I told her she should have corrected him there and then... Anyway...

What do you think of the car.

Is there problems I should be looking for

Aspects of serviceing I should be asking if they were done...


Any tips appreciated..

I hope to use this for a min of 5 years at 300 miles a week which is 16000 a year.

Many thanks

Joey

http://www.holcroftmotors.com/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201012197326928

Anan1

If you want to get another 80k miles out of it then make sure it's got a full verified service history now. And don't take it home without the wheel centres.;)

Berty

Always get the FSH on a car with a tow ball. Who knows what kind of pressure was exerted on the engine.

smcgiff

Joey the lips wrote: »

Not to fond of the sales man as he told me wife its a 1.4

Is it possible the salesman was suggesting it was equivalent to a 1.4 litre petrol?!? Not sure if that would even be a correct comparison, but...

keithclancy

Berty wrote: »

Always get the FSH on a car with a tow ball. Who knows what kind of pressure was exerted on the engine.

I always thought the Drivetrain was the important thing to look at when its got a towbar.

Although in Fairness a Toyota dealer in cork told me he removed the towbars off every single car that came in (90% had towbars, out in the sticks, all farmers)

Wouldn't pay too much attention to it

Although i have mate who thinks of a towbar as a parking aid.

Joey the lips

Anan1 wrote: »

If you want to get another 80k miles out of it then make sure it's got a full verified service history now. And don't take it home without the wheel centres.;)

Berty wrote: »

Always get the FSH on a car with a tow ball. Who knows what kind of pressure was exerted on the engine.

With respect... Can you please explain both these comments....

Berty

Joey the lips wrote: »

With respect... Can you please explain both these comments....

Ford Focus Saloon & 15 Foot Trailer with 8 Cattle in it and a lubricant service by a garage. Ensure the garage gives the engine a complete check.

Then again he could have been towing his wheelie bin from his house all the way to the road.

Who knows?

Anan1

Joey the lips wrote: »

With respect... Can you please explain both these comments....

It's missing the wheel centres on the LHS - they were probably removed for the NCT and never replaced.

Re Berty's point, towingsomething heavy is a lot harder on a car than just driving.

Berty

Anan1 wrote: »

Re Berty's point, towingsomething heavy is a lot harder on a car than just driving.

Yes and I should point out that its not just on the engine rather on an assortment of other parts.

Joey the lips

Anan1 wrote: »

It's missing the wheel centres on the LHS - they were probably removed for the NCT and never replaced.

Re Berty's point, towingsomething heavy is a lot harder on a car than just driving.

Thats amazing I would have never noticed... Does that have an effect on the cars operation... Missing the wheel centres...

So to sum up what should i be checking and how do I go about checking it ok.. as in the case of the trailer.

bazz26

The centre cover of the alloy wheels where the Ford logo is, are missing from both front and back wheels on the passenger's side:

Berty

Joey the lips wrote: »

Thats amazing I would have never noticed... Does that have an effect on the cars operation... Missing the wheel centres...

So to sum up what should i be checking and how do I go about checking it ok.. as in the case of the trailer.

It is pretty difficult for you to do youself but if you plan on getting 5 years from this car then you should check now before things eventually start to wear away.

Its really getting the car up on a ramp and checking things like seals, exhaust, the cat, suspension, seeing it the wheels rock. You also need to get into the engine for a gander but if you don't know what you are looking for then you're not starting well.

I'd recommend getting a FULL Warranty from the Garage and thinking of getting an independent check done on the car before you buy it. You can always get this done after, having your warranty to cover you.

smash

Seems a bit expensive to me. Maybe it's the market value but it just doesn't look it at all! Guarantee you'd get something better at an auction and with the money you'd save, you could get it fully serviced etc!

Berty

Berty wrote: »

Always get the FSH on a car with a tow ball. Who knows what kind of pressure was exerted on the engine.

steve06 wrote: »

Seems a bit expensive to me. Maybe it's the market value but it just doesn't look it at all! Guarantee you'd get something better at an auction and with the money you'd save, you could get it fully serviced etc!

Too dear in my opinion too, you'd get a lot more Mondeo for the money.

Regarding the comments about getting a look at the engine to see if it's worn from pulling a trailor ? What exactly would one look at ? Compression test ?

Joey the lips

Thank you folks. I am living in Drogheda where are there auctions on this weekend local..

As for warrently... What would I need to get in terms of coverage...

Why do you think too dear I have not seen any comparission

bazz26

You will get no warranty from an auction and you have very little time to inspect a car, so unless you know what you are looking at you could end up buying a piece of crap. Also there are more inexperienced people at auctions these days who tend to get carried away and end up driving up the final price close to retail prices meaning they save very little considering the risk involved.

Warranty wise you will probably only get an engine + gearbox warranty on cars of that age, standard would probably be 3 months but I would try and squeeze 6 months out of them.

To be honest this looks better value considering it is cheaper, has more room and a more powerful engine:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201017197825775

Joey the lips

bazz26 wrote: »

You will get no warranty from an auction and you have very little time to inspect a car, so unless you know what you are looking at you could end up buying a piece of crap. Also there are more inexperienced people at auctions these days who tend to get carried away and end up driving up the final price close to retail prices meaning they save very little considering the risk involved.

Warranty wise you will probably only get an engine + gearbox warranty on cars of that age, standard would probably be 3 months but I would try and squeeze 6 months out of them.

To be honest this looks better value considering it is cheaper, has more room and a more powerful engine:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201017197825775

Yes it does actually...however I wanted something a little closer to home if that was possible,,,, Sorry if that sounds fussy.

Bonito

What about this?

http://www.tallaghtford.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201019198000996

Joey the lips

Bonito wrote: »

What about this?

http://www.tallaghtford.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201019198000996

Thats nice but I am looking for diesel... Sorry... I thought based on me milage it would be worth it....

Berty

Joey the lips wrote: »

Thats nice but I am looking for diesel... Sorry... I thought based on me milage it would be worth it....

Your kind of borderline on needing a diesel or not. I always think if one tank of fuel will do the week the go for a petrol and anything above that Diesel.

Quick example. How about this?

New Shape and less mileage.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/NEW-SHAP/201018197912598/advert?channel=CARS

Berty

Mondeo

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Mondeo/2.0-TDCI/201019197928160/advert?channel=CARS

Mondeo

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Mondeo/LX-2.0-9/201012197349059/advert?channel=CARS

Mr Benevolent

Surprised that no-one's mentioned that it's an LX. The combination of a towbar, LX and Drogheda (as in a country town) suggests it's been doing some heavy towing tbh. The diesel puts the final nail in the lid.

OP, I'd suggest you avoid that car on general principles. Get yourself a Nice Zetec or Ghia, without a towbar!

Joey the lips

Confab wrote: »

Surprised that no-one's mentioned that it's an LX. The combination of a towbar, LX and Drogheda (as in a country town) suggests it's been doing some heavy towing tbh.

They did mention towning I dont know what you mean by LX...Sorry...ie what bearing it has on towing... Is there any way of telling...

Joey the lips

Berty wrote: »

Your kind of borderline on needing a diesel or not. I always think if one tank of fuel will do the week the go for a petrol and anything above that Diesel.

Quick example. How about this?

New Shape and less mileage.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/NEW-SHAP/201018197912598/advert?channel=CARS

I like this one...Without sounding stupid how do you know this was not pulling a trailer and if so where would the marks be...


Thanks again folks...Keep them coming if you can..


please advise on potential maintenacne requirements as well


many thanks.

Berty

LX = Basic Entry Level

Zetec - Normally Alloys, Climate Control and some other things

Ghia - Bigger Spec

Titanium - Top Spec

Joey the lips

Berty wrote: »

Your kind of borderline on needing a diesel or not. I always think if one tank of fuel will do the week the go for a petrol and anything above that Diesel.

Quick example. How about this?

New Shape and less mileage.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/NEW-SHAP/201018197912598/advert?channel=CARS

Ended up buying this car folks... Thanks for your help...

Had a look at the service history... Seems to be serviced at 20000 mile intervals...

As i have already bought it there is not much complaining but I am getting a 3 month engine warrently on it.

What would you imagine i need to get checked...

Again many thanks for all your assistance.

Berty

Fair play to you. You did much better than your original suggestion.

How much did you pay for it in the end?

When does the NCT Expire?

Things you should have checked, assuming you did anyway but still?

Is the steering straight. Get it moving in a straight line and take your hands off the wheel. Does it pull in either direction. Yes - Get tracking fixed.

Stop the car with engine running and turn the car full wheel lock to the left and then to the right so check for noises - Problem noises could be CV joints.

Check all the fluid levels anyway. My brother and mother bought cars from established dealers and they were running low of fluids.

Check the tyres. Make sure there are no bulges in them, thread levels are good and there isn't some mix of medium to crappy tyres mixed around each corner.

Do you have a pair of keys or just one? Find out where the other key is and if you only got one then get the dealer to pay for a 2nd key for you.

bazz26

Joey the lips wrote: »

Ended up buying this car folks... Thanks for your help...

Had a look at the service history... Seems to be serviced at 20000 mile intervals...

As i have already bought it there is not much complaining but I am getting a 3 month engine warrently on it.

What would you imagine i need to get checked...

Again many thanks for all your assistance.

That engine is a Peugeot/Citroen HDi engine and it has a DPF (diesel partical filter) which is similar to a cat converter on a petrol car. The DPF gets clogged with soot over time, there is usually a self cleaning system in the HDi engine that does it every 500/600 miles but over time the soot will eventually build up to a point where the filter gets completly blocked irrespective of how often the selft clean system runs and the DPF needs to be removed to be cleaned or replaced. A replacement is around €800. So make sure that the garage check the condition of the DPF and top up the Eolys additive as part of the service before paying over any money.

I have the same engine in my S40 with similar mileage and recently had the DPF cleaned and Eolys additive topped up, it cost me €220 but I should get longer now before the DPF needs to be completely replaced.

Joey the lips

bazz26 wrote: »

That engine is a Peugeot/Citroen HDi engine and it has a DPF (diesel partical filter) which is similar to a cat converter on a petrol car. The DPF gets clogged with soot over time, there is usually a self cleaning system in the HDi engine that does it every 500/600 miles but over time the soot will eventually build up to a point where the filter gets completly blocked irrespective of how often the selft clean system runs and the DPF needs to be removed to be cleaned or replaced. A replacement is around €800. So make sure that the garage check the condition of the DPF and top up the Eolys additive as part of the service before paying over any money.

I have the same engine in my S40 with similar mileage and recently had the DPF cleaned and Eolys additive topped up, it cost me €220 but I should get longer now before the DPF needs to be completely replaced.

Thats cool thanks so if i phone him and he says yes its done how do i make sure it actually is done...

Joey the lips

Berty wrote: »

Fair play to you. You did much better than your original suggestion.

How much did you pay for it in the end?

When does the NCT Expire?

Things you should have checked, assuming you did anyway but still?

Is the steering straight. Get it moving in a straight line and take your hands off the wheel. Does it pull in either direction. Yes - Get tracking fixed.

Stop the car with engine running and turn the car full wheel lock to the left and then to the right so check for noises - Problem noises could be CV joints.

Check all the fluid levels anyway. My brother and mother bought cars from established dealers and they were running low of fluids.

Check the tyres. Make sure there are no bulges in them, thread levels are good and there isn't some mix of medium to crappy tyres mixed around each corner.

Do you have a pair of keys or just one? Find out where the other key is and if you only got one then get the dealer to pay for a 2nd key for you.

Its going in for its NCT. i have bought it based on it passing. It was a terriable day. I have a disabled child and he went a little turk so I could not do much but I will check this.

Joey the lips

Alright folks picked up the car. Had a good look but missed one problem

The bumper at the back was marked this resulted in the white plastic framing to crack underneath it. my mechanic said it should hold despite vibrations. He said its probably like that a while. A new bumper for the back would cost a grand I imagine.

The timing belt has not been done yet. The garage said its not due till 100 000 miles but they rec it get done at 90k so as to give a little leeway

There was also one key with the car so I need to get a new one.

any one any opinions on costs or would you like to tell me that my mechanic is mad and I was ripped off.

btw my mechanic is an office worker now so does not do any servicing

-Corkie-

I hope you didnt pay the list price for it.....

Berty

Joey the lips wrote: »

The bumper at the back was marked this resulted in the white plastic framing to crack underneath it. my mechanic said it should hold despite vibrations. He said its probably like that a while. A new bumper for the back would cost a grand I imagine.

Dont know about that.

€90 or so for a bumper. €150 to spray and fit it. €15-20 for paint, primer, pads etc.

Joey the lips

Berty wrote: »

Dont know about that.

€90 or so for a bumper. €150 to spray and fit it. €15-20 for paint, primer, pads etc.

A bumper for a 05 ford focus only 90 euro...That will explain so why everyone thinks I am stressing over nothing. Its holding fine. Bearly noticable its interesting you come up with that price.

I might get it done when I am getting the timing belt done

Do you know the rec milage just to confirm what i was told...

Thanks again.

Berty

If you stroll into your local ford dealerships parts department and ask about a bumper he will try to sell you a FORD BUMPER.

If your mechanic/panel beater goes to buy a bumper then he goes to a Motor Factors who sell him a "Spurious" bumper which will fit your car and is asthetically the same as a Ford Bumper except for the price.

Joey the lips

Berty wrote: »

If you stroll into your local ford dealerships parts department and ask about a bumper he will try to sell you a FORD BUMPER.

If your mechanic/panel beater goes to buy a bumper then he goes to a Motor Factors who sell him a "Spurious" bumper which will fit your car and is asthetically the same as a Ford Bumper except for the price.

My cousin owns a motor factors so thank you.

Joey the lips

New key cost me 110 in Navan lock and key

Timing belt does not need to be done for 10 years or 200k according to ford but I cannot find anything on this.

Body work repair is cheaper according to the local repair shop @ 220 but they think i am mad to do it.

So all in all just a new key required... Thanks again.