buying a Ford focus advice!!!!!

wexchick

Hi guys,
I am looking to buy a new car (05,06ish), want to buy a diesel as I live in Wexford but work in Carlow and spending a fortune a week on petrol at the moment! firstly was thinking of a deisel golf but so expensive and parts are seemingly expensive! Now I am thinking of a hactchback ford focus. Saw a lovely 05 1.6 hatchback focus for €7750 from dealer in Dublin, 6months waranty, diesel, nct til 01/13, 50,000miles. I thought this was a very good price?!?!?!?! any idvice is very welcome!!!:) need to get a car asap!!! my one currently on last legs and have spent way too much fixing it over past few months and it would sicken me to pump more money into it!!!! My budget is 8,000

hobochris

One thing to keep in mind when looking is the focus comes in various Spec levels(listed worst to best):

-lx
-style
-zetec (+plus connect options(bluetooth + voice control))
-Ghia
-titianium(rare in Ireland)

Keeping this in mind you'll be able to figure out if your getting a good deal or not.

There are plenty of decent focus's going for your budget.

wexchick

1.6 lx TDCI i think it is

Leonard Hofstadter

Aim for a Zetec or Ghia.

LXs are very basic, no a/c for example(though Toyota still doesn't have a/c in the Corolla/Auris), or a trip computer or alloys etc.

Zetecs or Ghias have all the important stuff and are easier to sell on, as well as being a much nicer place to spend your time in.

Watch for the DPF, they can go, and of course the DMF can give trouble with the diesels.

Other than that, I can't think of anything that goes wrong with Focuses, they're such a good car.

Divorce Referendum

captainspeed wrote: »

Aim for a Zetec or Ghia.

LXs are very basic, no a/c for example(though Toyota still doesn't have a/c in the Corolla/Auris), or a trip computer or alloys etc.

Zetecs or Ghias have all the important stuff and are easier to sell on, as well as being a much nicer place to spend your time in.

Watch for the DPF, they can go, and of course the DMF can give trouble with the diesels.

Other than that, I can't think of anything that goes wrong with Focuses, they're such a good car.

If its the 90bhp which I think all the Irish registered ones are they dont have a dpf luckily enough.

pablo21

I had an 06 focus tdci. nearly 1000km to a tank of fuel. Brilliant little motor.

wellsir

are you set on buying a focus? I have an old megane saloon, and it always does over 50mpg and my driving style is agressive, should get a good one for 8k.
Got two new shocks on mine recently and is driving like new with 121k on the clock.

EPM

If it's a UK Zetec make sure it's a Zetec Climate. 05/06 Zetecs in UK didn't have air con as standard.

mullingar

And the UK Climate Zetec spec has the 110hp version of the 1.6TDCI, instead of the paddy spec 90bhp.

Great motors, I got a Climate Zetec 110hp 1.6TDCI in the UK last year for the OH. Has all the essential toys. A/C, Heated windscreen etc., also has heated cream leather seats from a scappy too!

I have a 12MB pdf 2006 UK Ford Focus brochure here. If you want a copy,PM me your email address

dr.fuzzenstein

Got me an 06 1.8 TDCI 115 hp Focus Cmax ZETEC, alloys, heated windscreen (you will wonder how you ever managed without it), aircon, big and comfy, perfect for munching miles in.
The 1.8 has the old engine as found in Fords since time began but on the move it's great, not too noisy.
And most importantly it has no DPF, DPF might make a difference in a post 08 car where it might get you a tax advantage but if you got DPF in a pre-08 car you'd have to be declared insane and locked up.
This is a car for wafting along though it does backroads as well but mind the potholes, the alloys won't like them.
Getting between 46 to 50 mpg on mostly motorway depending on my driving.

shamwari

Just to be clear, 90bhp 1.6 TDCi's don't have a DPF whereas the 110bhp's do.

Also the DMF's in the Focus 1.6TDCi's are better than those in other Fords, especially the Mondeo. They are very reliable in comparisson.

bazz26

Focus 1.6 TDCi 90bhp was sold offically in LX/Style or Zetec trim in Ireland, they do not have a DPF. The 110bhp version was sold in the Ghia here only (I had one) and it had a DPF fitted. UK import Zetec models did come in 90bhp and 110bhp.

BTW €7750 is expensive for a basic LX model that is now almost 6 years old. I would also want a verified service history on a 6 year old diesel car with only 50k miles on the clock.

Ok, this is a basic LX too but it is a year younger for similar money:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201041199876089

Again proven service history is a must especially on a car with such low mileage.

Royale with Cheese

captainspeed wrote: »

Aim for a Zetec or Ghia.

LXs are very basic, no a/c for example(though Toyota still doesn't have a/c in the Corolla/Auris), or a trip computer or alloys etc.

I have an 05 LX and it has alloys.

mumblin deaf ro

wexchick wrote: »

1.6 lx TDCI i think it is

I have had a 2006 1.6 TDCI hatchback focus LX (mine has alloys, fogs, sunroof - probably extras paid for by the first owner) for the past two years. In that time it has been faultless. A good all-rounder - reliable, good to drive, good room for kid stuff. I'll probably hang onto it for another two years.

I may be wrong, but I think the zetec version (step up from LX) has a firmer ride - maybe someone can confirm that.

A quick carzone search will tell you what the current prices are. It sounds like you're getting a reasonably good deal (you have some room to haggle) if you're getting 6 month warranty and over 2 years NCT (garage must have NCT'ed it early and very recently).

Good luck with your purchase.

dr.fuzzenstein

mumblin deaf ro wrote: »

I may be wrong, but I think the zetec version (step up from LX) has a firmer ride - maybe someone can confirm that.

Well, there's definitely a difference between some Fords ride quality, with the basic model feeling a bit light and flimsy on the road.
With the firmer ride also comes beefier steering and more positive gearchange, all three well worth it, makes the basic car feel quite flimsy.

bazz26

There was a "first edition" limited run of the new model Focus back in 2005. It was based on the LX but came with extras such as alloy wheels, cruise control and front foglights. Not sure if they were sold with the TDCi engine though, anyones I saw were either 1.4 or 1.6 litre petrol.

Royale with Cheese

bazz26 wrote: »

There was a "first edition" limited run of the new model Focus back in 2005. It was based on the LX but came with extras such as alloy wheels, cruise control and front foglights. Not sure if they were sold with the TDCi engine though, anyones I saw were either 1.4 or 1.6 litre petrol.

I must have one of them so, it has all 3 of those features. 1.4 petrol.