Ford Focus with 130k for €500

Evolving

Someone I know is selling their 2001 1.6 litre petrol Focus soon and I`m considering it. It`s an automatic, though I`m used to manual. It has 130k miles on it, but these are mostly motorway miles as they are a commuter. It has 1 previous owner before them, full service history, and timing belt was replaced at approx 100k miles. They keep it in top condition and regular repair, and I trust them. NCT is up to 12/12. They`re asking €500.
It`d be my first car, and I`d only use it for weekend driving myself, so only really on national roads and motorways.
What do ye think? Should I take it? (obviously after I`ve checked it out and taken it for a drive)

Rolli

Evolving wrote: »

Someone I know is selling their 2001 1.6 litre petrol Focus soon and I`m considering it. It`s an automatic, though I`m used to manual. It has 130k miles on it, but these are mostly motorway miles as they are a commuter. It has 1 previous owner before them, full service history, and timing belt was replaced at approx 100k miles. They keep it in top condition and regular repair, and I trust them. NCT is up to 12/12. They`re asking €500.
It`d be my first car, and I`d only use it for weekend driving myself, so only really on national roads and motorways.
What do ye think? Should I take it? (obviously after I`ve checked it out and taken it for a drive)

How old are, if you don't mind me asking ?

Timmaay

Also, do you have a full licence? No point doing your test in an auto, you will be limited to a licence for just an automatic then!

JustLen

does it come with any tax or NCT? have you tried donedeal etc to compare similar cars that have some test?

Tbh buying/ selling a car with a friend is something i would avoid, it can be messy and result in problems down the road.

A lad I used to work with and got on really well with practically blanks me whenever i meet him, feels the fact that the car i sold him developed problems while he head it was somehow my responsibility.

by all means check it out, maybe it wouldn't be an issue between ye if problems with the car did occour just something to be aware of

Evolving

I`m 30 years old, doing my test in a manual shortly.
It comes with NCT until 12/12, tax was paid every 3 months but will expire shortly.
On donedeal, similar spec with NCT at similar time is 1200, same or more on other sites I`v checked.

Big Nasty

Sounds like a good deal but the 1.6 will be lethargic in auto.

pudzey101

Surely for 500 quid there must be a catch as said above though, no point in taking your driving test in it, if you want to be driving automatics for the rest of your life :P

bazz26

If that car is genuine then snap their hand off at €500. Make sure a mechanic looks it over first though as it might be too good to be true.

Evolving

Thanks for the opinions everyone, I`ll be sure to print the sticky about buying used cars when I go to inspect it. Does anyone know how much you`d have to pay a mechanic to look over it, and will he do so responsibly or just go through the motions for his money?

Bigus

Evolving wrote: »

Thanks for the opinions everyone, I`ll be sure to print the sticky about buying used cars when I go to inspect it. Does anyone know how much you`d have to pay a mechanic to look over it, and will he do so responsibly or just go through the motions for his money?

At 500 you don't need a mechanic if you know the car and the people selling it, provided its drives ok.

Its worth a lot more than 500 regardless so go ahead and buy it ... no brainer

Evolving

Oh, should have said, it`s actually got 160k miles on it, not 130k. Was told it had 130k on it by someone else but the owner has confirmed it`s 160k miles.
Still worth the money, considering all of the previous information?
Like I said, I`d really only use it at weekends so would do well to cover 6,000 miles in it myself per year, and would be happy to get 2.5 years driving out of it.

Bigus

Evolving wrote: »

Oh, should have said, it`s actually got 160k miles on it, not 130k. Was told it had 130k on it by someone else but the owner has confirmed it`s 160k miles.
Still worth the money, considering all of the previous information?
Like I said, I`d really only use it at weekends so would do well to cover 6,000 miles in it myself per year, and would be happy to get 2.5 years driving out of it.

Still worth the money

The_Honeybadger

I had a 04 one of those as a company car in the past and it was a dog on petrol, it used to eat tyres for fun as well despite tracking and balancing being done every time it was in for tyres and was driven on good roads. If you're doing small mileage however this won't be a big worry, sounds like a good deal.

unkel

Bigus wrote: »

Still worth the money

+1

Keep that car running and with test and you can get your €500 back for it all day long any day for years to come. Zero depreciation is all yours