Bangernomics Focus buying advice.

coolbeans · 10-10-2011 12:53PM #1

Hey all, I'm thinking of buying a Ford Focus for small beans...circa 1200-1500E all in. It must be a 1.6 five door hatch for practicality. Does anyone have advice particular to this model when going to view aside from the usual suspects?

Mr Benevolent · 10-10-2011 01:24PM

Check for washer fluid leaking onto the engine under the cover, it can damage the coils and rust the sparkplugs.

Tefral · 10-10-2011 01:37PM

For that money youll be looking at the MK1 im assuming.

Check the boot door by the hindges for rust.
Check the window motors work (they had a fault in the 99-00 age) they were recalled.
If it has alloys check for play in the wheels, trackrod ends tend to go in them if there is oversized wheels on them.
Check for bushing wear in the rear trailing arms.

All in all they are a good car and anything that goes is cheap enough to fix. The timing belt needs doing every 100k miles.

langdang · 10-10-2011 01:46PM

Confab wrote: »

Check for washer fluid leaking onto the engine under the cover, it can damage the coils and rust the sparkplugs.

Does this apply to the Mk1's? Had only heard of it with newer models?

Not many 1.6 hatches out there coolbeans, presume the 1.4 will do?

coolbeans · 10-10-2011 02:17PM

@Langdang, I was hoping to get a 1.6 although if I can't find a good'un I'll settle for a 1.4, they're not too bad power wise but I'd prefer to have the extra poke.

@Cronin J, thanks for the tips. How does one check for bushing wear on the rear arms?

Bangernomics Focus buying advice.

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