Good price for a focus?

unknown_786

I am looking for a Ford Focus..I have seen one i really like..it already has tinted windows (something which I would have got put on anyway) and 17" alloys plus a CD player (all things I would spend on anyway)...its a 1.4cl 5 door..has done 65,000, is a T REG (1999) and is available to me for around £3,600.

Any comments would be much appreciated,,

trigger_mike

Sounds a little pricey to me, it's only a base model with some big wheels which won't make it worth more, their are lots about, spotted this on ebay for the same kind of money but a better spec http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-FOCUS-1-8-with-RS-style-spoiler-skirts-bumper_W0QQitemZ4616998805QQcategoryZ9844QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem or a 53-plate 1.4cl http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-FOCUS-1-4-cl_W0QQitemZ4616236975QQcategoryZ9844QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Look on Autotrader.co.uk as well, but remember all because a car has big aftemarket alloys it wouldn't be worth more, will make the insurance go up, and cost a fortune on tyres.

blue_haddock

It sounds pricey to me for a base spec focus - it's also likely to have been thrashed to within an inch of it's life.

DavidHM

What the estimable Mr Haddock said.

This is a £3k car from a dealer, with £600 alloys so you're more or less paying the new price anyway. Plus a 1.4 Focus will barely move. A 1.6 Focus will cost more to tax but insurance is scarcely any different and is likely to be much better to drive.

You're much better off just going for a nice, genuine, well maintained 1.6 Zetec which will come with 15" alloys and probably air con too.

Stephen_Webber

DavidHM wrote:

You're much better off just going for a nice, genuine, well maintained 1.6 Zetec which will come with 15" alloys and probably air con too.

If you are going for the Zetec, you want one with the climate pack installed (air con, heated wing mirrors, heated front windscreem). I wouldn't go for one that with an engine smaller than a 1.6.

My October 54 1.8LX cost me £7500 late last year. As it is the 1.8 model, it also had alloy wheels and aircon/heated front windscreen, which the lower capacity LX's don't.

In terms of spec, it kind of goes LX, Zetec, Ghia, with the LX being the minimum I would consider and the Ghia being top spec.

Stephen

unknown_786

Thanks a lot for all your comments...much appreciated...the reason I am going for a 1.4 is for insurance...it will be my first car and I am 21........Am i not correct in thinking a 1.6 will cost much more to ensure?

highguyuk

1.4/1.6 not alot of difference - tax is the problem.

If you go to https://www.wisebuyers.co.uk and find the cars concerned it will tell you the insurance group - and hence you should be able to see if there is a difference.

Failing that, bung the info into https://www.confused.com and do insurance quotes for the 2 and see the difference.

HTH

blue_haddock

If your worrying about insurance i suggest you leave the wheels standard as most insurers aren't keen on that kind of thing and will load the premium accordingly.

ArsenalFC

I would advise against getting big alloys for the car as it would badly affect the handling and steering. It would be fine on a sports model as the suspension, handling and everything else are design to accomodate bigger wheels.

I once drove a mate's bmw 318is coupe. It has 17" alloys (225 or 245x55x17). The steering was heavy and bad. I have this car model myself with standard 15" alloys and the handling is good.

Avoid big alloys, maybe only go 1" bigger than the standard if you must. I'd rather spend the money elsewhere as the standard zetec model alloys looks quite good to me.

Incidently, I'll probably get a focus this summer myself and 1.6/1.8 Ghia auto model is what im after. From what I have read, the 1.4 is underpower. But insurance is an issue for u so check with www.confused.com and other insurers online to see the difference in quotes between the 1.6 and 1.4.

Insurance for me is not an issue as my current 11 year bmw cost me £455 full comp with Zurich (£45 cashback with rpoints to make it £410). Dont want to part with my bmw but need a smaller car as I don drive so often now, plus im after the air con option too. Heated front window is a big bonus on the focus.

gingerdad

Stephen_Webber wrote:

If you are going for the Zetec, you want one with the climate pack installed (air con, heated wing mirrors, heated front windscreem). I wouldn't go for one that with an engine smaller than a 1.6.

My October 54 1.8LX cost me £7500 late last year. As it is the 1.8 model, it also had alloy wheels and aircon/heated front windscreen, which the lower capacity LX's don't.

In terms of spec, it kind of goes LX, Zetec, Ghia, with the LX being the minimum I would consider and the Ghia being top spec.

Stephen

The 1.6 LX is the same spec as above. has been standard since 2002

Spec goes CL, LX, Zetec and Gjia

shelly

Stephen_Webber wrote:

As it is the 1.8 model, it also had alloy wheels and aircon/heated front windscreen, which the lower capacity LX's don't.

Our 1.6LX has all these features and its an 02 plate.