Ford parts are cheap -- really?

jase1

Just looking over some prices for parts on a couple of online places -- I am going to require a timing belt/tensioner kit, and possibly a pair of wishbones and perhaps an exhaust back-box later on (they're OK for now but looking around the car they're a wee bit scabby). While I was on I looked for another couple of typical problem areas, the radiator and the clutch. On a 2007, 1.6 Focus.

Now, I have been used to "viciously expensive" cars in the past -- Hyundais, Mitsubishis, Daewoos, Hondas and Nissans. I thus compared the prices to my other three recent cars (one current, two last year): a 1998 Daewoo Nubira, a 2000 Nissan Primera and a 2003 Mitsubishi SpaceStar.

To my astonishment, on onlineautomotive.co.uk (a site I've used before because they stock Nipparts), Ford bits are at least as expensive as the others. For example, I have bought wishbones for the Primera and the Daewoo. Cost £25-30 on average. £50 on the Mitsubishi, but £55-60 on the Ford.

The timing belt kits are also more expensive, and the clutch is no cheaper either (£73 on the Mitsu, £78 on the Daewoo, £70 on the Ford). Radiators are a similar story.

Am I missing something fundamental here, because it seems to me that this idea of Ford bits being cheap is a complete load of old rubbish. It's not the main reason I bought the car but it is a contributing factor and I do wish people would stop repeating the mantra ad-nauseum if it isn't the case.

jase1

I tell you what it is actually -- it's the new Focus. The previous one's parts were cheap. The new one is as expensive as just about anything else -- except the VWs which seem even worse. I really should have researched this earlier -- I now have a sub-Japanese car with Japanese parts prices. Grrreat...

Parva

And your point is?

I've owned Fords and I've owned Nissans and Toyota's. The Ford required parts far more often than the Japanese variants (and yes I know that they're UK too in many respects). The last Ford I had (1.8 diesel) cost me a fortune in parts and regularly let me down.

The two Japanese varients also cost me a fortune but with much less parts. The parts were undoubtedly far more expensive but in the grand scheme of things they worked out far cheaper purely because they didn't need parts every other week like the Ford did!

You pays your money and you takes your choice.

jase1

My point is, that the justification for buying Ford over Japanese is "cheap parts". This would appear to no longer be the case.

I'm quite happy to accept that if you have one car with high parts costs but excellent reliability, and then a car with cheaper parts but worse reliabilty, you end up honours even. The problem is that the Ford parts prices are no longer cheap it would seem -- removing a large reason for buying a Ford in the first place.

I felt the point was pertinent on a money saving website.......

I'm not sure you've read what I've said anyway -- you've essentially repeated the same mantra that I am saying doesn't seem to be true any more.

daveyjp

Are you comparing a historical cost for previous cars with a current cost for a Focus? A quick search on that website shows a Nubira clutch kit is now over £100, a Focus £70.

NeverAgain_2

The justification for me buying a Focus over a Japanese car is the Ford is a proper driver's car, while the Japanese produce competent, but desperately dull, cars.

Ford bits may have been cheap in the days of Cortinas and Escorts, but they've been on a par with the rest for a long time.

One good thing about Ford is the bits are generally available straight away.

Have you tried a main dealer?

They can be cheaper than the factors on some parts.

goldspanners

NeverAgain wrote: »

One good thing about Ford is the bits are generally available straight away.

and most parts can be bought aftermarket. a lot of german jap stuff isn't available aftermarket.

jase1

> Are you comparing a historical cost for previous cars with a current cost for a Focus? A quick search on that website shows a Nubira clutch kit is now over £100, a Focus £70.

In both cases there is a less expensive, and more expensive alternative. I picked out the cheap one, else the Mitsi was about to start looking comparatively cheap

> The justification for me buying a Focus over a Japanese car is the Ford is a proper driver's car, while the Japanese produce competent, but desperately dull, cars.

It's veering away from the OP, but I'd like to address that one as well. The Primera was in many ways the original mainstream driver's car. Its basic design dates back to when Ford/GM were producing lazy, wobbly old jalopies like the Escort, Sierra, Cavalier and Astra. In fact, having owned both, and being an enthusiastic driver myself, I would say that the Primera handled better than the current Focus does. The current Focus is prone to wallowy understeer when pushed into a bend much more than the Primera was, and the engine is relatively coarse and undynamic. It has to be said that it is miles ahead of the Daewoo (not surprising as that car was a cheap derivative of the already-hopeless mid-90s Astra) but it's certainly not the ultimate in driving dynamics. Believe it or not, the Mitsubishi is just as positive to drive as the Ford is, what with its passive rear-steer etc. For a top-heavy car it takes corners remarkably well -- it has been commented on by workmates as well.

> Ford bits may have been cheap in the days of Cortinas and Escorts, but they've been on a par with the rest for a long time.

Yes, this is the impression I now get. I will look at the MD prices as well.

> and most parts can be bought aftermarket. a lot of german jap stuff isn't available aftermarket.

Yeah but that stuff is generally the kind of "oh sh** my car's just gone bang and it's going to cost me hundreds to fix" major components, which in my experience (touch wood) generally don't break in the first place. If Nissans really did rain Datsun cogs I think there would be a thriving aftermarket in rebuilt gearboxes

Hammyman

jase1 wrote:

Am I missing something fundamental here, because it seems to me that this idea of Ford bits being cheap is a complete load of old rubbish.

You look for parts for a European car on a Japanese specialist parts website and find they're a similar price. No $h1t Sherlock. Try ringing your local motor factors. For example on Ford Mondeos I've never paid more than £20 a side for wishbones.

Oh and 18 months ago I had a brand new genuine Ford alternator fitted to my diesel Mondeo supplied and fitted by my local Ford dealership. Alternator was £120 which was actually £50 cheaper than a recon from motor factors. The bill including fitting was under £200. How much is an alternator for your Mitsubishi from the main dealers?

jase1

The problem there being that that same site is charging £21+VAT (I think it was) for previous Focus wishbones. And it's not a Japanese specialist -- they just happen to resell Nipparts as part of their business.

I've looked at other sites as well and they are charging similar money. Parts prices for the current Focus have skyrocketed over the last one. Main dealer is actually wanting nearly £100 for a wishbone, which is an absolute scandal for a piece of metal with a couple of bushes on it. If Mitsubishi were charging that much, people would point and say "Japanese parts again".

forgotmyname

Your maths are flawed. Parts for newer cars cost more. Someone has to pay for the machines to make them.

Why do you not compare the parts prices of a 1998 focus instead of a 2007 focus?

OR more accurate compare the prices of similar 2007 cars.