Buying a used Ford Focus - prices?

1bowler

I currently have a P reg Primera which is used as a work car (ladder on roofrack and a water system carried in the car). It's been a great car but at 165000 miles the head gasket has just gone.

I'm now having to look for a new 'used' car (vans are too expensive) - after going through my choices it looks like my best option is a Ford Focus for reliability and repair costs, but as it's a work car I don't want to spend too much so am looking up to £4500.

Local independent car dealers have a few 03s available around the £3000-£3500 mark but only have 3 months warrenty. My local Ford main dealer has 2 available: a 05 1.6 Sport 5dr (42000 miles) at £5999 and a 05 Focus Edge 3dr (50000 miles) at £4449 before trade in.

The main dealer is offering me £1000 trade in for the Primera and a 1 Year Warrenty so their 2 models would cost £4999 and £3449 respectively, I realise that this has been 'included' in the price of the cars and so they are more expensive than the independent dealers but how overpriced are they and are they a bad deal for their age/mileage?

Also, out of the two models mentioned which one is better.

Unfortunately I don't know much about cars so need to go for the safer option if possible without being totally ripped off!

Many thanks

tim9966

Are the 05 ones the new shape or old shape? as that was the time they changed over, so some 05 reg ones are still the old shape, whilst others are the newer shape (MK2) Focus.

1bowler

The Sport is the new shape, the Edge the old shape but when I phoned today to book a test drive was told the Sport had already gone. So back to the drawing board now, was thinking about a Fiesta but they seem dearer than the Focus.

property.advert

There are thousands of new second hand Focus models made available every day.

As to value, I'd hit Autotrader online and then knock off what you think a decent negotiating discount would be. Add back the cost of the warranty you are getting and you are near the cost to the dealer. The difference is his profit.

getmore4less

1bowler wrote: »

The Sport is the new shape, the Edge the old shape but when I phoned today to book a test drive was told the Sport had already gone. So back to the drawing board now, was thinking about a Fiesta but they seem dearer than the Focus.

People are heading to smaller cars so higher demand/price.

What about Mondeo or go Astra, Vectra, seems to be plenty of them

£5k gets a <3y <40k estate
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/vauxhall/astra/radius/1500/maximum-mileage/up_to_40000_miles/body-type/estate/price-from/4000/price-to/5000/maximum-age/up_to_3_years_old/sort/priceasc