? buying a high-mileage diesel car

absfabs

Has anyone out there got any experience of Diesel engines with high mileage?
I'm considering a 2003 Ford Focus Ghia, £5800, interior/exterior looks immaculate, but with 100000 miles on the clock is it likely to cost me heavily in repairs and breakdowns?
I will be likely to add only low mileage, approx 6000 a year.

Am grateful for any advice!

roswell

100 000 isnt really high for a diesel, this doesnt mean its safge to buy it though, As always make sure it has had regular services, make sure the cam belt (if its not a chain) has been replaced and look for heavey smoking (more than just a start up puff).

Regular oil changes are important as well.

N9eav

Most of the Cop cars we drive are Focus, many have 150,000 on the clock and they go great. You know we thrash the pants off them too..... If your car has done lots of motorway miles, it may be even better.
Check on other things though, like clutch, cambelts, etc.

absfabs

Thanks for your advice, N9eav and Roswell. The car had been sold 10 min before I went back to have a second look and probably buy it, so other folks thought it was a reasonable mileage, too.

Never mind, I bought a different Focus Ghia yesterday, petrol and only 38000 miles, same nice interior/good driving postion, plus it's an automatic and a much nicer colour!

N9eav

Glad you done OK. I like driving the Focus, it's too small for my own family car (4 kids) But the work car goes well. 1.8tdi 124mph!! (genuine emergency run)

withabix

I'm glad you missed out on that one at £5800 with 100k miles on it.

About £1500-2000 too expensive if you ask me!!!

PS anyone want to buy my 2003 53 Reg Galaxy TDI Ghia for £5800 with 104000 miles on it???

That would be MUCH better value!

DavidHM

Withabix - £5,800 would make it the third cheapest 53-plate Focus Ghia tdci on the Trader (and no idea of mileage for the others).

In response to your PS, yes (if I had the cash). It'd fly off eBay at £7,500BIN unless there's something wrong with it and might even make a little more than that.

N9eav

withabix wrote:

I'm glad you missed out on that one at £5800 with 100k miles on it.

About £1500-2000 too expensive if you ask me!!!

PS anyone want to buy my 2003 53 Reg Galaxy TDI Ghia for £5800 with 104000 miles on it???

That would be MUCH better value!

All depends on where it is selling. In Cornwall that car might make £10,000. Just because we have to pay far too much for cars down here

absfabs

I'm sure I would have been able to find somewhat better price from a private seller.

But I wanted to buy from a trader for the warranty (I know, not worth a lot but better than nothing) and

MOST IMPORTANTLY to use 0% credit card for finance. I'll make my payments in a savings account and if I can keep up the card shuffling for the next couple of years, I should be able to save quite a bit.