Want to buy 1k Ford Focus - Opinions? And do garages still issue dodgy MOT's?

waamo

Look at cars around the £1500 mark privately and prepare to negotiate. You will get a lot better for your money if you can negotiate well.

Tokk

If I dare...

Don't get too hung up on mileage.

I'd rather have something with higher miles that's been serviced regularly than something lower miles that's been serviced noticeably less often than it should.

You may be surprised at what's out there at £1k-ish.

I almost dare suggest looking at slightly more interesting brands - for example, I know plenty of people who buy Ford's as white goods (and some that skip servicing due to lack of care), well looked after there's nothing wrong with a Ford, but how many are not?
For instance, a Volvo S40 is based on the Focus but owners tend not to skip servicing (just my experience perhaps)... When looking at cars (£3.5-4k) with a friend recently, the Volvo's tended to be noticeably more likely to come with FSH and those that did were serviced more often - and surprisingly often very little more money.

fatbelly

Don't be too fixed on the model either. At that price you just want something that's been looked after by the previous owner.

If you end up with something like a one-owner Kia ceed (seeing them at that price now) you'll have done well

worried_jim

Tokk wrote: »

If I dare...

Don't get too hung up on mileage.

I'd rather have something with higher miles that's been serviced regularly than something lower miles that's been serviced noticeably less often than it should.

You may be surprised at what's out there at £1k-ish.

I almost dare suggest looking at slightly more interesting brands - for example, I know plenty of people who buy Ford's as white goods (and some that skip servicing due to lack of care), well looked after there's nothing wrong with a Ford, but how many are not?
For instance, a Volvo S40 is based on the Focus but owners tend not to skip servicing (just my experience perhaps)... When looking at cars (£3.5-4k) with a friend recently, the Volvo's tended to be noticeably more likely to come with FSH and those that did were serviced more often - and surprisingly often very little more money.

I concour. Volvo's can be better cared for. S40 is a great choice, but avoid the 1.6d.

System

A £1000 car at a dealers is a £500-£600 car in a private sale. Nothing on that list of MOT failures is anything untowards for an old car, two of them - the brakes - are actually the same fault. The windscreen one is possibly a sunstrip across the windscreen or some stickers that are in the area of the swept wiper blades. The brake disc advisory is typical of what you'd get on a car that's been stood a while but doesn't need anything to be done other than using. If they do the repairs themselves there's not even £200 of parts in that lot.

Tokk

worried_jim wrote: »

I concour. Volvo's can be better cared for. S40 is a great choice, but avoid the 1.6d.

The 1.6D can be fine as long as it's serviced on time and not used as a shop/school runabout... And as noted, Volvo's tended to be cared for better, probably the primary reason for the PSA 1.6D seemingly causing less issues in Volvo's than Ford's/PSAs?

Jackmydad

Good advice above. Another vote for steering clear of dealers and not getting too hung up on model when you've got a grand to spend.

MEM62

ireallycantyodel wrote: »

a budget of around 1k so we are sticking to car dealers.

I would suggest that you do not make that mistake.

With a 1K budget you are going to be buying from the bottom feeders of the automotive world. Expect no time or money spent on checking or preparing the car prior to sale and zero response or support if you have to go back with any issues. (The dealer will simply not have any money in the deal to put issues right)

If you are thinking that S75 will offer some protection, it may not. Any claim will take into account the expectation based on the value of the car.

Look for cars for sale privately and you will get more car for your money. (Becasue there isn't a dealer making a profit out of your £1,000) OK, you will have no comeback in respect of any issues with a private sale but you are not going to get that from a dealer on your budget either.

parking_question_chap

I would go private at that price, do you really think a dealer is going to help you if things go wrong on a £1,000 car?

Might as well get better value for money. Plus dealers are probably going to be better at hiding problems with the vehicle.

ess0two

MEM62 wrote: »

I would suggest that you do not make that mistake.

With a 1K budget you are going to be buying from the bottom feeders of the automotive world. Expect no time or money spent on checking or preparing the car prior to sale and zero response or support if you have to go back with any issues. (The dealer will simply not have any money in the deal to put issues right)

If you are thinking that S75 will offer some protection, it may not. Any claim will take into account the expectation based on the value of the car.

Look for cars for sale privately and you will get more car for your money. (Becasue there isn't a dealer making a profit out of your £1,000) OK, you will have no comeback in respect of any issues with a private sale but you are not going to get that from a dealer on your budget either.

As above don't expect S75 on a 1k car.