To replace my 2012 Focus or not - That is the question

chrisw

Stop taking it to main dealers! They have a 'cautious' approach at best. Have you noticed an issue with the clutch? 60k is quite low for a clutch but not unheard of. It could last another 5 months or 5 years. I wouldn't have thought a new clutch would be any more than £500 to £600.

motorguy

chelt_Robin said:

I am in two minds about if it is time to replace my 2012 Focus. It has just passed its MOT but it had notes that their is a brake fluid leak in the slave cylinder and that the clutch and slave cylinder needs replacing and that there is also a small leak of oil from the front drive shaft seal, so that needs replacing.

The work comes to £2K ish. 

Car has about 60K on the clock so low milage 

Last year I spent about £1.5 getting the timming belt replaced as it is an eco boom engine and also had a couple of senors replaced.

Prior to that it has been a good runner apart from the timming belt I have only spent about £600 on replairs in the last 4 years. 

The suspension arm pin or bush is worn on both sides, but does not need replacing this has been worn for years, so might need doing in the future, another big bill! 

I am now at the stage of thinking do I sink another 2k into the car or do I get a new car, I could buy a four year old car for cash, but a 4 year old car could have isssues too. Or I could afford a car on PCP in a 0% deal (which I have seen on a focus). I can't see how people afford new cars for cash these days. Even 3 year old cars seem to cost a fortune (especially if you factor in interest as it makes it almost as expensive as a new car if on 0%).

Interested to know what you would do, I enjoy driving my car.

Also I am going to Cornwall in a couple of weeks from GLoucestershire, will the car be ok to drive with the brake fluid leak, I did not know it was there until I was told. If i take the car I will take a bottle of brake fluid. 

The first thing i would do is find a mechanic who isnt going to charge you such exhorbitant prices.

Those prices are roughly x2 what you could be paying elsewhere.

Do that, then get the work done and keep the car.

Any more you'll "save" in not spending it on that car will be consumed by the depreciation on a newer - and not necessarily better - car.  And theres no guarantees a newer car wont generate big maintenance bills too.

I've a 2014 Golf TDI thats been to the moon and back but is a lovely car to drive.  I've spent about £1,500 on it recently sorting out some issues but i know what i have now, and i know its fit for another 100,000 miles so well worth it.  I looked at a 2017 Golf and it was something like £12,000.  I'd have had to give them £9K plus mine easily to change, but it would have looked - and driven - very little differently to mine, but would have depreciated heavily.

NBLondon

chrisw said:

Stop taking it to main dealers! They have a 'cautious' approach at best. Have you noticed an issue with the clutch? 60k is quite low for a clutch but not unheard of. It could last another 5 months or 5 years. I wouldn't have thought a new clutch would be any more than £500 to £600.

This.   My 2011 Focus stopped going to main dealers in 2020 and I've had no problems with a small local garage.

I am replacing it this year - but that's because I have some extra money and want something newer/bigger.  Otherwise I'd have no reason to change.