Hello all!

I currently own a MK4 Astra Coupe but am looking for a MK2 Focus, probably a 1.6 zetec. I want a more practical and cheaper car to run essentially. The coupe is getting too expensive to tax and run and now has 117k on the clock.

I did own a MK 1.5 focus 1.6 zetec from new and loved it, what a great reliable car that was. I had it for 3 years and put 60k on it and never once had a problem!

Ive seen a 55 plate 1.6 zetec climate pack near me with FSH and 50k on the clock for a shade under £3.5k.

Is there anything i should look out for in particular? I know there are 2 different 1.6 engines, a 100BHP and a 115BHP. Is there any real difference between the 2?

Id appreciate some advice

Hi there woody,

welcome to the forum.

Regards the choice between the 100PS and the 115PS TiVCT, if both are equal in all respects as to condition, then I'd obviously choose the later. But that said, I have a 55 plate 100PS engined car with 44K on the clock and it is a good car. Had it three years and plan to keep it another two at least. Plan being to trade it in for an estate version of the Mk3 Focus 1.0 125bhp Eco boost. Obviously if the next two or three years prove that it stacks up reliability wise, and proves to be as good as the pro reviews say it is. Why the estate route? Well the only bad point mentioned in the pro reviews I have read is the disappointing boot space compared to the Mk2/2.5 versions of the hatchback. Plus I think the estate is a better looker than the hatchback, and the wife said the additional 20cm in length would not be a problem to her

I also had a Mk1 Focus and while it was a great car [a mould breaker] the Mk2 is a better car, though body wise compared to the Mk1it is a tad boring visually on the front end. Hence Ford brought out the Mk2.5 version, which apart from adding ESP as standard was the same car as the Mk2 engineering wise, but with a more visually appealing exterior.

Sorry I digress........... something I tend to do on occasion.

Anyway back on topic:

What to look out for, well the car your looking at is like mine an early build of the Mk2, and I found it to have two build faults:

1. The potential to rust on the bottom of the front wheel arches, and the leading edge of the sills where they meet the front wheel arches. In later builds Ford introduced added protection in these areas.

2. Water in the spark plug wells, again this was remedied by fitting revised washer jets on later builds.The fault being poorly fitting grommets that sit between the washer jets and the bonnet, unfortunately they cannot be bought separately.

Now I have done threads on both "Fixes" [see my sig below] which if like me you do yourself, are dirt cheap to remedy.

At seven years old, I just had it in for it's MOT yesterday, as per usual it sailed through. My mechanic asked me if I wanted to sell it as he had a customer looking for a clean reliable Focus, and as he said mine certainly fits the bill in all aspects..................so if you pick a good one you will be well suited.

A potential rust spot is the rear of the roof, where the tailgate meets.

Open the tailgate, and you will see two pipes going from the hatchback to the roof.
The left one holds wiring (heated rear window, third brake lights etc) while the right one is a water pipe for the rear wash/wipe.

This right hand pipe can rub on the bodywork and it's a common area for rust to start.

as the guys said already just make sure the heated screen actually works if you switch it on for a few minutes you will feel the screen is warmer make sure aircon works properly take the car if its the ti vct for a run get it into 5th gear revs around 2000k then put the foot down if theres any engine issues it will show when the ti vct doesnt kick in and a warning light will come up on the dash other than that make sure the boots dry especially under the spare wheel and the front carpets are all dry all electrics work like the mirrors etc

thanks for all the replies, really informative and helpful

Im waiting for the V5 with the original plate details on for my old car as ive got a private plate on it at the moment. Ill be going and test driving once i have this as it will be ready to part ex then.

These are a couple ive seen:

[url="http://www.castlefordcarcentre.co.uk/used/Ford/Focus/_1.6/Castleford/West_Yorkshire/13515139"]http://www.castlefordcarcentre.co.uk/used/Ford/Focus/_1.6/Castleford/West_Yorkshire/13515139[/url]

£3995
FSH
12 Months MOT
Parts and Labour Warranty (Probably 3 months)
50k Mileage

[img]http://www.autoweb.co.uk/dealer_sites/car_pix/used-ford-focus-113458878658419.jpg[/img]

[url="http://www.evanshalshaw.com/vehiclesearch/used/ford-used-car-ng05abo.html"]http://www.evanshalshaw.com/vehiclesearch/used/ford-used-car-ng05abo.html[/url]

£3451
FSH
47k Mileage

Service intervals are 12,500 miles or every 12 months, whichever come first.
So make sure the car has a full service history appropriate for the age & mileage

If one is due soon then get them to do it as part of the deal.

Not sure what the cambelt intervals are, but try and get that done at the same time (even if you pay an extra £100 for it to be done while they're doing the service - it's a good investment)

If the MOT has less than 6 months left to run then get them to do a fresh one, and 6 months tax.

You my wish to do a HPI check, although any decent garage will have done their own anyway when they obtained the car.

Oh and check if the locking Wheelnut is in the boot with the spare tyre, and that it fits all 4 wheels

dont buy a 2nd hand car from evans halshaw there a jolk selling cars that shouldnt be on the road trust me youl get nowt but trouble if you buy it from them google them youll see what i mean

had dealings with them in the past m.o.t my car with a pass and no advisories yet rear bushes and front wishbones were gone they tried to cover up an air con condensor leak claimed a service that wasnt done didnt notice the rear window wasnt bonded that was on a ford approved i bought an aftermarket warranty luckily and its cost them 1300 pounds to get the car as it is now as it should have been thanks to my local ford its now almost perfect

[quote name='Pitmonster' timestamp='1349441587' post='209809']
Oh and check if the locking Wheelnut is in the boot with the spare tyre, and that it fits all 4 wheels
[/quote]

Definitely make sure it's got the wheel nut key. When I bought my car I knew it needed 2 tyres replacing, but it never occured to me to make sure the wheel nut key was there.

Drove the car back from london to birmingham, went to change the tyres n realized the locking nut key was nowhere to be seen.

Ended up taking a chissel n hammer to the locking nuts myself after 4 garages n dealers all told me they was impossible to get off without the key.

Lesson to us all I suppose

im amazed when im waiting to get tyres done and the mechanic asks them where the key is how many people stare at them like theyve been told the cars a cut n shut lol cue the mechanic cursing and swearing to his tool box

ide go for the castlefordcarcentre if im honest parts and labour warranty 1st owner will have been the dealer so only 1 proper owner full history low miles

[quote name='artscot79' timestamp='1349460119' post='209867']
ide go for the castlefordcarcentre if im honest parts and labour warranty 1st owner will have been the dealer so only 1 proper owner full history low miles
[/quote]

Thanks all for the advice

Im still waiting for my V5 for the part ex i have (I had a private plate on it) but ive got the new tax disc and MOT with the old plate on. Is a dealer likely to be put off by this? Should i wait until I have the V5 before seriously looking/negotiating?

The Castleford car is still there, i went on Sunday to look and its in good condition except for a scratch on the lower sill which could do with sorting. It'll need a couple of new tyres before the next MOT but generally it was in good condition. They were closed so i couldnt have a good look inside and under the bonnet. I will on Friday if they still have it for sale.

As a side note there is one other ive seen and a local guy who specialises in Focus's has a MK2 similar to the one at Castleford (05 plate, 56k, FSH, one owner) for £3690 but he was pointing me in the direction of the MK1's as in his opinion they are a better car. He has a MK 1.5 Focus Edge on a 54 plate with 33k on the clock, one lady owner and a FSH for £3390. Its got me thinking!

Any opinions?

having had the mk1 i would disagree it was a better mechanically built car however its dated the suspension is better on the mk2 so is the space in the front and rear the interior quality is far better in the mk2 and many electrical glitches on the mk1 were sorted on the mk2 i wouldnt have another mk1 after having the mk2 test drive one of each and you will see they are miles apart mk2 and thats not biased its an honest judgement between the two giving youre getting a better built better equipped better quality car for less than the mk1 i would think theres not much to think about to be honest mate

[quote name='artscot79' timestamp='1350389887' post='211837']
having had the mk1 i would disagree it was a better mechanically built car however its dated the suspension is better on the mk2 so is the space in the front and rear the interior quality is far better in the mk2 and many electrical glitches on the mk1 were sorted on the mk2 i wouldnt have another mk1 after having the mk2 test drive one of each and you will see they are miles apart mk2 and thats not biased its an honest judgement between the two giving youre getting a better built better equipped better quality car for less than the mk1 i would think theres not much to think about to be honest mate
[/quote]

Thanks artscot.

Any experience of the V5 issue i have? Is this a problem from a dealers point of view?

did you the new keepers supplement that was attatched to the original v5 in which case it makes no difference the dealer will just send that part away if you have nothing then you can still speak to the dealer and just tell him youre waiting on the v5 due to the plate change it wont be an issue for them they will still so a deal with you mate

[quote name='artscot79' timestamp='1350393231' post='211848']
did you the new keepers supplement that was attatched to the original v5 in which case it makes no difference the dealer will just send that part away if you have nothing then you can still speak to the dealer and just tell him youre waiting on the v5 due to the plate change it wont be an issue for them they will still so a deal with you mate
[/quote]

Cheers mate.

I sent the V5 and MOT for my current car with the private plate details on so the DVLA could put it on retention.

Ive got back the MOT certificate and tax disc with the original 02 plate details on so im just waiting my V5 back with the 02 plate details on now for my car.

Well the V5 and retention certificate have arrived!

Car shopping this saturday, cant wait!

Ive bought the one from Castelford Car Centre today

Ive looked at 5 focuses in total. This was the best, impeccable inside bar one small scratch on the centre console lid and outside the alloys were unmarked and it drove really well - no knocks or rattles. It was pretty nippy as i was expecting it to be very slow but i was impressed. Not as quick as my 1.8 astra coupe but it was never going to be.

Its a 1.6 zetec (100bhp) climate pack, had 2 previous owners. It has a FSH the only downer been a bit of a gap between the 3rd and 4th service but for how much ive been looking to pay for a car i wont get everything. I agreed to pay the asking price as long as it was given a new MOT, 6 months tax and had a service. Cant wait to pick it up now!

Thanks for all the advice you people have given me.