Hi all,

I've been pondering this for quite a while but basically my 2013 Ford Focus is due it's cambelt change next year (just ticked over to 46,000 miles) and I was quoted about £1,000 by a reputable local garage to have the work done.

Question is, do I pay up for the change on a 8-year old car or look to get something newer?

For about a year now we've struggled for space in the Focus 5-door hatchback, especially since our little one arrived. For example I can't even fit our pushchair and other bits in the boot,or even a trike which folds down.

Some might remember my post about getting a family car replacement and I nearly went through with a Ford Mondeo purchase...before the dealer realised they didn't have the service book!! At the time I was given a trade-in value on the Focus of £4,250 (or £4,750 from a local, independent car dealer).

After quite a bit of searching I've decided that the Mondeo would be too much car really and they're very rare to find in my area of Kent (unless you're willing to part with £15,000 or so!). I therefore came to a bit of a conclusion that a 2017+ Focus estate would be perfect for our needs. Titanium or ST Line spec would be nice in my opinion as our current Focus is a standard Zetec and it would be nice to have some extras this time around, especially as I'd be looking to keep the car quite a few years.

The bottom line is - would you part with £1,000 to keep the Focus going or trade it in to get something new? For the next car I'd have a max budget of about £10,000 including part exchange.

Thoughts please?

I wouldn't spend a tenner on a Mk3 PFL now personally...   

The Mk4 Focus came out at the end of 2018, so I doubt you'll get much choice in Mk3 Estates between 2017 and 2018, especially for £10k.  You'll also find most are diesels (with DPFs) which might not suit your driving style.  I can't remember how long ago your post was (this year has lost all concept of time!) but chances are your trade in price has probably dropped since so that's something else to bear in mind.

It's a difficult situation as I'm not sure that you can get anything 'better' in every way on a £10k budget.  But I also wouldn't risk a grand on an 8 year old car, especially one with several common faults.

It's the classic gamble.  Spend money on the older but known car, or take a punt on something that could be better but you don't know its history.

That said if you are not happy with the current one you'd want to change anyway 

I'd just not restrict myself to just Ford.  There's more reliable stuff out there.  

4 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

I wouldn't spend a tenner on a Mk3 PFL now personally...   

The Mk4 Focus came out at the end of 2018, so I doubt you'll get much choice in Mk3 Estates between 2017 and 2018, especially for £10k.  You'll also find most are diesels (with DPFs) which might not suit your driving style.  I can't remember how long ago your post was (this year has lost all concept of time!) but chances are your trade in price has probably dropped since so that's something else to bear in mind.

It's a difficult situation as I'm not sure that you can get anything 'better' in every way on a £10k budget.  But I also wouldn't risk a grand on an 8 year old car, especially one with several common faults.

Haha! Yeah I know what you mean - it's been a reliable car for us though *touch wood* but definitely not wanting to put any money into it apart from routine maintenance if I can help it.

Ah ok that would explain the lack of cars in that range in that case - I think I've maybe found a handful of petrols but most are diesels and relatively high mileage for the age (40-45k). Ideally I'd like a petrol as the car wouldn't get a huge amount of mileage; maybe 100 miles or so a week? I think the post was made around August time so yeah it's been about 4 months so I'm guessing trade-in has fallen off a cliff now (maybe £4,000 tops?). The car has tacked on another 3,000 miles or so since then as well.

Good to know about the common faults - that pushes me to think more about getting a new car in itself! So far we've only had so much as a battery go on it earlier this year, and that apparently was fitted from new.

4 hours ago, Guy Heaton said:

It's the classic gamble.  Spend money on the older but known car, or take a punt on something that could be better but you don't know its history.

That said if you are not happy with the current one you'd want to change anyway 

I'd just not restrict myself to just Ford.  There's more reliable stuff out there.  

Yes very true. In an ideal world I'd buy new but I wouldn't be able to stomach the finance costs so second-hand it is (with a decent warranty).
It definitely feels like even if I did get the cambelt done I'd be delaying the inevitable really.

Good point about not restricting to Ford. I like the driving position and dashboard layout of the Focus though in all honesty and it's the first car model I've been able to reliably find a few options for within 100 miles or so - most cars in my area are tiny hatchbacks or SUVs which I'm really not a fan of.

At 100 miles a week I'd definitely recommend sticking with petrol tbh.  DPF is going to struggle at that mileage.

35 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

At 100 miles a week I'd definitely recommend sticking with petrol tbh.  DPF is going to struggle at that mileage.

Yes, I'd definitely avoid a "modern" diesel for low mileage. In the days before all the emissions gear we ran a Citroen diesel as a second car doing very low annual mileage, for years, but I wouldn't do it now. 

Thanks both - pretty much cemented the idea I shouldn't get a diesel then haha.

I'm ideally looking at an estate just to future proof. Regarding individual cars I'm also looking to avoid electronic handbrakes if I can help it. I tried an Insignia with one for example and it was awful (though the biting point on the clutch was very high which was annoying too). The electronic handbrake I tried in a Mondeo though was much smoother in comparison so I'm not completely against the idea, though in my opinion it does seem unnecessary and just something else to go wrong and cost hundreds or thousands to fix!

I was tempted by the Ibiza but I'm not massively keen on the plain dash and the look of the rear of the car.

The Ibiza is tiny, much smaller than a Focus, it's the Leon ST that would suit your criteria.    Difficult on your budget though, will either have to be older or higher mileage.

2017 Silver SEAT Leon 1.4 EcoTSI FR Technology ST (s/s) 5dr for sale for £10000 in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (autotrader.co.uk)

Well, everyone hates on Vauxhall but I don't know why, they might not be exciting but for 10 or 11 grand you could be in an 18 month old Astra estate with balance of warranty still on it.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010285544199

I've not driven this version but every other Vx I have owned or driven has always been really comfortable.

5 minutes ago, Guy Heaton said:

Well, everyone hates on Vauxhall but I don't know why, they might not be exciting but for 10 or 11 grand you could be in an 18 month old Astra estate with balance of warranty still on it.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010285544199

I've not driven this version but every other Vx I have owned or driven has always been really comfortable.

I'm amazed that's a 2019 model...  Looks so dated inside!  😮 

Depends what you want.  I'm not a fan of acres of touchscreen anyway.  

Besides. 8grand and 200bhp, what's not to like.  OI FORD!!!!!  This output is what your warm hatches should have.  182bhp my *****.

Just now, Guy Heaton said:

Depends what you want.  I'm not a fan of acres of touchscreen anyway.  

Something that doesn't still look like my 2006 Vectra would be nice...  It's just a mass of cheap grey plastic, horrible seats, analogue dials with a tiny dash screen, simple round stalks with no ergonomics, and a handbrake lever, in 2019!  Credit where it's due, the steering wheel does look quite nice...

Ah well, yer OP wants a manual handrake.

Anyway though, https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011035726130  I've changed my mind.  It comes with collission assist.  😄

3 minutes ago, Guy Heaton said:

Ah well, yer OP wants a manual handrake.

Anyway though, https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011035726130  I've changed my mind.  It comes with collission assist.  😄

Is he into gardening?   But yeah I know lol...his choice, I have my own thread to spam!  

The SRI does look better, and is probably a better option overall than a Focus ST-Line of the same age and mileage, they certainly come with more spec as well as more power.  But the suspension is pretty stiff on the SRI's which might not suit the OP's family needs.  

46 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

But the suspension is pretty stiff on the SRI's which might not suit the OP's family needs.  

Dunno about that Tom. It was certainly the case when I had one (30 years ago,lol) but I understood it was more just another trim level these days?

4 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Dunno about thatvTom. It was Certainly the case when I had one (30 years ago,lol) but I understood it was more just another trim level these days?

In fairness, the last one I looked at was a 2010 model before I bought the Focus...  Back then it was massive wheels and stiff suspension on the SRI, same as the difference between the Titanium and Zetec S on the Focus'.

Hey all,

Realised I hadn't replied to this post for a lonnngg time (no email notifications despite signing up for them; what's with that??).
Anyway, yeah I realise the Ibiza is pretty small so a Leon estate would be a better option - the estate I believe has something like 600 litres (or up to 1,800 litres with the seats down!).

I'm kindof resigning to the fact that because of the reduction in new car sales in recent years and with SUVs being super popular in Kent that it'll have to be a model from 2016 or even 2017, especially for my tight budget anyway. There's literally nothing locally other than SUVs and small hatchbacks. I did find a 2015 Mondeo for £9,500 though in my latest search - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102149051299

I've been looking into quotes for getting the cambelt done from local garages and they range from £400-550, or £725 inc. VAT if included with a service ("this would include new engine oil, oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, timing belt kit(including tensioners, rollers and belt), water pump, fresh coolant and all the checks and inspections usually carried out on a full service")

Thoughts?

Which engine do you have?

When was the last service?

It's a 1.6 petrol - last service was August 2020.

7 hours ago, Shoxt3r said:

It's a 1.6 petrol - last service was August 2020.

EcoBoost or Ti-VCT?  Around £400 sounds ok for the belt, pump and coolant on the the Ti-VCT, I wouldn't want to pay much more than that though.

Doesn't sound like you're anywhere near needing another service yet, unless you were intending to wait another 6 months for the belt change.