I very recently purchased a used 2008 Ford Focus Estate (Manual, Diesel) in a private sale.

I’m having some issues with establishing exactly what the car is.

When I ran the registration plate through all the insurance comparison sites and a couple of actual car insurance sites (I only tried two)

The car comes up as :

2008 FORD FOCUS STYLE TDCI (110), 1560cc Diesel, 5DR, Manual

But on the new keeper slip the DVLA have it down as a Focus Style TD (109) 1753cc.

 

I’ve entered the VIN on the Ford Etis website and it comes up as:

Focus 2008-, 1.8L Duratorq-DI HPCR (115PS) Lynx, Sea Grey (Metallic)

 

The latter seems the most likely as it’s the only one that matches the DVLAs engine size.

However, there's no reference to the trim level and it doesn’t say if it’s an estate .

 

If that isn’t confusing enough the car has a Zetec badge on the back and a ‘Duratorq TDCI’ engine cover on it. (Which does tie in with the Etis info)

Obviously both these identifiers could have been pulled off another car and attached to this one.

 

From my limited knowledge and too many hours digging around the net I’ve discovered that a 2008 manual diesel estate 1753cc Zetec doesn't exist. A 1560cc yes. A 1.8 hatchback yes.

Could it be a Zetec body kit added to the style 'style' version. 

 

This car has alloy wheels, front spot lights, roof rails, a drop down sunglasses holder on the drivers side ( these are the obvious ones I’ve noticed, there could well be more)

None of the above appear to be after market add ons. They look original, for example the spots (or possibly fogs?) are set inside the body work where on the ‘style’ there are only grills.

 

I’ve found 3 labels on the car identifying the VIN and they all correspond with each other so I’m assuming the car is legit.

 

Is there anywhere on the car where I could confirm what trim level it actually is?

 

My main issue is the insurance. If I accept the details that the registration plate reveals:

 

2008 FORD FOCUS STYLE TDCI (110), 1560cc Diesel, 5DR, Manual

 

Then strictly speaking that’s a false declaration as it’s 1.8 according to most sources (Ettis and DVLA)

I can edit the vehicle details manually (but like I said there's no 1.8 Zetec option) but then there’s the issue of modifications.

I don’t know the whole list of 'modifications' as I don’t no the difference between the trim levels on a ‘style’ compared to a Zetec. But like I said there Is no Zetec version according to my research.

When I say ‘modifications’ my hunch is these aren’t after market modification but a factory model with a higher spec trim level than a 'style'.

 

I’d really appreciate some advise here as I’m at a loss, I could take it to a Ford dealer and pick there brains but I don’t have any insurance so a bit of a catch 22.

 

Thanks.

I would post this up in the focus section. 

But it does look like a zetec. They did do zetec estates with 1.8 lynx engine. 

There's a few for sale on autotrader

Ford etis is going to be right about the engine for sure. 

Also sure the style only had rear heated screen , so if you have front heated screen then at least a zetec trim. ( Buttons next to each other below radio. ) 

Edit, I've had a play with a few of the registrations on autotrader and I'm coming up with the same errors for engine size. It's an insurance listing error. Probably other makes and models are miss catorgorised too. 

25 minutes ago, iantt said:

I would post this up in the focus section. 

But it does look like a zetec. They did do zetec estates with 1.8 lynx engine. 

There's a few for sale on autotrader

Ford etis is going to be right about the engine for sure. 

Also sure the style only had rear heated screen , so if you have front heated screen then at least a zetec trim. ( Buttons next to each other below radio. ) 

Edit, I've had a play with a few of the registrations on autotrader and I'm coming up with the same errors for engine size. It's an insurance listing error. Probably other makes and models are miss catorgorised too. 

Thanks Ian,

I've since spotted a few 1.8 estate zetecs for sale on line too.

I'll look into the heated front windscreen thing.

Bit of a pain having to deal with the insurance companies 'manually' and removing the option to compare the prices.

But at least it's progress.