Hello, 

I am looking to buy a Ford Focus 1.0T EcoBoost Zetec Euro 5, 2012 plate with 58k mileage for aroud £5200

I have been reading a lot into various engine faults with Ecoboost's and have been advised that due to its age that a new cambelt should be done. 

As ford owners, What is your opinion on this car and the best practice to ensure longevity for the engine? 

Thanks in advance. 

Honestly, I'd buy something else. I wouldn't touch a 1.0 ecoboost prior to about 2019.

Even if you change the belt when you get it, you don't know the state of the internals or if damage has already been done.

Hi Zoe and welcome to the forum. 

You've been told that the car at this age requires a cam belt changed.

Very true. The only way to buy this car is for the seller to reduce the price by around £1800 for the cost of doing the job. Doubt very much the seller will do that so you'll have to walk away and look for something else. Maybe the diesel?

3 minutes ago, tazzman600 said:

Hi Zoe and welcome to the forum. 

You've been told that the car at this age requires a cam belt changed.

Very true. The only way to buy this car is for the seller to reduce the price by around £1800 for the cost of doing the job. Doubt very much the seller will do that so you'll have to walk away and look for something else. Maybe the diesel?

Thought this may be the case! Unfortunately I live in the low emissions zone in Bristol so no diesels allowed unfortunately. 
 

I have also looked at the 1.6 Ford Focus Zetec with lower mileage. Any thoughts on this in terms of engine? 
 

appreciate your insight.

21 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

Honestly, I'd buy something else. I wouldn't touch a 1.0 ecoboost prior to about 2019.

Even if you change the belt when you get it, you don't know the state of the internals or if damage has already been done.

Thank you for the heads up! 

I have also looked at the 1.6 Ford Focus Zetec 2012 with lower mileage. Any thoughts on this in terms of engine? 
 

appreciate your insight.

1.6 is fine, but at that age will still need to check the belt had been done

17 minutes ago, z0eT64 said:

Unfortunately I live in the low emissions zone in Bristol so no diesels allowed unfortunately. 

Diesels aren't banned, just pre-Euro 6 diesels, plenty of them about and a damn good car

20 minutes ago, DaveT70 said:

1.6 is fine, but at that age will still need to check the belt had been done

At least its a "normal" dry belt change. With any used car you need to check carefully that all necessary service actions have been done, and be prepared to walk away. Problem with the 1.0 ecoboost is that the wet cambelt change is very expensive, and the one mentioned is a year overdue, so other problems may have been caused.

I understand the "Puretech" engine widely used in Peugeots, Citroens and now Vauxhalls is also one to avoid for similar reasons. 

16 minutes ago, DaveT70 said:

Diesels aren't banned, just pre-Euro 6 diesels, plenty of them about and a damn good car

Yes, the various LEZs all seem to allow Euro 6 diesels which are generally late 2015 on, though earlier cars of some makes complied earlier. The LEZs all have a link to a compliance checker so you can input the registration of any vehicle of interest.

£5200 sounds quite expensive for that car.  I bought a 2013 1.0 Titanium with under 50k in 2018 for around £4k.  The Titanium gets cruise control & climate as standard, plus quite a few other extras above the Zetec.

Is the 1.6 a Ti-VCT or an EcoBoost?  Both were offered in 2012.

37 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

t least its a "normal" dry belt change.

Yes, I meant to say that, sorry

42 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

£5200 sounds quite expensive for that car.  I bought a 2013 1.0 Titanium with under 50k in 2018 for around £4k.  The Titanium gets cruise control & climate as standard, plus quite a few other extras above the Zetec.

Is the 1.6 a Ti-VCT or an EcoBoost?  Both were offered in 2012.

Haven’t got any where near that spec and price range even nationally on Auto trader!

just a straight up 1.6 Zetec from the advertising 

2 minutes ago, z0eT64 said:

Haven’t got any where near that spec and price range even nationally on Auto trader!

just a straight up 1.6 Zetec from the advertising 

Prices are daft nowadays.    I also bought a 2012 1.6 diesel Titanium with under 50k in the same year for around £5k. 

 

That'll be a 1.6 Ti-VCT then. 

Recommended cambelt interval is every 8 years (or every 100k miles) so it should have been done by now, despite the low mileage. 

Those engines are fairly reliable, but they're not particularly quick, efficient or cheap to tax.  Tax on these is up towards £200 a year, whereas 1.0 tax is only £35 a year, and 1.6 diesel tax £20 a year.

There are also two different power level options.  They are either 105bhp or 125bhp.  So that's worth double checking.

There are still decent cars to be found. but you might have to travel to get them.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310092812200