2 minutes ago, smr said:

So if I were to look at the Focus 1.0 Automatics, what do you advise I look for... I'm guessing only consider buying based on the following criteria:

1. Full Main Dealer Service History (I'm guessing this is important as Ford won't have flushed the engine and will have used the correct oil specification for oil changes)

2. At which mileage would you recommend the wet belt for the oil pump is changed (I have read that this involves removing the timing chain and so is an expensive job - how much would it cost?) 

3. What maintenance does the gearbox require and when?

Any other things I should look out for? As mentioned reliability and not performance is important for me. It has to be automatic, 10 years of driving autos and I just can't go back to manual cars. I've read that the automatic gearbox isn't well suited to the 1.0L Ecoboost - why is that particularly ? 

I don't want to buy one if it's going to be at a mileage where the belt needs immediately replacing, but if all is ok and it has a FDSH with low mileage I may consider them as it makes car shopping a lot easier, there are hardly any diesels about.

Trim level I'd like the ST Line or ST Line X, tbh as long as it's got an automatic gearbox and in Desert Island Blue I'd be happy so part leather isn't a deal breaker nor the slightly smaller screen and wheels, I dare say the 17s make for a comfier drive.

Appreciate any advice.

 

Read the last "my" comment on this thread from yesterday.

If you're adamant to have a 1.0 auto, don't have a MK3

 

Just now, DaveT70 said:

Read the last "my" comment on this thread from yesterday.

If you're adamant to have a 1.0 auto, don't have a MK3

 

My new car has to be MK4.

You don't need to worry so much about the wet belt issue then as MK4 is the revised, chain, engine

But, like I said before, Ford don't do autos very well, go elsewhere, but it's your choice

Just now, DaveT70 said:

You don't need to worry so much about the wet belt issue then as MK4 is the revised, chain, engine

But, like I said before, Ford don't do autos very well, go elsewhere, but it's your choice

The automatic in my last car wasn't great (2013 Focus), it used to judder sometimes in low gear at junctions and roundabouts but was ok apart from that. The automatic I had in the S-Max 2009 I had was sublime, gear shifts were as smooth as butter, maybe it was a one off car or something but I didn't even notice the gear changes, it never searched, never juddered, could never feel gear changes, not sure what it was about that car but everything was on point and the 2.0 Diesel was fantastic.

I've read one or two things about the MK4 Automatics playing up but 95 percent of what I've read people seem to be really happy with them.

12 minutes ago, smr said:

I've read one or two things about the MK4 Automatics playing up but 95 percent of what I've read people seem to be really happy with them.

They don't seem to be too bad, no.

The MK3.5 was awful

24 minutes ago, smr said:

2. At which mileage would you recommend the wet belt for the oil pump is changed (I have read that this involves removing the timing chain and so is an expensive job - how much would it cost?) 

 

On 2/13/2024 at 8:00 PM, TomsFocus said:

 

The oil pump belt on Mk4 is recommended replacement at 10 years or 144k miles.  It is a massive job with a 4 figure price.

 

 

Ford service history doesn't mean they haven't been flushed.  Ford dealerships were the ones flushing them in the early days!

Hopefully there weren't any still doing it by 2019, but I wouldn't take it as an absolute certainty.

 

As a fan of Desert Island blue, maybe a Puma would be suitable?  They'll be more comfortable than a Focus STLX.

1 minute ago, TomsFocus said:

As a fan of Desert Island blue, maybe a Puma would be suitable?  They'll be more comfortable than a Focus STLX.

Could be another can of worms there!😀

That's the thing then, you don't know if you're buying one which has been flushed, which again is steering me back to Diesel. 

Pumas look ok but not for me, I can't see the handling being as fun as the Focus.

Just now, smr said:

That's the thing then, you don't know if you're buying one which has been flushed, which again is steering me back to Diesel. 

Pumas look ok but not for me, I can't see the handling being as fun as the Focus.

The Mk4 Focus 1.0 has pretty much the same suspension as the Puma.  As mentioned earlier in the thread, the Mk4 lost the independent rear suspension that all previous Focus models had.  It just gets a solid rear beam like a Fiesta...but in a bigger, heavier car.

Only the Vignale, ST and 2.0 diesel got IRS from 2019.  The 1.5 petrol briefly had IRS from 2018-2019.  1.0 petrol and 1.5 diesel never got IRS on Mk4.

Just not a fan of the looks. 

So going back to Focus, basically avoid the ecoboost engines as there's no way of knowing if an engine flush has been done even if Ford have serviced the car, as it'll destroy the wet belt ? So my only option is a 1.5 Diesel on that basis.

On 3/15/2024 at 1:10 PM, TomsFocus said:

If you go for a 1.5 EcoBoost pre-2019 you'll get independent rear suspension

Ford dropped the independent suspension the day I put my order in ! 🤬🤷‍♂️😂

1 hour ago, smr said:

So if I were to look at the Focus 1.0 Automatics, what do you advise

Do not buy a Focus Mk3 with a Ecoboost 1.0 engine unless it comes with a lifetime no quibble guarantee underwritten by the Pope and counter signed by his father.

The only safer option is to buy a Focus Mk4 with the revised Ecoboost 1.0 engine.

Everybody wants a reliable car. If that’s all that matters get a Toyota or a Skoda. 

There's no such thing as a totally reliable car.  I spent 10 years going through about 60 cars proving that point.

 

It's not about having something completely indestructible or bomb proof, it's about getting something you like within budget, drives well but as reliable as possible, and in respect of the Focus MK4 for me and gathering advice from people who know more about cars it seems to be that for peace of mind it's probably the 1.5 Ecoblue. 

The MK4 wet belt for the oil pump its impossible to know whether a flush has been done which would leave the belt looking like a piece of old rope and cause terminal damage.

The Ecoblue 1.5 has no belt for the oil pump. The MK4 does have a chain, but I've never driven a car with a dry belt (1.5 Ecoblue) that has snapped. I've read countless people bemoan the fact that the Ecoboost still has a wet belt for the oil pump which can be subject to shredding.

The only annoying thing is that there are way more MK4 Ecoboosts on the market, so when a 1.5 Ecoblue does appear it's gone within days.

Not many horses from a 1.5 eco blue but if it’s enough for you then that’s 👌 

3 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

There's no such thing as a totally reliable car.  I spent 10 years going through about 60 cars proving that point.

 

Sorry Tom, in Glasgow people’s misfortune is always a source of humour. How many were fords ? 59 ? 

1 hour ago, Alex.S said:

Sorry Tom, in Glasgow people’s misfortune is always a source of humour. How many were fords ? 59 ? 

Only 9 Fords I think.  I'll check the spreadsheet in the morning.

 

Another MK4 Ecoboom, posted 4 days ago in the MK4 Owners group. Personally given how many of these I've now read and still only read 2 Diesel problems I think it would be madness to buy a used MK4 Ecoboost.

 

Just had my mk4's engine go, dealership telling me yesterday something wrong internally 4 years old 29,000 miles. In at Ford yesterday and they want £7,500 for a new engine despite full service history. Will never buy another ford again

 

13 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Only 9 Fords I think.  I'll check the spreadsheet in the morning.

 

It was 9 Fords.  Though only 37 cars overall.  Must have reached the age where I start exaggerating numbers.

(Still own numbers 31 & 37)

Is it possible to know whether a 1.5 Ecoboost is gear or belt driven for the oil pump for certain, ie. can you tell just by popping the hood or is it under engine covers or something? 

On this 1.5 Ecoboost first registered in January 2019... not sure if its possible to know just by looking at this or if anyone knows whether the oil pump has a belt or is gear driven? I'm right in thinking all MK4 Ecoboosts are cam chain driven?

You can't tell whether a 1.5 has a wetbelt or geared oil pump from the top.  The bottom half of the timing chain covers are different though.  (Images borrowed from another forum)

Is there a way of finding out without taking the engine out the car? I have the VIN if that helps, or would a mechanic onsite at the dealership know by looking at an angle or something?