Hello, my mum thinks it's a good idea to possibly buy a car for me for when I pass my driving test (under 2 years) and so I can learn how to fix it and stuff. I've found this car on autotrader, not too far away from where I live. It's a green 2002 Ford Focus 1.8L 16V Zetec (pre facelift model). I've checked the pictures and it looks very clean, and it passed its MOT first time with no advisories only a few days ago. It's a manual with 78,258 miles on the clock and looks really very good. It's only £495. I was wondering what you guys think of it, if it would be a good purchase and if there are any Focus owners who know of any common problems with these. Thanks for reading, Nathan.
If you do get it, just don't forget to keep your focus on the road. Bad puns aside, 495 is suspiciously cheap even for that mileage. You may want to try to find if there's a reason it is so cheap.
Unfortunately my parents have decided not to get me a car, because they think it will just rot in our garage, but I'll be allowed one in a years' time, closer to my 17th birthday.
I'm probably going to get a Focus, I've always liked them. Vauxhall Carltons are quite a bit rarer (only seen two in the past year, both red estates, an L plate and a H plate) whereas Focuses are much more common, so will be cheaper.
That is literally going rate for a focus. I've bought 2 for less than that --- Post updated --- Common problems. Rust. Just rust everywhere. Plenty of rust free examples, but they do like to rust around the sills. Back window regulators like to fail. Air conditioning compressor clutches fail. Hazard light module likes to fail (though I have got a pair of working ones in garage I think, I should sell them) --- Post updated --- Besides that. Good cars --- Post updated --- Expensive for a good one. Rest are broken.
Ummm, you're in the wrong section bud. This isn't a mods thread (nor is it in the sub-forum for mods).