any ford focus experts here? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

E150GT · #1 03-03-2009, 09:37 PM

As my 420sel is deteriorating beyond what is economically feasable to restore, I have been on the search for cheap transportation. I can buy a 2000 ford focus for 1000 dollars with 169k on the clock. Would anyone. Know if I would be on ultra borrowed time with a car like that? It seems to be in good condition. I'm just not sure what to expext from a focus. Any thoughts? It probably couldn't be any worse that a cheap mercedes!

C280 Sport · #2 03-03-2009, 09:47 PM

169,000 MILES is a lot of miles. You will most likley run into the same issues you are having with the Mercedes.

E150GT · #3 03-03-2009, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C280 Sport

169,000 MILES is a lot of miles. You will most likley run into the same issues you are having with the Mercedes.

it almost seems hard to imagine having more problems than my car already. to fully get my car in semi-nice condition im gonna have to spend at least three grand. i will then have a total of about 9000 bucks including purchase price for a car that may very well have 250k miles on it. I have been trying to not spend money on it while i save to buy another car cash. i really want another mercedes, but am unwilling to finance a car. i dont think another benz is in the cards for a while. i need something to relieve me of having to spend a fortune to keep up a deteriorating car i dont plan to keep. i want to focus on my finances for my future rather than an old benz. i was hoping a car like this focus could keep my driving expenses down for at least a couple of years. sorry for the long reply

pawoSD · #4 03-03-2009, 10:47 PM

You're making a mistake....dumping the car now rather than spending the rest of what it takes to make it good will result in a bigger overall loss. I kept at it with my SD and its been trouble free for years now because I worked hard at replacing everything early on....

Buying a ford with 169k on it?

Yeah right!

iwrock · #5 03-03-2009, 10:50 PM

Find a $1000 honda.

cscmc1 · #6 03-03-2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Buying a ford with 169k on it?

Yeah right!

To be fair, I wouldn't buy ANY make with 169K on it w/o proof of maintenance if I needed a reliable car. I sold my Escort eons ago with 150K+ miles, my Mustang with 140K+, and my Taurus SHO with 160K+. All were outstanding cars.

That said, I'd agree that fixing the Mercedes is the way to go. It's bought and paid for; OP can use the forum's expertise to help prioritize repairs, and perhaps can find some bargains in the parts classifieds to keep costs modest.

E150GT · #7 03-03-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwrock

Find a $1000 honda.

Yeah right. I looked at a 93 accord with 279k. They still wanted 2300. For it. To date I need to replace leather, sunroof, wood, motor mount, rear springs, shocks, bumpers, carpet, ccu, determine where the driveline slack is, flairing in transmission, cause of 11mpg, some body work, front window regulators, oil leaks, refinish wheels and I'm sure plenty more along the way. So far I've fixed ac leak,flex discs, center bearing, sterring gear box, fuel lines, brake caliper, all brakes, axles and I'm sure I missed a few thingsmm don't get me wrong, I do like my car, but I can't help but feel sometimes I work just to make sure my car will get me to work. It really sucks because I have no interest in most newer cars and all the old ones are falling apart. I'm afraid I'm being penny wise and pound foolish when it comes to my car.

pawoSD · #8 03-04-2009, 12:03 AM

I've replaced about $7-8,500 of parts on my car in the past 6 years....not including the purchase price....just keep at it. A MB can be kept going for way less than the payment on a new car. An old car has its savings....insurance is way cheaper.....its paid for (aside from repairs).....many advantages. The safety factor of a MB too....one of the big reasons I drive one.

Ara T. · #9 03-04-2009, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

I've replaced about $7-8,500 of parts on my car in the past 6 years....not including the purchase price....just keep at it. A MB can be kept going for way less than the payment on a new car. An old car has its savings....insurance is way cheaper.....its paid for (aside from repairs).....many advantages. The safety factor of a MB too....one of the big reasons I drive one.

A $1000 Focus is not a new car. I think it could make a great beater.

Thing is I dont know its specific faults and common needed repairs, you should go to a Ford Focus forum and do some research if no one here chimes in. Modern cars can be amazing reliability wise. My dad's 2000 Accord has 120K miles now and all it has needed is a battery, brake pads, and timing belt (pre emptive). Not bad for a $11K car.

mwood · #10 03-04-2009, 12:45 AM

I agree with Ara, go to a Focus forum. Asking advice about a Ford on a Mercedes forum will only get you the predictable "keep the Mercedes at all costs" answers you would expect.

pawoSD · #11 03-04-2009, 01:45 AM

I just can't imagine going from a 420SEL W126 to a focus.....

#12 03-04-2009, 07:24 AM

I worked at a ford dealer for a few years 2002-2003 and to be honest the new focus is junk let alone a used one. They were never very well enginered cars imho. I always saw one in the shop with varying degrees of things wrong with them.

75Sv1 · #13 03-04-2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helpplease

I worked at a ford dealer for a few years 2002-2003 and to be honest the new focus is junk let alone a used one. They were never very well enginered cars imho. I always saw one in the shop with varying degrees of things wrong with them.

I used to work on guns. I'd see about 20-40 of Winchester, Remington, Savage and Mossberg shot guns each week, for about 8 months out of the year. So, I had a dim view of certain guns. People I have meet had no problems out of certain types, that I saw a lt of problems with. I can't comment directly on the Ford Focus.
I do own two Ford Contours. I did test drive a Ford Focus once. It seemed OK. I think the first year had a lot of problems. After that they were about normal, from what I've read. The engine should be the Z-Tec 4 cyl., same as the Contour. Its a good engine. Mine has 212K on it. It doesn't use oil, in 7,500 miles oil changes. I've run synthetic since 20K. The autos had early problems in the Contours, a supplier problem of a warped plate. Long story, but I have a Ford rebuilt unit since 85K, and its doing fine. The manual, had some early problems, mainly shifter detents, being course. I think the Contour guys get updated parts from the Focus parts bin. They main problem was the differential gear stripping. I had it happen to mine. But it was putting the manual trans matted to a V-6, that I think caused the problem.
I have read, experienced and talked to others on Contours. Some have had a bunch of problems, me some, others none. Mine was poor service, and a sticky brake caliper caused a bunch of problems. One I saw was poor maintenace by the owner.
The Z-Tec has a belt instead of a chain. It should be changed in 80K miles I think. The early Z-Tecs were suppose to be changed in 60K. I ran mine to 126K. The changed belt broke in less than 50K. I think poor installation. It is an interferance motor, but not a tighly interferance, mine and others I have read about survive a belt breaking.
At 169K, I would look at the front bearing, CV(drive) shafts, brakes, tie rods. See if they have been replaced at any time. At that mileage, just about any car will need those inspected or replaced. I'd also go to a Focus website and see what most of them say.
Tom

E150GT · #14 03-04-2009, 08:23 AM

Ill check out the ford forums. I'm not looking for my next fixer upper, but rather a daily beater that gets decent fuel mileage. I only need a few years of minimal repairs. I had a ford van with 225k and I killed the transmission by not replacing the trans cooler after hitting a deer until it was already cooked. I sold it for 200 dollars even though it only needed a 400 dollar transmission rebuild. I regret it now. For some reason, I thought 400 bucks was a million and I could never save that much. Now that I learned to save money, I dont really want to dump it into my car,as much as I like it.

Ara T. · #15 03-04-2009, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helpplease

I worked at a ford dealer for a few years 2002-2003 and to be honest the new focus is junk let alone a used one. They were never very well enginered cars imho. I always saw one in the shop with varying degrees of things wrong with them.

Of course you did, thats the point of a service center, to make money fixing cars. There's always gonna be broken down cars in mechanic shops.

E150GT you should get the lowest trim model. No power locks, no power windows, no sunroof, just the basics. Manually operated stuff is the way to go reliability wise.