New car - spent lots - make me feel better please!

[malfunction]

As the title says - just bought a new car and spent lots (for me anyway!)

FWIW it's a Focus 1.6 / LX - 52 plate (registered in Feb this year) with just over 12,000 miles on it. Was very tempted by the Zetec but not enough to spend another £1,000 which is what the main dealer I went to was asking. 'Upgrading' from an M reg Peugeot 306 (1.4 XL - 86,000 miles - work this year included a major service, blown head gasket and a new clutch... Still needs 2 new tyres too!)

So say something nice - make me feel better about spending £8,500 on a new(er) car after having already spent loads on my battered old pug!

[Shad]

Don't really know much about Focus prices but having just left a deposit on my new car I know what it's like as a financial comitment! So much money on one thing... but so much pleasure

In all honesty mate, I'd be a bit worried by the blown head gasket and the need for new tyres, let alone the clutch. It's only 7 months old. Either Focus's are suddenly very unreliable (which I doubt, ours isn't) or it's either not been looked after or just thrashed. Hopefully the 12,000 miles it's accrued will be motorway miles which will be a good thing in the long run.

A good upgrade though so money well spent in that respect. Lets hope it's ok once it's fixed up

[malfunction]

Shad - you mis-read mate - it was the old 306 that's had all the problems (hence the new car!)

[Shad]

Ohh!! Sorry dude, it's still early

Looks like a nice buy then

[malfunction]

It's strange - and I know it's only in my own head - but the 306 ran really smootly on the way home from the garage (not got the focus yet - picking it up on Monday)... Almost as if the old girl was saying "I'll be good - don't make me go!"

[Barakka]

Originally posted by malfunction
It's strange - and I know it's only in my own head - but the 306 ran really smootly on the way home from the garage (not got the focus yet - picking it up on Monday)... Almost as if the old girl was saying "I'll be good - don't make me go!"

Don't worry about it they always do that

A few days in the new motor and you'll be well happy, sounds like a decent enough deal as well.

[5lab]

what car used to have the going rates for most cars in the back of their mag, dunno if they still do (if not somewhere should..)

[Zak33]

52 Plate Astra 1.6 16v LS models are a bit cheaper, and not as good, so all in all thats not to bad mate.

MAKE SURE you get:

Both keys
Key code and Immobiliser code
Radio Code.
Service book WITH PDI (Pre Delivery Inspection) stamped in it
Hand book pack with Stero book AND car book in it.

If its got Aircon, use it every month, even if ya blow warm air through it in January to stop you dying of cold ....it keeps it working better....2 or 3 hours once a week, ALL YEAR ROUND.....worth it mate.

And for gawd sake...get it serviced at FORD for the first 3 years of its life......does it need one in Feb 2004 or is it done before you take it away. Dont scrimp on the service.....dont get it done privately......get Ford to do it. THEN the WARRANTY HOLDS TRUE>....so when it goes BANG or the CENTRAL LOCKING DIES.....you get it covered by Ford.

Trust me.......even if the 2nd service is £200 and Fred in a Shed can do it for £99....go with Ford until the warrnaty is gone.

CHECK with the Ford Saleman about WHAT you gotta get done to keep it sweet.

Not a bad car at all....the only thing to compare in chassis to the Pug you had anyway......306 owns the road....but the 1.4 you got/had was SLOW as HELL

[malfunction]

Originally posted by Zak33
306 owns the road....but the 1.4 you got/had was SLOW as HELL

Too right - you can floor it at almost any speed in any gear and it does bugger all!

Thought about the Astra but hired a new Vectra recently and didn't like it at all. Also tried the Civic (liked the Focus better) and thought about the Corolla (new shape not the fugly old one).

Thanks for the advice BTW - it's only my 2nd car and when I bought the Pug a grease-monkey mate of mine came with me so I didn't worry too much about the little bits and bobs!

[Thorburn]

price sounds alright and those focuses are supposed to be bloody good

[Capt Doufos]

That is the same reason I changed my 306.. Got fed up with the thing.

I spent £9300 on a 1.8i SE Vtec Accord.

[malfunction]

Just a quick update to say:

Had the focus since Monday and loving it!

[wiltonson]

have a question about the focus LX as i am looking for one as well.

does it comes with ABS at the front and back wheel

also whats the difference between CL, LX, ghia, Zetec model? i know CL is the low end version but it would be wonderful if someone could point out the difference between these range for me.

thanks

[Zak33]

I cant tell you the difference in trim, so go get a brochure and ask a sales man...BUT...

If a car has ABS at all, it works on all 4 wheels.......recent cars sense ALL 4 wheels independantly.....older Fords monitored both back wheels with one sensor but it was still better than nought...

the only ABDS I know of the was BAD, was Fiats antiskid inlate 80's and early 90's.....truly worse than normal brakes..

But those days are gone now (thank gawd)

[wiltonson]

i am interested in getting a ford focus LX 1.8 and has approx 15k miles on it. it's a 1999 V-reg. the lady owner bought it from ford dealer and previously the car is for disable people. she is asking for 5500 pounds, what do you guys think? does the price sounds right?

[Trickle]

Have you had a butchers at www.autotrader.co.uk for focus's in the 5-6K bracket? Plenty of peeps overpricing "their baby" on there, but its a real world reflection of what to expect price wise.

I guess only you can decide how much extra the disabled lady driver factor is worth. You are never going to know if her teenage sun has been putting 50% of the mileage on the clock or not etc.

I'm surprised that my mothers old citroen AX survived with both myself and my brother learning to drive in it - yet she could have sold it as "one lady driver owner with below average mileage".