Buying privately - things to watch out for on a Focus?
Discussion
Steep car that.
Friend at work has a black V reg 2.0 Ghia 4 door Focus, FFSH, 70k ish loads of money spent in the last 2 years on it, and he accepts he won't get much more than £3250 really as he's selling for an ST170 soon.
So, first thing to watch out for is price being high for a modified example. Tyres will be £100 a piece on 18's for anything half decent to start with!
As per rest, well my friend has had one headlight which went funny, think adjuster and reflector were corroded, so that was done under Ford Warranty when he got it. Think it had a new manifold too, as some were fitted with Mondeo ones around that age on 2.0's
Apart from that it's solid as a rock. Seem very reliable generally!
Dave
Friend at work has a black V reg 2.0 Ghia 4 door Focus, FFSH, 70k ish loads of money spent in the last 2 years on it, and he accepts he won't get much more than £3250 really as he's selling for an ST170 soon.
So, first thing to watch out for is price being high for a modified example. Tyres will be £100 a piece on 18's for anything half decent to start with!
As per rest, well my friend has had one headlight which went funny, think adjuster and reflector were corroded, so that was done under Ford Warranty when he got it. Think it had a new manifold too, as some were fitted with Mondeo ones around that age on 2.0's
Apart from that it's solid as a rock. Seem very reliable generally!
Dave
SamHH said:
Neil, if it were my money I'd be spending it on things like tyres, fuel and driving tuition not cosmetic modifications. I just thought the "twat" comment was too harsh. As for the wheels on your car, they're too big for my liking but they don't make me think "chav"...or "twat".
Thats exactly what I spend my money on - if you notice I have my normal wheels on for the 2nd VMax picture where I put some sticky rubber on specificly to learn how to hoon about wothou fear of binning it into anyone else.
Additionally, the big wheels I have are wrapped in lovely Proxes, thus giving me lots of nice grip.
My fuel bills bankrupt me frequently - I do about 20,000 miles a year - and only about 40% of that for business.
My apologies for using the word t
t - may have been a bit harsh, what about if I just tut and shake my head subtly instead? 
Edited by neil_cardiff on Saturday 22 July 10:27
beyond rational said:
This view of OEM is the only way seems a bit blinkered, there are plenty of horrendous OEM parts out there...and choosing from within the VAG group...TT wheels are hardly OEM for a golf, can Southpaw fit some wheels from a Jag then? Nonsense.
You're missing the point.
OEM means 'looks factory'.
Doesn't necesarily mean it has to be the same make, but it does need to look like it was designed for the car.
If the Jag wheels suited the car, then theorecticly it fits the OEM moniker.
Remember though, OEM started through VAG cars where a lot of part fit eachother - Passats share alot of the Golf parts, however some of the Passat bits look cooler.
Additionally the Polo door handles are a popluar mod - as they bolt straight on and look like they were designed for the car.
Hence why I suggested the ST170 wheels onto a normal Focus.
Edited to add: I wouldn't go slapping any old shit OEM part over my car - and I'm not blinkered at all to other ways of modding, I just prefer my cars simple and understated.
Edited by neil_cardiff on Saturday 22 July 13:53
Just got back from looking at a Focus. Only 2 stamps in the service history, 12k and 22k miles and its now on 75k. And the rear drivers side arch has 2 small dents in it and was rusting - is this normal? I thought Ford gave a 12 year rust guarantee or something?
Anyway, if anyone see's a nice 1.6 Zetec for under £3k tell me
Anyway, if anyone see's a nice 1.6 Zetec for under £3k tell me
neil_cardiff said:
beyond rational said:
This view of OEM is the only way seems a bit blinkered, there are plenty of horrendous OEM parts out there...and choosing from within the VAG group...TT wheels are hardly OEM for a golf, can Southpaw fit some wheels from a Jag then? Nonsense.
You're missing the point.
OEM means 'looks factory'.
Doesn't necesarily mean it has to be the same make, but it does need to look like it was designed for the car.
If the Jag wheels suited the car, then theorecticly it fits the OEM moniker.
Remember though, OEM started through VAG cars where a lot of part fit eachother - Passats share alot of the Golf parts, however some of the Passat bits look cooler.
Additionally the Polo door handles are a popluar mod - as they bolt straight on and look like they were designed for the car.
Hence why I suggested the ST170 wheels onto a normal Focus.
Edited to add: I wouldn't go slapping any old shit OEM part over my car - and I'm not blinkered at all to other ways of modding, I just prefer my cars simple and understated.
Edited by neil_cardiff on Saturday 22 July 13:53
OEM does not mean that at all, and your opinion of what looks factory is not mine if you think that your golf "looks factory"
Southpaw, focus (MK1s) do rust, claiming is not all that easy as you have to prove it rusted from within, check around the bootlid inside and the boot lock as well
beyond rational said:
neil_cardiff said:
beyond rational said:
This view of OEM is the only way seems a bit blinkered, there are plenty of horrendous OEM parts out there...and choosing from within the VAG group...TT wheels are hardly OEM for a golf, can Southpaw fit some wheels from a Jag then? Nonsense.
You're missing the point.
OEM means 'looks factory'.
Doesn't necesarily mean it has to be the same make, but it does need to look like it was designed for the car.
If the Jag wheels suited the car, then theorecticly it fits the OEM moniker.
Remember though, OEM started through VAG cars where a lot of part fit eachother - Passats share alot of the Golf parts, however some of the Passat bits look cooler.
Additionally the Polo door handles are a popluar mod - as they bolt straight on and look like they were designed for the car.
Hence why I suggested the ST170 wheels onto a normal Focus.
Edited to add: I wouldn't go slapping any old shit OEM part over my car - and I'm not blinkered at all to other ways of modding, I just prefer my cars simple and understated.
Edited by neil_cardiff on Saturday 22 July 13:53
OEM does not mean that at all, and your opinion of what looks factory is not mine if you think that your golf "looks factory"
Southpaw, focus (MK1s) do rust, claiming is not all that easy as you have to prove it rusted from within, check around the bootlid inside and the boot lock as well
Come on then, whats your definition?
I've read enough 'single make' mags to know what their definition of OEM is, so I'd love to know yours?
You must be saying that big wheels don't make a car look factory even if they are off another model from the same manufacturer, so what is right? Are all those people who tick the 19" wheel option for Golf Gtis choosing the wrong wheel?
Edited by neil_cardiff on Saturday 22 July 15:03
OEM is the specifically the parts that were originally intended for that make and model, as fitted by the original manufacteurer
edited to add: if they were not an option on a model, say 19 inch GTi rims on a 1.6, that is not OEM either
edited to add: if they were not an option on a model, say 19 inch GTi rims on a 1.6, that is not OEM either
Edited by beyond rational on Saturday 22 July 15:27
beyond rational said:
OEM is the specifically the parts that were originally intended for that make and model, as fitted by the original manufacteurer
edited to add: if they were not an option on a model, say 19 inch GTi rims on a 1.6, that is not OEM either
edited to add: if they were not an option on a model, say 19 inch GTi rims on a 1.6, that is not OEM either
Edited by beyond rational on Saturday 22 July 15:27
Ah, I see - you have a different 'concept' of OEM to me:
The OEM you describe is completely correct in a technical sense, however, "OEM" in a VAG styling sense (at least it is from my knowledge in VW enthuiasts magazines and websites) is the use of VAG parts on a car to make it look different, but subtly so. Pick up a copy of Golf+ in order to see what I mean.
I've had a wee chat with Christian via email, and his comments and ideas seem very sound - I hope that he gets what he wants - I look forward to seeing him at a PH meet soon
Edited by neil_cardiff on Saturday 22 July 16:15
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