Common issues with 10+ year focus?

[aussieal]

Hi

I’m planning on picking up a Focus for sub £1k as a second car, mainly to leave at the station during the week and for local trips to the gym/supermarket etc.

From monitoring the trader over the last couple of weeks, seems I can get a 1.6 zetec 5 door with under 100k on it for around the £1k mark.

Is there anything in particular I should be looking out for mechanically?

Cheers

Al

[aussieal]

Thanks guys, some good advice.

There are certainly enough of them about, and within a sensible distance, to be able to be picky about the one I go for.

Can’t see much to rival it in this price bracket for what I need it for.

[aussieal]

Off to see one tonight, 54 plate with 94k on it.

Looks fairly clean inside and out, current owner has just given it a service which included changing the timing belt. Not too bothered about it being maintained at home, it’s what I plan to do anyway.

It’s been surprising over the past couple of weeks how quickly the good ones go, hadn’t expected it to be quite so competitive!

[aussieal]

Well, it didn’t measure up well compared to the advert. Body work on the rear end and roof had a lot of scratches and chips, back to bare plastic and metal in places.

Seemed solid enough to drive, although the bite on the clutch was very high – practically at the top of the travel of the pedal.

Maybe more of an eye opener for me in terms of what you actually get for £1k, as it was the first one I’d been to look at.