Car Decision Quandry

[Alias218]

This is a split question really, part car buying, part home mechanics (I guess).

I have a 2002 Ford Focus and there is rust in the usual places at the rear of the sills. The situation I have placed myself in is this: do I repair the rust (plus numerous other small jobs that I can tackle myself) for less than say £2,000 in a car that is on 57,000 miles and has loads left in it - ignore vehicle value at this point - or do I opt for a new car?

I can't decide as rust is notoriously tricky to fix but spending a bit will see it gone for at least the foreseeable, but on the other hand if I bought a new car with none of these foibles then I'm home free.

However.

£2,000 (which I think is overegging it a little, repair estimate wise) will pay for considerably less than a years payments on a new car.

I guess it hinges on how successfully the rust can be treated, which from a cursory look doesn't seem too bad although we all know how rust likes to hide.

The old Focus is a cracking car still and I'm really not bothered by having the latest, greatest but at the same time I don't want to spend too much on something that is ultimately going to be unsuccessful.

Do I pay for rust repairs et al on the Focus, or pay considerably more over the next thee years on a brand new car?

For most I suppose this will be an obvious choice.

Edit: It's probably worth adding that the Focus is, to the best of my knowledge, pretty free of rust apart from the aforementioned and isn't in bad condition generally for it's 16 years.

Edited by Alias218 on Monday 17th December 18:59

[Jag_NE]

How does the 2k break down

[Alias218]

The £2,000 is very much a finger in the air figure but roughly comprises rust repairs, new suspension springs + fitting, A/C condenser + recharge, wheel refurb, heated seat element, heat shields, FEAD tensioner and belt.

Nothing terrible (with the potential exception to the rust) and most I can do on my driveway.

[Blackpuddin]

This is always an awkward one where the car is worth more to the owner than it is in pound notes to anyone else. I agree with you that the early Focus is a cracking car but the thing is there are loads of non-rusty cracking Foci about the place for under £1k. It's annoying and in some ways wrong to throw away a usable car though. I feel your frustration.

[Alias218]

Blackpuddin said:

This is always an awkward one where the car is worth more to the owner than it is in pound notes to anyone else. I agree with you that the early Focus is a cracking car but the thing is there are loads of non-rusty cracking Foci about the place for under £1k. It's annoying and in some ways wrong to throw away a usable car though. I feel your frustration.

There are loads of mk1 Foci knocking about, but it's a lottery whether you'll get a good one or not IMO. This one was one owner for 15 years (I suspect ex-company for the first year) and he always took it to main dealerships for maintenance. Obviously age has caught up, but it is by and large a good egg. I could buy another tomorrow and be no further down the line. Plus I'd have to actually sell this one first.

[Jag_NE]

Alias218 said:

The £2,000 is very much a finger in the air figure but roughly comprises rust repairs, new suspension springs + fitting, A/C condenser + recharge, wheel refurb, heated seat element, heat shields, FEAD tensioner and belt.

Nothing terrible (with the potential exception to the rust) and most I can do on my driveway.

I think 2k is high side. I’d spend a few hundred quid every few months working through your job sheet. As you say, it’s a well sorted car and if you take a 5 year view you will save a packet vs buying something new/newer.

[Toed64]

Jag_NE said:

Alias218 said:

The £2,000 is very much a finger in the air figure but roughly comprises rust repairs, new suspension springs + fitting, A/C condenser + recharge, wheel refurb, heated seat element, heat shields, FEAD tensioner and belt.

Nothing terrible (with the potential exception to the rust) and most I can do on my driveway.

I think 2k is high side. I’d spend a few hundred quid every few months working through your job sheet. As you say, it’s a well sorted car and if you take a 5 year view you will save a packet vs buying something new/newer.

This^^

Better the devil you know - your own car is often the the cheapest to run over time if you look after it...not always the case, but with a Focus, you have a good starting point.

Repair panels for old Fords are dirt cheap, so get the sills repaired. I'd also cut out the rusty bits before you get the new sills fitted and then squirt some wax into the voids once you get it back.

Think carefully about which jobs are worthwhile though. Consider what's necessary: is it really worth spending money on refurbing the wheels on a car that might be worth less than the cost of the wheel refurb? Good Ford rims with tyres are plentiful on the auction sites, or even your local scrappy.

[Alias218]

Thanks for the input all.

Agreed that a wheel refurb isn't critical (would also like a steering wheel retrim!) but vehicle value isn't much of a concern unless I have an accident. Anything cosmetic like that would be at the end of the list in any case.

I guess my mind is made up. Next question: can anyone recommend a good body place in Essex that offers a compromise between cost and quality?

I do have a place I've used for my 350Z but they may be a little OTT for a job like this.