Thoughts on 05 Focus Auto

[ProTantoQuid]

I've been leasing for the past five years, coming to the end of a 225xe lease.

My job is precarious and I'm about to get divorced so am thinking of taking a bit of time out and get a banger until the dust settles.

I've noticed this on eBay. It previously had a starting price of £1k but nobody took the bait and it's now at £900

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254603530274

I've checked the MOT, it seems they've tried to hide the numberplate in their photos and included a picture of the v5.

It's got twelve months MOT, and no serious failures in the past.

As it stands, under lockdown, I'm doing about 15 miles a week and paying £250/month for the BMW. I can extend the lease if I want.

Interested to know others' thoughts.

[ProTantoQuid]

Alternative is this Renault Grand Scenic

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

50k miles and the past MOTs don't look too bad.

£325 road tax and high fuel consumption though...

[mike13]

The advert itself would put me off, sold as seen, a gem, i know private deals are buyer beware and it's only £900 but i think ford autoboxes of that era weren't the most reliable.

[Jefferson Steelflex]

I worked for Ford at that time in Sales & Marketing and the auto boxes were only really produced for the 1% of clients who couldn't work a clutch pedal (i.e. older or infirm). 'We' didn't take autos seriously until 2010-on, and the particular combo in the Focus was a bit ropey.

Not unreliable as such, but just not a modern auto and you'll find it a little unresponsive and slushy. It will do a job, but it wasn't a patch on competitor autos from Merc or BMW at the time for example.

[ProTantoQuid]

Jefferson Steelflex said:

I worked for Ford at that time in Sales & Marketing and the auto boxes were only really produced for the 1% of clients who couldn't work a clutch pedal (i.e. older or infirm). 'We' didn't take autos seriously until 2010-on, and the particular combo in the Focus was a bit ropey.

Not unreliable as such, but just not a modern auto and you'll find it a little unresponsive and slushy. It will do a job, but it wasn't a patch on competitor autos from Merc or BMW at the time for example.

That's straight from the horse's mouth then, thanks for the advice.

I live in London, so can't say that driving dynamics are ever tested, but my last two cars have been the 225xe, mostly driving on electric, so no gears, and prior to that was a Yeti with DSG. So I might find a slushy auto to be quite a shock.

I could consider a manual but, like I said, it's all London driving so it's easier just to let the car make the decisions for me.

[stevemcs]

The worlds worst advert ... Gearboxes can be troublesome and the dashboard fails but its less than a grand so just weigh it in. However if it must be an auto and Focus i'd go for a slightly earlier car.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-FORD-FOCUS-1-6i-1-...

[mholt1995]

If you're just after something cheap to get you about for a bit, I'm looking at getting shot of my 05 Focus soon - 2.0 Manual petrol in top Ghia spec with a few options for a fair wedge less than that's going for as I've got a lease coming at some point soon, not exactly sure when though!

Current plan is to bung it on an ebay no reserve auction once my lease arrives but feel free to message me if you're interested!

[littlebasher]

ProTantoQuid said:

Alternative is this Renault Grand Scenic

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

50k miles and the past MOTs don't look too bad.

£325 road tax and high fuel consumption though...

I'm a big fan of Renaults, but the DPO gearbox is a bit of a turd tbh. If you're going to look at one, make sure you drive it from COLD and for at least 10 mins. If it bangs down a gear and the transmission light comes on - walk away!

BTW, i didn't see more than 25mpg out of one of those