Discussion
Just bought a 2003 Ford Focus because I wanted the number plate G7 MAN.
No other info on it at all except it drives and has been in one family ownership from new. Oh and it's silver.
Picking it up at 8.00 tonight.
Wonder what I will get.
My bet is a poverty spec 1.6L fit for scrap ----- but you never know------ could be a Ghia.
Almost excited
No other info on it at all except it drives and has been in one family ownership from new. Oh and it's silver.
Picking it up at 8.00 tonight.
Wonder what I will get.
My bet is a poverty spec 1.6L fit for scrap ----- but you never know------ could be a Ghia.
Almost excited

AH well Deffo a loosing ticket!
It's a petrol, no idea what size but small. Battery totally flat not even an interior light. Passenger door mirror hanging off. The old boy, who has had it from new, had a stroke in June while driving home from work and had a brush with a hedge hence the mirror. It has sat on the drive ever since.
On the bright side it is still taxed and the tyres are round and black.
I have left the battery booster on it for a bit and I will go and have another go.
Yes it's an Isle of Man car, hence the plate.
Probably on its way to the scrappy.
It's a petrol, no idea what size but small. Battery totally flat not even an interior light. Passenger door mirror hanging off. The old boy, who has had it from new, had a stroke in June while driving home from work and had a brush with a hedge hence the mirror. It has sat on the drive ever since.
On the bright side it is still taxed and the tyres are round and black.
I have left the battery booster on it for a bit and I will go and have another go.
Yes it's an Isle of Man car, hence the plate.
Probably on its way to the scrappy.
Well home again.
This might be a 3 matching balls car after all.
It started first turn of the key after half an hour on charge
taped up the mirror and away.
It's a 1.6 ZetecSE 5 door 15" wheels according to the purchase invoice from the Ford garage that was in the glove box. 67300 miles so just run in.
Drives lovely once the rust was off the brake discs, nippy, tight, smooth, what's not to like.
Only issues so far are no radio code, and orange airbag light on. Code will be an easy fix as it was bought new over here so presumabally the Ford grg will have the code. Will hook up the diagnostics tomorrow and see what is up with the airbag. It's got front and rear heated screens and working air-con as well, positive luxury.
It's a bit dark at the mo but doesn't look rusty, very tidy inside as well. Get the T-cut out tomorrow night.
Happy days.
This might be a 3 matching balls car after all.
It started first turn of the key after half an hour on charge
taped up the mirror and away.It's a 1.6 ZetecSE 5 door 15" wheels according to the purchase invoice from the Ford garage that was in the glove box. 67300 miles so just run in.
Drives lovely once the rust was off the brake discs, nippy, tight, smooth, what's not to like.
Only issues so far are no radio code, and orange airbag light on. Code will be an easy fix as it was bought new over here so presumabally the Ford grg will have the code. Will hook up the diagnostics tomorrow and see what is up with the airbag. It's got front and rear heated screens and working air-con as well, positive luxury.
It's a bit dark at the mo but doesn't look rusty, very tidy inside as well. Get the T-cut out tomorrow night.
Happy days.
Mk1 right? If so they were just right with the 1.6 engine. A real peach. A friend had one and even after driving all sorts of posher cars, getting in it showed how right Ford got the ride, gear change and steering. For example, vastly better in real world driving than the BMW Mini Cooper, in my opinion. In particular the ride on the MINI and the engine on the non supercharged were miles worse!
sfella said:
Yes you can on the Isle of man, there are no age related plates here so you can swap and change plates as you please between any age of car.
That's a bit of news to me! Please indulge me - so if I wanted to put AA17ABC on a 1994 Ford Fiesta in the IoM I would be able to do so? What about, say, AA19ABC? Logic would dictate not, since we're not in 2019 yet and therefore can't buy said plate on the mainland (can you buy it on the IoM?), but as I'm sure you'll appreciate logic and DVLA are two words that don't go together.Second Best said:
sfella said:
Yes you can on the Isle of man, there are no age related plates here so you can swap and change plates as you please between any age of car.
That's a bit of news to me! Please indulge me - so if I wanted to put AA17ABC on a 1994 Ford Fiesta in the IoM I would be able to do so? What about, say, AA19ABC? Logic would dictate not, since we're not in 2019 yet and therefore can't buy said plate on the mainland (can you buy it on the IoM?), but as I'm sure you'll appreciate logic and DVLA are two words that don't go together.Great cars, had a similar spec one for over 10 years and never missed a beat. The 1.6 feels a little sluggish by more modern standards, but still perfectly acceptable, and mine was capable of mid 40's mpg on my B road commute. No rust issues at 14 years old, 150k miles.
Probably the easiest solution to the radio code is ebay. 99p, email them the model and serial no. and they'll email back pretty quick
Probably the easiest solution to the radio code is ebay. 99p, email them the model and serial no. and they'll email back pretty quick

Zetec-S said:
Probably the easiest solution to the radio code is ebay. 99p, email them the model and serial no. and they'll email back pretty quick 
Or do it for free .... http://www.pumapeople.com/decode.php 
0a said:
Mk1 right? If so they were just right with the 1.6 engine. A real peach. A friend had one and even after driving all sorts of posher cars, getting in it showed how right Ford got the ride, gear change and steering. For example, vastly better in real world driving than the BMW Mini Cooper, in my opinion. In particular the ride on the MINI and the engine on the non supercharged were miles worse!
Agreed. I've driven many MK1 Focii (and MK2) and the MK1 with the 1.6 engine is the sweet spot. I still fancy a MK1 1.6 Zetec with air con etc.I had a MK1 2003 1.8 TDDi Zetec and it was a great all round car but the engine was rough (but tough)
But yes...Superb ride/handling/steering set up. A Puma 1.7 is better...but then a Puma isn't a family car.
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