Buying a Focus 1.8 - what to look for?
Discussion
We've just bought a 2002 1.6 Ghia, and had to look at a lot of scruffy cars before we found a good one.
As mentioned, rust starts to be an issue on cars of this age. Also check that the gearlever returns to centre when you let go, as a spring in the gear linkage tends to go missing. Cheap and easy fix though.
Make sure the speedo works and moves smoothly, as the speed sensor on the gearbox is a common fault.
Listen for wheelbearing whine, the rear bearings are a common failure.
Off the top of my head that's all I can come up with. Don't worry if you don't find the perfect car straight away, there's thousands of them out there, you will find a good one!
As mentioned, rust starts to be an issue on cars of this age. Also check that the gearlever returns to centre when you let go, as a spring in the gear linkage tends to go missing. Cheap and easy fix though.
Make sure the speedo works and moves smoothly, as the speed sensor on the gearbox is a common fault.
Listen for wheelbearing whine, the rear bearings are a common failure.
Off the top of my head that's all I can come up with. Don't worry if you don't find the perfect car straight away, there's thousands of them out there, you will find a good one!
Listen out for wheel bearings (droaning noise), they usually go on the rears.
Anti-Roll bar link arms tend to go aswell, they make a knocking noise from the front when driven over bumps.
Engine wise, they are pretty good. I've had an 1.8 and a 2.0, both in Zetec trim. They have both been reliable. The 1.8 was my Dad's car before mine, he had it at 40k and it was on 115K when I got rid, never once let us down.
My 1.8, which was a T-Reg had zero corrosion, where as my current 2.0 51 Plate, has it on both passenger doors and the boot lid!
Don't be tempted by a 2.0, you get little performance gain in exchange for much higher fuel consumption!
Anti-Roll bar link arms tend to go aswell, they make a knocking noise from the front when driven over bumps.
Engine wise, they are pretty good. I've had an 1.8 and a 2.0, both in Zetec trim. They have both been reliable. The 1.8 was my Dad's car before mine, he had it at 40k and it was on 115K when I got rid, never once let us down.
My 1.8, which was a T-Reg had zero corrosion, where as my current 2.0 51 Plate, has it on both passenger doors and the boot lid!
Don't be tempted by a 2.0, you get little performance gain in exchange for much higher fuel consumption!
R1 CKY said:
Listen out for wheel bearings (droaning noise), they usually go on the rears.
Anti-Roll bar link arms tend to go aswell, they make a knocking noise from the front when driven over bumps.
Engine wise, they are pretty good. I've had an 1.8 and a 2.0, both in Zetec trim. They have both been reliable. The 1.8 was my Dad's car before mine, he had it at 40k and it was on 115K when I got rid, never once let us down.
My 1.8, which was a T-Reg had zero corrosion, where as my current 2.0 51 Plate, has it on both passenger doors and the boot lid!
Don't be tempted by a 2.0, you get little performance gain in exchange for much higher fuel consumption!
Sadly she went & bought a 106k 2.0 Ghia on a 52 plate - doesn't look to be the best example as cambelt hasn't been done (booked in to garage), a little rust & evidence of some paintwork been done. Apparently it was HPI clear & she paid a little under £1k for it with a new MOT so fingers crossed.Anti-Roll bar link arms tend to go aswell, they make a knocking noise from the front when driven over bumps.
Engine wise, they are pretty good. I've had an 1.8 and a 2.0, both in Zetec trim. They have both been reliable. The 1.8 was my Dad's car before mine, he had it at 40k and it was on 115K when I got rid, never once let us down.
My 1.8, which was a T-Reg had zero corrosion, where as my current 2.0 51 Plate, has it on both passenger doors and the boot lid!
Don't be tempted by a 2.0, you get little performance gain in exchange for much higher fuel consumption!
nobodyknows said:
Sadly she went & bought a 106k 2.0 Ghia on a 52 plate - doesn't look to be the best example as cambelt hasn't been done (booked in to garage), a little rust & evidence of some paintwork been done. Apparently it was HPI clear & she paid a little under £1k for it with a new MOT so fingers crossed.
Tell her too expect sub 30 MPG on a combined cycle!If you do get a chance took look under the bonnet, do a quick visual check of the thermostat housing on the right hand side of the block and a plastic coolant pipe that sits above the rad and infront of the exhaust manifold. I've had leaks on both in my car.
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