High mileage Mk1 Ford Focus - good buy?

[ALfooy]

Hey guys, I'm looking at getting my next car.

After being without my Fiesta for 4 months and due to various reasons i decided to scrap it, save up and get something else.

However, I can't get anything too exciting as 3 points on my license and a couple of claims on the insurance a few years ago has meant my insurance is still pretty expensive even with 3 years no claims.

I have been looking at mk1 Foci however, I am old enougth to remember when they were first on sale 14 years ago and i still can't beleave the design is really that old now and due to growing up around Fords, seeing the late, great Colin McRae do some crazy things with a car, while so far removed from the road car but still looking very similar to it, I've always quite fancied one.

The only problem is, with my budget, most of them are quite high mileage.

Now, personally this puts me off, but obviously with anything, if its been looked after it should be ok, right? What do you guys think, would it be a good buy or should I stay well away and has anyone on here got a high mileage Focus to prove that a Ford with high miles is a reliable Ford.

Thanks, Alex

[Zad]

I think the Mk 1 Focus still looks sharp and contemporary, possibly even more so than the more recent marks. Ford engineered it rather than relying on marketing and accountants to run the project. How many miles is "high"? 100k is nothing, but 200k is knackered.

[juddzey455]

If maintained the correct way the zetec engine is a very strong unit, it pains me to say it but the japs had something to do with development(yamaha)

as with any high mileage car i'd expect to change a few things now and then like rubber pipes, belts, tensioners etc

Still to this day the mk1 focus is a great handling car!

[Elderly]

My wife bought a 1 year old Zetec in 2002, we gave it to our daughter a couple of years back and it's still going strong; it's a much nicer car than the Mk2 she has replaced it with.

[academygaz]

As long as the cambelt is done to book and the fluids changed regular, then the Zetec is a strong engine. Mines done 118k and due a belt change soon but still pulls well and runs fine. The biggest issue with the Mk1 Focus is when you need to do maintenance like taking suspension off, 95% of the bolts will be seized up and need cutting off to be replaced. Not expensive to buy the bolts but mechanic labour is the real cost.

[Pumajay]

Ive got a mk1 diesel focus as my daily runner, I had it 2 year and covered 53k in it ad it's now on 201k!!

It's been the best car I've ever owned and so far has only cost me a wheel Bearing and 2 front wishbones, il be honest I don't look after it, it's neglected, dirty and well overdue a Cambelt but the old thing continues to defy belief and keep on going!

It starts first time every time and has never let me down. I genuinely can't recommend a focus highly enough for someone who just needs a car to run around in, plus it also handles really well and for an old smokey diesel is quite fun on the B roads.


Don't be put off by mileage on one, if its been well looked after then it will be fine.... Look at mine, I don't look after it and I still can't kill the damn thing off!

[Rickyy]

I've got a 2001 2.0 petrol that is on 128k, failed its MOT 3 weeks ago on a bulb, headlight alignment and a handbrake cable and that was it. Cost about £150 all together to get it through.

The engine is perfect, still pulls well, uses no oil (uses a lot of fuel though) and I still make use of the entire rev range regularly. But what I didn't do was drive home from Fishguard at 100mph+ for over an hour. I definitely did not do that.

Suspension is getting a bit noisy, I think the top strut mounts are worn, but apart from that nothing majorly wrong with it. I'd happily drive from Lands End to John O'Groats in it tomorrow!

[big vaj]

I bought a 1998 1.8 Zetec from the auctiosn 3 years ago, it needed a clutch at the time and that was on about 100k. Replaced that, fitted ST170 suspension and 16" ESP wheels and as much as it pains me to say it it handles way better than my old Corrado G60!! Awesome cars that are underrated due to the fact they are common as muck.

Parts are pennies and there are hundreds in the scrappys, I love my old Focus!

[kwakus]

I have a mk1 diesel, had it for over 6 years with no problems. It now has 143,000 on it. I change the oil and filter every 5k and it starts and goes no problem. As siad by others it is still a nice looking car which handles well around the back roads, just sometimes wich mine was a bit quicker.
I have been to lands end, 8 hours to devon no problems, in august this year done 1600 mile round scotland in it, only thing that caused problems was me going to quick round the roads in the highlands and bottoming out, heat shield scraped abit but thats all.

I would definately recommend, just do your usual checks.