Ford Focus 1.6 - Second hand - Advice?

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Lirk13

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Looking at buying a 2007 Ford Focus 1.6 BZ Sport Second hand, 83 000Km on it. Anyone with a focus that can give me any advice, what to look for on problems etc. ?

Any advice would be appreciated...
 
Obvious check is the FSH. It came with a 3 year service plan so check when the last services were done, especially the major 75000km service.

Check for any accident damage.

Check rear windscreen - ask the owner/salesperson to give a gentle push in the middle of it. Mine shattered for no reason last year.

Check the rear windscreen wiper assembly. It is a flimsy P.O.S. and mine has flown off twice already!

Check the electrical system. Not one at a time, but all at once - e.g. headlights + wipers + direction indicators (I had a problem where it shorted out when using this combo).

On the test drive go over a speed bump at the required speed and listen very carefully for any "knocking" sound from the rear suspension. It is not the shock absorbers!!

Check the spare wheel compartment - the bolt used to hold down the spare wheel strips easily. There should be a scissor jack and a small toolkit there as well.

It should also be able to idle at 1400-1600 rpm - VERY quietly.

In contrast, you have to moer the doors closed!!
 
First off awesome car,Good quality. my mom has the exact same one.

Haven't had one problem with and it has 80 000km on the clock. it idles at 800-1000rpm....
 
Had a previous generation 2.0, had it for 50 000km +, had no issues what so ever. Bought a 2008 focus ST last year, only thing that has failed has been the OFH, which is a known fault and that Ford generally replaces under warranty. This is only for the ST.

All in all the Focus is supposed to be quite a solid car.
 
MickeyD said:
On the test drive go over a speed bump at the required speed and listen very carefully for any "knocking" sound from the rear suspension. It is not the shock absorbers!!
Click to expand...

I have a 2008 Focus and the knocking sound from the back started a while ago. I asked Ford to have a look at it on the last service, but they said nothing was wrong, even though they replaced the shock.

What is it if it's not the shocks? I have no idea.
 
I have the 2006 1.6 SI. No issues at all and it's at 130 000kms now. Very happy.
/Touches wood
 
If it's in good nick and you're happy with the price I say go for it. I had one from new (1.6 Si) and was very happy with it.
 
Thanks for all the awesome advice, especially mickeyD for the in-depth check list. Gonna buy it asap!
 
MickeyD said:
On the test drive go over a speed bump at the required speed and listen very carefully for any "knocking" sound from the rear suspension. It is not the shock absorbers!!
Click to expand...

Trailing arm or sway bar bushings?
 
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