Looking to pick up a "beater" and I'm leaning toward a 00-03 Ford Focus,other than a couple small common issues they look to be pretty reliable. Anything I should look out for?
00-03 Focus: Opinions?
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http://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Focus/2000/index.shtml
You can switch the year of the Focus in the upper left hand corner.
You can switch the year of the Focus in the upper left hand corner.
I'd probably avoid a 00 or early 01 unless you can get it dirt cheap. Grandparents had a few problems with their 00, engine light that wouldn't shut off, nothing major. My sister has a 02 and not a problem (that I didn't cause anyways). The 02 is ride and pep is night and day compared to the 98 Escort I had.
Hermann
Site Donor 2023
I owned a 2000 Focus 3 door Hatch. It was very reliable. The only problems I had in 5 years, was a leaky valve cover gasket, $40 fix. When I was ready to trade the strut bushings were shot. The 3 doors made in Mexico have better ratings than the Michigan made 4 doors and wagons. Enjoyed the car a lot.
I don't have much experience personally other than driving one a couple times, owned by a friend of mine. It's a 2002 (I think) 4 door sedan with AT. I thought it drove OK for what it was, not as involving as I'd like but I may be biased b/c I was driving a
I don't know much statistically about their reliability but the friend I'm talking about isn't exactly easy on his cars and I don't ever recall him having a problem with it.
Another friend with an AT 4 door also liked hers (not sure of the year but probably 2003 or 2004). Only problem I know of on hers was when her driver side window slipped off its mount, fell to the bottom of the door, and shattered. Probably an isolated incident, and I've heard of that happening on other makes as well. AFAIK no mechanical problems on that one either.
I don't know much statistically about their reliability but the friend I'm talking about isn't exactly easy on his cars and I don't ever recall him having a problem with it.
Another friend with an AT 4 door also liked hers (not sure of the year but probably 2003 or 2004). Only problem I know of on hers was when her driver side window slipped off its mount, fell to the bottom of the door, and shattered. Probably an isolated incident, and I've heard of that happening on other makes as well. AFAIK no mechanical problems on that one either.
Originally Posted By: Hermann
I owned a 2000 Focus 3 door Hatch. It was very reliable. The only problems I had in 5 years, was a leaky valve cover gasket, $40 fix. When I was ready to trade the strut bushings were shot. The 3 doors made in Mexico have better ratings than the Michigan made 4 doors and wagons. Enjoyed the car a lot.
What kind of mileage did you get?
I owned a 2000 Focus 3 door Hatch. It was very reliable. The only problems I had in 5 years, was a leaky valve cover gasket, $40 fix. When I was ready to trade the strut bushings were shot. The 3 doors made in Mexico have better ratings than the Michigan made 4 doors and wagons. Enjoyed the car a lot.
What kind of mileage did you get?
Hermann
Site Donor 2023
Around 30 MPG most of the the time. On winter blend fuel it was 26-27. The Focus is a car of subtle pleasures. Mine was total manual. No ABS,PW,P mirrors ect. At first the steering seemed real light, but it is very accurate, nearly telepathic in nature, . You just have to think about what you wanted the car to do and it does it. It was so easy to modulate the brakes right up to the point of lockup, not once but on several occasions. The car was real fun to toss around tight twisty country roads, and loved switchbacks as it was so tossable due to its 2600 lb. curb weight. As you can tell I did not baby mine. The 00 and 01's have a much better shifter than later models. If you find a well kept pre 05 model you should be happy.
Mayby VADER SS will chime in and let you know how his has done.
Mayby VADER SS will chime in and let you know how his has done.
Personalyl I'd vote for the 03-07 Focii, due to the improved reliability reported in Carsurvey.org.
I'm currently in the process of selling my 04 S60 for one (due to the S60 goin off warranty soon, and the cost of parts and maintenance.)
I had a 97 Escort b4 the S60. Fantastic car for all 60,000miles (4 years) I owned it. Everything electrical was reliable as heck (fully loaded), and the powertrain with the 5 speed trans was also very durable. That car came with the (now unavailable) 2.0 SOHC non-interference motor, that was a real slug in traffic, but fantastic for DIY timing belt changes. Parts were cheap and plentiful at any shop, and the cost of insurance was far cheaper than the S60 was.
You honestly can't go wrong with one of these cars, esp. as a daily commuter.
I'm currently in the process of selling my 04 S60 for one (due to the S60 goin off warranty soon, and the cost of parts and maintenance.)
I had a 97 Escort b4 the S60. Fantastic car for all 60,000miles (4 years) I owned it. Everything electrical was reliable as heck (fully loaded), and the powertrain with the 5 speed trans was also very durable. That car came with the (now unavailable) 2.0 SOHC non-interference motor, that was a real slug in traffic, but fantastic for DIY timing belt changes. Parts were cheap and plentiful at any shop, and the cost of insurance was far cheaper than the S60 was.
You honestly can't go wrong with one of these cars, esp. as a daily commuter.
Originally Posted By: Stanley Rockafeller
Personalyl I'd vote for the 03-07 Focii, due to the improved reliability reported in Carsurvey.org.
Agreed. My girlfriends 00 suddenly dropped compression in a cylinder and became undriveable right after 100k.
Personalyl I'd vote for the 03-07 Focii, due to the improved reliability reported in Carsurvey.org.
Agreed. My girlfriends 00 suddenly dropped compression in a cylinder and became undriveable right after 100k.
Hermann
Site Donor 2023
Originally Posted By: Dyoel182
Originally Posted By: Stanley Rockafeller
Personalyl I'd vote for the 03-07 Focii, due to the improved reliability reported in Carsurvey.org.
Agreed. My girlfriends 00 suddenly dropped compression in a cylinder and became undriveable right after 100k.
But I doubt you can get a 03-05 for beater prices with a reasonable mileage and condition. If a 00-02 is available in good condition with some or all records, I would not pass on it. In many areas the newer models were decontented and the interior quality went downhill after the 02 models. Example my '00 had a nice quality soft touch vinyl dash and and door panels. I sat in a '04SE and have driven a '08 SE rental from a dealership as a loaner, they have gone to hard plastics on many of the dash areas.
Originally Posted By: Stanley Rockafeller
Personalyl I'd vote for the 03-07 Focii, due to the improved reliability reported in Carsurvey.org.
Agreed. My girlfriends 00 suddenly dropped compression in a cylinder and became undriveable right after 100k.
But I doubt you can get a 03-05 for beater prices with a reasonable mileage and condition. If a 00-02 is available in good condition with some or all records, I would not pass on it. In many areas the newer models were decontented and the interior quality went downhill after the 02 models. Example my '00 had a nice quality soft touch vinyl dash and and door panels. I sat in a '04SE and have driven a '08 SE rental from a dealership as a loaner, they have gone to hard plastics on many of the dash areas.
Originally Posted By: Hermann
Around 30 MPG most of the the time. On winter blend fuel it was 26-27. The Focus is a car of subtle pleasures. Mine was total manual. No ABS,PW,P mirrors ect. At first the steering seemed real light, but it is very accurate, nearly telepathic in nature, . You just have to think about what you wanted the car to do and it does it. It was so easy to modulate the brakes right up to the point of lockup, not once but on several occasions. The car was real fun to toss around tight twisty country roads, and loved switchbacks as it was so tossable due to its 2600 lb. curb weight. As you can tell I did not baby mine. The 00 and 01's have a much better shifter than later models. If you find a well kept pre 05 model you should be happy.
Mayby VADER SS will chime in and let you know how his has done.
One of my female friends bought a new car in 2000 and I went with her test driving. I wouldn've taken the 3 door Zetec Focus over all the cars (corolla, cavalier, civic, elantra, neon) except for maybe the Civic si which was alot more expensive. The Focus was the most fun to drive by far than the rest. Personally I find if I like a car I don't mind potentially spending a bit more on maintenance if needed.
If you like to drive you'll like the zetec motor over most of the competition. The corolla is supposed to have similar hp but it felt slower and had no "go fast" sound to it.
Ian
Around 30 MPG most of the the time. On winter blend fuel it was 26-27. The Focus is a car of subtle pleasures. Mine was total manual. No ABS,PW,P mirrors ect. At first the steering seemed real light, but it is very accurate, nearly telepathic in nature, . You just have to think about what you wanted the car to do and it does it. It was so easy to modulate the brakes right up to the point of lockup, not once but on several occasions. The car was real fun to toss around tight twisty country roads, and loved switchbacks as it was so tossable due to its 2600 lb. curb weight. As you can tell I did not baby mine. The 00 and 01's have a much better shifter than later models. If you find a well kept pre 05 model you should be happy.
Mayby VADER SS will chime in and let you know how his has done.
One of my female friends bought a new car in 2000 and I went with her test driving. I wouldn've taken the 3 door Zetec Focus over all the cars (corolla, cavalier, civic, elantra, neon) except for maybe the Civic si which was alot more expensive. The Focus was the most fun to drive by far than the rest. Personally I find if I like a car I don't mind potentially spending a bit more on maintenance if needed.
If you like to drive you'll like the zetec motor over most of the competition. The corolla is supposed to have similar hp but it felt slower and had no "go fast" sound to it.
Ian
I've got a possible deal going on an 03 ZX3 with 98k miles (mostly highway), asking $3500 obo. I am going to offer $2800 and will likely go to $3k. It is a pretty nice car and has the optional 16" wheels, pw, pl,and cruise.
My son has an 01 ZX3 with 80K on it. We had the engine/trans out this winter for a new clutch, timing belt etc... Checked the valve clearances, and compression while it was out, just in case. Valves were in spec. and compression was great (uniformity and value) Motor was exceptionally clean inside. I expect it to go much further.
With that ZX3 you wouldn't have to worry about the dropped valve seats that can occur with the 2.0 SPI SOHC engine.
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