What to look out for when buying a Focus TDCI?

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Chris Steels - 08 Mar 2008 14:13 GMT

Hi

I am looking at buying an 03-04 year Ford Focus 1.8 TDCI zetec or ghia in
the near future depending on price.

Are there any common problems I should keep an eye out for when I look at
cars so I dont end up having any huge expense to put things right after
buying it.

Thanks

Chris

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David Millen - 08 Mar 2008 15:31 GMT

>I am looking at buying an 03-04 year Ford Focus 1.8 TDCI zetec or ghia in
>the near future depending on price.
>
>Are there any common problems I should keep an eye out for when I look at
>cars so I dont end up having any huge expense to put things right after
>buying it.

Dual-mass flywheel failure. See www.honestjohn.co.uk, and also my
severely depleted bank balance.

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www.fincacasablanca.com
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Chris Game - 09 Mar 2008 13:27 GMT

> Dual-mass flywheel failure. See www.honestjohn.co.uk, and also
> my severely depleted bank balance.

Well reading the Focus page on that site, I would certainly hesitate
before buying one! Although in the middle of the page they mention
the excellent reliability record and the various recommendations for
the model. They aren't that cheap to fix either, as my dead
instrument panel cost over £300 to replace.

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Chris Game

"Everything that can be said can be said clearly."
-- Ludwig Wittgenstein

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David Millen - 09 Mar 2008 17:51 GMT

>> Dual-mass flywheel failure. See www.honestjohn.co.uk, and also
>> my severely depleted bank balance.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>the model. They aren't that cheap to fix either, as my dead
>instrument panel cost over £300 to replace.

Exactly. It's a bit of a lottery - most of the time, it's fine, but
if you fall foul of one of the known faults, it will cost you a sack
of money. My TDCi has been among the most expensive cars I've owned
(including Lexus GS300, 3 V8 Range Rovers, 2 Discoveries, Mercedes
E320 etc) and has been an object lesson to me in not to pay too much
attention to the fuel economy (which, incidentally, has been less than
40mpg over three years) and look at the total operating cost.

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All the best
David Millen
Xativa, Valencia
www.fincacasablanca.com
please reply in group
if you have to email me, remove the obvious:
davidtheobvious@millen.com

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Mike hunt - 11 Mar 2008 00:39 GMT

That is about $2,200 less than an instrument panel for a Lexus LS ;)

>> Dual-mass flywheel failure. See www.honestjohn.co.uk, and also
>> my severely depleted bank balance.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> the model. They aren't that cheap to fix either, as my dead
> instrument panel cost over #300 to replace.

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Chris Whelan - 11 Mar 2008 09:46 GMT

>> Dual-mass flywheel failure. See www.honestjohn.co.uk, and also
>> my severely depleted bank balance.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> the model. They aren't that cheap to fix either, as my dead
> instrument panel cost over £300 to replace.

Have you compared that to the cost of an instrument panel for other makes?
Audi perhaps ;-)

The prices of many service items are also very reasonable when compared to
some others.

The generally perceived wisdom is that Vauxhall (in UK) parts are cheapest
on average, closely followed by Ford.

Chris

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