I was thinking of buying one second hand and did some googling to see what the reviews and prices were like. I saw two reviews from people that reported problems with the cam belt tensioner breaking and causing engine damage. I think one had done 36K and the other 48K miles. Is this a "known" problem on Focus of a certain vintage?
On second thoughts there seems to be some deals around on new Focus..
Focus 1.8 TDCi Ghia Estate £13,300 (about £4,000 below list) Focus C-Max 1.8 TDCi Ghis £12,000 (about £6,000 below list)
Anyone got comments on the C-Max? Isn't it selling well or something?
You seem to be falling for the age-old trick of manufacturers massively overpricing the list prices of cars, to make them seem a bargain when they knock those sort of amounts off. Prices sound ok-ish I suppose, but still nothing spectacular - I'd have said a 6-12 month old Mondeo would a much better bet in terms of value, though.
-- "For want of the price of tea and a slice, the old man died."
They're scared of the new S-Max or something. While I was waiting for my=20 car to be serviced in the local stealer, one of the droids was almost=20 begging me to buy a C-Max, saying they were discounted because of the=20 new platform coming out.
I'd rather buy a 12 month old ex-fleet, and save 50% TBH!
Pete.
--=20 NOTE! Email address is spamtrapped. Any email will be deleted Remove the news and underscore from my address to reply by mail
In message , CWatters writes
On the 1.8 and 2.0 petrol models, I've heard of some tensioners going at
75k onwards. 36k seems rather drastic. The 1.6 petrol and the TDCi's don't seem to have a problem.Dead right! My 1 year old Mondeo is still a good deal - even if I can't get rid of the old one for love nor money, and the new car's Sat Nav is a little screwy!
Go the Mondeo - especially in 2.2 TDCi form - a helluva drive!!
:o)
Mean Al - pissed aga>> On second thoughts there seems to be some deals around on new Focus.. >>
It is *very* rare for tensioner and belt issues on the Zetec-E engines- not so much milage related more age. The interval is 80k or 8 years. Had I kept my Focus, I would have had the belt / tensioners done at 6 years (about 70k)
The 1.6 and TDCi are not immune to problems though- the TDCi will still lunch its belt periodically and without warning.as in the old days of the DE, but not til around 80k +.
Tim..
In message , Tim.. writes
There are quite a few tensioner failures being reported on the Focus and Mondeo forums at the moment, all from 75k onwards.
Its actually 100k/10 years for blacktop and 80k/5 years for the older silvertop.
I ran a poll on the FFOC forum recently and all failures were 1.8/2.0 tensioners. There were no 1.6 zetec SE failures.
Thanks.
If you like the car go for it. Mine is just over three years old,
163,000 miles and has only needed a water pump and a coil over and above the service replacements.I'm sure the coil failiure was due to the plugs though they were totally trashed. Presumably plug changes are no longer part of a routine service.
Wouldn't like another BTW. Too small and the rear storage is miniscule unless the rear seats are down and then everything is on full display :-(
Dashed uncomfortable too. After a couple of hundred miles you can easily appreciate just how cheap and nasty the seats are.
HN
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