Focus 1.8 TDCI (115) , it can do about 130-140 BHP I `think`

If i owned on i would make sure the new software has been installed in the ECU which stops the engine cutting out after rapidly lifting off the gas. Was a recal IIRC.

Check the rear window drain channels are clean and kep them so as otherwise you get rust in the shrp angles.

A tuning box or remap will make it drive like a derv rather then petrol car with torque down low. Once you get it going it's quick as anything.

If you have some decent headlamp bulbs you want fitting take them with you and get the dealer to do it (Silverstars work well). This is because the engine bits and battery are right up behind the passenger side headlamp and you can't get the cover off.

Nice car, it should have a 6 disc CD changer.

No they are not the ghia wheels, but then the ghia wheels are impossible to clean.

Check the electric quickclear works, as it is top but a pain if it's bust.

Also check the aircon blows icy cold as a place told me the seals fail easily on that if the climate control isn't used a lot.

EDIT: He is right TDCI badge should be approx level with the chrome boot trim. Be a bit careful as the TDDI is a sh*te engine and the TDCI came in the very end of 52/start of 03. TDCI is nice

You can tell it's s tddi if is sounds like a tractor.

HTH

EDIT: He is right TDCI badge should be approx level with the chrome boot trim. Be a bit careful as the TDDI is a sh*te engine and the TDCI came in the very end of 52/start of 03. TDCI is nice

HTH

Check around rear quite a bit then... badge in wrong location could be a tell tale sign of a rear end shunt.

Reverse is absolubtly n o problem in the 1.8TDCI focus i have driven

HTH

tom_vrs

totally genuine question here

you're buying a 2nd hand car with your own money,

as the fabia was a company motor.

why not buy a skoda?

they're usually better as 2nd hand buys than new

because of the depreciation.

i apologise if i've missed a thread where this has already been asked.

btw focus & mondeo tdci's seem pretty good to me from my limited experience of them

so no criticism intended, just curiousity.

cheers .. darren

Reminds me of mine, had it for just under a year. Loved the car to bits. Ended up changing it as i wanted a bit more go. Only had the 1.8 zetec MP3 (113 BHP) petrol engine and seemed to drink fuel.

Oh and be carefull of those alloys, the alloys stick out past the tyres, caught mine a few times and the colour is different underneath. Not a nice look.

Tom , check there are no bad knocking noises from the transmission on start-up or turning off the engine , if there are noises its probably the DMF on its way out , very common problem , also make sure the clutch isn't slipping , it doesn't like the torque (al a Fabia VRS) , oh and has been mentioned already the TDCI badge is to low so check for rear damage especially boot floor area

Darren - find me a punchy diesel 3 year old Skoda with this spec... Nope, didn't think so!

I have the previous owners address, just 5 miles from my house in a wee village, may pop for a quick chat before I take delivery.

Its definitely a TDCI.

I did check the boot, and underneath, its defo never had anything major.

I like the badge where it is, looks smart imho. Just curious as to why its there... hmm.

I like the badge where it is, looks smart imho. Just curious as to why its there... hmm.

If you look, on alot of focus's the badge postions differ. He also could have added it later. Mine never had the Focus badge or 1.8 on the rear, but i had seen them on other MP3 edition Focus's.

Better position IMHO, towards the bottom.

If you start the engine when cold you won't hear DMF rattle, but if you let the engine warm up after a drive then start it agina a couple of minutes later you can hear a random noise from the engine. The clutch peddle may also feel a bit odd.

I would say that the DMF, clutch plate and a new master cylinder is over £1000 and the master cylinder needs doing as it get filled with shards of metal which often cause it to fail after a DMF has gone. Basically the labour to get to it is more than the parts cost. (Tis what we were told anyway)

Other things to check are the spare wheel, it is a space saver or full size alloy (just for your own piece of mind)

Check the inside edges of the tyres, esp the rears for bulging sidewalls as have heard of a good few going this way from friends and relatives.

Make sure the oil isn't over filled and that it has the ford coolant in it (pink again IIRC but i could be wrong).

Make sure you get the 'red' key as well as the two alarm plippers.

There is something else i know, but i can't think of it at the moment. I'll put it up if i do remember.

Focus handles lurrrvly mind

No DMF rattle - that was the one issue I was aware of. The warranty ecplicitely states that clutches are covered, so thats a relief anyway.

I'm sure I've seen other Focuses with the badge that low - I'm not too concerned. HPI didnt bring anything up.

The spare is a full size steel spare.

All levels look good, just had a service and the oil was nice and clean - nothing that could EVER be said for a PD engine! lol. Coolant is indeed pink.

All keys present and correct.

Keep the tips coming!

The only things I want to do is change the lights all round for non-orange jobbies, remove the Ghia and Focus badges, fit my CG Lock, and thats it!

No DMF rattle - that was the one issue I was aware of. The warranty ecplicitely states that clutches are covered, so thats a relief anyway.

I'm sure I've seen other Focuses with the badge that low - I'm not too concerned. HPI didnt bring anything up.

The spare is a full size steel spare.

All levels look good, just had a service and the oil was nice and clean - nothing that could EVER be said for a PD engine! lol. Coolant is indeed pink.

All keys present and correct.

Keep the tips coming!

The only things I want to do is change the lights all round for non-orange jobbies, remove the Ghia and Focus badges, fit my CG Lock, and thats it!

Sounds sorted, good buy

So I imagine this will soon appear:-

For Sale,

One Flat Cap, worn twice,

One Beige Cardigan, ditto,

Contact Tom vRS:D

another thing to note is that the focus wears the rear tyres funny due to the suspension. if you get a droning/buzzing from the rear don't panic its just the tyres, rotate them aevery couple of months to stop this

...The only things I want to do is change the lights all round for non-orange jobbies, remove the Ghia and Focus badges, fit my CG Lock, and thats it!

you know it wants eibach springs & ARB kit. some ST170 headlights and fogs wouldn't go amiss either pug rear wiper to replace the skanky standard one too

purely out of interest, how did the price compare to a TDCi Sport?

another thing to note is that the focus wears the rear tyres funny due to the suspension. if you get a droning/buzzing from the rear don't panic its just the tyres, rotate them aevery couple of months to stop this

Cheers pal. Only problem is they are the directional Continentals, and I don't like changing from front to rear... *sigh*. Worth bearing in mind for when I put some decent tyres on.

I have no idea how price compares. To get the best deal I was limited to what was in Network Q stock - and this car shone out to be the best, by far.

you know it wants eibach springs & ARB kit. some ST170 headlights and fogs wouldn't go amiss either pug rear wiper to replace the skanky standard one too

purely out of interest, how did the price compare to a TDCi Sport?

Shut up dammit - Damn your persuasive posts!

I also like US spec rear lights, seem to really suit blue ones.

the tyres thing isn't dangerous in any way mate just annoying, the tyres wear the back edge of the tread quicker whihc means that the front edge is higher, then you drive along the higher leading edge folds under then flicks up. it creates a drone that can be quite loud and annoying on certain tyres. if it happens just swap fronand rears over and give it a good wheel spin to wear the leading edge down

I would say that the DMF, clutch plate and a new master cylinder is over

I like that engine. Looked at one a couple of years back. It was a TDCI sport and had those wheels and an ST front bumper. That was a limited edition I think. Much better car than the corsa IMHO.

Blimey Ric, way to scare a fella.

It has a comprehensive mechanical and electrical warranty, including brakes and clutch etc. I'll pull the engine cover off when I get it home, but tbh its been serviced every 6 months (7 stamps in the book), and they tyres are a good brand, its immaculate all pointing to a maintained regarless of cost kind of car.

The engine is great. Why I didnt consider it when I got my vRS I dont know.

Also, runs so smooth, no lumpy power delivery, and no black smoke - so all pointing to a healthy EGR. I understand the uprated version has already been fitted to the car, as well as the updated ECU code.

Chip fat fuel - ha ha ha ha ha ha! I'll stick to Ultimate Diesel, ta.

As for keys, I simply asked "are they all there", and apparantly yes. Although I'll be double checking at delivery.

So... this budget motoring???

Im sure you could have got a Octy L&K for that same amount of cash??

I'll pull the engine cover off when I get it home, but tbh its been serviced every 6 months (7 stamps in the book)

if its had 7 services does that mean its at 70k or 87.5k miles ? iirc timing belt schedule is 70k or maybe its after the change to 12.5k services so could be due at 100k , i'll have to look that up :(

if its had 7 services does that mean its at 70k or 87.5k miles ? iirc timing belt schedule is 70k or maybe its after the change to 12.5k services so could be due at 100k , i'll have to look that up :(

Its had a service every 6 months, its done 33k. I popped into the original supplying dealer who's stamp is in the book for all these services (its 2 miles from my office), and they gave me a print out confimirming its been serviced twice as often as it needed to be. It really does point to a VERY well maintained car indeed.

I've got the old owners address, will be popping round to say hi. He lives in a very small village about 8 miles from me - 10 miles from the nearest town. So odds are on its never done very short journeys.

Cambelt is 80k/10yrs.