Hi. Looking for opinions from mechanics....Here is what I found-
I am looking to buy this for my daughter and from what I heard Ford Focus are pretty dependable. Any different opinions out there?

I am 99.9 % buying it at 400 pm today, unless I hear a wave of different opinion not to. My real only concern in lack of miles on a 2000 model year. What I found is a one owner 2000 year ZX3 that has only 6,100 miles. The resaon why is a 74 year old lady bought new eight years ago and now went into a nursing home. She only drove it around her town / locally over 9 years for yes 6,100 miles?

Is this a concern? Does anyone know here on the Honda site if this car has a rubber timing belt that needs replaced based on years of age? This car was driven about once a week and garage kept and looks like brand new.

Again I am buying the car today but wanted any negatives from more mechanically inclined folks. Is this a Good, Bad, or Ugly Buy based on what I've mentioned? One last bit the car was serviced as needed form the same Ford dealer the car was purchased from.....

Thanks in Advance for any replies.......I own a 96 Acccord EX...

P.S. The price is $4500

 

I'm not sure about the 00 Focuse as a whole. I still see lots of them ripping around though and I do know a bit about the engine.

It has a 2.0L DOHC with a timing belt just like Honda's. I have a zetec in my 5spd Mazda Tribute. I beat the living crap out of it. No problems with the engine so far but I'm only up to 105k miles. No leaks no knocks and it doesn't burn any oil.......I know that's unheard of.

My tach does not physically have a red line anywhere on it. It goes strait to 9k with no red markings. I think the reasoning is that it looses it's power well before 9k. I have had mine up around 8500 and there is nothing there but a lot of noise.......lol

If it was dealer maintained and she only wants $4500 for it. I don't see it being a bad deal at all. Check when the last maintenance was done and make sure the belts and fluids have been changed and you should be good to go.

 

very off topic... but anyway
Considering her age, you can almost be certain that she was as careful as she possibly could taking care of the car.

 

u prolly get better opinions on a general car forum versus the honda accord forum......

 

So did you get it?

With that low of mileage, and that price, i'd be hard pressed to pass that up.

It may be late, but the few people that I know who own a Ford Focus have never had problems with theirs. It's not saying much, as they only use theirs for commute though. If you got the car, i'd suggest you look for dry rot hoses, and change fluids, otherwise drive it!

 

Just a update from the last posted question. Yes, I bought it and I am glad, I did. The Focus drives great. It now has 9,500 miles and several long road trips and not any issues so far. It's not a Honda but it was a steal of a deal to buy a 9 year old car with just over 6000 miles on it. I also got the car for $4000. With the extra savings, I had the windows tinted and an aftermarket cruise control for the long trips. Great car for my daughter and has great crash testing record as well. Ztec is not a Vtec but it is going strong. Will see how many miles it brings.....

 

Good to hear, sounds like a decent deal. Just a couple things to watch out for from my own experience. My girlfriend's 2000 Focus started to wear the tires funny by 60k miles because the shocks were gone by then. We picked up a new SVT Focus suspension package with shocks/struts, springs and sway bars for under $300. If you can find them anymore, that is the way to go if you need new shocks. Also, her car started shutting off when she made left turns with < 1/3 tank of gas. There was a TSB on this, something with the fuel pump or baffling in the tank, we got it repaired for free. Other than that, it was a great car.