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Post by cbeaks1 on Nov 24, 2017 19:59:43 GMT
Need some help if possible. Can anyone that has more of a clue about used car servicing help me out? My Father in Law’s wife has dementia and now can’t drive. They have a mk 1 Focus Zetec Climate that has been off the road for 20 odd months and he is looking to re commission before selling. The paragraphs below are from him outlining what he has been told. To me the £50 is crazy as the alloys and tyres are worth more than that. Perhaps unrealistically I also think a silver mark 1 Zetec Climate 1.6 is a proper potential classic. Does anyone know if this estimate is remotely sensible? Is it a sell as spares or repair? Any good reliable garages near Northampton? ‘The car is a 1999 silver Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec 5-door hatchback manual, put on SORN to save tax, with about 90K miles on clock. Still insured. Was regularly professionally serviced and MOT’d up to January 2016 and then standing since. Prior to being parked up it ran like a dream and Shirley kept it in lovely condition. General bodywork and interior very good - and totally mechanically sound until parked up, with all previous repairs necessary to keep in top condition carried out regardless of cost – ie Goodyear tyres fitted, new front brake discs and pads, etc. Latest MOT has identified the following ( according to the garage?): Head lamp plastic covers clouded up reducing light output. Windscreen washers weak. Wipers don’t clear screen efficiently. Power steering fluid low. Power steering rack leaking. 3 brake pipes excessively corroded. Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened offside front. Braking system leaking at rear – brake pipe corrosion above. Exhaust brackets corroded. Front brakes excessively fluctuating??? ( New pads and discs fitted not long before off-road!!!). Garage claims repair cost would be c£700.00?  Have basically offered £50.00 for spares??? |
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Post by Blarno on Nov 24, 2017 21:24:56 GMT
Headlights will just need polishing. PAS leak will be the cause of the low fluid level and should be a new rack worst case scenario. New wipers will cure the wiper issue and clearing the nozzles with a pin should clear up the weak washers. Worst case there is a new pump. Brake issues will be caused by the corroded and leaky lines. A friendly parts store should have pre made brake lines available. Biggest headache will be welding the chassis up.
700 quid sounds excessive to me, but that's because I'd do all but the welding myself. Spares or repairs may be the better option.
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Post by ChrisM on Nov 24, 2017 21:34:59 GMT
What has it actually failed on, rather than just advisories ? (For many years my old Galaxy had remarks about corroded brake lines).
The front brakes may just need some use to free them up and clean the surface; previously I've had fluctuating brakes as a fail issue due to warped discs but if they were changed just prior to laying up, they are highly unlikely to be warped.
How often has the engine been started whilst it's been layed up ?
I'd be tempted to get another garage to MoT it and compare the failure points.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Nov 24, 2017 23:41:16 GMT
It's an 18 year old car and basically worthless. It seems daft to spend £700 to send up with, at best, a £500 car. Get what you can for scrap. For the work involved I don't think the garage's quote is too unreasonable.
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Post by bryan on Nov 24, 2017 23:46:56 GMT
I would give it a good wash, a decent Italian tune up to clear the cobwebs out and take it to a friendly local garage and see how it gets on.
Weak washer fluid my arse, the targa's washers have the power and flow of an old bloke trying to take a piss and that still gets through ok.
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Post by LandieMark on Nov 25, 2017 0:22:29 GMT
I would give it a good wash, a decent Italian tune up to clear the cobwebs out and take it to a friendly local garage and see how it gets on. Weak washer fluid my arse, the targa's washers have the power and flow of an old bloke trying to take a piss and that still gets through ok. Do they work off the spare wheel pressure like my old Beetle? |
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Post by Roadsterstu on Nov 25, 2017 16:50:35 GMT
It may well be worth next to nothing. Standing for nearly 2 years will have done it no good at all, however well it ran beforehand. I'd be tempted to try another garage for a second opinion but if that gives a similar overall prognosis then I'd get rid for scrap. The subfame corrosion is the real killer out of that lot.
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Post by bryan on Nov 25, 2017 18:37:41 GMT
I would give it a good wash, a decent Italian tune up to clear the cobwebs out and take it to a friendly local garage and see how it gets on. Weak washer fluid my arse, the targa's washers have the power and flow of an old bloke trying to take a piss and that still gets through ok. Do they work off the spare wheel pressure like my old Beetle? No it is a little pump, always needs some encouragement to perform for MOT time! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2017 21:35:07 GMT
Is it possible to replace the front subframe from a scrapper? Not my area of knowledge, just thinking on the page.
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Post by cbeaks1 on Nov 27, 2017 11:15:34 GMT
All fails it would seem...
I think second quote then spare or repair on eBay.
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Post by ChrisM on Nov 27, 2017 13:20:37 GMT
Depending on what their definition of "repair" is, tempting to spend £700 to get it all sorted especially if it means a new steering rack, new headlamps and new subframe.....
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Post by racingteatray on Nov 27, 2017 16:45:14 GMT
Depending on what their definition of "repair" is, tempting to spend £700 to get it all sorted especially if it means a new steering rack, new headlamps and new subframe..... Tempted by a "classic" Ford to add to your fleet!? |
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Post by cbeaks1 on Nov 27, 2017 18:30:29 GMT
Depending on what their definition of "repair" is, tempting to spend £700 to get it all sorted especially if it means a new steering rack, new headlamps and new subframe..... Tempted by a "classic" Ford to add to your fleet!? If I had the space I would be tempted. I know you are taking the piss a little, but Mk 1 was a real world beater. I am a bit biased as my first job after uni was NEC security at the 1998 motor show and I was on the Ford stand on nights. Spent lots of time with the Focus. Also, joined Ford in 1998 just as it was launching. |
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Post by bryan on Nov 27, 2017 20:50:26 GMT
Did you give it a cheeky clean why no one was around?!! 😃😃😃
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2017 21:44:43 GMT
For me the MK 1 Focus was more of a groundbreaking design than any of the late marks of Foci. Nothing since has brought about such a change and they drive great too. IMHO, the bean counters started more and more to get things their way after the MK 1.
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Post by ChrisM on Nov 27, 2017 21:44:48 GMT
I was being deadly serious about spending £700 if you want/need the car.... it's of known provenance and history, so putting it back on the road would give you "a good 'un"
Mind you, I wonder what the road tax/VED on it is ? Being petrol it will be far more desirable than an old diesel
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Post by LandieMark on Nov 27, 2017 22:02:03 GMT
The Mk1 focus may have driven well, but the interior let the side down IMO.
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Post by racingteatray on Nov 27, 2017 22:31:17 GMT
The Mk1 focus may have driven well, but the interior let the side down IMO. Then again it did replace the Escort.
I recall at the time really quite fancying a black 3dr Zetec. And I am not usually much of a Ford fan.
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Post by grampa on Nov 28, 2017 14:41:26 GMT
Perhaps unrealistically I also think a silver mark 1 Zetec Climate 1.6 is a proper potential classic/quote] It won't be long - I don't know what they sell for of course, but look at some of the stuff on ebay - very ordinary cars from the 80's have asking prices of £3000-£5000, just because they've been kept in remarkable condition. I know at the moment you could probably buy another Focus in good condition for £500 or so, but that could have a load of problems waiting in the wings. The way I would look at it is: where else could you find well sorted car as good as a Mk 1 Focus for £700 - I'd do what I could myself and pay a garage to do what I couldn't. Just give the underside a thorough check over first to make sure nothing there's no terminal rot looming (if the subframe has suffered, the underbody have might too). If you let the garage have it for £50 - more than likely one of their mechanics would buy it, fix it in his own time and sell or use it. |
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Post by grampa on Nov 28, 2017 14:43:17 GMT
The Mk1 focus may have driven well, but the interior let the side down IMO. Then again it did replace the Escort.
I recall at the time really quite fancying a black 3dr Zetec. And I am not usually much of a Ford fan.
I came very close to getting one myself but plumped for a Cougar instead and persuaded my Dad to get a Focus so I had one I could borrow - unfortunately its qualities passed him by and he swapped it for a Scenic three years later - the only time I drove it was to sell it after he died - god was it awful! |
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Have basically offered £50.00 for spares???
