Wanting some opinions on a 2000 Ford Focus. My wife and I are just looking for a little car to get her to work and back (50 mile round trip) because diesel is killing us, and I'll carpool with her to save money as well.

We found a black 4 door Focus with 185,000 miles for $2,500. Guy says it runs and starts great, a/c blows cold and heat blows hot etc.

I think $2,500 is a little high, but how are Focus's? It doesn't have to be tip shape, but it has to last a few years. For our price range, I know we are going to end up with a higher mileage car, and that's okay as long is it runs fine, and we plan on driving it into the ground.

Thoughts?

 

Unfortunately, this is a real bad time to buy a used car, especially small ones in the lower price ranges. The first reason is obvious, everyone trying to downsize for fuel mileage. The other things working against you are people with pockets full of tax refund money this time of year, the recession killed new car sales the last few years and the current shortage of new economy cars on the lots.

That is too much money to spend in order to save money. When gas/diesel prices go up you need to really run the numbers to see if buying another vehicle is really worth it. Not only is there tax, tags and insurance to consider, but tires, brakes, and risk of bigger repairs on an unknown history vehicle that old.

 

I think the price is high. I just paid $3900 for a 2005 zx4 5 speed with 72,000 miles to replace my DD cavalier,which had more problems than what it was worth to fix. It is up to you if you want to spend money on another vehicle,that $2500 will buy a bunch of gas. You can go here www.focusfanatics.com to do some research about that year,different engine than mine,i am not familiar with it. although i didn't buy it for better gas mileage,the 31 mpg combined highway/city I am getting is better than the 24 at best i could muster with the cavi. And the focus has more getty up go!!

 

These days $2500 will buy less than 25 tanks of fuel for a pick up truck.

I wouldn't get any car with that many miles. If you have the money for a small car and all the associated costs, then you have the money for gas / diesel.

 

Sounds kind of high for the miles, but right now people are buying for economy. Myself I think I'd keep looking.

 

I have had 2 Focus's and looking to get a 3rd. Put close to 200,000 miles on both and they still ran good when I got rid of them. Excellent gas mileage close to 30 around town and 36 highway at 70 to 80 mph. I would recommend the 5 speed manual for a peppier ride. Seems a little pricey for the miles, but the market might be hot for them right now.

 

Definately get a 5 speed. I don't trust ANY auto transmission after 120K. This winter I sold my 2000 Focus ZTS with 130K with a fried computer for $1200.

 

I know that we wont come ahead on the back end, but we are doing for monthly cashflow, not over all cost. We also have to get a loan for the 2300, but since my wife works at a bank, the loan is very low interest and no early pay off penalty. We will have it paid off in a few months, when I get my pell grant for school.

Right now between the two of our trucks, we spend roughly $550-$700/month in fuel. When summer hits, and fuel it at it's highest, I wont be going to school 5 days a week since I'll be taking online classes. We can then carpool to work for the next 4 months, as my work is DIRECTLY on the way to hers. I've done the math, we will be cutting our monthly fuel bill almost into a 1/3rd with no small car payment, or 1/2 WITH a small car payment. Even so, we still save $200-$300/month.

In the end, no, we wont come out ahead when you look at how long that car will take to pay it's self off with the savings in fuel vs. how long it will last on the road. But for the next year or so, that extra money every month will help us replenish our savings that, with the emergencies (everything happens in 3's), is nothing.

 

As much as I'd love a 5-spd, my wife refuses to own one. We did decide on the Focus, and hope to get one for about 2K with a reasonable amount of miles. It's not for luxury purposes by any means, just to get from A to B.