Considering a 2000 Ford Focus SE wagon as a beater
- Thread starter gman2304
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I had two Focus wagons. Both were great trouble free cars that were destroyed before their time due to collisions and rust. Both ran well over 200K miles.
8V is a split port and not an asset. $10k is way too much IMO, I hope no one buys it for that, and in a couple years needs an engine when the valve seats drop.... You guys have hardly any real rust compared to Ontario though, so a local $10k car must be decent?
The very rare 2004-5 duratec 2.3l 5spd SES wagon, might get that in mint condition... I like the SES 5spd wagons, but it had better be pretty much new if I'm going to spend $10k on one!
I paid $8200 in 2013 for a nice condition 2007 SES 5spd with 52k km, from the first owner.... But I guess things have gone a bit sideways in the used car market since then....
2014-15 VW Sportwagens are getting down to $10k here, usually closer to 200k km, but I'd rather buy a turbo for it than replace an engine in a 2002.
I’d pay it in a second; great condition.
Buddy had a 1999 Escort ZX-2 sport coupe with the Zetec that he beat on mercilessly…redline shifts almost every time. Never gave him a lick of trouble in about 8 years and 130k miles.
Bulletproof cars, buy it.
Buddy had a 1999 Escort ZX-2 sport coupe with the Zetec that he beat on mercilessly…redline shifts almost every time. Never gave him a lick of trouble in about 8 years and 130k miles.
Bulletproof cars, buy it.
Update : I brought the Focus wagon home 9 days ago. So far I’ve changed the oil to Valvoline R&P, with a Supertech filter, flushed the cooling system twice, siphoned 2 qts of transmission fluid and refilled with Supertech Mercon V and will do the same several times in the near future. I also have a bottle of DG red but it shifts so good I’m not sure it even needs it. Replaced the 3 wiper blades and had a local alignment shop look at the front end and suspension and they said everything looked great. It drives like new with tight steering and suspension and tracks true. EVERYTHING works great on this car, even the single disc CD player 
sounds great and the rear gate window washer still works.
Previous owner put new tires and new rear gate struts on and the brake pads and rotors look new and The a/c is ice cold. I found a sticker in the glove box that says the water pump and timing belt were changed at 112,000 miles and it just rolled over 120,000 miles this week. The wife wanted some pine needles for a natural area so I put 6 bales in the back without having to lay the seat backs down. It will probably hold 9 bales with the seat backs down. I buffed the paint today with Meguiars medium cut and it looks much better. It does have a small spot where the paint is chipping away down to the primer but I’ve already talked to my trusted body guy who’s going to fix it in a couple of weeks. Also the rocker panels are pristine, like new, and the first tank it got 32 mpg. I didn’t ever haggle with the seller, I just gave him 32 Benjamin’s and hauled ass before he had a chance to change his mind!
sounds great and the rear gate window washer still works. Previous owner put new tires and new rear gate struts on and the brake pads and rotors look new and The a/c is ice cold. I found a sticker in the glove box that says the water pump and timing belt were changed at 112,000 miles and it just rolled over 120,000 miles this week. The wife wanted some pine needles for a natural area so I put 6 bales in the back without having to lay the seat backs down. It will probably hold 9 bales with the seat backs down. I buffed the paint today with Meguiars medium cut and it looks much better. It does have a small spot where the paint is chipping away down to the primer but I’ve already talked to my trusted body guy who’s going to fix it in a couple of weeks. Also the rocker panels are pristine, like new, and the first tank it got 32 mpg. I didn’t ever haggle with the seller, I just gave him 32 Benjamin’s and hauled ass before he had a chance to change his mind!
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I’d be all over that
Good luck with the new car 
They used to make special filters for the Zetec that had an anti-siphon valve (basically like an ADBV but in reverse), but they were mostly phased out a few years ago.
Fram PH8316
Wix 51315
Purolator 25230
Baldwin B1416 (Hastings LF483)
Autozone seems to still have the STP S8316
It has a space under the hood for a cabin filter, but they usually didn't have one installed from the factory.
They used to make special filters for the Zetec that had an anti-siphon valve (basically like an ADBV but in reverse), but they were mostly phased out a few years ago.
Fram PH8316
Wix 51315
Purolator 25230
Baldwin B1416 (Hastings LF483)
Autozone seems to still have the STP S8316
It has a space under the hood for a cabin filter, but they usually didn't have one installed from the factory.
I bought one of those 2 months ago, albeit the sedan version with 150k miles. The transmission fluid had never been changed. I did a drain and fill, noticing no change in shifting whatsoever.
I’ve had no issues with it last 1k miles I’ve put on it. Yours looks far better than mine, though mine was $1800.
I’ve had no issues with it last 1k miles I’ve put on it. Yours looks far better than mine, though mine was $1800.
If you decide to replace the valve cover gasket, take pics of what’s underneath
Those are pretty good cars. Had an 03 focus hatchback from 2012 to 2015 and it never gave me any trouble. Sold it for pretty much the same as I bought it.
Hermann
Site Donor 2023
Owned a 2000 Focus ZX-3 for about 5 years. The car was underpowered unless revved above 4K. AAh, but that MTX-75 5-speed and telepathic steering made easy to overlook the lack of oomph. A fun car that was relatively trouble free. The 3 doors were made in Mexico and had far less issues than the US built 4 and 5 doors IIRC
Excellent purchase. My 2004 2.3 manual is at 203,000 miles and not one problem ever.Update : I brought the Focus wagon home 9 days ago. So far I’ve changed the oil to Valvoline R&P, with a Supertech filter, flushed the cooling system twice, siphoned 2 qts of transmission fluid and refilled with Supertech Mercon V and will do the same several times in the near future. I also have a bottle of DG red but it shifts so good I’m not sure it even needs it. Replaced the 3 wiper blades and had a local alignment shop look at the front end and suspension and they said everything looked great. It drives like new with tight steering and suspension and tracks true. EVERYTHING works great on this car, even the single disc CD player
Previous owner put new tires and new rear gate struts on and the brake pads and rotors look new and The a/c is ice cold. I found a sticker in the glove box that says the water pump and timing belt were changed at 112,000 miles and it just rolled over 120,000 miles this week. The wife wanted some pine needles for a natural area so I put 6 bales in the back without having to lay the seat backs down. It will probably hold 9 bales with the seat backs down. I buffed the paint today with Meguiars medium cut and it looks much better. It does have a small spot where the paint is chipping away down to the primer but I’ve already talked to my trusted body guy who’s going to fix it in a couple of weeks. Also the rocker panels are pristine, like new, and the first tank it got 32 mpg. I didn’t ever haggle with the seller, I just gave him 32 Benjamin’s and hauled ass before he had a chance to change his mind!
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