Would you buy a Focus with 249,900 miles on it?

Long story short, I found a 2003 Focus SVT on craigslist with a quarter-million miles on it. I've always been a big believer in condition over mileage, and this car seems to be literally perfect. The guy is literate, and says he has just had a really long highway commute for over a decade. He lives in a suburb outside Orlando, so I believe it.

I'm going to look at it tonight, and my question is this: would you buy a car with this many miles? It's priced right, and even the driver's seat looks nearly new.

Do Focuses (specifically SVTs) have any issues once they have a lot of mileage?

Thanks everyone.

Tom Suddard wrote: I found a 2003 Focus SVT on craigslist with a quarter-million miles on it. The guy is literate...

I'm sorry, I'm having a hard time getting past those two seemingly opposing statements. Doesn't fit the description of most SVT Focus owners I've come across.

Anyhow, I'm not a Focus expert, but if you're confident this guy is honest about it and has taken good care of it, then sure I'd definitely go for it. At the right price...

Treat it as any domestic with a quarter million miles on it.... Plus being a Ford, don't expect to get any model specific parts, if they haven't carried over to other model years, because of the STUPID, yes it's motherberkeleying STUPID, 9 yr part rule.

Klayfish wrote:

Tom Suddard wrote: I found a 2003 Focus SVT on craigslist with a quarter-million miles on it. The guy is literate...

I'm sorry, I'm having a hard time getting past those two seemingly opposing statements. Doesn't fit the description of most SVT Focus owners I've come across.

I thought the same thing, but substituted 'Focus SVT owners' with Craigslist poster.

And after my experience with a Focus, I wouldn't buy one with 50K miles on it. The worst car I've even owned. Ironically, it was the newest in terms of miles and years and was turd-o-licious.

DrBoost wrote: And after my experience with a Focus, I wouldn't buy one with 50K miles on it. The worst car I've even owned. Ironically, it was the newest in terms of miles and years and was turd-o-licious.

I'm guessing it was a split port?

I never understood ford and their 9 year rule. You can get brand new parts for a BMW 2002 from the factory.. yet Ford won't even keep New Old Stock around longer than 9 years?

How much does he want for it?

What's the point of this purchase?

I've never liked Focuses (and have owned one). I don't think they are as great as everyone makes them out to be, and their interiors are pretty E36 M3ty. One that has 250k miles on it? Probably beat in the interior.

Um..... there's a reason we call them "fukus".

If it's as minty as you say it is and the guy appears legit, go for it. Any car with that many miles and a good owner, has probably been well maintained, and other than the potential for a physically worn chassis, I'm sure all of the major issues any car like that would have been WELL sorted by now.

I bought a haggard Mark VII LSC with 200,000+ miles on it (still driving it back and forth to work, in fact) for $300 a couple of years ago and have since replaced and/or repaired lots of parts.

I know of an LSC with 349,000 miles that has a rebuilt trans and supposedly runs and drives but I'm avoiding that one. That's too many miles, even for a Hooligan like myself with very questionable judgement.

If the price is <$1,000 and it runs well enough I'd probably go for it, but I'd assume any part of the car the interacts with the road or the driver is going to need to be replaced.

Do I smell a Group 2 build?

> Would you buy a Focus with 249,900 miles on it?

No.

if its cheap I'd consider it. I normally like to buy the lowest mileage possible, but recently bought a truck with 212k, so I guess I now like to contradict myself.

In a word, no. There's nothing about a Focus that would make me want one with a quarter million miles on it.

He wants $4500 for it, but seems like he'll take somewhere in the high 3s. It's not super cheap, but it's the same price as the ruined examples I've found.

Also, I just ran a carfax. Over 50 entries with service at the dealer from new all the way until a few months ago.

HiTempguy wrote: What's the point of this purchase? I've never liked Focuses (and have owned one). I don't think they are as great as everyone makes them out to be, and their interiors are pretty E36 M3ty. One that has 250k miles on it? Probably beat in the interior.

Autocross/Rallycross/Drive 35 miles each way to school every day.

No way in hell I'm paying 4500 for anything with that mileage..... Maybe 2500 tops.

Klayfish wrote: I'm sorry, I'm having a hard time getting past those two seemingly opposing statements.

I thought you were going to call him on these ones:

I found a 2003 Focus SVT on craigslist with a quarter-million miles on it.

this car seems to be literally perfect

Tom Suddard wrote: Also, I just ran a carfax. Over 50 entries with service at the dealer from new all the way until a few months ago.

Are you trying to sell this to yourself or justify having already purchased it to us?

It's a gussied up econo car with a quarter million miles on it. For $4500.

I'd balk at that price if it was an M3 or a Boxster, nevermind a freakin' Focus. I wouldn't give him anything for it. There is literally no price that I want that car at that mileage.

No way in hell, and i'd be pretty disappointed if this is what you ended up with out of that long list of cars you posted a month or two ago.

I have been thinking about high mileage cars lately. When I was younger, 100,000 miles meant that a car was one foot in the grave. Now, 100,000 miles is about the entry point for a used car. So what does high mileage do to a car?

Here in PA, rust is the first issue. High mileage cars are usually a few years older and about to have serious bodywork issues. But if you are in a more temperate climate and the owner has been good about maintaining the car, the materials and protective measures of modern automobiles mean that the body might not be any issue.

The second is wear and tear from so many miles. But really, what wears? You replace tires and brakes all the time. You should do belts and hoses, along with plugs and wires on a regularly scheduled basis. That leaves shocks, springs and suspension bushings, which you can also replace. So as long as the wear items are replaced, then the car should be fine regardless of miles. (I am making an assumption that metal fatigue is not significantly going to affect a-arms, mounting points and such on a modern car with under 1,000,000 miles)

The third item is of course the engine: there are parts that will wear over time like bearings and cylinder bores and piston rings. If a car was designed to go 100,000 miles and still be under warranty, then the engine must be built for durability. Modern materials again make mileage less worrysome. The best bet here is meticulous maintenance and oil changes. I'd also like a non-turbo and low-revving engine for longevity.

The final item is component failure. How long will window-wiper motors and door locks and water pumps last? These are all kind of a gamble. But if you have some money in a fund to cover the failures that are sure to come, then it might not be that bad.

So my theory is that a modern car with modern materials that has been properly maintained could easily start a new life at 250,000 miles, as long as you budget around 25% of the purchase price for updates immediately, and another 25% for maintenance and repair over the first year with the car.

Fair enough everyone, your opinion is pretty clear.

I haven't bought it yet, but am going to look at it tonight.

Here's a challenge: can someone find me a better (red!) one for less money?

I picked up my '99 Miata with 80k miles on it for $3,800. There is no way I would pay over a grand for that car. That price is absolutely nuts. What does it have an F1 engine swap in it or something?

Tom Suddard wrote: Fair enough everyone, your opinion is pretty clear. I haven't bought it yet, but am going to look at it tonight. Here's a challenge: can someone find me a better (red!) one for less money?

I'll find you a better Corolla XRS for slightly more money. Will that be acceptable? I refuse to link a red car, though. Red cars are the worst.