Looking for advice/tips as a potential buyer
#1
09-10-2018, 10:36 AM
Looking for advice/tips as a potential buyer
'lo all. To introduce myself, I am a disabled 45y/o who recently was told by a good friend that he has a 2007 Focus(not sure yet of the body style) that he knows of he's offering to either give me a "sweetheart deal" on or possibly even donate to me(he's essentially the 'controller' for a local religious organization).
I'm in need of wisdom on these cars. I don't yet know the trim level on it, but it's probably a pretty basic model with mostly standard features+at. I'm disabled(stroke survivor), so my days of using a 5-speed and even my once booming i.t. career are long behind me. Also, I had an '01 Saturn that I thought the world of until recently when my daughter was driving it on the local freeway and the engine seized up(was low on or out of oil - mechanic thought it was probably burning oil, since he didn't see signs of a leak). Anyway, long story short, I'm currently down 1 vehicle and hard pressed to do much about it myself on social security disability, but have growing kids and currently 2 teen drivers. A good friend of mine yesterday raised the idea of donating or giving me a cheap deal on an '07 Focus, not sure which trim level, yet, but with about 150K miles on it and AT.
Can someone who knows please let me know if this should have ABS and Traction Control as standard, is generally a reliable car, and also if it is time to be considering like a new timing belt at this mileage/age(rough cost?)? Also, I'd have to admit, I was born in the early 70's and had a pretty negative view of Ford quality and reliability growing up. That said, could anybody please comment on the quality and reliability of these cars, please? I really appreciate what my friend is offering to do, but I can ill afford having to do frequent repairs on a car these days, supporting my family mainly on a limited social security disability income(It is still unclear whether I will be capable of going back to work, as strokes have indeed impaired my once capable college and grad school educated brain). I did have a '94 Escort wagon in the early 2000's which was generally a good car for us, which I opted to trade out for a minivan as we were having kids and our family was growing.
Sorry if that all is t.m.i.(too much information), but I wanted to paint a clear picture of the situation. Thank you very much in advance for any thoughts/wisdom you can offer! -Al
I'm in need of wisdom on these cars. I don't yet know the trim level on it, but it's probably a pretty basic model with mostly standard features+at. I'm disabled(stroke survivor), so my days of using a 5-speed and even my once booming i.t. career are long behind me. Also, I had an '01 Saturn that I thought the world of until recently when my daughter was driving it on the local freeway and the engine seized up(was low on or out of oil - mechanic thought it was probably burning oil, since he didn't see signs of a leak). Anyway, long story short, I'm currently down 1 vehicle and hard pressed to do much about it myself on social security disability, but have growing kids and currently 2 teen drivers. A good friend of mine yesterday raised the idea of donating or giving me a cheap deal on an '07 Focus, not sure which trim level, yet, but with about 150K miles on it and AT.
Can someone who knows please let me know if this should have ABS and Traction Control as standard, is generally a reliable car, and also if it is time to be considering like a new timing belt at this mileage/age(rough cost?)? Also, I'd have to admit, I was born in the early 70's and had a pretty negative view of Ford quality and reliability growing up. That said, could anybody please comment on the quality and reliability of these cars, please? I really appreciate what my friend is offering to do, but I can ill afford having to do frequent repairs on a car these days, supporting my family mainly on a limited social security disability income(It is still unclear whether I will be capable of going back to work, as strokes have indeed impaired my once capable college and grad school educated brain). I did have a '94 Escort wagon in the early 2000's which was generally a good car for us, which I opted to trade out for a minivan as we were having kids and our family was growing.
Sorry if that all is t.m.i.(too much information), but I wanted to paint a clear picture of the situation. Thank you very much in advance for any thoughts/wisdom you can offer! -Al
#2
09-13-2018, 10:33 AM
Welcome to the site..
Being an 07 the build quality and reliability is much better than its earlier counterparts. The 2.0/2.3 were chained timing drives, and not much worry. Without knowing the trim level any guess on the TC, but it would have ABS.
Couple ways I’d look at the offering,,, if Its donated, drive it as long as it runs and drives well and when the times comes (other than minor repairs and services) re donate the car. Next would be to sell it off for salvage or as a parts/builder and offer the coin back to the organization. If it’s clean enough, a marketable option with value even if not drivable
If its been cared for, should have some miles left. Does it include any service/repair history or docs? You could take the VIN (reg etc) to your local Ford store and have the service dept run a no cost Oasis Report. It would be a report of any repairs, recalls etc completed while it was under warranty..
The other option might be to have a reliable shop, friend or ? look it over prior to any deal..
I have older Dodge van my neighbor gave me and prior to the gift, I made the same claim to them about what/when and who would get any benefit from any sell off.. So far,, it’s been reliable for a few years now.. Not knowing what a ‘cheap deal’ is, but given a possible donation as mentioned, I’d think the benifit may outweigh the risk even if a low cost purchase ...
Post up a few images if you can....
Being an 07 the build quality and reliability is much better than its earlier counterparts. The 2.0/2.3 were chained timing drives, and not much worry. Without knowing the trim level any guess on the TC, but it would have ABS.
Couple ways I’d look at the offering,,, if Its donated, drive it as long as it runs and drives well and when the times comes (other than minor repairs and services) re donate the car. Next would be to sell it off for salvage or as a parts/builder and offer the coin back to the organization. If it’s clean enough, a marketable option with value even if not drivable
If its been cared for, should have some miles left. Does it include any service/repair history or docs? You could take the VIN (reg etc) to your local Ford store and have the service dept run a no cost Oasis Report. It would be a report of any repairs, recalls etc completed while it was under warranty..
The other option might be to have a reliable shop, friend or ? look it over prior to any deal..
I have older Dodge van my neighbor gave me and prior to the gift, I made the same claim to them about what/when and who would get any benefit from any sell off.. So far,, it’s been reliable for a few years now.. Not knowing what a ‘cheap deal’ is, but given a possible donation as mentioned, I’d think the benifit may outweigh the risk even if a low cost purchase ...
Post up a few images if you can....
Last edited by Hayapower; 09-13-2018 at 10:35 AM.
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