I might be getting rid of my 87 she is costing me way to much, if i would have saved all the money up from the repairs that have been preformed i could have been at least at the halfway mark for that focus ive been eying. New problems present themselves every week and the job im at pays 250 a week. I have now replaced my whole electrical system from cables to battery to new altranator. And personally im ed sick of having a car that dosent work from week to week.
thats why you need to learn how to fix it yourself
Welcome to the club. I was in the same situation in before this past February. Every dollar I earned went into the car and I couldn't get it to run right and when it did, a new problem came up. I ended up buying a new car because the cost of the car payment and insurance is less than what I was putting into the cougar. It also spent a lot of time on a rollback leaving me stranded at work, at school, on my way home from both.
If I were you, I would keep your cougar if you can as well as get yourself something dependable. I kept mine and it may have taken me 7 or so months but it runs better than ever and I feel it's more dependable now. The beauty part is that you can work on it when you have the time or a couple extra bucks and you don't have to have all your problems solved in one night to get it running tomorrow.
Another reason not to get rid of it is that you have so much time and money already involved that you won't get a fraction of back. I'm unknowing of your situation so you may not be able to keep two cars but that I do not know nor is it really any of my business.
It's a difficult and big decision to make but try to do what is best for you.
Even that can cost a lot and when you don't have a lot of time to trouble shoot and even repair for that matter because of a hectic school/work schedule, it gets old very quickly.
i know about how things add up, but take into consideration that i have no job, and im maintaining a TC, and working on putting together a 5.0
Yeah, you should do a write-up--- 3.8 to 5.0 conversion without a budget.
Im thinking about a high mile focus :dunno: they are cheap, anyone know how they fare after 100k.
You could check out here (http://"http://www.carsurvey.org/model_Ford_Focus.html").
Might help you get a general idea on them. I haven't had anyexperience with them.
Well I totaled my first focus shortly after I hit the 100k mark, but it was running fine until then. Only problem that I ever had was the front spring broke, thankfully while it was parked, but those were not that bad to replace.
The 'OO focus has springs with rubber wrappings that collect water and they rust through, later models included a water drain to prevent that. Either way it wasn't expensive.
My '03 has 50k on it so far, and I bought it 18 months ago from a dealer new (last years model still on lot) Had the 2.3 liter, with 15 inch wheels. I love it.
My parents also have a '01 Focus that has had some problems, but only due to lack of proper maintanence in the first place.
The cars run great and will definately last baring certain expectable problems, alot like T-birds in that way. I completely Expect to get 200k+ out of mine.
I will say avoid getting a used one that was a Rental car, I have seen how Rental cars get treated. My first Focus was a rental and it would sometime fall out of gear between 2nd and 3rd, like it was in neutral for a second or two.
Do what you can to get a Grannie car that was maintained meticulously. I also recommend geting the 2.3L engine, it has about 150 HP with good acceleration. Definately alot of fun to drive.
Of course the only cars I have owned was a '87 V6 t-bird, a '00 Focus with a 2.0L, and a '03 with a 2.3L
Driving my Parents Focus, which is also a 2.0l it doesn't handle that great and the acceleration is weak, much weaker than the 2.0L I had, so it could have just been a dud.
Also Focus' are so expensive you can get a new 2.3L for $16,000. I picked up a last years model and only payed $12,000 for the 2.3, with alluminum 15" wheels and an MP3/CD player. Also Buying new will let you know where it has been and have a warranty, but I don't know how your Cash Flow is.
wow, I can actually help someone else with something here, I am surprised.
Thanks very much, my father has an 05 zx5 i love it, and the only cars that i have driven on a regular basis is my fathers (when he lets me) and my cougar. Im looking to get a zx3 but mostly what i have seen are the ZTS 4 doors (which are fine with me but id rather a hatchback). Thanks for the info and thanks for the link 5.0 will go.
I may have to get a 5.0 kit for that focus and just yank the 2.3. that would be awesome but expensive.
Quite a few people say that they last pretty well after 100k Just wish they would have seperated the TDCi i believe they called them (The foreign Diesel models)