Used Ford Focus (1998-2004) review

There's never been a shortage of buyers for the Focus. As a chart-busting best-seller, the Escort replacement has become a massive hit with new and used customers alike.

The radical-looking hatch redefined the small family car sector when it arrived in 1998, thanks to its great chassis and impressive build quality. As a result, residuals have always been strong - but things are beginning to change.

It's been seven years since the car debuted, and although the front-wheel-drive motor's new edge design is still fresh, the MkI Focus makes more sense now than ever before as a used buy.

In addition, the C-MAX compact MPV offers all the best bits of the standard Focus, but with more interior space. Here we look at both models.

Checklist

• Timing belts: these must be swapped more often than the manufacturer recommends (see our Running Costs panel). Zetec items need replacing every 60,000 miles, while diesel engines require new ones every 45,000 miles.
• Stone chips: on estates not fitted with plastic sill protectors, look for stone damage and possible rusting at rear bottom edge of front wheelarches. Ford dealers sell mudflaps to protect paintwork.
• Corrosion: look for flaked paint and bubbles of rust by the sharp point at the base of the rear screen. Paint can also crack and corrosion start around the door mirror housings. The rust can then spread, so check the whole area carefully.
• Wheel bearings: listen for rumbling from the back of the car, which signifies that the rear wheel bearings need replacing. This is especially common on estates, but can happen on any example.
• Speedo: temporary failures of the speedometer and odometer are quite common, so these instruments may not have recorded the mileage that the car has really covered. Watch out for other signs of a high-mileage model.

Prices

Around £2,000 will get you an early, high-mileage Focus. Spend double that for a low-mileage 2000/01 example. Expect to pay £4,700 for a 2001 51-plate (facelifted) petrol 1.4 hatch. An equivalent 1.6 is £5,400; the 1.8, £200 more. A 52-plate 1.8 TDCi 100 LX is £7,250, a 115bhp model £150 extra. The new C-MAX, meanwhile, commands up to £1,000 more than the equivalent hatch.

What to look for

Want a diesel? If you can afford it, get a TDCi, which is smoother and more frugal than the TD. Saloons are unloved, so don't pay hatch money for one. There's no need to fear high-mileage cars - the Focus will just keep on going.

Recalls

June 1999: Alternator short-circuit on cars built from June 1998 to April 1999.
October 1999: Door latch problems on cars built between September 1998 and November 1998.
March 2000: Engine may lose power on 1.6-litre models built from January 1999 to February 2000.
March 2000: Oil filler cap may come loose on cars built between March 1998 and January 1999.
April 2000: Restraint system over-sensitive in cars built in March 1999.
May 2000: Engine may cut out or stall on 1.6-litre autos built from August 1999 to February 2000.
May 2002: Alternator faults on models built during March 2002 (not ST170).
January 2004: Rear brake hoses may chafe on December 2002-built RS.
April 2005: Fuel return pipe leaks on Focus and C-MAX built from July 2004 to February 2005.
August 2005: Water ingress into rear wiper motor (Focus and C-MAX built between April 2003 and March 2005).

Owner comment

Don Campbell from Bromsgrove, Worcs, has owned his 2000 Focus 1.8-litre Zetec estate from new. An import from Belgium, his dealer has been happy to service it. Don likes the extensive luggage space plus room for five to travel in comfort, and says it has been utterly reliable. "Performance and economy are good, but the headlamps are poor. If it wasn't for them, the Focus would be perfect."

Verdict

Only a few years ago, a car this capable for such a small amount of money would have been unthinkable. Not only is the Ford Focus reliable, but it's also great fun to drive, too. However, its blue oval badge is so common that there's heavy depreciation from new, making it a very affordable used buy. Low running costs are an added bonus. We like the cheap used prices, stylish looks and it's fabulous to drive. We don't like the weedy 1.4-litre engine, dated interior styling and steep depreciation.