So here's the deal. My son wants a car soon, he's looking at getting a used Focus. He is in the service in N.C. and looking at an 07 ZX4 SE. The car has 109k miles on it and they want $9k for it. I told him to run from this car as he knows nothing about how it was taken care of and at that mileage he will be asking for trouble. He said the dealership is fixing some scratches in the paint and replacing the button on the shifter and fixing that the indicator does not move past N. I feel this is a bad car to get, what are your thoughts?

Not seeing the car, I don't here any real problems with it. Everything you listed is just normal where problems and these cars can run for well over 100,000 miles. The only part I don't like is the price. I seems pretty high for a car with that many miles regardless of age.

Lots of miles for 9000...I got my 10" brand new for 15.3k. If he really wants it though he's probably just going to buy it and learn parents are usually right lol. Unfortunately it'll be a 9k lesson...

It will last a lot over 100k if it was taken care of correctly, but 9k does seem high. I wouldn't get it personally, my 07 in 2007 was only like 14k that was brand new. You could find a much cheaper focus for less money anywhere probably.

I"ll agree with others. The milage doesn't bother me but the price does with that milage...

109,000 miles on a 2007? huh? did i miss something? Tell him to not buy that car. that car has been used hard. a button replaced so it can shift, sounds like 25000 miles a year. how many times did they change the oil or even keep up with maintanence while putting all of these miles on it. I would offer no more than $2500 for this car seeing how it probably came from a auction. RUN Forest Run! lol

Yep, pass. Waaay way too much $$$. With the 2012 Focus out now you should be seeing 2008+ revision models at that price range for a 100k car!

As a point of reference I bought my first 2002 ZX3 back in 2005 for $7300 with 53k miles and power everything (no sunroof). Bought my second 2002 ZX3 with 38k miles, sunroof and power everything for $9000. Neither car had any broken parts or cosmetic issues that had to be dealt with.

109,000 miles on a 2007? huh? did i miss something? Tell him to not buy that car. that car has been used hard. a button replaced so it can shift, sounds like 25000 miles a year. how many times did they change the oil or even keep up with maintanence while putting all of these miles on it. I would offer no more than $2500 for this car seeing how it probably came from a auction. RUN Forest Run! lol

This does not make sense. If they drove 25,000 miles a year, that means they ran a ton of highway, and 25,000 miles at a constant 70mph is far better than 25,000 miles of stop and go city driving. I put 24,000 on my ST in the first year I owned it, so I can definitely tell you its not that out of the ordinary. My car had new brakes put on it when I bought it, and I have over 80% brake pad left, as an example of wear compared to 25,000 of stop and go.

Hey Pops, you've been admiring those new 2012 Focus's haven't you (admit it)?
- It's time for you to get a new car.Sell him your wagon and get a new Focus for yourself.

You said he is in the service? If so, tell him to go to USAA if he hasnt already, sign up, and then use their used car buying service. Only vehicles and dealers meeting USAA's standards will be listed, and they offer some of the best rates on used vehicles you can get. I got my 04 SVTF with 65k miles for right at 6500, thats with 4.2%APR. Also they offer a great Extended service plan for vehicles under 100K miles. mine has replaced the clutch, flywheel, shocks, struts, timing belt and both front wheel bearings. I spent 750 on the service plan and they have paid out well over 2000 in repairs that i did not notice when i bought the car.

way to expensive. there are way better deals out there. i got my 01 with 29,000 miles for 7k

If your son just enlisted.. and is looking at this car from a dealer that's right off base.. tell him to run as fast as he can. Those dealerships are shady, jack up their prices and have HORRID interest rates just because they know dumb Privates will still buy the cars, because they have all this money from Basic/AIT and don't know what to do with it. NEVER buy from a dealer just outside of base.. and if they ask to see your LES, NEVER show them.

Honestly, he should talk to his team leader and/or squad leader and have them go with him when he looks at a car to make sure he doesn't get raped.

NOW.. if none of the above is the case, $9k is still waaaaay too much for that car. He could find much better deals anywhere else. I can find an '07 ZX4 around here with 50k miles for that price.

I think $7000 is more in range with 107,000 miles.But i will say in December my Daughter needed a car and for 13,000 there where tons of 2010 Focus with under 30,000 miles.She bought a 08 Mercury Milan for $10,800 with 38,000 miles but used car prices are all high now can't find them that cheap now.

I was about to say what Wisco just did. I was dumb and got my car right off of post but they couldnt mess me around because I have good credit and I know how the numbers work (went to college for business and accounting).

She bought a 08 Mercury Milan for $10,800 with 38,000 miles but used car prices are all high now can't find them that cheap now.

Unfortunately this is a sad truth. Dealerships capitalize on the fear mongering of gas prices. They will often spout the BS excuse that most older compacts get better fuel economy. And naturally they'll deny that claim when you offer a similar price hike during trade-in. They just can't seem to make up their minds...

It's still possible to get good deals. Bargaining just takes a lot more energy these days. Kelley Blue Book and nearby dealership price comparisons are your best friends. Having stupid dealerships compete against each other over live phone conversations can be pretty fun(ny) and beneficial to you. Yay for competition.

You said he is in the service? If so, tell him to go to USAA if he hasnt already, sign up, and then use their used car buying service. Only vehicles and dealers meeting USAA's standards will be listed, and they offer some of the best rates on used vehicles you can get. I got my 04 SVTF with 65k miles for right at 6500, thats with 4.2%APR. Also they offer a great Extended service plan for vehicles under 100K miles. mine has replaced the clutch, flywheel, shocks, struts, timing belt and both front wheel bearings. I spent 750 on the service plan and they have paid out well over 2000 in repairs that i did not notice when i bought the car.

ABSOLUTELY!!! USAA is by far the best company for your son to be dealing with. I've been fortunate to have USAA insurance all my life. All this stuff that other companies claim- like accident forgiveness- have been USAA policy all along. I used them for the loan on my Focus when I bought it new, and their banking services are outstanding as well. With a USAA checking account, for example, you can get money from any ATM completely free. They will refund you any service charges up to $2 incurred at any ATM anywhere. Name one other bank that does that. Depositing checks requires a bit of a hat trick though, but if he has a scanner or fax machine then it's the easiest thing on the face of the planet. Send them a copy of your check, and it's deposited in your account.

Lots of their procedures are based on trust, but don't think anyone gets away with violating that trust. For example, my father knew an officer who had a camera stolen out of his car. USAA repaired the damage, and gave him the full purchase price for the camera. He thought, hey that was easy. Let's try that again. USAA caught him, prosecuted him, and he was punished by the military as well.

When I did my car loan, I was qualified on the phone. Basically all I had to do was walk into the dealer, pick out my car, and then make a phone call.

OH, here's another bonus. You know how car rental companies always want to charge you for rental insurance. Well USAA car insurance covers you with whatever coverage you had on your car while you're in someone else's car or a rental. If you rent your vehicle with a USAA credit card, you have an additional $50k coverage towards the full retail price of the rental vehicle. Unfortunately, Hertz is about the only company that realizes this. I had to walk out of Enterprise once because the guy behind the counter lied to me and told me that my insurance didn't cover rentals. Enterprise picks you up and lets you down.

I'm not 100% on this, but I do think that USAA waives auto insurance for vets who are called to active duty overseas so you don't have to pay for insurance while you're deployed, but you'll have it as soon as you call them when you're home.

Im not sure if they waive it, but I know they do storage insurance.

Very expensive for that many miles. I just sold a '07 ZX3 SES with 50,000 miles for 10,500. So keep looking there are better ones out there.

After a nightmare at KBB.com, I found that the Excellent condition 2007 Focus SE with manual transmission, 109k, is worth 7100.

I prefer NADA which says that the clean retail value for that car is $8900. I don't prefer their prices, but I do prefer their website. Here in Memphis the used car dealers try to get about $2k more than NADA. That's why I always go out further to find one. My wife's van, for example, I paid $5500 for it. In Memphis, there was a same YM van with 120k instead of 80k, and it was $9k. My point is, never buy in town, go to the remote areas where the dealers are friendlier.

run, screaming.....

Thanks for the input. He went ahead and got it, out the door for $8k. He's happy, I just have to let it go and hope he isn't stranded on the drive up or back later this month when he drives home. My wife did look around at most dealers websites in his area, everything seems to run higher than we think they are worth. Again, thanks veryone.

KBB/NADA also are not the end all, be all. I've found so many flaws with those damn websites.

Like one day, my '01 ZX3 with 120k at the time was worth $4k+. 2 weeks later, it was worth $1300. A month and a half after that, it was worth $2700.

I hate KBB tbh. It also doesn't take things into account like the fact that this is WISCONSIN and we use TONS OF SALT in the winter. So a car that has zero rust should be worth more than a car with rust.

I honestly hate people who go strictly based off KBB prices. It's a good starting point for debate.. but not always the exact price you should pay.

ABSOLUTELY!!! USAA is by far the best company for your son to be dealing with. I've been fortunate to have USAA insurance all my life. All this stuff that other companies claim- like accident forgiveness- have been USAA policy all along. I used them for the loan on my Focus when I bought it new, and their banking services are outstanding as well. With a USAA checking account, for example, you can get money from any ATM completely free. They will refund you any service charges up to $2 incurred at any ATM anywhere. Name one other bank that does that. Depositing checks requires a bit of a hat trick though, but if he has a scanner or fax machine then it's the easiest thing on the face of the planet. Send them a copy of your check, and it's deposited in your account.

Lots of their procedures are based on trust, but don't think anyone gets away with violating that trust. For example, my father knew an officer who had a camera stolen out of his car. USAA repaired the damage, and gave him the full purchase price for the camera. He thought, hey that was easy. Let's try that again. USAA caught him, prosecuted him, and he was punished by the military as well.

When I did my car loan, I was qualified on the phone. Basically all I had to do was walk into the dealer, pick out my car, and then make a phone call.

OH, here's another bonus. You know how car rental companies always want to charge you for rental insurance. Well USAA car insurance covers you with whatever coverage you had on your car while you're in someone else's car or a rental. If you rent your vehicle with a USAA credit card, you have an additional $50k coverage towards the full retail price of the rental vehicle. Unfortunately, Hertz is about the only company that realizes this. I had to walk out of Enterprise once because the guy behind the counter lied to me and told me that my insurance didn't cover rentals. Enterprise picks you up and lets you down.

That's funny my branch has a 94% completely satisfied customer service score. I doubt the guy told you what your insurance would or wouldn't cover... we don't know your insurance policy. I'd like to hear the other side of the story since I know what a pain in the rear certain types of customers can be.