POssibly buying, looking for advice.

[Russo2]

I can't afford fast. I don't take my vehicles to a garage for anything except exhaust. I hate exhaust work. Hyundai's usually pop up cheap, my sister has had a few of them without any problems. I hate foreign, but I can't argue cheap.

[lbrowne]

Originally Posted by whynotthinkwhynot

I suppose it's possible in a wagon, but I've never seen an SPI wagon.

I know this is getting a bit off track but I actually have an 03 Wagon with an SPI.

[Russo2]

Off track smoshsmack haha. Any information is appreciated, regardless of topic.

[whynotthinkwhynot]

F'ing sorry mfers !! Man, I just searched Ebay using Harrisburg PA, and I thought Memphis dealers were over priced. PA dealers are freaking insane. I was seeing 2009 Focis with 50k miles for $14k!!! WTH? Does everyone up there smoke meth 24/7 or what? It's pretty damn pitiful when you can get a 2012 cheaper than a 2009!!

Seriously, for some of these deals I bet you could afford to travel down somewhere like WV if the price difference was $4k- why not? Surely you won't spend that much in gas to drive down there. I know I'd never buy in state, surely there has to be a state nearby with normal car prices.

[Russo2]

Believe me I know. It's crazy, especially considering the average income around here is less than 30k.
I have seen svts on here and eBay for cheaper than an 05 se auto locally.
The best part about going just below the Mason Dixon will be no or less rust, I'll have to take a look.

[Russo2]

I found a nice blue 01 hatch five speed etc etc, basically exactly what I want, for cheap. But it's 4 hours away. I'm awaiting more pictures before I get too into it.

[gondorian]

I got a deal by looking in another state. Just keep you eyes open and your ear to the ground.

[whynotthinkwhynot]

OH yeah, I always advise people to look outside of Memphis. When I found my wife's van, I looked around here first. All the vans we looked at were priced over NADA and KBB at dealers, and no personal owners selling at the time. I found one about 100 miles away for $2500 less than one of the same trim and YM with more mileage in town.

I was going to also suggest some of our users- I found 2 in PA, but they were both modified Focis, and so outside of the given price range.

2 things to look for: clutch repair receipts, and timing belt repair receipts. Typically those both go out between 100k and 150k. The Zetec is a non-interference engine if it's still the factory camshafts, and the clutch is not as expensive as a Duratec or SVT clutch because it doesn't have a DMF. Still, that's 2 big repairs I'd make sure were done on any vehicle I purchased around that age.

[Russo2]

Dual mass?! Why does Ford still use that crap!?
But doing the clutch and timing belt doesn't bother me as long as I make it home, but it's 238 miles. Not interference helps though, still sucks if it did let loose.
This one is 4 hours away and seems decent so far, but I'm afraid of something going wrong on the return trip.



http://scranton.craigslist.org/cto/3459562579.html

[sailor]

Dk. Blue, 5-spd.,Zetec, even has the factory fog lights.....

I hate PA, it's ONLY one state south, but cars DON'T rot away as fast as up here in N.Y.!

Pictures ALWAYS seem to look good, but that one looks worth a drive to ck. out & purchase if it looks as good in person....

If it passes a "test drive" it'll make it home OK (as much as you can trust ANYTHING...).

Hope it works out for you!

(Gad, I'd be tempted to pick up ANOTHER Focus just to play with if I found one like that cheap....)