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Life Expectancy (Miles) of the Ford Focus?

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PastTense

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
What is the life expectancy in miles of the Focus? Do many here on this forum reach 250K miles? 300K miles? 350K miles?... [obviously cars can last for the rest of a person's life if you continue replacing parts--but at a certain point it is uneconomic to do so and cheaper to replace the car.]

Thanks.
 
#3 ·
In Iowa where salt is applied to roads(?)
Till the Focus becomes a 'Flintstone' car [to get motion just place feet on the pavement and push
In Texas who knows
Some body that owned a courier service had a Focus that got +650,000 miles then it was dumped
 
#5 ·
If you want to read the stories, check the 100,000 plus thread in the "stickies" at the top of this page...

Haven't read through it, but even recent postings show some over 200,000 without major work...
 
#7 ·
What motor do you have? Plenty of ZETECS with 200,000+ Mine had a blown head gasket for about 60,000. Got to 232,000 then it blew to the point where it was dumping coolant. Highest Ive seen on an SPI before dropping a valve seat was 183,000 IIRC.
 
#8 ·
My '04 Focus SVT just turned 263,000 miles. All I've ever done is replace the wear items. Did my first timing belt at 150,000 and just did my second at 261,000 miles. All of the mechanicals are intact. I put new struts/shocks a couple of months ago. I have changed the oil at 5/6k miles, using Castrol Syntech. Still doesn't use any oil between changes.
 
#9 ·
There are 3 ZX3s in my family serving as daily drivers, a 2000 with about 210K miles and a 2005 with 220K. My car has 79K miles and has been more of a headache than the other two but I mostly blame aftermarket parts for that.

The 2000 feels tired and a bit underpowered, but the chassis stills feels tight and I suspect my judgement of that car is swayed by owning an SVT and driving a newer Duratec car. The 2005 Duratec car feels like it will run forever, it really feels brand new to this day. It's kind of amazing, the fuel pump needed replacement a couple years ago and that's the only major item I can remember aside from new tires occasionally and various fluid changes.

If I had to make a reccomendation I'd say go with an '05 or later Duratec car, it seems pretty bulletproof even at 220K miles.
 
#10 ·
I didn't really have to do anything to the ZXW until the axles went out. I'm approaching 150k, and I expect that the factory clutch will go within the next 25k. The only mechanical issue I have that's not wear related like the clutch is the tumble flaps. Tumble flaps are little flaps that close off the intake runners according to throttle position and engine speed to provide more torque on the low end and more hp on the top end. Sometimes the little bushings on these wear out, and the flaps make a loud clacking noise. It sounds like the worst case of bad valves you've ever heard except that if you put a stethoscope on the valve cover- you get nothing but the whirring of a valve train in proper operation. Put it on the intake, and you'll find your clacking. That's the case with mine. More information to come later when I remove the intake manifold. Tumble flaps are on engines 05+ , and 03-04 PZEV motors. I don't know if there are tumble flaps on 12+ GDI engines or not.
 
#12 ·
160K on two ATX zetecs, Walmart straight 30 weight and 7500 mile changes. Both run well and use no oil. Can't kill 'em.

I remember the days when a 2 liter was dead at 100K, motor couldn't hardly move car, think Pinto. For all the added complexity these are definitely better built cars. Even the bodies seem to hold up longer.
 
#13 ·
Stlouis1 said:
My daughter in Maine has a 2005 Focus with 240,000 miles on it. Eats tires though. But no major mechanical work.
Click to expand...
Cars with high miles eat tires when rubber suspension control arm pivot bushings tear and/or wear out from age and ozone rot. This causes the control arms to flop around and wheel alignment is totally lost. This makes for noise, poor handling and tires wear out fast.

You can replace the whole control arm with bushing already installed for about $125 each, or you can get real thrifty on some cars and replace the $20 bushings themselves using a hydraulic press. This is a problem on everything from a base Honda to a $150K mercedes. Bushings need replaced about every 100K mi on average. The front suspension bushings in my BMW need replaced about every 60K mi and the rear goes bad every 100K or so. Throwing new tires on the car every 20K mi to get chewed up is just plain nuts. This costs FAR more than a proper repair. Cars with bad bushings handle verey bad plus they shake and make a lot of noise when hitting bumps.

Replace the control arms on your daughters car instead of buying $400 worth of tires every 6 mo.
 
#14 ·
Mine got 224,00 miles and I'm finishing my second clutch. These have been hardcore miles. I've never babied this car.
 
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#15 ·
2002 zx3 with 204,000. bought it from my father at 112,000 with no major repairs done by him. the clutch was replaced 30,000 miles ago. both cv axles replaced 1,000 miles ago. all wheel bearings replaced within the last 3 months. Shift cable end replaced 1 week ago along with another slave cylinder. I'd say those were the major repairs. Minor ones being, thermostat and thermostat housing, a couple different coolant hoses, O2 sensor lower, haven't done the upper yet but it needs to be done and as of right now I need to more than likely replace the alternator and/or battery. Kept up on regular maintenance and the engine runs great. If you can do your own work do it and repairing the car will make keeping it worth it.
 
#16 ·
This is like asking how long do people live???

I find if you follow basic maintenance any car will give you trouble free service for at least 10 years. If you decide to spend some cash on suspension components you could stretch that to 15 years.
 
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#18 ·
as with any car or truck do maint as recomended and fix the things that need fixing and the car can last you a lifetime. i to this day still have a 95 chevy dually sitting out back i dont use it mush other than pulling my camper it has the 454 engine with just minor repairs tune up and oil changes i have never done any real big maint on it as i have no trouble with it. it has over 400k on it and still runs and drives great and would not hesitate to jump in it and drive around the US with it. other than gas prices as of now lol
 
#19 ·
Agreed. I've got a 98 Chevy C1500 with with the 350 in it, still runs strong. I think it just pushed over 225k of HARD miles.
My buddy uses it as his DD while his truck is in the shop, and I drive it in the winter.. Gotta keep my SS out of the snow :)
 
#20 ·
PastTense said:
What is the life expectancy in miles of the Focus? Do many here on this forum reach 250K miles? 300K miles? 350K miles?... [obviously cars can last for the rest of a person's life if you continue replacing parts--but at a certain point it is uneconomic to do so and cheaper to replace the car.]

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I have a 2012 Focus SE and will hit 400k miles by the end of the week. I had an 08 I sold with just over 400k miles on it and it was still running strong. I also have an 07 Escape Hybrid with almost 300k miles on it! I do regular oil changes and basic maintenance. Only issue I had was w/ 2012 Focus “smart” transmission
 
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