Have fun with this if you like, (99?) but thanks for serious answers.

Trying to find a decent car around 1000.00 preferably with 5 speed that should likely last at least a year with no major expenses. The awesomeness of this car is a 2002 Focus wagon with manual trans.

The good: That was it. Except it's a one owner. The bad: Split port 2.0 with 294kms, mostly highway. Was from Alberta, Ziebarted but never followed up when he moved to BC. Some surface rust down low, but I can totally live with it.

The timing belt is overdue, clutch seems okay but engages high, and might even be original, a miracle in itself. (Big question: is this a non destructive engine if the belt goes?) There's some stuff online about the Split Port eating valves. It's made it almost 300kms, so the engine can't be a total fail. Car is solid, clean interior, new brakes and wheel bearings. He will sell it for 850.00 from asking 1000.00. Decent dude, he's not a car guy, am not going to offer any lower, and that's about his bottom price.

TLDR. Is an '02 Focus wagon 2.0 Split Port 5spd a terrible car to be avoided?

Cheers,

A.

I can't say I've ever heard anything good about a Focus....if you want something to just beat around you'd be better looking into an older Toyota or Honda. Focuses rot like hell from what I've seen as well..

Eh, I would wheel it. Price is right, cars have rust issues but tend to last a while. Only issue I see is it already has lasted a while. Not sure how much while it has left.

When Focii get rotten, they go fast.
The engines aren't bad themselves... it's everything electrical hooked to the engine that sucks. The Focus isn't a great car with high mileage, but for $850, you should get a year or two out of it. I would, however, have the timing belt done ASAP. I'm not sure if the Focus engine is an interference design.

Focus isn't that bad...its one of the Fords I can tolerate to an extent. The engine I can understand (and yes, the 1st generation is an interference engine) without me wondering what is Ford smoking.

Posted by Agent Skelly Focus isn't that bad...its one of the Fords I can tolerate to an extent. The engine I can understand (and yes, the 1st generation is an interference engine) without me wondering what is Ford smoking.

Is both the DOHC and SOHC interference?

I did have a 02 ZX2 with the DOHC Ztech engine in it. Had a lil scoot when I needed it to. Went through 3 5speed transmissions during the warranty period though..........

Posted by jeepdave Is both the DOHC and SOHC interference?

Yep. And when the Zetec cam adjustment dealio goes bad, you have a lot of bent valves.

I dunno, if it runs/drives/stops it's worth $850 all day long no matter what it is. I haven't really had any great experiences on these things either, but there are worse cars out there.

Posted by A. Lien 294kms, mostly highway.

Show me a vehicle advertised for sale on which the mileage is not "mostly highway." Just saying.

My sister has driven a Focus wagon for the past few years in Alaska with no issues other than the e brake freezing in cold weather.

Thanks all for the useful comments. Lots of negative stuff about the Focus online. Mostly people who bought much newer and did the hidden warranty stuff.

As said, for 850.00 probably an okay deal. True about mostly highway miles in ads. The guy told me which cities he travelled from and for what years so in this case I believe him.

Dont get me started about rolled back cars

Posted by Nismo Dont get me started about rolled back cars

that's hard to do (from what I have been told) on GM's with the digital odometer.

Posted by Samurai that's hard to do (from what I have been told) on GM's with the digital odometer.

they did a report on tv up here and showed 5 garages in the montreal area that were charging to roll back gm odometers, i was surprised how easy it was

It's very easy on GM digital odos with the Tech2 passthru link to hook it up to their computer diagnostic program. I can't for the life of me remember what the system is called. I'm glad I'm forgetting things from that part of my life.

Posted by Samurai that's hard to do (from what I have been told) on GM's with the digital odometer.

Takes about 45mins, you need to disassemble the dash abit