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Need help on car decision

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xaeniac

xaeniac

Golden Member
Currently own a 2005 Ford Focus ZX5 and an 2001 Focus ZX3. The 2005 model is driven by my wife and has 60k miles, Auto transmission and is loaded. The 2001 model is a bare bones model with manual windows and standard transmission and and has 131k miles. Looks like my family is growing by one and will be getting a bigger car most likely a Mazda 5. I have had the 2001 for a while and its a fun car to drive but don't know if I should keep it or not. I will hardly get anything for it and I know it has been maintained and I feel it has much life left in it. I sort of want to keep all the Foci, but do not know if I should. The 2005 model has been a good car as well and I know with two kiddos a four door model is a nice thing to have. So what should I do? Should I keep them both sell one of them or what? I am torn on what I should do? Both cars are paid for.

2001 Focus
Pros:
Fun car to drive
Manual Transmission



Cons:
2 doors
Nearly no resale value
Barebones car
130 k miles

2005 Focus
Pros:
Less Miles
Fully Loaded
More resale value
Four doors

Cons:
Auto transmission
 
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What is the reason you need to get rid one of the cars? You should have no problem loading a child into a 4 door focus, and a stroller should fit in the trunk. If you need to get rid of one of the two cars I would get rid of the older one, because the newer one will probably last longer.
 
2007-2009 Fusion 2.3L with a manual?

-Four door
-Large trunk
-Fold-down rear seats if you need to haul something
-Duratec Engine (decent power, timing chain)
-Manual for fun
-Good suspension
-Good crash ratings
-Should be able to find one with ~30-35k miles for $11-12k or so, maybe less.

You could trade in your 2001 Focus towards the Fusion and EACH have a decent kid-hauling car. Don't under estimate her 2005 Focus in terms of hauling kids. It's really not all that hard.

The only real down side that I know of is the stupid cartridge style oil filters and (I think) plastic cover over the bottom of the engine. After you've done an oil chance once or twice it should be a piece of cake, though.
 
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dpodblood said:
What is the reason you need to get rid one of the cars? You should have no problem loading a child into a 4 door focus, and a stroller should fit in the trunk. If you need to get rid of one of the two cars I would get rid of the older one, because the newer one will probably last longer.
Click to expand...

This will be our 2nd child. Luggage toys, strollers and the like will be tight on trips in the Focus.
 
I agree on keeping the 2001, but only if you have a need for a backup car. It's not especially practical nor (IMO) sporty enough to be the "fun car." So if it were me, I'd only keep it if I would have use for a backup car.

If whoever doesn't need to drive both kids primarily is okay with driving the 05 Focus, then it would make more financial sense to keep it and have the primary kid-mover drive a new car like the Mazda 5.

Or if you never plan on driving the kids around, keep the 01 for yourself and sell the 05 while it has some value 🙂
 
guess I was looking for reasons to keep the 2001, but it is not practical and I should probably sell it.
 
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A 5 is super practical w sliding doors for kids and crap, you can get them in manual
I'm loathe to give up my minivan
 
desy said:
A 5 is super practical w sliding doors for kids and crap, you can get them in manual
I'm loathe to give up my minivan
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat, and I hate minivans. For what they are, there isn't anything that does the job better. I just wish Ford hadn't jumped out of the mini-van market the way they did. I can only hope some of their new vehicles can match the 2 benches in the back, storage, and 22 mpg + decent towing for under $18k.

What am I saying. They're not going to have anything close.
 
xaeniac said:
This will be our 2nd child. Luggage toys, strollers and the like will be tight on trips in the Focus.
Click to expand...

Speaking from experience on the kid's end, and with input from the parents, trips were much more annoying once we got the minivan. It was a loaded 1999 Town & Country, really nice and all that, but man did we pack bad. I imagine if you were to manage what you packed well it would be nice, but we were honestly better off with the smaller car.

Also I don't see a reason to change cars here. If you're happy with the 2001 Focus as your driver, and the wife is happy with hers, you have the convenience of four doors and low miles with the fiscal awesomeness of cars which are paid off. ->Just pack smart<-.

I WOULD change cars however if maintenance became an issue, since being stranded with kids is a nightmare waiting to happen.
 
desy said:
Ford is introducing the Grand C-max and is a 5 sized competator w sliding doors
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/09q3/2012_ford_grand_c-max-official_photos_and_info
The Flex does the job of the bigger one and I know a couple of people who are really happy w them
Click to expand...

Yes, but the flex retails for over $30k. I'm not paying luxury-coupe price for a grocery getter. (I hate the styling of the flex, but then again I hate the minivan too so that's a wash).

I like the C-Max styling, but it's a 5 seater not a 7 seater. I've put 3 kids under 10 in seats where they can reach each-other, then thrown in a golden retriever, and driven for 6-8 hours. It usually results in:
"IF YOU TOUCH YOUR BROTHER AGAIN I'M GOING TO PULL OVER".

Total hell on earth =/.

Edit: It appears the Grand C-Max will have a third row, and have a 230 horsepower/torque so it should be able to tow small trailers (pop-up camper). That appears doable. Now, bring it in at a used price of under 25K new, and it might be worth something.
 
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I am happy they are bringing the Cmax to the states. I will not be getting one as I do not want to pump out the cash for a brand new vehicle as everything imo is ridiculously priced. Guess I will eventually be getting a Mazda 5, but not on fire about it right now. Needed to make a decision on what to do with the current vehicles we have when we decide to go bigger.
 
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