- Oct 9, 1999
- 15,216
- 3
- 81
I have been putting up with my family for a while. Ever since my 1994 toyota tercel died they have been wanting me to get another car. I have been putting it off until now. Well today we went looking for a few cars. I wasnt looking forward to buying a car, I was going just for the heck of it.
First stop, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Sales in Simi Valley. They had a few cars. I test drove a 2000 Ford Escort 4D Auto and found it to be noisy and had a total lack of power. The price was okay (about $8K) but it had 43K miles on it and I didnt like the interior engine noise which was way to prononunced.
I started up an 2001 Red Ford Focus 4D Auto and the engine sounded nice and solid, but it was out of our price range at 12K. It had 37K on it.
Anyway we got out of there. Went to another dealer across the street. Found a few cars in the price range but they had too much mileage or I didnt like them. One that was in our budget was a 1997 Toyota Avalon but I didnt want a "Family Car". Plus it had 100K in mileage. But the Avalon is a very very solid car.
So went back home and then my parents left for a function. My brother and I were planning to go to a few places. Among them was Galpin Family of Dealerships and the Hertz Rent-A-Car Sales.
Our first stop was at Galpin Ford. After circling the block a few times we finally found some parking. We walked up to the huge used car lot. This is HUGE.. atleast 200 cars. Galpin Ford is the worlds largest volume Ford Dealership. Anyway we walk in and I immediately spot a few cars in our range. One was a 2000 Toyota Echo and a 2001 Kia Rio (with power everything). The Kia was about 9K but I could have haggled it down. However the fact remaind it was a Kia.
We were approached my a salesman. After shaking hands we asked him if he had any cars in our price range. He walked around showed us a few and then suddenly spotted a 2000 Ford Focus that was in our price range.
I took it for a test drive. At first it sounded like it had a sports exhaust but later I found that once the engine warmed up the car sounded normal. The car has 19K miles and is still under warrenty. The price was good and the car was in good shape so we bid for it at 8500. We got shot down at $8500 but they took $8995.00. We accepted that, considering i just brought it down from 11K to 9K.
However I wasnt willing to let go of my $8500 price tag and they have to fix a few things in the car. One is that the car has had a very sloppy wash and wax before. I can see the wax particulates all around. So there is a 200 dollar detailing job (inside and out) that I have to schedule. Plus the car will have the "focus" lettering fixed. Let me just say it says something else now. All the letters are present.. somebody was playing a joke with the rear lettering.
Anyway the car doesnt have much features but its an LX model with AC. NO PowerWindows or Doors. However its got Power Steering. I understand I can add in an aftermarket PowerDoors in later. The car has 5 Speed Manual and a Kicking Premium Audio System. All in all its a very decent car for the price. The stickler is the Park Assist. When I put in to reverse it starts beeping and starts to go into a tone as I get closer. I need to disable that. I also have to add an alarm system in the car.
So back to summary..
Cost: under 10K out the door (including tax, title, etc etc.. all paid in cash).
Year: 2000 Ford Focus 4D LX model in GOLD.
Mileage: 19K (with 1 year warrenty left and 1 year free road side assitance) - Will add in the extended warrenty later.
Features: 2L 130HP 5 Speed, AC, AM/FMCD+Premium Sound/Standard Grey Interior. Parking Assist Beep.
The car is very well maintained.. and though the engine sounds rough I am sure that willl go away soon.. either case its under warrenty so I can get that fixed if something comes up in the next year.
Pics?... when I can get the digital camera back. My parents havent seen it yet so when they see it I will get the pictures taken.
Though I would rather take the pictures after it comes back from the detail shop. After all its a Gold Color and I know that I am not going to clean it often because it wont show.
First stop, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Sales in Simi Valley. They had a few cars. I test drove a 2000 Ford Escort 4D Auto and found it to be noisy and had a total lack of power. The price was okay (about $8K) but it had 43K miles on it and I didnt like the interior engine noise which was way to prononunced.
I started up an 2001 Red Ford Focus 4D Auto and the engine sounded nice and solid, but it was out of our price range at 12K. It had 37K on it.
Anyway we got out of there. Went to another dealer across the street. Found a few cars in the price range but they had too much mileage or I didnt like them. One that was in our budget was a 1997 Toyota Avalon but I didnt want a "Family Car". Plus it had 100K in mileage. But the Avalon is a very very solid car.
So went back home and then my parents left for a function. My brother and I were planning to go to a few places. Among them was Galpin Family of Dealerships and the Hertz Rent-A-Car Sales.
Our first stop was at Galpin Ford. After circling the block a few times we finally found some parking. We walked up to the huge used car lot. This is HUGE.. atleast 200 cars. Galpin Ford is the worlds largest volume Ford Dealership. Anyway we walk in and I immediately spot a few cars in our range. One was a 2000 Toyota Echo and a 2001 Kia Rio (with power everything). The Kia was about 9K but I could have haggled it down. However the fact remaind it was a Kia.
We were approached my a salesman. After shaking hands we asked him if he had any cars in our price range. He walked around showed us a few and then suddenly spotted a 2000 Ford Focus that was in our price range.
I took it for a test drive. At first it sounded like it had a sports exhaust but later I found that once the engine warmed up the car sounded normal. The car has 19K miles and is still under warrenty. The price was good and the car was in good shape so we bid for it at 8500. We got shot down at $8500 but they took $8995.00. We accepted that, considering i just brought it down from 11K to 9K.
However I wasnt willing to let go of my $8500 price tag and they have to fix a few things in the car. One is that the car has had a very sloppy wash and wax before. I can see the wax particulates all around. So there is a 200 dollar detailing job (inside and out) that I have to schedule. Plus the car will have the "focus" lettering fixed. Let me just say it says something else now. All the letters are present.. somebody was playing a joke with the rear lettering.
Anyway the car doesnt have much features but its an LX model with AC. NO PowerWindows or Doors. However its got Power Steering. I understand I can add in an aftermarket PowerDoors in later. The car has 5 Speed Manual and a Kicking Premium Audio System. All in all its a very decent car for the price. The stickler is the Park Assist. When I put in to reverse it starts beeping and starts to go into a tone as I get closer. I need to disable that. I also have to add an alarm system in the car.
So back to summary..
Cost: under 10K out the door (including tax, title, etc etc.. all paid in cash).
Year: 2000 Ford Focus 4D LX model in GOLD.
Mileage: 19K (with 1 year warrenty left and 1 year free road side assitance) - Will add in the extended warrenty later.
Features: 2L 130HP 5 Speed, AC, AM/FMCD+Premium Sound/Standard Grey Interior. Parking Assist Beep.
The car is very well maintained.. and though the engine sounds rough I am sure that willl go away soon.. either case its under warrenty so I can get that fixed if something comes up in the next year.
Pics?... when I can get the digital camera back. My parents havent seen it yet so when they see it I will get the pictures taken.
Though I would rather take the pictures after it comes back from the detail shop. After all its a Gold Color and I know that I am not going to clean it often because it wont show.
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