I like my Focus, it's a great little work horse. It makes some grunts and groans, isn't too good on fuel but I switch it on every morning, does 100 miles a day and never really complains.

I was planning on getting a new car next year, something along the lines of a 406 HDi Executive or a MK3 Mondeo Ghia X TDDi.
Unfortunatley insurance has gone through the roof.
My first year I paid £1,200 on a 1.9TD 406 (Grp11, stage one tune declared).
Last year I paid £1,300 on my Focus (Group 6, audio equiptment declared)
This year I've had to pay £1,400 and I only got it that cheap because the car has had one owner since new.

If I tried to insure an IDENTICLE focus that I bought last year it would have been £2,500ish.

So I'm stuck with my little workhorse.
Now my Mum owned it for 8 years, it has been battered and bruised. It's mechanically pretty sound, but looks worse for wear!

I would really like a car I can finally enjoy but I'd have to spend some money on my Focus to make it happen.
I'd be looking £1,500 on a respray,
Then Bilsten B4 shocks all round, eibach ARB kit, Eibach 35mm springs and ST200 alloys which will be £500, probably more.

Other than that maybe a leather interior and other bits and bobs which I won't count right now.

Would you spend £2,000 on a car thats only worth £1,000?
I was given the car, and really my Mum still owns it although everyone considers it mine.
I know I shouldn't, I know it's totally stupid but I would really like a car I could enjoy. And with insurance prices like they are this is the only way I can see possible.

On the otherhand me and my other half will be looking for a house in 2 years time if all goes to plan, should I just put my savings towards that instead?

Bailes.

 

If thats what you want to do, do it!
I've been there, and don't really regret it.
I spent about 5k on a 106 xsi when i was 19/20, and i adored it!

 

Ive spent nearly a grand on a focus mk1 i paid £400 for. in the space of 2 months, started with just smoked crystal black lights, then it was window tints, then it was lowering, alloys, then headlights, back lights, spoiler, i spent about £400 on servicing it. Looks nice, but still needs tyres, back suspension sorting, new gbox and rack.. lol

 

aye the good old mk1 focus rack dont get a ford one mate they want 400 notes from me get one from the motor factors about 130 i paid and you get the sames years gaurentee.

 

I've had to change the steering rack on mine. Was a bloody nightmare!
£190 for the rack I paid in the end.

 

that's far too much for a respray.

 

i dont know what you would waste that money (or why 1 owner makes it cheaper)

if it were me i'd put me mum on the insurance as a named driver (if that still works) and if needbe buy a st170 as those mods declared will prob take it to std st terratory insurance anyways

by all means tidy the car but money is money

 

My Mum and Dad are named drivers.
My insurance company are fine with mods aslong as they don't add power.

And if I tried to insure an identicle Focus to mine, that I'd bought last year it's an extra £1,100 Gofigure?

 

st bumpers and wheels then, not 2 grand spunked tho

 

when you start questioning the costs of what you want to spend against the value of the car, You know yourself what you should do.

if you really wanted the items, you would get them and the value of the car wouldn't come into the equation.

 

How much would a respray realistically cost? I always thought £1,500 was a fairly decent figure?

And the bodyworks in such a state I'd rathar get it looking half decent first. The N/S back door is totally caved in, The O/S rear arch/door has a nice gouge in it, front bumper is well damaged, all the panels are scratched and have little dents too.

 

The ST170 bumpers are the same as mk1 facelift bumpers anyway the only differences being the fog lights in the front bumper and the colour coded strips, i think it would look wrong a 170 rep because its in a colour that st170s didnt come in, just my personal opinion though.

 

My plan would be peugeots Diablo red, Focus Hella Projector style headlights, ST200 alloys, dropped 35mm, with normal Ghia Foglights, quiet exhaust but with a nice tailpipe, fully colour coded and a slight tint on the back windows. Proper OEM+ sort of thing.

Interior would be dark wood centre console but converted to single DIN, trip computer, ST170 half leathers and some lighting trickery with the door handles and what not.

But the fact I'm thinking twice is enough for me to say it's probably not a good idea

 

I'd suggest dont spend any money on it just keep it clean and running well till you have more ££ available and lower insurance and buy something better, any money spent now is just be money down the drain (you might not think that now but if you look back on it that is what you will think~!).

 

You're wanting to spend £2k on a car that sounds like a total shitheap yet you stuck el cheapo tyres on it this weekend?

Run the cunt in to the ground, bank the cash and invest in a house like you have already thought about.

Gavin.

 

Who have you been insuring with?? have you tried adrianflux on a forum deal?

 

Get your moneys worth from the vehicle and get a property with your hard earned. Wish i did this at 17/18 etc no regrets as such but i could of made better choices . Play the long game and be patient for a nice car you appreciate .

 

Put the cash toward your house get a few more years no claims... I don't know your age so can't comment on that but your insurance should start to come down with time and circumstances... All the very beat in what you decide mate.

 

Insurance is mad, I am 29 with 8 years no claims been driving for 11 years, and my shitbox 98 focus that is worth no more than £700 is going to cost me £100 more than my 800cc motorbike I just insured on a brand new license, the world has gone mad

 

Take the overall advice then and run it into the ground.
In 12 months I should be able to insure a Mondeo ST24 for about £1700.
So maybe wait till then and get something like that to hoon about in for a 12 month before I go back to something economical.

Oh and most forum insurers won't touch me as I'm not 19

And to top it all my central lockings just started playing up