I wouldn't be bothered by the mileage. At all. On top of that, I like Focus's, especially SVT's. The only downside is going to be trying to sell it when you're ready to move on. It's going to be hard to sell a 300k Focus. It would be fun to read articles about subjecting a high mileage well cared for car to autocross/track days.
As much as I like Focus SVT's, the guy is delusional. He will probably tell you it's actually worth $8k, but he wants to sell it quickly. I don't care how well it has been taken care of, not worth it. It does seem like it was owned by an adult, which is very rare. Most of the Focus SVT owners are of the #yoloswag variety.
Mine had over 200k on it when I drove it that one glorious drive home to be parted out.
The thing is... those cars just aren't THAT good. There's better cars for that money out there, period.... throw the mileage into the mix, and it's not even a contest.
If it checks out mechanically and you can dicker him down on the price a good whack, go for it. Most of my dailys in the last 5+ years have been 250k+ mile cars, and have proven to be perfectly reliable.
Swank Force One wrote:Tom Suddard wrote: Fair enough everyone, your opinion is pretty clear. I haven't bought it yet, but am going to look at it tonight. Here's a challenge: can someone find me a better (red!) one for less money?I'll find you a better Corolla XRS for slightly more money. Will that be acceptable? I refuse to link a red car, though. Red cars are the worst.
Then why do you own like 7 of them?
I last drove an SVT some five years ago - still remember it as a great handling car, pretty good motor to it. I'd love to pick one up, but no space, no time, more importantly, no money, etc...
I don't know what you're thinking about paying for it, but it seems one can find them with about 1/2 the mileage in decent condition for reasonable prices.
I think it would have to be immaculate and priced "below market" to take it on at 250k miles.
250k is a lot of miles.
But what is actually worn out?
My Miata has 205k on it. It's biggest problem is rust. Don't see that on this car.
Second problem I have is some oil consumption in the engine. So check for that.
Third problem- brakes are worn out. That's easy to tell on a test drive.
Fourth problem- engine loses oil. But it runs really well, so if you can honestly figure it leaks or not...
But a real question- what's actually worn out? If nothing REALLY is, then it could be a better 250k car than a beaten 40k car. Regardless of who makes it.
The one thing I've had problems with that engine- (MY FIL's Focus) is the ignition. the coil cracked, and caused a missfire, which has come back (darn Napa parts). Other than that- it's problems are self inflicted.
Does this one look better? 118,000 miles.
http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/4412445694.html
mndsm wrote:Swank Force One wrote:Then why do you own like 7 of them?Tom Suddard wrote: Fair enough everyone, your opinion is pretty clear. I haven't bought it yet, but am going to look at it tonight. Here's a challenge: can someone find me a better (red!) one for less money?I'll find you a better Corolla XRS for slightly more money. Will that be acceptable? I refuse to link a red car, though. Red cars are the worst.
He's a glutton for punishment.
mndsm wrote:Swank Force One wrote:Then why do you own like 7 of them?Tom Suddard wrote: Fair enough everyone, your opinion is pretty clear. I haven't bought it yet, but am going to look at it tonight. Here's a challenge: can someone find me a better (red!) one for less money?I'll find you a better Corolla XRS for slightly more money. Will that be acceptable? I refuse to link a red car, though. Red cars are the worst.
Because sigh they're always the best deal, because nobody else wants them either.
I passed on a E46 with 250k, original owner, meticulous maintenance - on its third center armrest and second steering wheel, for example. I looked at how I was going to sell it when I was ready and wasn't convinced I would get anything at all out of it. Plus I worried about the additonal beating and additional cycles on everything. Even if it is Florida smooth well cared for miles, it's still a lot of miles and a lot of rotations on everything. It was priced a little lower, but at the $4-5k price point, you're only talking about saving $500-1000. I decided that I could find something better - well maintained and less miles - for roughly the same price. And I did. So if it's the unicorn that you must have and you are content to dumping it for $500 when you are ready to move on, then do it. Otherwise patience. If you open your search area you can ususally find what you want.
Tom Suddard wrote: Does this one look better? 118,000 miles. http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/4412445694.html
But... but... red cars are the best....
I don't know what the hell you did to the formatting of your post, but it made me look like i don't know how to computer, but in fact, i do.
Just sayin'.
Red cars suck. Deal with it. 
glueguy wrote: I passed on a E46 with 250k, original owner, meticulous maintenance - on its third center armrest and second steering wheel, for example. I looked at how I was going to sell it when I was ready and wasn't convinced I would get anything at all out of it. Plus I worried about the additonal beating and additional cycles on everything. Even if it is Florida smooth well cared for miles, it's still a lot of miles and a lot of rotations on everything. It was priced a little lower, but at the $4-5k price point, you're only talking about saving $500-1000. I decided that I could find something better - well maintained and less miles - for roughly the same price. And I did. So if it's the unicorn that you must have and you are content to dumping it for $500 when you are ready to move on, then do it. Otherwise patience. If you open your search area you can ususally find what you want.
I'm not going to comment on the selling price of the car, but based on the intended use, I don't get the impression that resale value is really that important. Once one takes a car out to a rallycross course, then I get the idea that the car is now going to be used right up.
Excuse me, I beg to differ:
http://classicmotorsports.net/project-cars/1966-mercedes-benz-230-s/
In reply to Tom Suddard:
Or restored after being beaten on.
Tom Suddard wrote: But... but... red cars are the best....for getting pulled over in.
PMO (Pull-Me-Over) Red is what we refer to it as. It's also why while I had the C4 I never strayed over 5mph over and still managed to get pulled over twice (with no ticket either time) in it.
4500$ is way to much, I'd pay 1500$ MAX if it had great tires and a great service history highway miles or not, every bearing in the transmission has 250k on it, every single rotating piece in the engine has 250k on it, even with excellent maintenance these items still wear down and I highly doubt will take the abuse of track/autox and be reliable enough for a DD. just my .02$ Edit: http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/4424865530.html
I would rather have a 250K mile car with highway driving than a 125K mile car with all City driving.
Tom Suddard wrote: But... but... red cars are the best....
And we all know red cars are worth more money...just ask Barrett Jackson 
tjbell wrote: 4500$ is way to much, I'd pay 1500$ MAX if it had great tires and a great service history highway miles or not, every bearing in the transmission has 250k on it, every single rotating piece in the engine has 250k on it, even with excellent maintenance these items still wear down and I highly doubt will take the abuse of track/autox and be reliable enough for a DD. just my .02$ Edit: http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/4424865530.html
So with 250,000 miles, it's worth 1/4 of what comparable cars with 125,000 miles are worth?
Tom Suddard wrote: So with 250,000 miles, it's worth 1/4 of what comparable cars with 125,000 miles are worth?
No. It's actually worth whatever he can get for it.
It is an SVT, so the only thing about it that is cooler than a regular focus is that sweet motor (the suspension, sure but a regular focus is a set of Eibach coilovers and a swaybar away from kicking it's ass. Any SVT you see at the track already upgraded).
How much of that sweet motor is left for abuse with 250k on the rings, cam lobes, valves, etc?
So... is it worth more than X to YOU is the question. It is worth $0 to me.
Some people like the transmission as well. I think it's awful in n/a form, with ratios that only make sense with a big turbo.
Swank Force One wrote: Some people like the transmission as well. I think it's awful in n/a form, with ratios that only make sense with a big turbo.
A big hair dryer from PowerWorks is actually the best setup for them.....
But seriously Tom, for 3-5k, find a used Ion Redline(I sold mine 3 years ago for $5k) You instantly get more out of the box and while there is a cult following, the ownership isn't smokething the cracketh pipe.
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