New Car

[Grunt]

Hi all

Well the day has finally arrived. I pick up my new car today:mrgreen: , a new Ford Focus Zetec, but would you believe that they have damaged it some how getting it ready for delivery. The dealer rang me yesterday afternoon to tell me that is will be ready to pick up first thing this morning. Then he went on to say as he was inspecting it he noticed a scratch on one of the doors that he said ih his opinion would need to see a panel beater to be fixed :-x. I then asked how it had happened he thinks they did it whilst detailing the car.

If I did not need the car so urgently I guess I could have said well get it fixed and I will talk to you when it is fixed. At least this way I will see the damage and also know how bad/hard it is to repair. He said that they will provide a replacement vehicle for the time it takes to fix, he thinks it will 1 or 2 days.

[AndyP]

A damaged new car.....hmmmmm. There's something wrong with that.

[Grunt]

It may be slight and the dealer has done me a favour and highlighted it to be. That might be looking on the good side of it though. I will know soon as i am picking it up at 8:30

[Grunt]

Well I picked it up, the scratch is very minor about 1.5"long on the leading edge of the rear passenger side door. Car is great will post some pics tonight.

[markTHEblake]

did yuo get a fleet discount?

[Fishman Dan]

I don't get it. You accepted the car with the scratch down the side?

That's like buying undies with pre-made skiddies!

[Jarro]

doesn't really matter Fishy ... when you have kids, nothing lasts long without getting scratches on it :(

[Fishman Dan]

Hey Jarro - why is your name red? Is that because there's something up your.....

[Grunt]

I don't get it. You accepted the car with the scratch down the side?

That's like buying undies with pre-made skiddies!

I accepted the car because I need it to get to work in the morning and the scratch in all honesty is tiny. About 2 inches. If it would require a new door or full respray I would not have accepted it.
I must congratulate the dealer for highlighting it to me he could have tried to play dumb and see if I see it in my walkaround during the delivery this morning. If I had not found it he would have got away with it.

[Grunt]

did yuo get a fleet discount?

I got a good one too $7000 less than public price

[BrisVegas]

Very nice car Grunt. If I had the funds, a Focus would be a serious contender for me.

Looking forward to your pics!

[Grunt]

Here are some pics.

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3571/focuspics0505vt.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=focuspics0505vt.jpg)

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/65/focuspics0499qu.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=focuspics0499qu.jpg)

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6700/focuspics0541pq.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=focuspics0541pq.jpg)

[Grunt]

Here is the scratch

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/9000/focuspics0564rd.th.jpg (http://img210.imageshack.us/my.php?image=focuspics0564rd.jpg)

It is on the passengers side rear door. It is about 1-2 inches in length.

[BrisVegas]

the poor old purple bus is sulking in the background.. :cry: :smt002

[Fishman Dan]

You're posting in a forum where most blokes, after (hopefully) hundreds of hits, keep their driver unblemished. And you've driven off the block with a car, pre-scratch. Irony? :D

[Courty]

Is your edge-trimmer broken? ;)

[Grunt]

no time for mowing weeds,

[markTHEblake]

I got a good one too $7000 less than public price

Would you mind telling me how you scored that, was it a corporate fleet discount (via novated lease)?

[connico]

but you are going to get it fixed right??? while its minor i wouldnt take the car and demand a temp car off them

[Jarro]

no time for mowing weeds,

:smt018 :smt075

[Grunt]

but you are going to get it fixed right??? while its minor i wouldnt take the car and demand a temp car off them

Yeah I would have done that if they had a car to give me they had nothing. The repair is going to happen, they have admitted the damage and for the repair there is a loan car already in the damage report.

[markTHEblake]

Grunt - yuo have had the car for 2 weeks now, how about posting a review. I test drove one today, might go buy one tomorrow.

Also can you mention whether you have the auto or the manual?

[Grunt]

Well

2 weeks in the Focus is great, it is a manual, fuel economy is an awesome 8.2L/100km. Is quicker than the PT but that was to be expected.
One little thing I have found is the lack of storage space near the driver. The glove box is huge!
Ipod/Aux/Mp3 port in the glovebox is good. Stereo controls on the stalk adjacent to the steering wheel are great too.

Overall very happy with the car so far.

[markTHEblake]

One little thing I have found is the lack of storage space near the driver.

I noticed that - there is nowhere to put your glasses, (being blind i always have two pairs of glasses on me).

That is one reason i might buy the CL instead. Cheaper console but heaps more space for stuff, especially where the 12v DC adaptor is, and also a big deep hole where your armrest is.


Ipod/Aux/Mp3 port in the glovebox is good.

The guide just says its an Ipod port, (why does everything have to be 'ipod') - does that mean its just a 2.5m audio adaptor connection and anything can be plugged into it?

[Grunt]

2.5 audio connection.

[markTHEblake]

I decided to buy the LX sedan today. pick it up next week. I looked at everything in the sub $30k price range and nothing really stacked up as good as the Focus. the main thing I felt was that the fuel ecomomy was the best of its class, and only marginally higher than little buzz bombs and a HUGE boot.

was actually a long path that i took to get to the Focus, went something like this., VZ > Mazda6 > Astra coupe > Peaugot XSE > Citroen C4 > Fiesta > Focus. (and yeah there was a reason for each change of mind :-) )

now i have heaps of money left over from my 30k budget, and its gotta be spent on the car - mmmm lots of bling.....

[BrisVegas]

good choice blakey. I'm very jealous! Enjoy...

[Grunt]

Just wait till you get it run in and see the fuel economy go thru the roof I am getting 7.6L/100km!

[BrisVegas]

you guys are getting me interested in the Focus....

now to decide on an auto LX or a manual Zetec....

[Grunt]

Go the Zetec if you are getting a hatch. or a manual LX for the sedan with some optional extras.

[BrisVegas]

actually, was thinking Zetec manual or LX auto... Both around the same price.

Still not sure about the hatch versus sedan choice... Seems like the Sedan is better value, having 500+ litres of boot space compared to the hatch... VW charges a premium for the booted golf (Jetta), yet oddly Ford & Mazda don't... I think mrsvbv is leaning towards the funky hatch.

[Courty]

Zoom Zoom ;)

[Fishman Dan]

:mrgreen: (http://picasaweb.google.com/dananita/XTrail/photo#5012967036145731378) <- Click me

:mrgreen: (http://picasaweb.google.com/dananita/XTrail/photo#5012967169289717570) < ..and me..

:mrgreen: (http://picasaweb.google.com/dananita/XTrail/photo#5012967298138736466)... and me!

[BrisVegas]

nice pickup dan.

[Fishman Dan]

Everything anyone says about end of year runout specials are true. Get current year plated cars at the end of the year. Nissan are having specials including all on-road costs + $1000 petrol! Sweetens the deal.

Drove the old car to the country, driving the new one home on New Years Day.

[PeteyD]

Yea but next week it is a year old. Bad for resale. Doesn't matter if you wanna keep it for ages though.

[Fishman Dan]

Doesn't matter if you wanna keep it for ages though.

That's the plan..

[PeteyD]

Those X-Trails are nice vehicles.

[Courty]

Nice pickup.

[BrisVegas]

Everything anyone says about end of year runout specials are true. Get current year plated cars at the end of the year. Nissan are having specials including all on-road costs + $1000 petrol! Sweetens the deal.

Yeah, I got drive-away prices today for the Focus at less than RRP. Basically, they'll lop off $4500 to move em out. I'm not too worries about the 06/07 thing, as I will be leasing and have an agreed residual if I chose to keep it. But it basically means I can have the next model up for the same price... :)

[goughy]

I don't mind the xtrail either. Rob liked the look of them too. When the camry gives up the ghost it will be on the trial list for a lease too.

[Fishman Dan]

Came down to XTrail vs Forrester for us, but if you look closely there are a few surprises. Same engine size, but the XTrail is lighter and torque-ier than it's rival.

So it basically came down to a brand new vs used issue. We would have paid $10-12k more for a new Suby, but if we went the Forrester we would have bought 2nd hand, and for the same price you're looking at 40k-50k on the clock already.

No comparison really, and that's without the added features.

[BrisVegas]

I think mrsvbv is leaning towards the funky hatch.

Indeed. Waiting for lease finance approval, but hope to have a Black Focus Zetec in the garage next week.

[Fishman Dan]

We avoided black - it shows up the dirt more than any other colour.

[BrisVegas]

yep, well aware of that. my Passat was charcoal coloured... They look great for about 5 minutes after polishing!

[Grunt]

That is part of the reason I got the Silver/Gunmetal, looks ok both clean and dirty.

[Bruce]

I finally get to pick up my new car today. It has been a tale of anger and frustration as I battled both the HR department and the lease company.

I am looking forward to getting behind the wheel of my Liberty in Urban Grey this afternoon.

[BrisVegas]

I should have mine next week, as the finance was approved today. Just need to sign and return all the lease paperwork and arrange for delivery. Denmac Ford in Darra has the one we're after in the yard, so there shouldn't be any reason for delays etc...

[BrisVegas]

That is part of the reason I got the Silver/Gunmetal, looks ok both clean and dirty.

Grant - is yours the Titanium Grey colour? Like this one....

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2344/titaniumgreylxoy9.th.jpg (http://img411.imageshack.us/my.php?image=titaniumgreylxoy9.jpg)

It was either the black or grey for me...

[Grunt]

Yes that is mine Dion. Very Happy with it so far, goes in for it's 15000km service on Monday. Only prob so far noticed is the clutch pedal spring is a little noisy.

[Grunt]

3 years have almost passed and the Focus is due to be replaced in May. Looking at a few mid size cars this time. I may even stick with Ford for the new one. I put in a quote request today for a Ford Mondeo TDCi.
Ford Mondeo Colorado Red (http://www.ford.com.au/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1137384211010&pagename=FOA/DFYPage/Ford-Default&c=DFYPage)
Not bad at all.

[BrisVegas]

nice choice grunter. My focus's 3 year lease is up this year. I'm looking at Territory/Pajero etc with 7 seats.

[Grunt]

Also the Focus could be up for Sale soon if anyone is looking for a good small hatch. Offers considered under $15500
A little over 75000km in May. All services carried out, new tyres a few months ago.

[Coffs_Hacker]

Offers considered under $15500

hmmmm 10 bucks

[goughy]

We'll be replacing both car and van when we sell our house. Will be looking for another Toyota Commuter Van, but am looking around at cars, sub 20k.

For me so far the camry is winning. Also looking at Rav4, that sort of thing. X-Trail was off the list once I found out it's got those stupid in the middle of the dash dial things.

[WBennett]

Anyone here own an I30?

They get rave reviews, but I'm after an owners perspective...

ps - I am never owning a car with less than a 6 speed ever again. My BF2 XR6 6 speed is sensational

[BrisWesty]

goughy, if you're interested in the Camry, you may want to check the Sonata too. Similar size, more fuel efficient by about a litre/100km, huge boot (and no hinges intruding into the storage area.

[Sydney Hacker]

Also the Focus could be up for Sale soon if anyone is looking for a good small hatch. Offers considered under $15500
A little over 75000km in May. All services carried out, new tyres a few months ago.

Were all these services carried out by Scottt's family ? Surely that will decrease the value.

[BrisVegas]

Also the Focus could be up for Sale soon if anyone is looking for a good small hatch. Offers considered under $15500
A little over 75000km in May. All services carried out, new tyres a few months ago.

what tyres did you get grunt? 205/50R17 is a pretty uncommon size and therefor very expensive. Mine will need replacing before the end of the year, so am looking for options, including 215/45's. pm me if you prefer.

[Grunt]

Could not get the same that were fitted but got Yokohamas, I will look what model they are in the morning. Not sure of price as they are included in the lease. Got almost 70 000kms out of the 1st set.

[BrisVegas]

The OEM Goodyear Eagle NCT's are a pretty long wearing tyre, as you've proved! One of my neighbours sells yokohama tyres, so they're what I'll prob get, assuming his price is good.

[Sydney Hacker]

Could not get the same that were fitted but got Yokohamas, I will look what model they are in the morning. Not sure of price as they are included in the lease. Got almost 70 000kms out of the 1st set.

70,000! what are you driving a hovercraft ???

[Grunt]

Mine were Goodyear eagle's but were not NCT, I think they were Eagle Ventura or something like that.

[Matt 3 Jab]

damn, i might need new tyres soon, and not looking forward to pricing 275/30/19's performance.

[Moe Norman]

70,000! what are you driving a hovercraft ???
I am about to replace the tyres on the brides Mazda Tribute for the first time.

It has 78,000km on the clock and we got it in 2001!

[markTHEblake]

what tyres did you get grunt? 205/50R17 is a pretty uncommon size and therefor very expensive.

i got 225/45R17 on mine. not sure if thats an uncommon size or not

[Grunt]

70,000! what are you driving a hovercraft ???
The majority of my driving is freeway, my trip to work is 60km return with 56 of it on freeway.

[BrisVegas]

i got 225/45R17 on mine. not sure if thats an uncommon size or not

What width rims are your aftermarket ones? The Zetec rims are only 7" and I think 225 is too wide.

Plenty of people run 215/45R17 as that's a more common size (Liberty/Accord/Mazda6 etc). With 215/45's, the speedo reads 1-2% generous as they're a bit smaller rolling diameter.

[Grunt]

Yokohama C Drive 205/50 17's are on the Focus now, Dion.

[BrisVegas]

C.Drive's are the ones i am looking at. cheers grunt.

[markTHEblake]

What width rims are your aftermarket ones? The Zetec rims are only 7" and I think 225 is too wide.

I'd have to get out a ruler - cos i cant recall. Except that the suitable sizes were either 215/50 or 225/45. and the latter was much closer to the factory rolling diameter.

there is only 3mm diference between the 205/50 and the 225/45, but anything in the 215/45-50 is a fair but out of whack - but still legal.

do you know what the factory tyres are? i got a spreadsheet here to work it out. though i guess there are plenty of online ones too

[laydehgolfer]

nice choice! great car!

[BrisVegas]

the factory tyres on mine are 205/50R17 93W Goodyear Eagle NCT. 60,000km on mine so far and they've got a heap of life left in them.

[Grunt]

I bit the bullet and signed the lease quotation today. I have ordered a Tango Mondeo TDCI for delivery in May.
Anyone want a Ford Focus Zetec, if you can beat the trade offer of $13 400 it is yours.

[BrisVegas]

that's a high trade-in price for the Focus. Was the Mondeo price ok?

[Grunt]

With what I got it was, Bluetooth/Voice control for stereo and phone, roof racks + Prestige paint (only white is not prestige).

[jimandr]

I bit the bullet and signed the lease quotation today. I have ordered a Tango Mondeo TDCI for delivery in May.
Anyone want a Ford Focus Zetec, if you can beat the trade offer of $13 400 it is yours.

I'm looking forward to being a passenger on the way to a golf course somewhere!

[Grunt]

Signed off the order for the new Mondeo today, Delivery date at this stage is 16th May.
Only Bummer was the fact that the colour choices were very limited. I had the choice of 3 silvers, a gold and Black. I chose black. All the other colours were out of stock until new model release in September. The Mondeo will be my first ever automatic car! Will also be my first Diesel.

[BrisVegas]

is it the auto or the "Powershift" that the Focus TDCi just came out with??

[Scottt]

Where'd you buy it, Grunt?

[Grunt]

is it the auto or the "Powershift" that the Focus TDCi just came out with??
The Power shift


Where'd you buy it, Grunt?

Don't know SG Fleet will deliver it to my door on the 16th.

[Scottt]

Fair enough.

[Grunt]

Order Finalised, Ford have gone back to Henry Fords work model. Due to availability of the car and the current poor car sale I guess. Ford told me I could have any colour Mondeo so long as it was Black or 2 shades of Silver. The other colours were now special orders and are no longer being imported until the new model launch later in the year as they are too hard to sell.

So after some thought I chose black, delivery date is 7th May. Willl be the 1st Auto car I have ever owned.

Focus is sold, but bent at the moment. I have SG Fleet buying it off me. Some idiot run up my ass last weekend as I was about to go from a green light. The light had just changed and I guess he was in a hurry. It is booked into get fixed this weekend. Mainly superficial damage, new bumper bar req'd.

[BrisVegas]

grunt - how much did SGFleet buy it back for? Was it the same as the residual value?

[markTHEblake]

SG = Southgate?
they are good to deal with, i got my car from them.

[Grunt]

grunt - how much did SGFleet buy it back for? Was it the same as the residual value?
With no rego they gave me $800 over the residual.

[BrisVegas]

that's pretty reasonable grunt. I didn't realise that was an option. Maybe it's on a case by case basis. I've gotta put about $2k worth of tyres and brakes on mine before the end of the lease... things I wouldn't bother with if the car was going back to SGFleet!

[Grunt]

Tyres and Service Costs are in my Lease, the Focus is going for it's 75K service next Friday. Had new Tyres fitted in Dec.

[BrisVegas]

yeah mine too. all running costs are worked out and it goes into a bucket. any money left over at the end of the lease comes back to me (which will be several thousand bucks).

[Grunt]

I am getting just over 1K in unused fuel.

[markTHEblake]

With no rego they gave me $800 over the residual.

thats pretty impressive seeings that car has gone through several world wars.

Am curious what was your lease terms, 3 years and what % residual?

[Grunt]

3 Years and 45% residual.

[Grunt]

Car delivery confirmed.
Next Friday morning. Drop the Focus in for 75K service. Pick up Mondeo. Pick Up Focus Later that day and sell it on Saturday.

[Tomo]

Bought an i30 SR today.
$25200 drive away with first 15000k's service included.

[Tongueboy]

Bought an i30 SR today.
$25200 drive away with first 15000k's service included.

diesel?

[Tomo]

No the SR only comes in petrol.

The SR is the model with 17" wheels, spotlights, body kit, 6 CD staker, leather inserts in seats.

[Tongueboy]

fair enough. looking at the diesel. just love the easy driving the turbo diesel gives you. nice and torquey. not a bad looking vehicle either.

[Tomo]

The car looks great but I calculated the extra cost outlayed took 5 to 6 years to recoup versus the lighter fuel consupmtion.

Agreed the diesel is torquey but I doubt I will be towing anything with this as I have a Landcruiser and a Ranger.

The SR is a great looking bit of gear so I cant wait.

5 year unlimited kiometre warranty and 15000k 12 month warranty intervals.

[Grunt]

2 Sleeps until delivery of the Mondeo, pickup on Friday. I went and put the personalised plates on hold yesterday.
Deal done for the Focus, I drop it off at service, drive out in the Mondeo, the other guy picks up the Focus from Service. Pretty easy!

[Grunt]

Mondeo Delivered, very nice and very impressed with it.

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/2016/p5010008.jpg

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3600/p5010009.jpg

[sms316]

When are you breaking it in?

[BrisVegas]

How's the Mondeo going grunt? I see Ford is finally bringing in the wagon version, plus the Titanium spec level to fill out the range a bit. There's talk of the Mondeo wagon replacing the Falcon as the fleet vehicle de jour...

I put tyres on my Focus today. Bridgestone RE001 Potenza Adrenalin @ $260 a corner. I got 70,000km out of the original Goodyears, but they were getting noisy and bumpy. Still looked like plenty of tread though. Driving home on the new tyres made me realise just how bad the old ones had gotten! The brakes were checked while on the hoist and they've got plenty of life left in them, which is pretty surprising. We plan to buy it out at the end of the lease in January. It's a good little car. Might look at something a bit bigger if/when the other car carks it.....

[Grunt]

Mondeo going great, Not as nippy as the focus but once it gets going it is great. 750+ KM out of a tank of Diesel ($65) in the City is pretty good too.