Advice Please, Experts!!

529 Views 11 Replies 5 Participants Last post by gammo, Nov 16, 2009

gammo

Discussion Starter · Nov 11, 2009

Hello there - I'm a long time lurker on this forum and have now got myself in a position to actually buy an ST. So far so good. I found a nice silver ST-2 at a South Wales smallish dealer with 2 previous owners according to the V5 doc and put a deposit on the car and scheduled an AA inspection for tomorrow. As luck would have it the first owner lived very near me - so I got in touch. Turns out they had problems a) with the gearbox not being able to get reverse (and mentioned a friend of theirs had same problem on an '08 plate) and b) with the clutch - the owner was quite vague on this and mentioned something about 'thrush bearings' failing and contaiminating the rest of the clutch.

Are these common problems or design fault issues that may be recurrent? The second owner only had the car for 2 months according to the V5! Dealer sold and then bought back the car to this guy and said the buyer lost his job - but that doesn't really add up does it in the light of what I now know? Is this one to stay well clear of? The inspection tomorrow covers basic mechanical checks but I thought I'd run it past forumites with specialist knowledge............many thanks for any quick help...........

Cheers.

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choccymonster

· #2 · Nov 11, 2009

Have you driven it yet?

That would be the starting point I would have thought.

Based on what you know about the car's past, your test drive, and the AA inspection, you should be able to ask the dealer some fairly pointed questions - to which the answers need to be phenomenally good.

I believe a handful of people have had gearboxes/clutches "go" - but not to such an extent that I would call it a known "problem".

That said, I would respectfully defer to the more mechanically minded on the forum to give you a better idea of this.....

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DeanST

· #3 · Nov 11, 2009

think you mean 'thrust' bearing, this presses on the clutch housing when you push the clutch pedal down. Not seen the ST one but never had probs with them on my other Fords (they get changed when the clutch is swapped)

Not heard of any common problems (on here) more than anything else with the

QUOTEThe second owner only had the car for 2 months according to the V5! Dealer sold and then bought back the car to this guy and said the buyer lost his job -

mine was part-ex'ed for the same reason he had it for a while though, I was worried but buying a car generally is worrying.

If its a dealer garage (where?) you have some guarantees I think but you also have the 3 year ford warranty. Have they any receipts for work done? If its been sorted out I wouldnt worry. What mileage?

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gammo

Discussion Starter · #4 · Nov 11, 2009 (Edited by Moderator)

QUOTE(choccymonster @ 11 Nov 2009, 07:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Have you driven it yet?

That would be the starting point I would have thought.

Based on what you know about the car's past, your test drive, and the AA inspection, you should be able to ask the dealer some fairly pointed questions - to which the answers need to be phenomenally good.

I believe a handful of people have had gearboxes/clutches "go" - but not to such an extent that I would call it a known "problem".

That said, I would respectfully defer to the more mechanically minded on the forum to give you a better idea of this.....

No. I saw the car on Sunday (one of several that day). It was on a forecourt behind lots of other cars. The inspector will drive it tomorrow as part of the inspection. I told the dealer I would pay the balance (£500 deposit paid via credit card) when I go down there to collect it subject to test driving it myself.

Mileage is just under 30,000. Third party garage - not a Ford dealer. Yes, "thrust bearings" is correct.

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DeanST

· #5 · Nov 11, 2009

QUOTE(gammo @ 11 Nov 2009, 08:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>No. I saw the car on Sunday (one of several that day). It was on a forecourt behind lots of other cars. The inspector will drive it tomorrow as part of the inspection. I told the dealer I would pay the balance (£500 deposit paid via credit card) when I go down there to collect it subject to test driving it myself.

Mileage is just under 30,000. Third party garage - not a Ford dealer. Yes, "thrust bearings" is correct.

As long as that clutch was sorted and you are happy with the condition of the car then its sounds ok mate. For what its worth thrust bearing whine like hell in my experience when they are broken and the RAC bloke should pick this up.

Maybe talk to the RAC bloke after 2nd test drive and inspection if need be. Ask dealer and RAC lots of questions if you are concerned (write a list before you go if you feel a bit under pressure when talking to dealers

)

Obvious but as usual also check Full service history and HPI

30k quite low mileage (mine is 21k 07 Panther black and cost 2k more)

If you get it, "Enjoy" ST is a great car!

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gammo

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 12, 2009 (Edited by Moderator)

Inspection results:

1. AA guy could not find 'owt wrong with clutch/gearbox and took it for a 10 mile test drive and up to 70mph. No vehicle ramp was made available though.
2. Slight problem over 60mph with resonance (tracking) and front pads were low - dealer sorted this.
3. Slightly damp area directly under steering and turbo housing, onto engine bay cross member.
4. Another thing I noticed was that the ST was last serviced 9 months ago but only 3500 miles done since then.

It ain't a perfect buy (what used car is?) but given that its £10.5K 06 30K miles, I'm very tempted....

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morty1970

· #7 · Nov 13, 2009

High mate,

Id be a bit worried because the garage bought the car back from one of the customers he sold it to after two months...the salesman told you he lost his job, more like he gave the car back because of the problems.

Too many questions TBH, there are loads of great used STs out there, take your time and find another and dont be drawn into the must have it now syndrome.

Nick

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gammo

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 13, 2009 (Edited by Moderator)

QUOTE(morty1970 @ 13 Nov 2009, 09:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>High mate,

Id be a bit worried because the garage bought the car back from one of the customers he sold it to after two months...the salesman told you he lost his job, more like he gave the car back because of the problems.

Too many questions TBH, there are loads of great used STs out there, take your time and find another and dont be drawn into the must have it now syndrome.

Nick

Yeah I've obviously thought that too. The way I look at it is if I didn't know the car's history and saw the inspection results, I'd probably buy it. But if I'd not spent money on an inspection and parted with a £500 deposit AND known the car's history, I'd probably move on to the next one. Not sure how I stand legally. I'd guess I'd be entitled to a full refund.

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Feelie

· #9 · Nov 13, 2009

QUOTE(gammo @ 13 Nov 2009, 10:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Yeah I've obviously thought that too. The way I look at it is if I didn't know the car's history and saw the inspection results, I'd probably buy it. But if I'd not spent money on an inspection and parted with a £500 deposit AND known the car's history, I'd probably move on to the next one. A small factor (although it shouldn't be) is how ar$ey they might get about giving me all the deposit back...

I'm not mechanically minded but i would be very careful with this one. I would check the warranty very carefully and see if it covers this sort of thing if it causes you a problem in the future. I would also be thinking about how much it would cost to get this repaired. The price looks very tempting but there of plenty of other ST's out there. Whichever ST you go for you will not regret it! I bought mine in January and still smile every time i start her up! Enjoy!

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gammo

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 13, 2009

Feelie, yes I hear ya....and I've known my next car was going to be an ST for a while (I joined this forum two and half years ago!) and really wouldn't want 'unreasonable' or unlucky amounts of mechanical trouble spoiling the experience...

I've been here before many times e.g. bought a Fiat Coupe 20v turbo in 2001 and inspection was not good and it generated blue smoke which is indicative of turbo issues but it turned out to be something easily sorted and apart from costly brake pad/discs having to be replaced about 18 months later, it was a fine car. TBH as an aside even main dealers have no idea about crash damage if the car is repaired well - they seldom in my experience check a car out to this degree. Its a right 'effin lottery.

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morty1970

· #11 · Nov 14, 2009

AFAIK they have to give you your deposit back,is there anything in writing that states its non refundable?

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gammo

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 16, 2009

No, and they ARE refusing to give me the deposit back. The only thing I have said is ok (via email) is that I am happy with the invoice that says car purchase subject to AA inspection.

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