Good morning, and welcome to another week of crappy old cars! This week, I’m sticking to a $2,500 price cap and featuring one make per day, starting with Ford. We’ve got a pickup truck and a compact wagon to check out.
On Friday, we looked at two cars for the same price from the same year, and I honestly didn’t know which way this one was going to go. I mean, I know my preference, and after three years of this, it’s probably not hard for most of you to guess what that is. What surprised me a little, though, is that a slim majority of you agreed with me, and gave the Neon the win.
So about the lack of power steering on that Camry: I couldn’t find a 1995 brochure online, but I did find one from 1996, and it does list power steering as standard, even on the base model, which means there’s a good chance that you’re all correct and someone removed the power steering system from this one. However, in my defense, when I bought my 2002 Mazda Protege brand new, it had exactly one option on it: the “Preferred Equipment Group,” which included air conditioning, a CD player – and power steering. So it was an option on some cars later than you think.
Now let’s turn our attention to a pair of rusty Fords from the Midwest. We’ve got an F-150 pickup in the love-it-or-hate-it “jellybean” style, and a post-facelift Focus wagon. They’re not pretty, but they’re both good runners. Here they are.
1999 Ford F-150 XLT – $2,099
Engine/drivetrain: 4.6-liter (probably) overhead cam V8, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Odometer reading: 200,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives great
Used F-150s aren’t at all hard to find. They’ve been the number-one selling vehicle in the US since just after the Mesozoic Era, which, combined with the fact that they’re essentially indestructible by conventional means, makes for an abundant supply of used examples. But this one’s spec seemed a bit uncommon to me, and caught my eye. It’s a Super Cab, with a V8, and a five-speed stick.
When a manufacturer changes the body style of a vehicle, the chassis and drivetrain are commonly carried over; it’s rare for a new model to be all-new. But when Ford redesigned the F-series in 1997, everything was new: body, chassis, even the engines. About the only things that carried over from the previous generation were the rear axle and the transmission choices. The V8s offered were Ford’s “modular” design, already in use in full-size sedans and Mustangs. Both 4.6 liter and 5.4 liter sizes were used; I’m guessing this is a 4.6, since they were more common. The seller doesn’t specify, and there’s no VIN listed in the ad, so we can’t know for sure.
In 1999, the F-150 Super Cab gained an extra pair of rear-opening doors, making the extra space in the cab a lot more useful. There’s a bench seat back there with a reasonable amount of legroom, and a split bench in the front, meaning that I suppose you could conceivably fit six people in here. The interior doesn’t look terrible for 200,000 miles, but the plastic dash is pretty beat-up, and the steering wheel rim has had it.
It’s the outside of this truck that’s the problem. It’s ugly, and I don’t just mean because of the styling. The bottom few inches of sheetmetal all the way around are pretty crispy, and there are a few really bad spots. Midwestern road salt is no joke. If the frame is unaffected, it’s probably still fine for a beater, but you’d be wise to poke around with a screwdriver under there to check.
2006 Ford Focus ZXW SE – $1,850
Engine/drivetrain: 2.0-liter dual overhead cam inline 4, four-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Batavia, IL
Odometer reading: 119,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives great
Ford’s Focus compact brought its European and North American offerings into line for the first time. Our first-generation Escort looked like the third-generation European model, but wasn’t the same car at all. But the Focus, with some drivetrain differences, was largely the same on both sides of the Atlantic. This looks very much like the Focus wagon I rented in Germany back in 2000.
Earlier Focuses used the old CVH four-cylinder from the Escort, or a Zetec twin-cam four from Europe, but by 2006, the American model had settled on a 2.0-liter Duratec engine, Ford’s version of a Mazda MZR four. This one drives the front wheels through a four-speed automatic, which sucks some of the fun out of it, but it gets the job done. It’s pretty low mileage, and the seller says it runs and drives well.
It’s a little dirty inside, but not beat-up, and since it’s an SE model, it has power windows and locks and whatnot. The ad is a little light on details, but the seller does say the air conditioning works, so that’s something.
From the looks of the outside, it hasn’t led the easiest life. There’s a dent in the tailgate, and another in the back bumper, and the driver’s door and front fender have a big wrinkle in them. The driver’s side mirror looks like it’s being held on with gaffer’s tape, as well. And then there’s the rust, just starting to peek through on the driver’s side doors and rocker panel. But for the price, I’ve certainly seen a lot worse.
Two grand doesn’t get you much these days, but if you shop around and aren’t too picky, you can still find something that will do. That’s what we’re trying to find this week, one make at a time. So pick your favorite Ford, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow with another brand.
I will never ever have a mid 2000’s Ford again,so I have to go for the rusty shit-bucket.
We’ll take the wrinkly Focus. Perfect street-parked commuter.
Can I choose a nice pair of walking shoes? No vote.
For the taillight afficionados here (I suspect there may be one or two), this is the F-150 with the same taillights as the Australian AU Falcon ute!
The way the body looks on that F-150, the frame is sure to be toast. Holy holy toast. I’ll take the Focus, which probably has some structure left.
Focus. There’s no way that truck isn’t rusted to hell and back underneath. “I can’t resist a small wagon.” I concur.
Focus is a grandma’s car that would take you through another winter, but bonus has AC until then. neither are priced where I would consider either, but I think as long as the brake lines are not rusted the focus might be the better deal here. lower miles, not ecoboost, actual transmission and all that jazz. the pickup is kind of interesting, but the V8 is not powerful enough to really make the 5 speed seem interesting. it is also not 4WD so that makes it not something I would even consider. I put in my time with 2wd long bed trucks a long time ago and never would again. it just s not enough of a cost delta to not get at least basic ass 4WD.
I picked the Focus as more useful, I have a perfectly good and rust free jelly bean F150. The chrome grille surround makes a 4×2 and IIRC only the 4.2 V6 got a manual, the 4.6 and 5.4 were automatic only.
The manual transmission option with the 4.6 L V8 was available in work trucks until 2004. the Lariat lost the manual option in 1999 though. possibly what you are thinking?
could be, I was working from memory and I have a 5.4 engine wit XLT trim
If the frame isn’t swiss cheese, I’d buy the truck tomorrow
That truck is on its way out. Thw powertrain is bulletproof but everything around it is falling apart and I don’t think I want to take any chances testing its capacity. Also, I’m going to cherry pick and say it’s a 97-98 based on the front grille, 3 doors and mechanical odometer. Not that it would’ve made things any different but I really dislike when sellers are inaccurate with important details like the MY.
Bottom line: the Focus looks better, it’s got plenty of sealed cargo room and it might serve you well for a few more years . Ford got the most reliable powertrains in Focus’ history from 2005 to 2011, regardless of transmission choice. I drove a ZX5 with a manual and it was fun, but the auto is reliable, easy to service and kind of adequate for this application.
I went for the Focus, which I have always liked.
My former father-in-law (RIP) had an exact or very similar example of the pickup in a part of Texas where it snows like 3x per decade. Somehow, the left-side fender/bed rusted out to where I could see the tire and pavement looking over the tailgate. He was getting senile and had never noticed. And he chewed tobacco and spat it into a cup he kept in a cupholder I think in a center console. So, not Ford’s fault, but it definitely stank.
There’s a flaw in the linkages of the mechanisms to open the rear-half doors on these, probably plastic, that couldn’t withstand the heat and humidity of SETX. So, they were inop.
And there was something weird going on in the drivetrain. As you came to a stop you could feel a weird little slip at the end. And then pulling away, there was a fairly equivalent amount of slip before it went forward. And that never changed from when I first drove it in 2015 to when I last did in 2022.
And he has passed, and it was handed down to a great handyman who was a friend to all of us. I hear it’s still chugging along.
I’m sticking with the Focus. My son has a 2015 Focus-based Escape, and it has its issues, mostly HVAC related. But its drivetrain has never faltered.
I think the Fix Or Repair Daily meme is undeserved, At least, with the models I’ve been involved with. One way or another, you don’t often get stranded.
2 Fix Or Repair Dailys/Found On Road Deads! Gotta go truck since it’s more useful to me. That ugly dented Focus is just so terrible- no thank you. That jellybean design is the worst one and so awful, but at least it’s stick and has a V8! I’ll drive it til the body crunches in half due to rust- maybe I’ll send some rust bits to DT…wait, he’s supposed to send me some! Guess I need to upgrade to the Rich Corinthian Leather member level
The truck because it seems like a better deal and the 4.6 fairly bulletproof and pluntiful. Plus not so many manual trucks left. I assume the bottom half of the body is spray foam.
Focus…have had 2 of this generation that my kids drove (1 5spd/1auto). Very reliable. 200k easy.
Ford Focus for me even though it has a slushbox. What many don’t realize is just how much interior space the Focus Wagon has… around 35 cu ft of trunk space with the seats up.
That’s more space than a lot of mid-size SUVs. And over 50% more space than my C-max Energi has.
When I had a Focus wagon, people were surprised some of the big things I could easily fit into it.
Plus they have a low TCO… including being dirt cheap to insure.
So the Focus Wagon gets my vote.
I already have a pickup, so I’ll take the Focus wagon. That way, I can cosplay as a third-level painting subcontractor when I visit any construction site.
The pickup. Because a bit of TLC, and with a bit of patience, I could double my cash.
And then find a beat up Focus wagon with 5MT, instead.
Had to vote for the pickup.
If I were looking for a winter beater,then Focus. Since I live somewhere that doesn’t really have winter, neither.
I think I’ll just bike to work for this round..
Not probably the 4.6, absolutely the 4.6. The 5.4 was never paired with a manual transmission in the 10th gen F-150.
My longest car ownership experience was my 2010 Focus. I bought it used thinking it was a stop-gap car I’d keep for 3 or 4 years till I could get something better. I grew to immensely respect it, and became a Certified YouTube Mechanic while I had it. The engine is as good as a Toyota, just replace the valve cover gaskets and right-side engine mounts frequently- and you will. The rust would concern me, as they did rust in the rust-belt (I’m in VA, wasn’t an issue). Otherwise, but some winter tires on it and make it a winter beater.
Own a ’10 myself, had her since new, and completely agree. She’s wonderfully easy to work on (except for stuff that should be easy, like replacing headlight bulbs…jeeze it’s obnoxious) and has been a great educational experience for me.
I got her as an everyday car so I could stop racking up the miles on my Mustang, but I’ve come to love her just as much. The engine was a nice surprise…I didn’t expect it to be so good.
Remove the front grill. Mine was a SES with leather, moonroof, premium sound, everything. Was a pretty sweet ride for what it was. I’d have kept it if I had the space (condo dweller).
The F-150 feels like a bad idea. The Focus is ugly, beat up, and not all that fun. It’s the perfect car to get for my kid’s first ride.