How reliable is a 2008 Ford Focus? Need advice on buying one!

I’ve had two Focus cars, a 2006 and a 2009, both manuals. They each had over 200k miles, and I drove them pretty hard. Other than brakes, tires, a power steering line, ignition coils, a valve cover gasket, and an alternator, I had no major issues. I’d definitely buy another one.

@Chan
I might test drive it today. 157k miles for $2,000 seems fair, but I need to see how it feels.

Jalen said:
@Chan
I might test drive it today. 157k miles for $2,000 seems fair, but I need to see how it feels.

Absolutely, a test drive will tell you a lot.

Chan said:

Jalen said:
@Chan
I might test drive it today. 157k miles for $2,000 seems fair, but I need to see how it feels.

Absolutely, a test drive will tell you a lot.

Is maintenance expensive, or is it reasonable? How’s the gas mileage?

@Jalen
Maintenance is pretty affordable. Parts are common, and brakes are small, so they’re cheap. As for gas mileage, it’s super efficient—probably around 35-40 mpg.

My girlfriend’s Focus has 243k miles, and it’s still going strong. It’s a bit loud on the road, but nothing too concerning.

I have a 2008 Focus SE Coupe with around 200k miles. All I’ve done is replace tires and brakes. It’s great on gas—$25 fills the tank for me. Solid car overall.