Thinking about a 2017 Focus Titanium hatch… is $14k fair?

It’s listed for $14k with 40k miles, no accidents, just a few scratches. It’s fully loaded. What do you all think? Worth it or not?

Is it auto or manual? Honestly, it’s a bit pricey either way. I’d say $12k sounds more realistic. I’d avoid the automatics at that price.

Marlon said:
Is it auto or manual? Honestly, it’s a bit pricey either way. I’d say $12k sounds more realistic. I’d avoid the automatics at that price.

It’s an automatic.

Van said:

Marlon said:
Is it auto or manual? Honestly, it’s a bit pricey either way. I’d say $12k sounds more realistic. I’d avoid the automatics at that price.

It’s an automatic.

If it’s the 1.0, stay away—those timing belts are trouble. If it’s the 2.0 with the DCT, that transmission is infamous for issues.

@Marlon
It’s the 2.0.

Van said:
@Marlon
It’s the 2.0.

I’d pass on it. At that price, you could look into a good used Mazda 3. It’s a better option mechanically, though you might lose out on some of the fancy features.

@Marlon
What do you think about a 2016 Mazda 3 hatch? Found one for under $10k with 100k miles.

Van said:
@Marlon
What do you think about a 2016 Mazda 3 hatch? Found one for under $10k with 100k miles.

My buddy has one with around 90k. He’s had it since 30k, and it’s been solid. Another friend has the newer body style (2017+), and it’s just as reliable—he’s at 130k miles now.

Van said:
@Marlon
What do you think about a 2016 Mazda 3 hatch? Found one for under $10k with 100k miles.

Mazda 3s are great. They share a bit of history with the Focus, but the newer models (2014+) are all Mazda. That’s a good thing because the old Ford engines had more issues.

Marlon said:
Is it auto or manual? Honestly, it’s a bit pricey either way. I’d say $12k sounds more realistic. I’d avoid the automatics at that price.

It’s at a dealership. Not sure they’ll budge on the price.

@Van
Dealerships will negotiate if they want to make the sale. I’ve walked away from enough deals to have them meet my price. Don’t be afraid to try.

If it’s a manual, maybe. But for an automatic, no way. KBB says private party value is about $10k. Maybe $14k out the door, but not $14k plus extra fees.

Clive said:
If it’s a manual, maybe. But for an automatic, no way. KBB says private party value is about $10k. Maybe $14k out the door, but not $14k plus extra fees.

Yeah, I agree it’s overpriced. I’ve been looking at SEL and SE models from 2015 with low miles. They’re going for $8-9k.

@Van
It still comes down to the transmission. Those automatics are junk and fail so often it’s ridiculous.

Avoid the automatics with the 2.0. They’re just not worth the hassle.

Anything over $12k is overpriced. I’d steer clear of dealerships for these cars.

$14k for that car is nuts. That dealer is sketchy. They probably gave the person who traded it in $2-5k and are trying to make a killing. The 2.0 with the DCT is a ticking time bomb for a $3k+ repair. I got a 2021 Mazda 3 hatch for $17k after weeks of searching and negotiating. If you have the time to shop, it’s worth it.

Even with low miles, it’s basically worth scrap value with that DCT. You’ll either face a pricey repair or end up junking it because fixing it costs more than the car’s worth. Run away from this deal.