I love my Focus ST170. Although it has depreciated by 40% of what I paid for it 18months ago - and even then i thought it was a lot of car for the money. Had one issue of rear brake caliper binding which fixed myself. I only had to take to to Ford once for a recall which they completely messed me about with to the point I won't let them have it back to do it.
Bloody government screwing us over on car tax, goes up to £300 asof March 2009. Plus the price of fuel, I only average 30mpg-ish so it costs a fair wack to run.
So im in a dilemma. Keep it, and it costs me more to run than when i first chose it. Or sell it, and then realise the amount it has depreciated - which will probably cost far more than I will ever save in having a far more economical car.
So if you can afford the running costs - something like a Focus ST170, Civic type R or something else hot and petrol (Post 2001 will be affected by the new tax rules) will have depreciated like a rock now. Which is
for a buyer, but
if you made the choice 18 months ago (like me).