Family/Commute Car - Diesel or Petrol?

Ali660

Hi there,

Wonder if anyone has any opinions to offer on the following:

We are ready to update our car which is a 2001 Mondeo 1.8 Zetec. We also have a little Fiesta runaround which I use for work (4 miles each way).

The new car will double up as commuter car for hubby to work 30 miles away (possibly rotate with Fiesta) and will be the main family car (2 adults, 2 kids and a dog!)

I quite like the new Focus and want to pay up to approx 7K for a 2/3 yr old. DH is more keen on a diesel estate as we visit parents 4 times a year (both sets live 200 miles away).

Today I noticed that diesel 13p more expensive per litre than petrol. What kind of impact would this mean? Does diesel still give better value for money?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts ...
Ali

hewhoisnotintheknow

whats wrong with your mondeo, you will loose massive amounts of cash that you would never recoup if you chop it in for a new car

Conor_3

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

whats wrong with your mondeo, you will loose massive amounts of cash that you would never recoup if you chop it in for a new car

Seconded. Plus I'd not make a choice of car based on the fact you do a particular journey a mere four times a year. That's what car hire firms are for.

BillScarab

Look at how may miles you've covered in the Mondeo over the last couple of years and then look at the fuel economy of the cars you are interested in and work out the cost for petrol or diesel.

Ali660

Hi,

Thanks guys, I hadn't looked at it in that way. I was just thinking from an upgrade point of view but after looking after it so carefully for 4 years it might be a case of "better the devil you know"!

The Mondeo only has 70K on the clock and is well looked after - how much mileage do you think it has left on it? Could it possibly run for several years more?

Thanks,

Ali:beer:

goldspanners

Ali660 wrote: »

The Mondeo only has 70K on the clock and is well looked after - how much mileage do you think it has left on it? Could it possibly run for several years more?

Thanks,

Ali:beer:

definatly,70k on a zetec engine is nothing,plenty of life left in it yet provided its looked after.

fatbelly

Ali660 wrote: »

The Mondeo only has 70K on the clock and is well looked after - how much mileage do you think it has left on it? Could it possibly run for several years more?

Not even half way through it's life!

hewhoisnotintheknow

Ali660 wrote: »

Hi,

Thanks guys, I hadn't looked at it in that way. I was just thinking from an upgrade point of view but after looking after it so carefully for 4 years it might be a case of "better the devil you know"!

The Mondeo only has 70K on the clock and is well looked after - how much mileage do you think it has left on it? Could it possibly run for several years more?

Thanks,

Ali:beer:

you will sell it long before the engine is dead, engines last pretty much for ever now

Andy_Hamilton

I'm one of those who say, better the devil you know.
My neighbours look at the reg and see anything over 5 years old as an inferiour car and always wanting to change every 3 years.
My car is 8 years old and costs around £300 a year on parts. When I was paying the loan for it it cost £2400 per year plus the £300 on parts.
I'm lucky enough to be able to do the maintence myelf but switching your servincg away from main dealers will save your around 50%

If you do more than 20,000 miles per year then a gas conversion can be one of the cheapest fuels and pay back can be less than a year.

My car is just coming up to 220,000 miles and I'm hoping to take it to quater of a million before I get rid.

I'm saving for my next car and hoping to pay out of savings rather than a loan. My next car will be a VW pheaton, £42,000 car worth £10K after 6 years. A much better car than a disposable car.

Any well built car after around 1998 should last atleast 150,000 miles, petrol or diesel.