Reliable Used Car for around £2000

benham3160

sassy-one wrote: »

No, I have seen 2004/5 plate Mondeo's around (Local and Gumtree) for around the £2000 mark, maybe sometimes £2500 but I have seen a few that are £1800-£2000.

Regards the V6, I would highly recommend them.
The V6 model engine on the Mondeo is bullet proof and will stand a lot more mileage than the standard 4 cylinder head engine.

My Mondeo is the 2.5 V6 Automatic - when I bought it I was told that the auto boxes on these will give in the end, however I have never had any problems with mine or had to have any repairs on the engine or gear box.

My car is soon to hit 100.000 miles, with still no work needed on the engine/gearbox or brakes, besides the normal oil and filter change.

With regards the V6 being a hard to work on engine, is really isn't, it looks scary, but to change the spark plugs it is simple with the correct tools, and other jobs on it are around the same as most cars today on the road that have all the works of it compressed under the bonnet.


I had a standard Mondeo 1.8 at the same time as having my current V6 one, the standard 1.8 did 18 MPG, my V6 is doing 21-24 MPG, now in all fairness, maybe there was something wrong with the standard petrol engine, but I feel there isn't much in it.

With the V6 you have the power then when you need it, I find that the automatic box is matched well with the engine and pulls like a train.


You can find out about the V6 here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Mondeo_V6_engine


Now, I have had a quick look OP for you around eBay and Gumtree and found a few nice Mondeo's for sale.

This one here:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2002-52-Ford-Mondeo-2-5-V6-Auto-Ghia-X-5dr-Black-/280543283019?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4151aec74b#ht_2475wt_930


It is on a Buy It Now for £1390 on a 2002 plate.
It is the auto V6 model, so you would have the power when you need and the comfort at all times.
Mileage is 119353 but as I say, this is nothing for the V6.
Has current MOT.

Also, as I was saying, there are 2004 Mondeo's out there for around £2000.

Here is one:

http://cardiff.gumtree.com/cardiff/96/63803496.html

£2150 - but I'm sure the seller would take £2000 for a cash sale!
Has 115000 Miles on it, which isn't too bad to be fair.
And full service history which is a pretty good deal, complete with tax and MOT.
Extra bit, it's fully loaded


I would seriously at least look around, these are just a few I found but I didn't look closely so you will most likely find even better deals!

Now, automatic Fords are always on everybodies "Must avoid" list (notice automatic Mondeo's are worth far less than their manual counterparts) the C4DE in the Mondeos is a joke frankly. It fails with alarming regularity, and I'm sure would probably win an award for the least reliable auto 'box ever made. You've been lucky with yours, many of them were failing well within 50,000 miles.

I know you are happy with yours, but I can assure you with much bitter experience the V6 Mondeos are the ones most likely to misbehave, Fords C4DE autobox WILL break catasphrophically at some point, so probably not a great recomendation.

I still think you are wrong that it'll manage higher mileage than the four-cylinder Zetec engines.... I know which one I'd rather risk as a higher miler, and which one is far cheaper and easier to fix....

Regards,
Andy

fatbelly

Lirin wrote: »

I'll fly the flag for Proton again here- mine all cost under 2k (well under!). They're insurance group 12 for the most part, and the worst problem I've had with mine to date has been a leaking sunroof....
They're cheap to insure as well- I've 3 cars insured for the price some on here are being quoted for one!
Mine had 26,000, 32,000 and 77,000 respectively when I bought them.

Yep, zero image, basically sound.

Some interesting ones on Autotrader

Flying-High_2

sassy-one wrote: »

As I did stated in my other post, I have seen one locally and the odd few on Gumtree.

You might find it hard to find one with 70.000 miles and a 2005/2006 plate Titanium but it's not impossible!

Sorry if I have upset you, I am only saying what I have personally seen locally and on Gumtree

Far from upset I assure you...... More amused:D.

Might I add there is some real comedy gold amongst the threads on here....

LilacPixie

I would look fo r a mondeo. I have had 4 in all, all mk1 or 2's I had a 1.6 k reg, underpowered. a 1.8td M reg, alot more powerful than the 1.6 but was a saloon which i just did not like. a 1.8 zetec N reg, I loved that car and passed it downwards thru family, it is still quite happy doing the commute from dundee to aberdeen daily at 14 years old. And finally a S reg 2.0l ghia again nice and bullet proof, fuel economy better than you would expect with a 2l car.

I currently have a laguna 2001 and have done for the last 5 years, she is a 1.8 dymanique. trip shows we get around 32mpg she is comfortable and has the power to hold her own on a motorway. I have seen loads of people going on about electrical issues with them but we have been all ok with ours.

Only problem i had was OH put the key card in his jeans pocket then flung them in the wash and killed the card. New battery, time to dry out and a friend who worked for a dealership showed us how to repair it with the car and its fine. She was MOT'd last month and passed 1st time. Other than the usual wear and tear type things like bulbs and springs we have been good. Oh and we needed to do the drivers side window regulator.

Find a decent one and you will have a great fun car.

Limey

A bit of a leftfield suggestion, how about the Lexus IS200? I would suggest the Celica as well but it may well not be within your insurance range.

Had a quick look on Autotrader and there seems to be a decent selection for under 2k.

But as with any of these suggestions, test drive, test drive, test drive.:D

benham3160

Limey wrote: »

A bit of a leftfield suggestion, how about the Lexus IS200? I would suggest the Celica as well but it may well not be within your insurance range.

Had a quick look on Autotrader and there seems to be a decent selection for under 2k.

But as with any of these suggestions, test drive, test drive, test drive.:D

I'd definately recomend the IS200, I'd have one in a heartbeat. However they are quite heavy on the go-go joice, as they are six-cylinder and parts will make you cry. I replaced a mirror glass on one a few months ago that turned into a three figure sum for the part!

However, they're as close as you'll get to engineering perfection, they make Mercedes Benz look like Kia with the quality and attention to detail, panel finish and fit etc.

Regards,
Andy

TheParrotNinjas

fatbelly wrote: »

Yep, zero image, basically sound.

Some interesting ones on Autotrader

Any particular models you would be recommending? Had a look and they seem to be well priced, low mileage and good condition.



Regards to the mondeo, think I would look for the mk3 mondeo as they seem to be just as in budget as the mk2 and mk1.

Was originally looking for a diesel, anyone had any experiences with a diesel mondeo?
Read somewhere that they were less reliable than the petrol equivalent.

"Which is fitter, a teenager who walks to the shops once a week, or a 60 year old marathon runner?....."

I like the logic behind this, made me laugh.
Did put me at ease however at looking at cars with mileage over 100,000 and think I would definitely look at cars with higher mileage now rather than just presuming they are going to beat up.

benham3160

TheParrotNinjas wrote: »

Any particular models you would be recommending? Had a look and they seem to be well priced, low mileage and good condition.



Regards to the mondeo, think I would look for the mk3 mondeo as they seem to be just as in budget as the mk2 and mk1.

Was originally looking for a diesel, anyone had any experiences with a diesel mondeo?
Read somewhere that they were less reliable than the petrol equivalent.




I like the logic behind this, made me laugh.
Did put me at ease however at looking at cars with mileage over 100,000 and think I would definitely look at cars with higher mileage now rather than just presuming they are going to beat up.

Don't know which vintage you're looking at but here goes:

The mk1/2 have the old 1.8TD engine, which is a reliable old unit, if very crude and not very quick. It does however get very fussy about its cambelts (note plural) which are a bit of a sod to change. They have two belts, one for the injector pump and one for the cams. Either going leads to big bills. That said keep the oil clean and the belts fresh and they'll go on and on for as long as you let them. Easy to work on generally, very basic engines.

Regards,
Andy

Limey

benham3160 wrote: »

I'd definately recomend the IS200, I'd have one in a heartbeat. However they are quite heavy on the go-go joice, as they are six-cylinder and parts will make you cry. I replaced a mirror glass on one a few months ago that turned into a three figure sum for the part!

That's what scrap dealers, ebay and www.buypartsby.co.uk are for. An IS200 or a Hi-lux will likely be my next set of wheels unless I can save up enough for an IQ.

amdowney

E36 BMW 3 Series. Rock solid! Been driving them for years and they never broke down. Fro £2k you can pick up a good one with FSH. Great to drive and are still cool!