Thinking of buying a Mondeo Estate for ~£2k - what to look for?

Hammyman

forgotmyname wrote: »

Depending on how its driven the clutch maybe due or it might go another 70k+ miles.

And this is the thing. Mine was a former company rep car. At 3 years old it had 90k on it when I bought it. It had spent most of its life hacking up and down motorways and main A roads in 5th or 6th, pretty much like it does now. I probably do fewer gearchanges on my 200 mile trips to my suppliers than someone does in a 2 or 3 mile round trip to Tesco. The end result is the clutch gets used less, you're setting off from standstill less so it lasts longer.

I would definitely ask the owner what kind of journeys it did, especially on a low mileage car.

In regards to the fuel economy...

I paid £5000 for my car. I've done just over 70k in it in 4 years and have had about £400 of repairs in the 4 years and 70k I've owned it excluding tyres, brake pads and discs. Now I have had a petrol Mondy so I know what the difference is in the fuel economy over what I get in my TDCi. Compared to a petrol Mondeo, if I scrapped the car tomorrow and didn't get a bean for it, its been a free car - i.e the savings in fuel in the diesel compared to the petrol have equalled what I paid for the car and the repairs. So if you paid £1800 for it and are returning around 15MPG more than the petrol version, at 20k a year you'll recoup the purchase price in 2 years assuming no major repairs.

payless

As mentioned injectors, DMF/clutch are potential problems, but any car at that price range could have problems.

I had a 2002 plate last year for a short time ( contract that involved travelling ) - purchased from auction- it did its job without too many issues, and sold on without a massive loss.

Estate gives a lot of room- although boot on hatch is massive.

the link is for a LX , perhaps try and look for higher spec if you can

RegWorts

YBNB wrote: »

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201147430723364/sort/locasc/usedcars/body-type/estate/fuel-type/diesel/price-to/3000/seller-type/trade_adverts/price-from/1000/engine-size-cars/2l_to_2-5l/transmission/manual/model/mondeo/make/ford/radius/40/page/1/postcode/cw30ap?logcode=p

Thinking of getting something like that.

Could easily do 20k a year, so I don't think petrol is an option, and I do need the space an estate will give me.

So, as a non-mechanic, what should I be looking for?

All advice gratefully received, as ever.

Thanks,

YBNB

Make sure you change the oil and filter regularly using the correct oil and the engine will last for ages

YBNB

Thanks, everyone. I now feel a bit more confident ahead of this weekend's buying attempt

mattyprice4004

Having driven (and now own the latter) both a Ford Mondeo Estate 115 and a Rover 75 Tourer, I would drive both.

While both maintain the lovely exec feel and nice ride expected, I got a lot more for my money with the Rover and I've now done over 10,000 miles all over Europe with zero faults. 178k on the clock, top spec with all options and a BMW diesel engine. Only cost £1600 too.

Just another option to throw out there, I'm glad I gave the 75 a chance as I despise how they look, but was dragged to go and view one. :rotfl:

Edit: And just to add, ignore all the parts unavailability rubbish. I can still pick up *any* part for mine off the shelf, an alarming amount of them from the BMW dealer up the road...!

Hammyman

YBNB wrote: »

Thanks, everyone. I now feel a bit more confident ahead of this weekend's buying attempt

There are enough out there with full main dealer service history that you can find one with FDSH for not a lot of money and ignore ones without full service history.

Try and get one with a heated windscreen. It'll make life a whole lot more easy in winter and its a thing that once you've had it, you'll miss it when you don't.

forgotmyname

Recently read on another forum, Someone bought a car the garage were finishing off fitting a 2nd
hand engine from another car similar age but different power output.

Should have walked away, They are not in short supply. If in doubt look at the next one or wait a few
hours and they will come along more often than the buses.

He now wonders why it doesnt run properly. Garage sold it as a trade sale.

If in doubt WALK AWAY!!!

harveybobbles

The one the OP posted up is a boggo LX with miserable spec.

For £2300 you could quite easily get a nice Ghia or Ghia X with a few more miles.

Have a nosey over to www.talkford.com

rev_henry

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

Having driven (and now own the latter) both a Ford Mondeo Estate 115 and a Rover 75 Tourer, I would drive both.

While both maintain the lovely exec feel and nice ride expected, I got a lot more for my money with the Rover and I've now done over 10,000 miles all over Europe with zero faults. 178k on the clock, top spec with all options and a BMW diesel engine. Only cost £1600 too.

Just another option to throw out there, I'm glad I gave the 75 a chance as I despise how they look, but was dragged to go and view one. :rotfl:

Edit: And just to add, ignore all the parts unavailability rubbish. I can still pick up *any* part for mine off the shelf, an alarming amount of them from the BMW dealer up the road...!

That's another good suggestion. The Rover parts business was sold off to Xpart when MGR went under, so basically remained alive and well, and still is.