£1500 - £2000

jase1

Ford parts are no more than 10% cheaper than the Japanese cars I've owned (I own one).

However, the Focus does seem to be reliable, albeit very, very plasticky and nothing like as tight to drive as they're made out to be.

And yes, ANY modern car will run to 200K AT LEAST if it is looked after. French or Japanese, diesel or petrol, small or large. They fail because they tend to be neglected at the exact point they need a few parts, and depreciation takes care of them.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

the rover 420sd comment i would say no to this, BUT the rover 45 deisel i would say yes to and is in budget you can get very high spec rover diesels for penny's ,leather etc etc etc etc etc.

focus, i would personally hunt out a 1.6 with your budget 1.8 are insurance monsters.

with the like of honda civics that budget wont get you much for your buck.

Jonnyah_2

I appreciate the comments.
Personally I wouldn't mind an older Diesel Rover, but the fiance is a bit more vain than I am and has turned her nose up that suggestion.
I'll take a look at the Mondeos.

Thank you everyone.

fivetide

Tell her it's a BMW motor under the skin! That might help hah.

5t.

casseus

you can get alot of car with the rover spec wise if OH doesnt want the badge look fot the more sportier Version in the MG ZS TD again BMW diesel engine with MG badge!! ive seen a few 02-03 plates in £1550 £1895 bracket (because diesel rover MG's are more sought after).

Jonnyah_2

Excuse my ignorance again, but why would some of you recommend a Rover 45 or MG ZS diesel, but advise my to stay clear of a Focus diesel at the same price range? I know little about engines, but is the build quality better on the Rovers and MGs as they are BMW made?
Appreciate the help again

avantra

Jonnyah wrote: »

Excuse my ignorance again, but why would some of you recommend a Rover 45 or MG ZS diesel, but advise my to stay clear of a Focus diesel at the same price range? I know little about engines, but is the build quality better on the Rovers and MGs as they are BMW made?
Appreciate the help again

They recommend it because the L type Diesel engine in the Rovers is bulletproof, However and this is a big one, there are many many niggles with Rovers (I am qualify to say as my last car was a Rover 45 TD 113 2002).

Anything from bits of trim falling off to dodgy BMW hydraulics and fuel pumps electronics that tend to go bang at higher mileage. Oh ye and water ingress is another typical.

All, I must say is solvable with help from MG Rover Forums and parts are reasonable, it's the sheer amount of hassle that gets my goat. It is a truly shoestring motoring with a Rover Diesel but you will need time which not everyone have.

A Mitsu or a Toyota will be as as nice without half the issues.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

ive owned rovers in the past quite a few, no problems with trim and dodgy hydrolics. i think people take a dim towards a rover MG is because 1 they no longer produce them and 2 the HG rep in the petrol version, overseen by many a diesel rover or mg can be a work horse when you need it to be.

people snob the badge but under that exterior is BMW with the diesels even the petrol has BMW wiring in it. i would by one tomorrow if i had the cash and use it daily without any thoughts.

not advising against the focus but for the money MG or rover or mondeo would give you more spec and more car.

s_b

its 7 years since rover went bust
even in production they were the worst of british
terrible things to work on,quality of components and fit worse than a lego house
why would anybody spend their money on a has bin
jeez i fancy a brabham hb viva but i dont want one

Jonnyah_2

Just wanted to add an update to this post.
After much deliberation, searching and looking, today I purchased a Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec 03 with 73k on the clock which came with a large pack of VOSA MOTs and service slips, total cost was £1790.
The 1.8 insurance quote oddly came out at £10 cheaper than the 1.6 for fully comp, not sure why.
Anyway, thank you everyone for your ideas and suggestions