Buying high mileage diesels

scheming_gypsy

taxi drivers are still clocking up high miles. They're not just tootling about backwards and forwards to the shops getting clogged up.

poppasmurf_bewdley

If it's a 2 litre Mondy, it should be just nicely run in. I'm speaking as one who's had two estates - my current one a Mk 4 2 litre Ghia Estate Auto, and my previous one was a similar Mk 3.

Scouter

"They're not a particularly nice car to drive"...?

I don't think I've ever heard that said about a Mondeo! Even my 15 year old, 155k mk2 estate is still comfortable and still handles well, although it no doubt falls below the standards of more modern stuff. Still, each to their own.

Richard53

Scouter wrote: »

"They're not a particularly nice car to drive"...?

I don't think I've ever heard that said about a Mondeo! Even my 15 year old, 155k mk2 estate is still comfortable and still handles well, although it no doubt falls below the standards of more modern stuff. Still, each to their own.

Agreed. While it is hardly a sports car, it has plenty of power, handles well and is comfortable. In terms of driving pleasure, it's one of the best I have had. Top spot probably goes to my old 2.8 Capri, but it's way better than 90% of the cars I have driven.

If I want excitement, I have 3 motorbikes to choose from, so for me a car is an appliance like a fridge, and just needs to work properly. The Mundaneo does just that and has earned itself a place in my affections for that reason.

forgotmyname

I drove a Capri once, It was horrible, Terrible driving position.

I had a V8 Rover SD1 at the time, A much better car.

scaredofdebt

My Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 130 Ghia Mk3 was good value, I'd certainly consider another.

I bought it as a CAT D with 90k on the clock, paid £1500 plus another £1500 to get it on the road, mainly cosmetic issues, new front bumper, wings and a door etc.

It was an '04 plate, bought in Oct '09

I eventually scrapped it in May this year with 205k on the clock as the fuel pump went and it "might" have damaged the injectors, so potentially around £2k to fix it, with that mileage it wasn't really economical.

DMF went around 170k and cost £800 to replace with a new clutch at the same time.

I had 2 injectors replaced around 180k for £450, the other two would have needed doing soon. Other than that the car was reliable with no major expenses other than an exhaust, usually needed £100 at each MOT to get it through with minor issues.

I got 54 MPG from it during the entire time I had the car, it would return 60 MPG on a long run if you took it steady and I never had worse than 45 MPG from a tank of fuel even driving it "enthusiastically".

I believe the later models have less issues regards DMF failure but it can still happen.

With hindsight my concern of buying one with that mileage would be injectors and fuel pump, but I suppose fuel pumps can fail on any high miler.

Richard53

forgotmyname wrote: »

I drove a Capri once, It was horrible, Terrible driving position.

I had a V8 Rover SD1 at the time, A much better car.

Maybe, but my Dad's bigger than your Dad.

ETA: the Capri had bucketfuls of power, RWD and a limited-slip diff, which made any journey very entertaining, especially if it involved a wet roundabout. It had half-leather Recaro seats and was superbly comfortable. Perhaps you drove the 1.6L.

poppasmurf_bewdley

Richard53 wrote: »

Maybe, but my Dad's bigger than your Dad.

ETA: the Capri had bucketfuls of power, RWD and a limited-slip diff, which made any journey very entertaining, especially if it involved a wet roundabout. It had half-leather Recaro seats and was superbly comfortable. Perhaps you drove the 1.6L.

In the 1970's, I know Greater Manchester Police had 3 litre Capri's and they had to have concrete blocks in the boot to keep them from flying off the road in the wet.

cynicalgit_2

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

In the 1970's, I know Greater Manchester Police had 3 litre Capri's and they had to have concrete blocks in the boot to keep them from flying off the road in the wet.

Like driving a bar of soap.

ballyblack

They're not just tootling about backwards and forwards to the shops getting clogged up.

And very few cold starts, engine oil mostly always warm and more efficient at lubricating the parts