New family/company car needed 8K budget

[Scrutinize]

People say this and I wish it was true, becuase I'd love to buy something like an ST with 'serious miles' on it for nowt. Unfortunately it never seems to happen, they still cost thousands

Reason is most performance cars worth having will hold their value reasonable well as they get older. After the main hit of depreciation over the first 3-5 years, the depreciation slows down.

Unfortunately for these sorts of cars by the time they depreciate to a point where they seem really cheap, they are no longer worth buying and will hit you with either a stack of repair bills or simply give up the ghost.

The average run of the mill car however seems to plod on and on with lower repair costs and ultimately costs little to buy.

The exception is where you find much older vroom vroom cars say 8+ years with low mileage, well looked after and got life in them where the value through age is intrinsically lower but then they are still worth buying.

As for the OP, take a look at volvo S60s, you should find some to fit your criteria. Possibly even a T5.

 

[osc89er]

hi DannyW Just out of interest how much on average are you getting to a gallon with your 2.0 litre mondy? I am changing my car next year and this is one of those that fits the bill. I only do around 7000 to 8000 thousand miles per year. For around the 6k mark max.

thanks.

My Mondeo (2L petrol, same engine I believe) gets me 35mpg if I drive like a grandad. That's about 75% motorway miles with lots of cruise control at speeds between 50 and 70mph, and the rest driven on A/B roads with gentle acceleration, anticipation of red lights etc. Not much fun to be had driving like this though, it's a bit of a snooze fest and people get annoyed that when you see a red light coming you don't accelerate up to it.

I'll get more like 30-32mpg if I cruise at around 80mph on the motorway and drive more normally on A and B roads.

A tank of petrol of petrol would go between 400 and 500 miles depending on how economically I try to drive.

I measured and I think cruise at up to about 60mph will return 40mpg.
At 70 it's closer to 35mpg, and at 80 I think it's about 32mpg. It's hard to say exactly as it's not always easy to find a flat, straight, empty motorway unless I go out purely to find out the fuel economy and I haven't been bothered enough to do that.

 

[Ring Peace]

You mention you are getting a car allowance and that the car must not be more than 3 years old, you really must get more information about your company's car policy before you buy anything. They may insist that the car is no more than 3 years old so getting a 2005 car may only do you 6 months of motoring before it isn't allowed by your company's policy.

 

[DannyW]

hi DannyW Just out of interest how much on average are you getting to a gallon with your 2.0 litre mondy? I am changing my car next year and this is one of those that fits the bill. I only do around 7000 to 8000 thousand miles per year. For around the 6k mark max.

thanks.

i get 35 mpg motorway run taking it steady

and i get 25 mpg on my crappy trip to work, don't be put off because it really is the worse trip ever, its all in traffic for 10 miles and all up hill

another reason why the mondeo is special.. watch this vid..

http://www.jonsen.co.uk/Files/Videos/Car/mondeo.wmv

 

[mondo]

i get 35 mpg motorway run taking it steady

and i get 25 mpg on my crappy trip to work, don't be put off because it really is the worse trip ever, its all in traffic for 10 miles and all up hill

another reason why the mondeo is special.. watch this vid..

http://www.jonsen.co.uk/Files/Videos/Car/mondeo.wmv

I must have missed topgear when that was on. I was surprised how quick the mondo was compaired to the likes of jaguar,mercedes,bmw. I expected the mondy to beat the rest of them and i was right. But to beat them all and by so much i was stunned!! I have not driven one or even been in one but will do so when i get the time.

 

[iMacMart]

You mention you are getting a car allowance and that the car must not be more than 3 years old, you really must get more information about your company's car policy before you buy anything. They may insist that the car is no more than 3 years old so getting a 2005 car may only do you 6 months of motoring before it isn't allowed by your company's policy.

They are relaxed about this I think as I spoke to the fleet manager the other day and he said as long as it's business like and kept clean and tidy they won't jump all over me..

Ive fitted three, 2 in 2 meganes and one in a Audi A4. They are simple to fit as they are universal. There are plenty of guides on the internet. It took me hour and a half to fit them first one then i got faster with the other two. They work very well if you set the mic up in the correct piosition.

Sounds ok, my brother wants one in his A4 too so I may use his as the tester then move onto mine, would you say having the mic by the sun visor driver side is the best place?

 

[SiHH]

Guys

I'll be lucky if I do 10K a year

Why go diesel then ?

 

[MAPeX]

They are relaxed about this I think as I spoke to the fleet manager the other day and he said as long as it's business like and kept clean and tidy they won't jump all over me..



Sounds ok, my brother wants one in his A4 too so I may use his as the tester then move onto mine, would you say having the mic by the sun visor driver side is the best place?

Thats where ive put all the ones ive fitted. Works fine, and can be heard by the other caller fine. Just remember where you took all the screws from and youll be ok

 

[iMacMart]

Why go diesel then ?

Because I want to

Thats where ive put all the ones ive fitted. Works fine, and can be heard by the other caller fine. Just remember where you took all the screws from and youll be ok

Sound advice there

 

[[TW]Fox]

Because I want to

But why? Buying a diesel for £8k means you'll get stuck with something older than the equivilent petrol and with a noisy crappy rattley 4 pot taxi engine in it.

Buy a diesel if:

a) You can afford a really nice one and prefer the way it drives
b) You do big miles.

Neither would apply to you, it seems.

 

[iMacMart]

I'm worried about the road tax cost and insurance too I suppose?

Also a a 3.0 ST2200 would be juicy and do low mpg road town no?

 

[[TW]Fox]

Also a a 3.0 ST2200 would be juicy and do low mpg road town no?

Yup, the mpg would be rubbish. 20-24mpg. But the diesel wont be bettering 30-34 under the same circumstances and if you dont do big miles it doesnt make any difference really, does it?

If the road tax cost difference, even with the newer high tax, is big enough to cause you an issue than arguably you cannot afford to run a car like an ST220 anyway and should not attempt it. A full set of tyres is £500 - even on the ST TDCi.

 

[iMacMart]

Yup, the mpg would be rubbish. 20-24mpg. But the diesel wont be bettering 30-34 under the same circumstances and if you dont do big miles it doesnt make any difference really, does it?

If the road tax cost difference, even with the newer high tax, is big enough to cause you an issue than arguably you cannot afford to run a car like an ST220 anyway and should not attempt it. A full set of tyres is £500 - even on the ST TDCi.

So your recommendation would be?

 

[DannyW]

mondeo 2.0? 145 bhp, 0-60 is 9 secs, 135 mph top end

 

[[TW]Fox]

So your recommendation would be?

An ST220 if you can afford to run it.

 

[iMacMart]

An ST220 if you can afford to run it.

Lol well thats totally thrown me, what ever I get it will cost my money .i.e tyres, servicing, mot etc

I suppose the question is how much.... And yes your right whether my pocket is deep enough........pfffffffff I don't know now

Was going to look at a Titainum 05 60k fsh £7.500ono but I may rethink

 

[iMacMart]

Ive fitted three, 2 in 2 meganes and one in a Audi A4. They are simple to fit as they are universal. There are plenty of guides on the internet. It took me hour and a half to fit them first one then i got faster with the other two. They work very well if you set the mic up in the correct piosition.

Anyone know if I'll have to purchase a separate ISO cable for the Mondeo 6 stack CD player to get the Parrot CK3100 fitted

 

[Fr0dders]

But why? Buying a diesel for £8k means you'll get stuck with something older than the equivilent petrol and with a noisy crappy rattley 4 pot taxi engine in it.

we've already established that this isnt the case. The ST TDCI can be had for about the same money as the ST220, due to it effectively being a cheaper car.

8k buys you the same age / milage ST TDCI as it does ST220. this is largely down to the fact that we're comparing a 320D equivalent with a 330i equivalent, but none the less, in this case diesel does not = older.

A full set of tyres is £500 - even on the ST TDCi.

Thats not fair. Even you beloved eagle F1s asymetrics are only £400 including VAT and delivery. With fitting on top thats only £420 ish ?

And thats assuming you buy into the elitest tyre stuff. Falken FK452s have got very decent reviews from owners on here, last time i read, there were about 4 or 5 of us with them, and nobody had a bad word to say. And they're only £60 a corner, so £240 + fitting a set.

Anyone know if I'll have to purchase a separate ISO cable for the Mondeo 6 stack CD player to get the Parrot CK3100 fitted

just to throw a spanner in the works. If you dont fancy doing it yourself, get Ford to retrofit the bluetooth module. Includes voice control for the stereo as well as the bluetooth features and your local ford dealer can do the whole lot. Think its about £200 fitted.

 

[[TW]Fox]

we've already established that this isnt the case. The ST TDCI can be had for about the same money as the ST220, due to it effectively being a cheaper car.

In what way is an ST TDCi not a noisy rattly 4 pot taxi engine? It offers nowhere near the performance of the ST220. It is not comparable. It should instead be compared to a 2.0 Zetec-S or similar, which it costs thousands of pounds more than.

I'm glad 452's are finding favour amongst people who usually cheap out and buy Kumho's. About time these people had semi decent tyres. I don't see mass migrations from ContiSport Contact 2's and Michelin Pilot Sport 2's to 452's though - why, probably becuase they are simply nowhere near as good and are only being raved about becuase they are cheap and not awful.

 

[Fr0dders]

In what way is an ST TDCi not a noisy rattly 4 pot taxi engine? It offers nowhere near the performance of the ST220. It is not comparable. It should instead be compared to a 2.0 Zetec-S or similar, which it costs thousands of pounds more than.

I'm glad 452's are finding favour amongst people who usually cheap out and buy Kumho's. About time these people had semi decent tyres. I don't see mass migrations from ContiSport Contact 2's and Michelin Pilot Sport 2's to 452's though - why, probably becuase they are simply nowhere near as good and are only being raved about becuase they are cheap and not awful.

1) You're point is ? i never said anything about it not being rattly and said its the equivalent of comparing a 320D with a 330i.

The point still stands, 8k buys you the same age ST TDCI as it does ST220. end of

2) your post was misleading, your fine to hold your views about tyres that you do. But to say that "a set of tyres for the ST costs £500" is just plain wrong whichever way you cut it. The old shape Eagle F1s come in at £360 delivered, so £380 ish delivered and fitted ? hardly £500 ..

and to say flatly "a set of tyres costs £500" is just plain wrong. A set of tyres does not cost £500, the only tyres fox considers to be worthy cost £500 .. except they dont. They cost £400.

Whichever you cut it fox, you're wrong. Just stop being so arrogant and take it on the chin.