Modeo 1.8SCI Ghia X What to Look for ?

msmalls74

msmalls74

msmalls74

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Im going to look at a 53 plate (2004) Mondeo 18sci Ghia X with 33K miles on it tonight, its the 6 gear version with i assume the newer engine. Is there anything i need to look at/ check for this model? Also is it Chain driven? Im pretty sure the older 2.0 duratec engines are but not so sure about these. Ive read in here that these engines are not as good/reliable as the 2.0 ones but ideally i dont want a 2.0L for tax/petrol etc reasons, are they much worse or just a bit of OTT forum posters? Any help would be useful even if its "OMG dont get one" if you give me a reason. The options ive found for my new motor is either this, an 05 Primera SX with sat nav and 46K or the C4 i saw yesterday, a 1.6 VTR coupe with 67K all around the same price just need to choose now lol.
 
Get a 2.0 instead - the 2.0 is chain driven. The sci is an early direct injection petrol engine and in my opinion not worth the risk at this end of the market.
 
In terms of fuel useage/tax there isn't all that much difference between them, about 3mpg and £35 a year in tax. It's got a chain btw
 
If it's the same 1.8 they put in the new ones? it's horrible, the only way they can make it bearable is by puting a 6 speed box in it, then your always in the wrong gear, tiring to drive
 
Well had a look took it for a drive (well more like a swim in this weather) and decided to purchase it. Car hunt over now, it was immaculate TBH only 33K on the clock full leather etc all for £3299 thought it was a pretty good price. Ill pick it up on Saturday, only one problem is that the info display was in KM and litres not MPG they are going to sort it though.
 
Ah well, good luck. Certainly not a decision I'd have made. Direct Injection can be troublesome on petrol engines even now, let alone on early examples fitted to 6-7 year old cars. It's just added complexity you've no need to take on at this end of the market given the 2.0 Duratec is a conventional injection petrol engine that costs about the same to buy.
 
iaind said:
Yep, just press the reset button :)
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Thanks for all your help guys :)

One other question the Cars tax runs out 1/09/2010 but has no tax disk in the window, if i purchased the tax for it this weekend would it need to be from the start of August or September? Checked on the DVLA site and it still says its taxed and the licence is due to expire. I assume they have sent the tax disk off early this week and it has not yet been processed, but i dont want to waste a full month if i dont need to.
 
Obviously the start of September if the DVLA say it's still taxed. Also, the previous owner wouldn't have 'sent the tax disc off' :p. If it's not on the car they must have removed it for some other reason.

They won't let you buy tax for the next period if the previous owner has already done so. Why not contact the seller and ask them if they already sent off for the new tax?
 
Robbie G said:
Obviously the start of September if the DVLA say it's still taxed. Also, the previous owner wouldn't have 'sent the tax disc off' :p. If it's not on the car they must have removed it for some other reason.
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The previous owner may have sent the tax disc off in order to claim a tax rebate, perhaps without realising you can only have a rebate for remaining full months.

He can tax it from September but he cant park it on the road or use it until September as the offence is failing to DISPLAY a valid tax disc.

They won't let you buy tax for the next period if the previous owner has already done so.
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Yes they will - you can tax an already taxed car at the post office. Bizarre that they allow this, but they do.
 
'The previous owner may have sent the tax disc off in order to claim a tax rebate, perhaps without realising you can only have a rebate for remaining full months.'

Ah yes I ignored that possibility.

Do they allow dupe taxation online also? As I'm sure I tried once and it told me to f off.
 
I expect the garage has the tax disk, perhaps i can ask them to let me have it as its not worth anything to them. They only got the car in tuesday so i doubt anything would have been done with it. Seems daft to waste money paying tax on a car that all ready is taxed just because the disk you have starts from the 1st Sept. I may see how much a duplicate disk is for the next couple of days so i can have the full 6 months. I guess its an offence to display a tax disc before it starts even if its still taxed for the previous month.
 
Picked it up today, so far so good, found out that they changed the aircon compressor as part of the check seemed fine when i tried it, didnt have to pay for it to be done so no complaints. Managed a pretty good 42 mpg average from central london to LGC it was 10 mpg more than i managed in my V5. Might of been better if i wasnt using the seats on cooling mode (guess its part of the aircon?). I found it has a 6 disk changer in the boot, but some numpty has taken the cartridge out so it aint much use :rolleyes: they didnt mention it had one so i cant complain to them. Just wondering if i can connect one of them USB/Sd card devices that connect on to the CD player on the radio and use that instead.
 
Jesus, ac compressor won't have been cheap!

Yes the seats use the ac, just direct the airflow to your bum cheeks.

You'll be able to get a changer cartridge for a few quid, or look at an xcarlink. The ghias had Sony stereos in the facelift which either had in dash changers or mp3 compatible head units (eg mp3 files on a disk) - guessing yours is the latter
 
iaind said:
Jesus, ac compressor won't have been cheap!

Yes the seats use the ac, just direct the airflow to your bum cheeks.

You'll be able to get a changer cartridge for a few quid, or look at an xcarlink. The ghias had Sony stereos in the facelift which either had in dash changers or mp3 compatible head units (eg mp3 files on a disk) - guessing yours is the latter
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Nah its a 2004 53 reg but its still the 6000CD unit so im guessing its not MP3 version or the one with the built in dash changer (as its in the boot lol). Had a look at a few sites and i can get a USB/BT/MP3 player with all the fasicas, iso leads and removal tools for £90.
I did think about using one of the connect2 usb things and use a USB HDD, but fit it where the CD multichanger is sitting now in the boot. I could make a connection where the old CD changer is so it will all live in the boot to keep the dash clear and i still can use the steering controls i think.
 
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