Around 2K?

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Have been looking at a few cars around the above price, the Vauxhall Signum seems to be my choice they seem very good value for what you get. Are they any good?? Looking at the 1.9 CDTI 150 or the 2.2 Direct Petrol.

Also had a look at some Modeo's and a few VW Passat's, the 1.8t and the TDCI 130 for the modeo.

Any others to look out for?
 
What sort of mileage will you be doing? What sort of requirements does the car have to fulfil e.g. 4 usable seats, automatic etc?

Currently do around 70 miles per week, not too much. Like the idea of decent MPG though so I guess thats why I am looking at oil burners. Only me and my GF so it does not have to be a family sized car, and has to be manual. :)
 
You don't want a sub 2 grand diesel if you can help it and the fact you do only 3500 miles a year means you really don't need one. Buy a petrol instead.
 
[TW]Fox;23551710 said:
You don't want a sub 2 grand diesel if you can help it and the fact you do only 3500 miles a year means you really don't need one. Buy a petrol instead.

How come? Would you say the 2.2 Direct in the Signum would be a good choice then? Seems to be a lower insurance group than the CDTI too. Guess I don't need an diesel.
 
What fox said. You'll be saving a few quid a week, there's just no point. Short journeys also don't do modern diesels a lot of good - so the pittance of savings could be wiped out by an EGR valve or DPF.

The signum was really unpopular and still is, which is why you get a lot for your money. They're not great cars but could be a bargain.

I'd have a Mondeo 2.5 v6 - smooth, quiet, comfortable, reliable, well equipped and great to drive
 
Its just a bit pointless with your mileage - its more likely something will break and that it'll cost more to sort when it does. All for pretty much pennies of a running cost difference over your mileage.

I'm going to confess to quite liking the signum (though I'd never buy one), if you can get over the horrid steering and very cheap looking dash they're quite a nice place to be
 
What fox said. You'll be saving a few quid a week, there's just no point. Short journeys also don't do modern diesels a lot of good - so the pittance of savings could be wiped out by an EGR valve or DPF.

The signum was really unpopular and still is, which is why you get a lot for your money. They're not great cars but could be a bargain.

I'd have a Mondeo 2.5 v6 - smooth, quiet, comfortable, reliable, well equipped and great to drive

Had a cougar 2.5v6 guess its the same engine in the Mondeo? Awful!! Really bad MPG turned out to blow the HG. Loads of ICV problems. Not fancy another one tbf. Plus the insurance and Tax cost a bomb. No thanks!

Yeah you can get some very good buys, the mondeo seems to be boring IMO compared to the Signum. The mondeo's I have been looking at are the Gear X with full leather. Hate cloth seats :)
 
I don't think it's the same engine although someone may correct me

I understand thinking a Mondeo is boring, but compared to a signum? The Mondeo is a mor interesting drive certainly. If you can overlook the cloth seats, the Zetec-s is a great looking car
 
I know its only £4 a week but thats £208 the price of tax for 1 year. Not to be sniffed at with the current times of running a car in this country.

An EGR valve will cost you more than that. You also have to deal with more noise and vibration.
 
It is the same engine, yes.

Mondeo boring compared to a Signum? Eh? Neither are excitingly styled but drive both and the Mondeo is at least vaguely interesting to drive.

Why do you care about mpg? With your mileage even on a car doing about 25mpg you will use a tank a month!
 
There's also the fact that a diesel won't be getting it's best MPG doing short runs and small amount of miles, it does them no good at all, so saving £4 a week is if you're lucky! There's also increased service and repair costs to consider. IMO a diesel for that amount of miles is silly really. I do 4x as many miles a week and a Diesel would barely save me any money.
 
I don't think it's the same engine although someone may correct me

I understand thinking a Mondeo is boring, but compared to a signum? The Mondeo is a mor interesting drive certainly. If you can overlook the cloth seats, the Zetec-s is a great looking car

I think it is? Or am I thinking of the older ST24? Anyway it cost me a fortune to run, the tax was £147 for 6 months and I always got 25-30MPG I know with the milage I do a big engine is a good choice but for me its not. I want a car which will return decent MPG. And the insurance on a bigger engine I cannot afford :( Would really love one as the sound was very nice but anyway times are hard. I have a well paid job but the cost of living and a house to pay for I have to be good with the ££!!

I guess there is a lot that can go wrong. Do the Mondeo and Signum suffer from bad DMF failure?
 
You do low mileage. You don't need mpg because fuel is not your biggest motoring expense risk. What you want for low cost motoring is reliability not mpg because things going wrong is what will hit your pocket not the once a month fillip.

Therefore stay away from sub 2k diesels. 2 litre Mondeo is fine.
 
[TW]Fox;23551830 said:
It is the same engine, yes.

Mondeo boring compared to a Signum? Eh? Neither are excitingly styled but drive both and the Mondeo is at least vaguely interesting to drive.

Why do you care about mpg? With your mileage even on a car doing about 25mpg you will use a tank a month!

Well yes, it is subjective. In my eyes a Mondeo does indeed look boring compared to one. You may think other wise. its a personal choice :)
 
DMF failure on the Mondeo diesels is relatively common, not the petrols. It's an 600-800 quid job, so 2-3 years of fuel savings for you!

I'd get a Mondeo 2.0 petrol then - a friend recently bought an 04 Zetec with 40k miles on it for 1900 quid - he averages high 30s mpg
 
[TW]Fox;23551866 said:
You do low mileage. You don't need mpg because fuel is not your biggest motoring expense risk. What you want for low cost motoring is reliability not mpg because things going wrong is what will hit your pocket not the once a month fillip.

Therefore stay away from sub 2k diesels. 2 litre Mondeo is fine.

True true!! I don't know. Have my heart set on a Mondeo till I looked at the Signum! I need to decide quick!! Currently using a 1.3 Y reg Ford Ka! Hatefull little thing but it gets me to work!
 
Go and drive both of them. The biggest difference is driving dynamics - the signum is pretty poor and the Mondeo is especially good. But the signum will probably give you something newer and higher specced for the money - so entirely depends what's important to you.

Just don't buy a diesel, it will cost you more in the long run!
 
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