£2k budget for commuting - Advice needed.

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Hi all

I'm looking at getting a new (used) car, mainly for commuting from Sheffield to Leeds. My problem is, is that I don't really know what the pitfalls are with various vehicles, which is hopefully where you come in :)

I was thinking about a Mondeo as they get recommended a lot and they seem to be well priced, and as I want something economical I was considering a diesel. However I saw in the 'Got a £3.5k budget'

3k will get a nice mondeo just dont buy a diesel

So I wondered why Mondeo diesels are bad and what other options there are?

Specifically, I had been thinking about an 02 Ford Mondeo 2.0TDCi 115 Ghia, with 70,000 on the clock, but as I know next to nothing about the used car market, I wanted to some advice.

Cheers
Dan
 
Because the potential cost of keeping it going will be more than the savings you'd make in fuel compared to running a petrol version.
 
In other words they are a false economy, you get better MPG but when things go wrong they cost a fortune, and they are more likely to go wrong.
 
Old 306 diesel turbo's are built like tanks and run for ages.
If its only a commuter beast then it doesn't have to be a stunning looking example, and you could probably pick one up for ~£500.

If it goes seriously wrong, then just scrap it, would get ~£100 for it. (currently)

Even if it lasted for 2 years then £200 a year isn't bad depreciation!
 
They can be expensive if they go wrong - its obviously impossible to predict so its a gamble, but a 2k car will have the odds stacked against you.

Look at the Toledo
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll take a look at those.

At what kind of mileage and/or age would people stop considering a diesel?

Do you mean age/mileage of the car? Buy on condition - my old Toledo tdi was on 10k when I sold it and it was fine - still see it around so it's still going, sold it 4 years ago
 
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