Help needed (Mondeo related)

nicholas_yiu

nicholas_yiu

nicholas_yiu

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Joined
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Sunderland
Hi,

I have pretty much decided on buying a Mondeo as my next car and it needs to be done in the next couple of weeks before I start my new job.

The car will be used for weekend motorway trips mainly and the odd trips to work when the weather is bad. I'm 23 with no NCB (last when I had a car under my name was 4 years ago) and live in a good-ish post code. I don't want to pay more than £600 for insurance. I will only keep it for 2 years as I get a lease car from my company after 2 years.

I have a budget of 1.5k and can stretch to 2k if it's worth it.

There are a few things that I want to know before deciding which one to go and look at:

1. Considering insurace, is 1.8 engine the best choice? Performance isn't really an issue for me.
2. Is it worth it to get a Mk3 over a Mk2 with my budget?
3. Is it worth it to stretch to 2k?
4. What to look out for when testing the car? What to look for in the service history?

Thanks in advance.
 
deffo get a mk3

the 1.8 is crap, i drove my mates the other day, it felt exactly the same as my 1.6 focus.

i wouldn't be too fussy about FSH if its less then 2k

i payed £1400 for my mk3 2.0 with 130k on the clock, lots of S/h but not full

don't get an LX they have un-comfy seats, get a zetec or ghia
 
Insurance will be £100 more on the 2.0 but what is the difference in fuel consumption?

At the moment, I'm thinking the 2.0 will increase running cost both in terms of fuel and insurance, but if the the consumption does not make that much difference, seems like a good idea.
 
all depends how you wanna drive it you might actually be better with the 1.8 probs does a couple more mpg's but like i said it does feel gutless compared to the 2.0
 
Um... Probably still going to stick with the 1.8 then, but will look at 2.0 as well if it's only going to be couple less mpg, it's not like I'm doing a lot of miles.

Anyone else have any more input?

Thanks
 
i wanted a 1.8 for same reasons as you, but i had a choice between a y reg 1.8 lx with 120k in sales rep silver for £1800, or a y reg 2.0 zetec with 130k in a nice deep blue for £1400
 
Common items:
Rattle from rear suspension indicating worn bushes
Rust around the sealant on the doors, boot and bonnet
Early cars the interior door handles peeled
Early cars had a couple of handbrake service mods which are important - if it was not dealer serviced get this checked out
Early cars can suffer with sticky rear brakes which wear the pads very quickly
Timing chains can get noisy due to wear with high miles

Everything bar the last one is reasonably easily fixed.
 
DannyW said:
i wanted a 1.8 for same reasons as you, but i had a choice between a y reg 1.8 lx with 120k in sales rep silver for £1800, or a y reg 2.0 zetec with 130k in a nice deep blue for £1400
Click to expand...

How did you get a Y Reg 2.0 Zetech for £1400? That's ridicilously cheap! I tried and I couldn't even get a 1.8LX in bad condition for that.

This is what I managed in the end:




51 2.0 Zetec, 97K, 1 owner from new and full Ford service History with every receipt, new "non-ditch finder" tyres (some sort of Dunlop at the front and Michelin PS2 on the back), new MOT and tax as well for £1850 and the car looks pretty much brand new in every way. Pictures are taken on my phone and I'm going to pick it up later today, can't wait.

I drove both the 1.8 and 2.0 and prefered the 2.0. It's just so much nicer to drive. I'd rather sacrifice a few MPG than having a 1.8.

Thanks for everyone's help.
 
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