Will this get me banned?????

[up-the-dubs]

I'm changing job this month and for the first time in 6 years I have to buy myself a car! Problem being, due to buying my first house next month and all that it entails, I've the sum total of diddly-squat to spend. But I chanced upon this and am thinking about it.....



Yes, you're right, unfortunatly it is a Mundano. You're eyes do not decieve you! Year 2000, 2litre Ghia with electric everything (including the heated seats!), a/c, leather etc and 70k miles for a shade over £3k sterling. (Irish 2nd hand prices are alot higher ). Seems to be straight though with virtually no history.

I wasn't expecting to have to buy a car so there's little in the budget for this, but I'm thinking that for a year or so it might not be such a bad barge. Looks half decent and I feel better than a supermini or Focus size. Plus, I'm becoming a junior manager so it's not too showey when pulling up to work. I know it's probably perfect deep down, but I'm finding it tough to get excited about it. Such is life I suppose.

Now where'd I put those racing stickers .

[danhay]

You could do a lot worse. The Mondeo does handle very well considering it's wrong wheel drive. You will also find it's less obvious charms will grow on you over time e.g. comfort, practicality etc.

[kinky]

I had a MkI V6 as a stop-gap for a while and actually enjoyed it.

Is it cheaper to buy one up north and bring it down?

K

[up-the-dubs]

kinky said:

I had a MkI V6 as a stop-gap for a while and actually enjoyed it. Is it cheaper to buy one up north and bring it down? K

It probably is but only by 500 euro maybe (300ish pound). I need it pretty quick so I'll pay for convienience. I'm a lazy sod like that.

Edit for the currencies!

>> Edited by up-the-dubs on Friday 12th May 01:08

[Polarbert]

I think scared but happy got a 750iL for a very cheap price. Obviously not good for commuting.

[castex]

[SamHH]

I wouldn't want to spend three thousand pounds on a car with almost no service history.

[angrys3owner]

I've been looking around at very cheap cars once I get mine sold and before I can get everything sorted for the new car I actually want and I think I'll be getting as cheap a supra as I can find - £800 for an 89NA seems pretty good to me and more fun than even my current car.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for cheap fun cars below £1k if possible! I had thought of a 190E but the supra seems much more fun than that.

[minghis]

STOP! It's way too expensive. Walk away, it should be more like £2500 tops.

[LuS1fer]

Price aside, I'm worried that this is an example of unwarranted car badge snobbery. Frankly, if I needed a car, the fact it had four wheels and was reliable and looked reasonably good would be more than enough for me. I'd happily take a Cortina 2000E.

[t1grm]

Buy it! Mondeo's are great workhorses and cheap as chips to run. I paid 1900 steriling for a 98 1.8 Verona with 63K on the clock 15 months ago. I've stuck 20K on it including three runs from UK to Spain and it hasn't missed a beat. Best value daily driver I've ever had.

Edit: That one's overpriced though.

>> Edited by t1grm on Friday 12th May 10:05

[richb]

up-the-dubs said:

Yes, you're right, unfortunatly it is a Mundano. You're eyes do not decieve you! Year 2000, 2litre Ghia with electric everything

No problem with the Mondeo never driven one but I know from reading teh mags that they are reckoned to be fine cars, but I don't understand the title of your thread?

[r988]

You can get the mk1 mondeo shape for as little as £200 even for reasonable ones, they look a bit nicer to my eyes as well.

[blueski]

What you want is one of these...



2-litre Primera GT, 150bhp, half leather, aircon, trip computer, abs, electric everything. I picked up mine with 78k miles and FNSH for £1650.

Better handling than a Mondeo, absolutely bulletproof reliability and mine still drives like new after 100k miles. Regularly get 35-40mpg on a run, but still great fun on a B-road.

>> Edited by blueski on Friday 12th May 11:24

[xm5er]

I once bought a car with my head rather than my heart.

It was 18 months of purgatory.

DONT DO IT

[williamp]

Its very expensive, but ther's nothign wrong with the Mondeo. Or the Vectra/Accord etc etc of that ilk. All designed to be solid, dependable, worthy.

I have a 97 mondeo GLX to use when i'm not in the Aston. Its a workhourse: bought it in october, never been cleaned, service budget of £0. I aim to run it into the ground, then scrap it.

Very cheap motoring. And very reliable. I paid £500 for mine.

[Tyre Smoke]

It's NOT EXPENSIVE!

For the Irish Republic, that is.

In the UK I'd be looking to pay half that or less.

And remember, poor old Dubs has to pay road tax on engine output - a 750iL would crucify him.

[maxed]

up-the-dubs said:

due to buying my first house next month and all that it entails, I've the sum total of diddly-squat to spend. But I chanced upon this and am thinking about it..... Now where'd I put those racing stickers .

Yeh but at least your getting your own house.
Does it matter if the motor is a tad boring for a year or so?
Good luck with the move

[up-the-dubs]

maxed said:

Yeh but at least your getting your own house. Does it matter if the motor is a tad boring for a year or so? Good luck with the move

Cheers all, this is pretty much what I was thinking. It is overpriced for the UK but cheap here for the model/engine.

The thread title was tounge in cheek to a certain extent, as I don't think I've seen many people posting "I GOT IT" threads for 6 year old Mondeos ! It might just fit the bill for a year or two of care free motoring (the alloys are already a little scratched ) as Mondeos do appear to have a decent reputation for reliability and for being a good enough drive.

For the same price I'm looking at older, lower spec 156's, Passat-Laguna-406-Avensis-Primera don't appeal to me much and I'd only get a year newer Focus et ál or a two year newer supermini. Going to have a proper look on Saturday morning.

[towman]

SamHH said:

I wouldn't want to spend three thousand pounds on a car with almost no service history.

Says the moped rider! Look out Twincam, you have a rival!