car with a deadly dull interior and no wallowing in corners

[corvus]

jsp56 said:

Hi,

Thanks for asking. I bought the car when I had a motorway commute, but I've since given up work to be a Mum and I only take it for very short journeys - perhaps 2 miles each way, every other day. I don't think it likes this kind of driving at all because we've had to make a number of expensive repairs. (Brake discs, battery, and now the turbocharger apparently failed). There's another thread in my name about it. I don't know much about cars and I really don't want to have to constantly visit garages and wonder whether the car is going to fail on me every week or just every other week. From that point of view, I'm inclined to buy the Focus and pass the Mondeo on to someone who can drive in the way that it was built to be driven.

Jen

From that post I assume you have a Mondeo TDCi. Diesels really don't like short journeys.

I was going to say a 1.8 petrol Avensis as they are bombproof. Forget about What Car. They don't own cars long term with their own money which is where an Avensis would shine. I had one for two years and nothing failed. My dad has had his for eight years and the only failure has been the fuel flap motor. On top of that you will be ecstatic about the dull interior.

However if you're only doing really short journeys I would get something smaller like a Focus.

[Fastdruid]

Ah. Yes, I saw that other thread. Totally wrong car for 2 miles a day.

Have you considered just swapping it for a petrol Mk3 Mondeo? Given how everyone pays through the nose for a leggy diesel you should get a low mileage higher spec one for the same money.

Even so only doing 2 miles every other day is asking for trouble with any car. Have you considered just using a taxi?

[jsp56]

Hi,

Yes I know just what you mean. We're leaning toward the 2011 Focus, and tbh I think I'd go for something more the size of a Ka except that I have family to visit at the other end of the M11. I wouldn't relish doing that journey regularly in a really itty bitty car. I used to have a Rover Metro and then a Ford Fiesta (2001) and they were both just right for me. I did motorway driving in them in Scotland, but the M11 can be really dangerous in a car that can't accelerate out of the way of a huge lorry when needed (not a problem in the Metro, but it was in the Fiesta). I never encountered the huge lorry problem on the M8, but the M11 is a totally different kettle of fish.

I think if we do change the car it will be a low mileage 2011 Ford Focus Style automatic petrol 1.6L. Finding one may be tricky. The trip meter is bright, but I can just cover it with a bit of cardboard - job done.

Thanks!

JSP

[MagneticMeerkat]

I've just been driving a brand new Renault Clio as a rental. It's a simple specification and isn't very powerful but I guess there must be bigger engines out there. The car really does handle well, nice and flat in the corners and grippy. Though that does come at the expense of comfort; the ride is a little bumpy on undulating surfaces.

The interior is the most boring thing on the planet! All one colour (blacky/grey void) and not many lights. The speedometer is digital but nothing is really intrusive. In fact the information screen is white on black so wouldn't cause any eye strain at all.