Just bought a shed.

[sebhaque]

I tend to do a lot of motorway travelling these days and I don't really want to put miles on my Impreza - partly because my wallet would rather I didn't, and partly because I don't really want to be faced with a million services and oil changes.

So, I decided to buy myself a shed. Had a look at a couple of cars - Ford Ka, BMW 318 tds, and finally a Ford Mondeo. The last car seemed to be pretty much everything I needed and so after a bit of nitpicking I ended up coming home with a Mondeo in tow

It's an 04-registered car with 170,000 on the clock. Needs a service and a new set of ditchfinders, but that's about it. Paid £1600 for the privilege, and it feels very tight. Can't drive it until next week (my birthday, cheaper insurance) so it's currently parked on the drive

Here's a pic of my current garage:

Edited by sebhaque on Saturday 12th June 17:00

[magnus911]

I don't think your pistonheads sticker is big enough

[alephnull]

Both in 'resale silver' :P Sounds pretty sensible to me. I've heard mondeos are good (for a boring car!) - keep the special car for the weekends!

[Six Fiend]

Mate of mine bought one with 157k about 18 months ago - it drives almost as good as new and you'd never guess the mileage to travel in it or look at it. Great choice

[rallycross]

good purchase, my mate just bought a 2003 mondeo tdci estate with 150k miles for £2k it drives and sounds more like its only done 30k miles, really well screwed together these later shape mondeos...

[MondeoMan1981]

Love the Mondeos , I'm sure you wont be too disappointed with it, loads of room, good ride, decent handling for the size. Only downside is the brakes on some models.

[Rob_F]

£1600 for a 04 car with 170k on the clock?!?

Oookay....

[Dr.Doofenshmirtz]

Your standard of 'shed' is significantly higher than mine!

[sebhaque]

Thanks for the comments folks. Do you know of any cheap and decent servicing chaps around London or Bristol? I know cheap and decent are usually mutually exclusive but hey, Mondeos aren't exactly the rarest car going

[Ben Hughes]

I'd heartily recommend 'my' mechanic - he's in Surrey though, so not much use to you unless you're from SE London.

[sebhaque]

I live in Morden, Surrey. PM me if you wish - that sounds very tempting

[Ben Hughes]

Facebooked

[Six Fiend]

I use Brookfield Garage in Ashley Down for my Connect every 2ish months (do lots of miles).

http://brookfield-garage.co.uk/default.aspx

No doubt there are cheaper places but I like to use specialists for both vehicles and at least they use decent parts and keep the costs sensible. Also happen to be very close by

Seem a most reasonable bunch and discuss everything before taking my money

Soon be in for clutch and cambelt - it's done just over 100k, 49k of that in 32 weeks.

Edited by Six Fiend on Sunday 13th June 00:36

[finlo]

MondeoMan1981 said:

Love the Mondeos , I'm sure you wont be too disappointed with it, loads of room, good ride, decent handling for the size. Only downside is the brakes on some models.

1.8 through to ST220 all share the same brakes.

[sebhaque]

I'm back in Bristol tonight and have noticed there is a very large similarity between my Mondeo's key and my housemate's Fiesta key. The head of the funny-shaped key is pretty much identical - on other keys I can normally spot differences in the pattern e.g. both my London front and rear door keys are Chubb ones, but the pattern is slightly different on each one. The Ford key appears to be the same - I'm assuming the cars work on some form of transponder or electrical gubbins? My housemate did tell me he's heard stories of Escort keys starting Sierra Cosworths and so on.

[Ben Hughes]

I know that my Fiesta's key can lock (not unlock mind) other Fiestas. Great fun when someone's trying to get out of the car and you're standing by the passenger door idly turning the key backwards in the lock

I assume it will do the same to any cars with that Ford 'barrel' lock.

[RetroCosworth]

sebhaque said:

My housemate did tell me he's heard stories of Escort keys starting Sierra Cosworths and so on.

Just go round starting up Seirra RS Cosworth's

[Waugh-terfall]

Sounds like a lot of car for the money, though it sounds a bit pricey for 170k, but then I'm no expert.
Ford keys have always struck me as strange looking things, but then my key looks like my bank card or my student card... Sort of...

[Wattsie]

Ben Hughes said:

I know that my Fiesta's key can lock (not unlock mind) other Fiestas. Great fun when someone's trying to get out of the car and you're standing by the passenger door idly turning the key backwards in the lock

I assume it will do the same to any cars with that Ford 'barrel' lock.

Reminds me of my mates first hour or so in his Fiesta a couple of years ago, this one, specifically...

• Turns up to mine*

Mate: "Look, I got a 1.25 Fiesta, is awesome!"

Me: "Ooh, check this out, did you know I can lock all Fords with the Mondy key?"

• buzz click*

Mate:

Me: "What?"

Cue him pointing, in not the best of moods, to the only set of keys hanging from the ignition of his now locked, windows up, 1 hour old first car...

Had to call the local mechanic out to break into the car (worryingly easily, actually) but I learned my lesson about showing off my Ford skills

[dan19evans]

Wattsie said:

Ben Hughes said:

I know that my Fiesta's key can lock (not unlock mind) other Fiestas. Great fun when someone's trying to get out of the car and you're standing by the passenger door idly turning the key backwards in the lock

I assume it will do the same to any cars with that Ford 'barrel' lock.

Reminds me of my mates first hour or so in his Fiesta a couple of years ago, this one, specifically...

• Turns up to mine*

Mate: "Look, I got a 1.25 Fiesta, is awesome!"

Me: "Ooh, check this out, did you know I can lock all Fords with the Mondy key?"

• buzz click*

Mate:

Me: "What?"

Cue him pointing, in not the best of moods, to the only set of keys hanging from the ignition of his now locked, windows up, 1 hour old first car...

Had to call the local mechanic out to break into the car (worryingly easily, actually) but I learned my lesson about showing off my Ford skills

ahahaa

great story