Buying a new car(new to me) need some advice please!

[trailblazzer]

Hi all,

I'm buying a new car I don't want to spend over £4000. I do roughly 15000 miles a year. I've been driving an old Nissan that gets me 40mpg no matter where or how I drive it. But with the cost of fuel rising its getting really pricey! Also I think the old girls on the way out..

Anyway I want to get onto a diesel,
I've narrowed my search more or lees down to the following,
04-06 Honda Accord 2.2CDTI
04-06 Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCI
04-06 Honda Civic 1.7 CDTI
04-06 Ford Focus 1.8 or 2.0 TDCI
I've also considered Audi A4's but ruled them out because for 4k I cant get much over 2003 with no bells or whistles.


I need something cheap to run, reliable and comfortable for the long journeys.
Any Ideas??
Real world MPG figures would be a great help too!
On paper the Accord seems to do better MPGs than the Ford?

Thanks guys

[vryes]

hi, ive driven or owned 3 of the 4 in your list (no experience of the Mondeo). Out of the three I know about I would go Accord everytime.

The Civic 1.7D is a hateful thing, horrific turbo lag, loads of road noise, great gear change but nasty flat seats and odd driving position. Really good on fuel (c.50mpg) but its just not worth the other sacifices.

The Focus is really highly rated by the motoring press, but I had a 1.8 tdci Sport on an 06 for a couple of weeks and just couldn't see what the fuss was about, cheap and nasty interior, drivers seat set too high, driven normally it falls out of the turbo band when changing between 2nd and 3rd. In my opinion vastly overated.

On the other hand I have had 2 Accord cdtis as company cars and both have been great, quiet, quick enough, comfy and plenty of kit. I would say that the post-facelift version (06-)is worth seeking out as it has a trip computer and more importantly a 6 speed gearbox which does gives better fuel economy, about 45mpg in my experience.

I drive an Octavia vRS TDi now, and in all honesty the Accord was a better car.

[Ozzie Osmond]

It's not often you see Honda Civic and Ford Mondeo in competition!

[andy-xr]

I have a CMAX Focus, so perhaps that might give you something to work from? It's very touchy on how you drive it in mpg terms (+/- 5-10 mpg on right foot weight) and I came to it from a Mondeo that didn't care how you drive it, it just gave back 50mpg.

The Mondeo cost more over a 2 year period with flywheel, clutch, starter and injectors, I sold it because the power steering pump went and the fuel pump wasn't far behind, so fuel economy in that instance wasn't making it any easier to live with

Touchwood, the Focus hasn't really cost me anything other than regular servicing. Mine is the 2.0 TDCi, and it was noticeably better than the 1.8, I think it's a different engine. Anyway....today I went to Wales on a 300 mile round trip. It averaged 59 mpg on Excellium according to the trip, so probably 54'ish in real measurements. Pokey enough for most things, and cheap to keep on the road. I'd buy another and it's fairly inconspicuous at 85/90

ETA - the 2.0 is a 6 speed too, which helps

Edited by andy-xr on Friday 2nd March 21:49

[Rammy76]

I know it's not on your list but how about the last of the B5.5 Passats?
I bought mine primarily for economy and comfort whilst cruising the motorways and it does the job very well.

The 130PD engines are very reliable too and I've certainly had no trouble with mine over the 70000 miles I've done in it.

[jamoor]

none of those, get a 1.8 petrol civic.

[excel monkey]

jamoor said:

none of those, get a 1.8 petrol civic.

This. Or get a 1.4/1.6 petrol Civic if mpg is important. The last of the EP3 (boxy shape) models would be a good buy at this price level.