Which is the better buy?

[SD1992]

I am currently toying with the idea of selling my mk3 Mondeo, and buying something much cheaper and having some spare cash in my pocket.

I am thinking along the lines of an old Mondeo 2.5 V6 ST24, or a Vectra 2.5 V6 SRI.

I wouldn't be spending more than £1000, ideally much less. Insurance is not an issue, as I can insure both for only slightly more than my renewal on the current mk3.

So which car is the better buy? Reliability is key as I don't want to be shelling out for repairs all the time, and driveability is also fairly important (hence why I am leaning towards the Mondeo).

Any thoughts, opinions, or suggestions more than welcome!

[HellDiver]

Vectra B are wobbly at best on the handling side, and the engines can leak oil like fury.

Mondeo is likely to handle better, and the engines are pretty solid.

[adycav]

Primera GT?

[SD1992]

Sounds like the Mondeo is the better bet out of the two!

I had never considered a Primera GT, are they any good?

Also, what about an old, high mileage, Volvo 850 T5? They are the cheapest to insure out of the lot, and I do like the idea of the ridiculous power in an old square Volvo!

[anonymous-user]

Watch out for HG failure on the Mondeo, water pumps can also fail(plastic), lower arms were weak but had much bigger bushes on later versions. If they ever need doing get Ford originals-they may cost more but will last much longer than aftermarket. I'd say the Vectra will be better body work wise, the Mk2 Mondeo's seem to rust away on the rear arches.

[buster1984]

Please mate dont buy the Vectra. they are awfull. i have had an older mondeo and can say i never had one problem with it. you know Fords are quite reliable, but the Vectra has to be one of the worst cars of its type in britain IMO.

[DannyVTS]

[shameful plug]

I'm selling my GT, great cars for the money!

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2715346.htm

Discount for PH members

[/plug]

[anonymous-user]

Ford used the Primera as the bench mark for handling when they were developing the Mondeo apparently.

[DannyVTS]

Dave_ST220 said:

Ford used the Primera as the bench mark for handling when they were developing the Mondeo apparently.

Primera's handle brilliant, whick Mk mondeo are you referring to?

[Jesus TF Christ]

I'd buy the Nissan.
In fact I might buy the Nissan, let me just check my change purse...

[SD1992]

Danny, how much are you paying for insurance?

The quotes suggest that the Nissan will cost me £300 more to insure than the Mondeo V6 and £400 more than the T5

Looks a very nice car!

[anonymous-user]

DannyVTS said:

Primera's handle brilliant, whick Mk mondeo are you referring to?

Mk1.

[DannyVTS]

SD1992 said:

Danny, how much are you paying for insurance?

The quotes suggest that the Nissan will cost me £300 more to insure than the Mondeo V6 and £400 more than the T5

Looks a very nice car!

It was £30 more than the Saxo, I did a quote yesterday for next year (I will have turned 19 by then) and it was £1090 Fully Comp with Admiral.

It is a lot of car for the money

[300bhp/ton]

Rover 825. Would have thought you'd get more choice. Ours went well and wasn't any bother.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Tuesday 12th April 11:05

[DannyVTS]

Do you need a big car though? Or are your preferences towards it?

[SD1992]

Thats not a bad price for insurance, my quote came in at £1116 but I am still leaning towards the Volvo as it was £729 for the year.

Will look in to the Rover more

I don't need a big car, but I much prefer them to smaller things. I had a mk4 Astra before the Mondeo, and I love how comfortable and smooth the Mondeo is, and also at how it can effortlessly carry 5 people + luggage at 60 mph (plus tax).

I would not consider anything smaller than, say, a Focus.

[DannyVTS]

Plenty of Mk1 Focus' in budget then, but the engines are a bit dire IMO.

Can get a nice Astra 2.2 though? The 1.8 is the best engine though, again in my opinion.

[SD1992]

DannyVTS said:

Plenty of Mk1 Focus' in budget then, but the engines are a bit dire IMO.

Can get a nice Astra 2.2 though? The 1.8 is the best engine though, again in my opinion.

I am not sure if I could go back to an Astra, my one was a nightmare! In a year of ownership I had to do 2 wheel bearings, 4 brake pipes, 2 springs, one caliper, one wishbone, kill lots of rust, and finally got rid of it when the cat was starting to go, the clutch started slipping, and the valve seals went causing it to burn a liter of oil every 100 miles and me having to clean the spark plugs every time I topped the thing up!

I saw on your profile you had a nice mk4, was yours any better than mine?

[Rarefied Brains]

Omega V6 Job done

[DannyVTS]

SD1992 said:

I am not sure if I could go back to an Astra, my one was a nightmare! In a year of ownership I had to do 2 wheel bearings, 4 brake pipes, 2 springs, one caliper, one wishbone, kill lots of rust, and finally got rid of it when the cat was starting to go, the clutch started slipping, and the valve seals went causing it to burn a liter of oil every 100 miles and me having to clean the spark plugs every time I topped the thing up!

I saw on your profile you had a nice mk4, was yours any better than mine?

I always say the Mk4 I had was the best car I've owned. It was relatively low mileage (60k), only problem I had with it was the Alternator belt snapped. £6 for a belt and it was fixed.

I modified mine a bit as you can tell, absolutely loved that car