Sub £2k - Daily, reliable, 8k miles, pref large
Sub £2k - Daily, reliable, 8k miles, pref large
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Discussion

haddock82

Original Poster:

563 posts

160 months

Wednesday 1st November 2017
quotequote all
So in the need for a new daily car

Old car has gone and I've borrowed a run around for a couple of months, but have to give it back after Christmas

I commute 30 mile round trip daily

Average about 8-9,000 miles a year

Needs to be Large(ish) for tip runs, golf clubs and dog and the occasional trip to Scotland/Cornwall/France etc.

I thought perhaps Ovlov V40/50 but do i really need a diesel? Do i go for a the 1.6 petrol? 1.8? 2.0 Diesel?

Low mile commute I don't want DPF/EGR faults etc.

Any thoughts?

Are the newer shape petrol/diesel Civic/Accord worth a shout?

Basically if you had £2k in your hands and needed a reliable commuter what would you go and buy?!

Any ideas appreciated smile

rallycross

13,675 posts

259 months

Wednesday 1st November 2017
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similar position last year and bought a Volvo S60/V70 D5 auto and needed something comfy and economical for regular use.
2005 model so early D5 and no DPF, seems to average around 40-48 mpg depending what sort of driving I'm doing.
12 months and 9,000 miles and its not needed anything, gave it a good service when I picked it up, now on 165,000 miles and going strong great cheap comfy motoring (you will get an S60 for £1k or a V70 for £2k).

haddock82

Original Poster:

563 posts

160 months

Wednesday 1st November 2017
quotequote all
is that the 2.4 diesel engine?

I do quite like these, not driven one but looks like it ticks a lot of boxes

rallycross

13,675 posts

259 months

Wednesday 1st November 2017
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haddock82 said:
is that the 2.4 diesel engine?

I do quite like these, not driven one but looks like it ticks a lot of boxes
Yes D5 is 2.4 diesel 5 cylinder model. Nice and smooth compared to a horrible 4 cylinder diesel, decent amount of power, seats are amazingly comfortable and good stereo as standard.


dhutch

17,496 posts

219 months

Wednesday 1st November 2017
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How large

406 for £450
3 series touring?
Mpv?
Saab 93?

Daniel

thiscocks

3,398 posts

217 months

haddock82

Original Poster:

563 posts

160 months

Thursday 2nd November 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies so far

How Big?:

Well an estate would be preferable really so V40/V50 as they are smaller estates

The Saab 9-3 is a good shout as i believe they are a bit smaller too, what are they like for reliability?

Mondeo.... A very capable car but its a Mondeo... Just dont think i can bring myself to buy one...!

dhutch

17,496 posts

219 months

Thursday 2nd November 2017
quotequote all
haddock82 said:
The Saab 9-3 is a good shout as i believe they are a bit smaller too, what are they like for reliability?
Sadly I can't comment, but I've often wondered, ditto the 9-5. Obviously they are a GM built Saab, but still not a Mondeo.

If you like that, I've also fancied the Alfa 159 Estates, but again can't comment on reliability other than buying advice to get service history.

haddock82 said:
Mondeo.... A very capable car but its a Mondeo... Just dont think i can bring myself to buy one...!
Very hard isn't it, my partner has a Fiesta as do both of my housemates, so I am outnumbered 3:1 when they are all on the drive. I can't fault what they represent, but I can't see myself driving one either.
She says she sees no reason to have anything else for the rest of her life, but also that the E46 is nicer to drive and to be in.
Don't get a sunroof or powered seat model if your tall, I only just fit mine a 6ft2.

Daniel

SebringMan

1,774 posts

208 months

Thursday 2nd November 2017
quotequote all
Mondeo I hate to say. They're not the most exciting thing to look at but they do drive well and in estate formats they are desirable sellers that never hang around.

My preference is a MkIV as the diesel engines IME are sturdier than the Mk3s. But the MkIVs are now coming into the £2k mark, just. But a Mk3 will do the job well and leave you with change. Just make sure you run genuine Ford fuel filters and keep it serviced well smile.

Put it this way. I have access to a MkIV Mondeo 2.5T. Everytime I get out I wonder why I'd buy something else, despite me having my E46 M3. But this is why I've bought a sheddy W124 250D; hopefully I won't regret that! I'd buy a Mundaneo 2.5T or 2.0TDCI but I'm looking at sub £1k motoring for now which really limits options.

About the Saab 9-3, my sister has an '07 1.8t 'Vert. What do I like?
-It looks good, better with the roof down
-Seats are comfy and the inside generally is a nice place to be.
-Motorway cruising is good.
-Hers is very reliable.

What don't I like?
-On the driveway it's the car I drive when there is nothing else for me to drive ; it really isn't that exciting to drive with so so handling and lifeless steering
-The gear ratios are laughable in 5 speed form. You fit another gearbox in between the ratios! It's very easy to stall this in 2nd in town if you have come from a normal ratio 5 speed or 6 speed gearbox. 5th is taller than the Mondeo 2.5T and my M3's 6th.
-Spares can be a pain to source but there are dealers out there. Johnsons Hyundai in Coventry can source some bits with Neo Brothers online helping out too.

It's the lowest mileage car in our family as well.

E46s may win you streed cred but I prefer the mkIV Mondy 2.5T to an E46 328i of my mate's. Gearbox is nicer for one and I know which has been cheaper to own out of the two and which one has more miles; it's not the E46.

Edited by SebringMan on Thursday 2nd November 18:52

Willy Nilly

12,511 posts

189 months

Thursday 2nd November 2017
quotequote all
haddock82 said:
Mondeo.... A very capable car but its a Mondeo... Just dont think i can bring myself to buy one...!
You've got 2000 quid to spend and can't afford to be too choosey.

ZX10R NIN

29,894 posts

147 months

Thursday 2nd November 2017
quotequote all
So you'd rather have a worse car than have a Mondeo, then go for something smaller with a badge or go for something bigger with a badge but you might not get the reliability you're looking for.

Pyrolysis

338 posts

139 months

Thursday 2nd November 2017
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B5.5 VW Passat. 1.8T 20v (Same engine as mk4 Golf GTi, Audi TT etc)

Loads of room, usual VAG stuff, great little engine, not too bad on fuel and cheap and plentiful on parts.

2k should get you a decent one. I ran one as a cheap run around for 3 years when i lived in cyprus. Bought with 103k on the clock and sold 3 years later with 121k on the clock (small island) and never needed anything other than normal servicing.


Ian Geary

5,345 posts

214 months

Friday 3rd November 2017
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
So you'd rather have a worse car than have a Mondeo, then go for something smaller with a badge or go for something bigger with a badge but you might not get the reliability you're looking for.
Well, it shows that BMW are not wasting their marketing budget...


Strudul

1,599 posts

107 months

Friday 3rd November 2017
quotequote all
haddock82 said:
Mondeo.... A very capable car but its a Mondeo... Just dont think i can bring myself to buy one...!
But you are more than willing to buy a Civic / Accord / Volvo?

nobrakes

3,755 posts

220 months

Friday 3rd November 2017
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
A great selection of sensible motors for 2 grand. You'd be pushed for better value in a 2 grand motor with sensible running costs.

Sure, the estates carry more, but the hatches are hardly cramped.

haddock82

Original Poster:

563 posts

160 months

Friday 3rd November 2017
quotequote all
To be fair the newer shape Mondeo i think looks like quite a nice car,

Need to drive one to see how they feel

The previous version also had a 2.2 diesel, is this any good?

Couple of local ones to me:



Ghia X - Old Shape - 2.0TDCi - 81k

Titanium 2.2TDCi - Old Shape - 89k

New Shape - 2.0TDCi Edge - 93k



ZX10R NIN

29,894 posts

147 months

Friday 3rd November 2017
quotequote all
haddock82 said:
To be fair the newer shape Mondeo i think looks like quite a nice car,

Need to drive one to see how they feel

The previous version also had a 2.2 diesel, is this any good?

Couple of local ones to me:



Ghia X - Old Shape - 2.0TDCi - 81k

Titanium 2.2TDCi - Old Shape - 89k

New Shape - 2.0TDCi Edge - 93k

The 2.2 is a very good engine it's a Peugeot lump & is reliable, but why would you want a diesel when you're only doing 8k per year.

haddock82

Original Poster:

563 posts

160 months

Friday 3rd November 2017
quotequote all
I think it was just those diesels came up in my autotrader search first!

How about these:

Saab: What are these petrol engines like?
Low mileage 9-3 1.8 Petrol - Cheap!

Honda: Seems good value?
Accord Estate-2.2-Diesel

Civic: I've always quite liked the styling of these. Is the 1.8 a good un? I'm guessing its Honda so should be good?
Civic - Petrol -1.8text

Mundanoe: Newer shape petrol:

Mondeo-2.0-Petrol

haddock82

Original Poster:

563 posts

160 months

Friday 29th December 2017
quotequote all
Just to update this old thread!

Picked up a 2004 MK3 Mondeo today

1.8 Petrol - Base Spec (LX) - 90k - Full Service History and 2 owners. Been garaged most of it's life too in very good condition bodywork wise and loads of history

All for the princely sum of £650

Probably could have found one cheaper or higher spec, but it was a PX just come in at a fairly local garage and had good history

Drives ok and looks like... well a MK3 mondeo! Dull, boring but will do the job nicely