Estate, used, upto £9k - Page 1 - Car Buying

danlightbulb

Original Poster

1,051 posts

135 months

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Friday 26th July 2019

My current car I think is about to bork. Its now got some bad vibration coming seemingly from drivetrain. Also air con no longer functions. With the rust issues its got, and that its now on 173000 miles, i think it really is time to swap. It doesnt owe me alot. I bought it for £1600 about 3.5 years ago on 135000 miles.

Ideally I am looking for a larger estate suitable for 20k miles per annum, has got some style and some turn of speed when needed, plus is a nice comfortable motorway cruiser. Dont want high maintenance costs.

I am struggling with how much to spend. The cars that fit my requirements up above are pushing £9k for something <70k miles and around 6-8 years old. There was a starting list (below) posted quite recently on another thread.

I could choose not to spend as much as £9k and get something older. I dont feel there is much choice though and technology is very dated now in anything older than about 10 years.

The mondeo is the obvious choice but just means I have to spend £7-9k. Honestly id rather not spend anything at all but i dont think im going to get away with that for much longer.

ZX10R NIN said:

danlightbulb said:

Youre right, they all look great, reasonably priced. Now try to find same in estate form.

The Surveyor

7,624 posts

266 months

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Friday 26th July 2019

Having put over 150,000 on one without any issues at all, you won't go far wrong to look at the Volvo V60.

Stylish in r-design trim and certainly capable of 20k per annum, something like this :- https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

MissChief

7,973 posts

197 months

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Friday 26th July 2019

Mondeo Titanium X Sport. Easy enough to find in Estate form too.

danlightbulb

Original Poster

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135 months

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Friday 26th July 2019

Thanks ill take a look at v60 it just might not be big enough though.

Mondy tit x sport - yeah the sport trim really commands a premium on the pricing though especially in estate form. Alot of these also have the 2.2 diesel which i cannot get a great deal of info on other than the economy is not the best.

Jamescrs

6,340 posts

94 months

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Friday 26th July 2019

I've also got a V60 albeit mines a T4 version, very solid car, well specced and mines been trouble free so far other than having to get two door lock mechanisms replaced, which stung slightly.

I have found it to be a good size but if not big enough then I guess the obvious choice is a V70

ZX10R NIN

30,523 posts

154 months

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Friday 26th July 2019

Why don't you want to buy the Mondeo?

ALawson

8,054 posts

280 months

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Friday 26th July 2019

ZX10R NIN said:

Why don't you want to buy the Mondeo?

A question I keep asking myself, for some reason I cannot bring myself to do it. V60 aren't exactly big are they.

ZX10R NIN

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Friday 26th July 2019

ALawson said:

A question I keep asking myself, for some reason I cannot bring myself to do it. V60 aren't exactly big are they.

Never mind the fact the V60 is based on a Focus & actually is a slightly worse steer than the Ford!

I see it a lot, I'll suggest a Ford & people don't want to buy but once they compare the alternatives then they realise the Fords are pretty decent also the Vignale range has helped making the Ford an easier purchase.

danlightbulb

Original Poster

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Friday 26th July 2019

ZX10R NIN said:

Why don't you want to buy the Mondeo?

I do like them Im just unsure about the engines. Well I guess all diesels have their horror stories don't they. Although my Accord is falling apart, the engine is still actually ok.

I can get a newer (2016) Mazda 6 2.2 diesel for the same money as the Mondeo (2013-2014). How do they compare?

ZX10R NIN

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Friday 26th July 2019

danlightbulb said:

I do like them Im just unsure about the engines. Well I guess all diesels have their horror stories don't they. Although my Accord is falling apart, the engine is still actually ok.

I can get a newer (2016) Mazda 6 2.2 diesel for the same money as the Mondeo (2013-2014). How do they compare?

The Mondeo engines are Peugeot units which are pretty much bulletproof as long as they're serviced regularly, the Mazda6 is based on the Mondeo but has a softer setup engine wise the 2.2d in the Mazda can have timing chain issues, drive wise the Mondeo is the better car & the 210/180's are the ones to go for but depending on your budget they may be hard to find, also look for Titanium models with the X Pack.

It depends on how much you want to spend?

danlightbulb

Original Poster

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Friday 26th July 2019

ZX10R NIN said:

It depends on how much you want to spend?

Yeah it really does come down to this. The problem is Im really not sure. I can afford to spend upto £10k, which would be a 5 year loan and cost approx £200 per month. But there is a huge part of me that doesn't want to indebt myself for a car. On the other hand I need and rely on my car, lots of travelling around for personal hobbies and obviously commuting for work. So I should be willing to spend some money to get something worthwhile that has some longevity.

I think ideally I'd much rather spend say £4k. But I don't see much of value at that price point, its a horrible zone to be looking in for used cars.

If I focus on the Mondeo, and focus on at least the Titanium X but also possibly the Titanium X sport, then I'm looking at around £8.5k and there are a few available around that price. Would you go for the 2.2 or the 2.0 diesel, and would you go for the manual or auto? I believe the 2.2 has a normal torque converter auto whereas the 2.0 has the powershift wet clutch box.

Edited by danlightbulb on Friday 26th July 22:37

ZX10R NIN

30,523 posts

154 months

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Friday 26th July 2019

I like autos & both units are robust but you need to make sure the services have been carried out especially on the Powershift box, if it hasn't been done take £400 off the price the manual box would be fine as long as it's the right car:

These would be my picks at around 8.5k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Titanium X

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

The Mazda6 alternative once you go spec for spec they close right up with the Mondeo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Friday 26th July 23:24

danlightbulb

Original Poster

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135 months

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Friday 26th July 2019

Thanks. If I go the Mondeo I think I'd want to wait for the best spec. Those look a tad wanting, not having the big screen radio unit and being on the older side (2011/12). Auto's seem rarer too unfortunately. I think I have more chance of getting an auto with slightly better spec in the 2.2 engine.

Still a manual but what about this one? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Does have a towbar unfortunately which is a bit offputting and I'd want it removed.

Edited by danlightbulb on Friday 26th July 23:37

MissChief

7,973 posts

197 months

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Saturday 27th July 2019

danlightbulb said:

Thanks. If I go the Mondeo I think I'd want to wait for the best spec. Those look a tad wanting, not having the big screen radio unit and being on the older side (2011/12). Auto's seem rarer too unfortunately. I think I have more chance of getting an auto with slightly better spec in the 2.2 engine.

Still a manual but what about this one? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Does have a towbar unfortunately which is a bit offputting and I'd want it removed.

Edited by danlightbulb on Friday 26th July 23:37

Black wheels look utterly revolting.

ZX10R NIN

30,523 posts

154 months

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Saturday 27th July 2019

danlightbulb said:

Thanks. If I go the Mondeo I think I'd want to wait for the best spec. Those look a tad wanting, not having the big screen radio unit and being on the older side (2011/12). Auto's seem rarer too unfortunately. I think I have more chance of getting an auto with slightly better spec in the 2.2 engine.

Still a manual but what about this one? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Does have a towbar unfortunately which is a bit offputting and I'd want it removed.

Edited by danlightbulb on Friday 26th July 23:37

I'd be buying this one:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Saturday 27th July 10:08

danlightbulb

Original Poster

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Saturday 27th July 2019

Seems decent shame its so far away. I dont mind a drive but north of scotland is a bit much.

Not sure what I think of white either to be honest.

ZX10R NIN

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Saturday 27th July 2019

danlightbulb said:

Seems decent shame its so far away. I dont mind a drive but north of scotland is a bit much.

Not sure what I think of white either to be honest.

You don't drive you fly £50-100 return depending on when you fly (I do this a fair bit & have only taken the return flight 3 times this year out of the 20+ times I've flown up) get the seller to meet you at the airport then you get the chance for a good test drive before you buy it or fly back.

stevemcs

10,277 posts

122 months

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Saturday 27th July 2019

danlightbulb said:

Seems decent shame its so far away. I dont mind a drive but north of scotland is a bit much.

Not sure what I think of white either to be honest.

Its part of the adventure, i've collected from Aberdeen and Belfast many times and its a great trip, that was returning to the Peterborough area, yes its a long day but do able.

Mazdas do have issues with the chains and also oil pick up pipes, I would take the Ford 2.2 over any VW group 2.0 diesel any day of the week. We have had to replace the EGR on a 2.2 but its a very rare failure, more common is the fuel vapouriser as part of the DPF system.

danlightbulb

Original Poster

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135 months

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Saturday 27th July 2019

Ok so looking like the favourite is the 2.2 then. Now do i hold out for the auto or take the manual?

danlightbulb

Original Poster

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135 months

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Saturday 27th July 2019

Just had a browse round the local car supermarket. To be fair they had quite a few estates in this time, when Ive been before they've had hardly any. We're talking around £10-11k screen price for cars like Passat, new shape mondeo and around £9-10k screen price on insignias. Nothing special spec wise though on any of those. Best I saw on face value was an insignia SRI but it turned out to be a 1.6 diesel. Looked at the V60, nice car but not much height in the boot so its too small. They did seem willing to deal on price but their cars were just not quite good enough.

Return trip from Birmingham to Inverness is running over £200 to fly. Think need something closer and ideally want to offload my old car at the same time.

Edited by danlightbulb on Saturday 27th July 16:14