Hi there,

I have 1500 to spend on a car and therefore am looking to get a lot of car 
for my money. I am not overly worried about the style of the car, my main 
concerns are:
*Something I can rely on.
*Something that wont look too bad when I turn up at clients offices (My old 
XR3i was a bit unusual so often I would park around the corner).
* As cheap running costs as possible.
* Ideally 5 door although I am not considering and estate which would be 
very handy.

With this in mind I was thinking a Ford Mondeo Diesel Estate made after 98 
as this is a common all rounder of a car in good supply therefore giving you 
more for your money.

I was told Models after 98 are the ones to go for but do not know much 
really.

Can anyone verify my observations and or alternatively recommend similar 
models that will give similar benefits.

Kind regards

Dave

"Dave Smithz" <SPAM FREE WORLD> wrote in message 
news:42ff2099$1@news1.homechoice.co.uk...

> Can anyone verify my observations and or alternatively recommend similar 
> models that will give similar benefits.
>
> Kind regards
>
> Dave


Rover 45 diesel, or even a 600. Plenty about and plenty of parts, cheap to 
run & maintain. (Watch me get shot down in flames now!)

Cheers
Paul

In message <42ff2099$1@news1.homechoice.co.uk>, Dave Smithz 
<SPAM@FREE.WORLD.invalid> writes

>
>With this in mind I was thinking a Ford Mondeo Diesel Estate made after 98
>as this is a common all rounder of a car in good supply therefore giving you
>more for your money.
>
>I was told Models after 98 are the ones to go for but do not know much
>really.
>


The Mk2 Mondeo is indeed a good car but unless you are going to be doing 
in excess of 20,000 a year, I'd reconsider whether you need a diesel. 
Servicing costs for the diesel are higher with the cambelt needing 
replacing every 40k miles as opposed to 100k miles for the petrol 
models. Diesel fuel is 4p/litre more expensive at the moment, wiping out 
some of the savings of the better mpg.

By 1998 the Mondeo TD engine was certainly looking and feeling dated 
compared to the opposition. I used to own one and we still have one in 
the family and its not as bad as some people make out but its not a 
"class leader".

You might want to consider the petrol models and go for something with a 
nice spec. I've currently got a 98 2.0 Ghia X which has leather, aircon, 
cruise control, electric heated seats, CD changer etc. Its not as 
economical as the diesel but I get 37mpg on my daily commute and 40mpg 
on a long run. Servicing costs are lower.


-- 
Paul Giverin

British Jet Engine Website    http://www.britjet.co.uk

"Paul Giverin"  wrote in message 
news:6dC2wHBqXCADFwwf@10.0.0.3...

> In message <42ff2099$1@news1.homechoice.co.uk>, Dave Smithz 
> <SPAM@FREE.WORLD.invalid> writes
>>
>>With this in mind I was thinking a Ford Mondeo Diesel Estate made after 98
>>as this is a common all rounder of a car in good supply therefore giving 
>>you
>>more for your money.
>>
>>I was told Models after 98 are the ones to go for but do not know much
>>really.
>>
>
> The Mk2 Mondeo is indeed a good car but unless you are going to be doing 
> in excess of 20,000 a year, I'd reconsider whether you need a diesel. 
> Servicing costs for the diesel are higher with the cambelt needing 
> replacing every 40k miles as opposed to 100k miles for the petrol models. 
> Diesel fuel is 4p/litre more expensive at the moment, wiping out some of 
> the savings of the better mpg.
>
> By 1998 the Mondeo TD engine was certainly looking and feeling dated 
> compared to the opposition. I used to own one and we still have one in the 
> family and its not as bad as some people make out but its not a "class 
> leader".
>
> You might want to consider the petrol models and go for something with a 
> nice spec. I've currently got a 98 2.0 Ghia X which has leather, aircon, 
> cruise control, electric heated seats, CD changer etc. Its not as 
> economical as the diesel but I get 37mpg on my daily commute and 40mpg on 
> a long run. Servicing costs are lower.
>
>
> -- 
> Paul Giverin
>
> British Jet Engine Website    http://www.britjet.co.uk


I have a r reg 618. Pretty cheap to maintain and very reliabel. I have done 
45k in two years in this vehicle in all sort sof conditions and it has never 
let me down. The only thing I have an issue with is that the switches on the 
doors are easily broken and not many in the breakers so a little difficult 
to get  hold off

"Dave Smithz" <SPAM FREE WORLD> wrote in message 
news:42ff2099$1@news1.homechoice.co.uk...

> Hi there,
>
> I have 1500 to spend on a car and therefore am looking to get a lot of 
> car for my money. I am not overly worried about the style of the car, my 
> main concerns are:
> *Something I can rely on.
> *Something that wont look too bad when I turn up at clients offices (My 
> old XR3i was a bit unusual so often I would park around the corner).
> * As cheap running costs as possible.
> * Ideally 5 door although I am not considering and estate which would be 
> very handy.
>
> With this in mind I was thinking a Ford Mondeo Diesel Estate made after 98 
> as this is a common all rounder of a car in good supply therefore giving 
> you more for your money.
>
> I was told Models after 98 are the ones to go for but do not know much 
> really.
>
> Can anyone verify my observations and or alternatively recommend similar 
> models that will give similar benefits.


I'm running a P reg Nissan Almera SRi. good running costs, jap reliability, 
group 7 insurance. Some people don't like the styling but I like the look of 
the car too.

Ben