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Evening all,
I recently got made redundant, and with it went my company car.
Good news is I have a new job.It will be 'home based' but is likely to require 20k miles a year for business. I will be getting std HMRC rates (so 45p/mile for first 10k then 25p thereafter) for fuel.
Now to the predicament. I need a new car, but can't afford anything too new.
I'm looking at between £5000-7000 for a car which i'm hoping should get me something reliable and reasonably refined
I would like a diesel estate (fuel economy and bike carrying capabilities), but will consider all comers (if you can tempt me).
A couple of options i'm currently looking at are:
Spend slightly less £4500-5000 on a 2005 Ford Mondeo (2ltr diesel) with around 60k on the clock, but with all the kit (seems like the sensible if a touch boring option)
OR
Spend towards the top of my budget for either a Volvo V70 (2.4 diesel) or BMW 5 series (2ltr or 2.5 diesel) with around 110k on the clock.
Is there anything else I should be looking at?
What are the opinions/experiences of any of the above cars and which seems the most sensible option (based on costs/servicing etc).
My head is saying the cheaper Mondeo as i'll just be putting a load of miles on it on the motorway, but i've always liked Volvo's and I think the 5 series look more modern for the age (plus look like a nice cabin).
How do these cars run with higher miles (i.e. is 100k considered a lot of miles or are they just run in these days?)
slackman99 - MemberSpend slightly less £4500-5000 on a 2005 Ford Mondeo (2ltr diesel) with around 60k on the clock, but with all the kit (seems like the sensible if a touch boring option)
Seems a little pricey for that age and mileage? (I nearly bought an 06 LX with 70000 miles and FSH for £2200).
If you can find a 2.2 diesel, they're ace- almost no drawback over the 2 litre, comparable economy if driven conservatively, not much more tax or insurance, but better drivability and just gives it that little bit of extra stealthy kick.
Mine is a Ghia X so has all the toys and manners... More miles than you're looking for and it's showing its age slightly (rattles like an Orange) but it's still sound. I do like it. About £400 extra on some mild tuning and remap and it's knocking on the door of 190bhp which gives it a bit of a different character to the standard 130 2.0 😉
Hadn't really thought of the 2.2tdci. I'll have a look about now.
Ghia X and Titanium X all seem to be around the £4.5k mark for a 60-70k car. I'll probably not be buying for a few weeks, so can keep my eye out.
Any problems with yours?
Nothing so far- gearbox is stiff into second when it's cold, which might just be the linkages, haven't been annoyed enough to do anything about it yet. I've put 15000 miles on it (taking it to 110K) without any real fuss. Split the main turbo hose, which was about £30 in parts and an hour's annoying work. CD player (the upgraded Sony one) was a bit picky about what it'd play, strggled with long CDs and CD-Rs, replaced that. EGRs block up, but mine's bypassed 😉 It does rattle something fierce. Occasionally I wish it had the traction control, though.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with the 2.0, btw. I just couldn't resist the upgrade. Main downside was that it reduced choice a lot, but I've a feeling it puts some buyers off- I'd have paid the same for a 2.0 I reckon.
Oh- and it's a big car. Brilliant for bikes, not so brilliant for parking at my local Tesco, it doesn't fit in the spaces!
Octavia?
Octavia is also a possibility, although there don't seem to be a lot about 2nd hand (maybe a good sign?)
A bit of googling has just reminded me how much I liked the Saab I had 8 years ago.
Is a 35-38mpg petrol engine a really stupid choice (I think I already know the answer!)
As Northwind says, the Mondeo appears a touch over priced for 8yo / 60k. Mine was private sale online autotrader £4400 @ 4 yo, 79K, Zetec, full dealer service history. It was a few years ago, but I don't think prices have increased that much. Mine has never let me down and been a great car with only wear and tear costs.
If you don't mind driving a grey car, then I would say Mondeo is the way, they're cheap yet get great reviews on everything but 2nd hand value. And cheap to run if you land a good one.
B.A.Nana - my head is saying Mondeo down to cost and (hopefully) cheap servicing.
A few years ago in your position I bought a motorbike for 'commuting' (into the offices where I could keep spare clothes) and an immaculate 80k 535i for £2k when either I need to be smart or frost/snow etc.
Motorbike did 60mpg and car had near-zero depreciation.
Win/Win.
Mondeo 2.2 too. It's been the most reliable car I've had and the longest I've owned a car. By no means boring, you need to drive one. I've had mine remapped so a little more fun. It still averages 42-45mpg on my slow commute and seen 60mpg going down to Spain fully loaded up.
I also looked at many cars ad really liked the 5 series but it wasn't that much better than the Mondeo for a far higher asking price. Hated the VAG range for the disconnected driving feel but did like the Octavia but again much smaller than the Mondeo