Nice test for someone - car on a budget
26 February 2011, 09:16 PM
#61
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26 February 2011, 10:12 PM
#62
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Mk3 mondeo, they are a nice fun drive, good road holding and the steering is good. I'm going to get 130 tdci as a family car. Get good results from a remap too.
26 February 2011, 11:03 PM
#63
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Not any old 130 though!!!!
Mine is an LX with std 16" wheels which wallows like a boat. My Dad used to have one which was a Zetec-S which sat on 18's. I don't know if the suspension was any different to mine but the drive was a million miles better than mine (did ford do funky suspension from the factory?).
Mine is an LX with std 16" wheels which wallows like a boat. My Dad used to have one which was a Zetec-S which sat on 18's. I don't know if the suspension was any different to mine but the drive was a million miles better than mine (did ford do funky suspension from the factory?).
26 February 2011, 11:17 PM
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Not any old 130 though!!!!
Mine is an LX with std 16" wheels which wallows like a boat. My Dad used to have one which was a Zetec-S which sat on 18's. I don't know if the suspension was any different to mine but the drive was a million miles better than mine (did ford do funky suspension from the factory?).
Mine is an LX with std 16" wheels which wallows like a boat. My Dad used to have one which was a Zetec-S which sat on 18's. I don't know if the suspension was any different to mine but the drive was a million miles better than mine (did ford do funky suspension from the factory?).
26 February 2011, 11:42 PM
#66
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Mine has 74k. I guess the difference must simply be in the wheel size. FWIW,as much as it handles fine, it's by no means fun, especially when the other option on my drive is the Wife's Fab VRS - a complete hoot 
27 February 2011, 01:22 AM
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I got this last week, its mint, great run about for the wife,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWNX:IT
My 335i is now my weekend car :-)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWNX:IT
My 335i is now my weekend car :-)
27 February 2011, 09:49 AM
#69
So many bargains about! You should think sensible stuff if its the main one chocolate
Says me who forked out £3k for a T reg classic mini cooper
Certainly shows the difference between German stuff and British built stuff! (love the little sod though)
Says me who forked out £3k for a T reg classic mini cooper
Certainly shows the difference between German stuff and British built stuff! (love the little sod though)
27 February 2011, 03:41 PM
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I'm now looking at all sorts again whilst sat here with a can of "damn, that's a light tasting beer"...
Saabs and Mondeo's today. Seen a nice 2001 red Zetec for £1,000 with 118k? Reasonable?
Saabs and Mondeo's today. Seen a nice 2001 red Zetec for £1,000 with 118k? Reasonable?
27 February 2011, 06:47 PM
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Ive had a Saab in the past, a 9-3 2.0 turbo 150 saloon very very nice car like driving a living room about but the engine was very sluggish. I also hear what you are saying about 156's very nice cars and as james says the best bit is the interior, which is where you should spend most of your time. My two pence worth..........do it 
27 February 2011, 07:13 PM
#72
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This is the Mondeo I've seen. Emailed the guy about it. It hasn't any service history which is the only thing that bugs me... cam chain or whatever the Zetec has.
Any thoughts?
http://pistonheads.com/sales/2551682.htm
Cars only 6 miles away...
Any thoughts?
http://pistonheads.com/sales/2551682.htm
Cars only 6 miles away...
28 February 2011, 06:50 PM
#73
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I'm starting to go boring and sensible in my search now. Queue Ford Mondeo's and Peugeot 406's.
Scouring eBay and Pistonheads for maybe a bargain diesel. Looking around 2001...
Scouring eBay and Pistonheads for maybe a bargain diesel. Looking around 2001...
28 February 2011, 07:12 PM
#74
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is there such a thing as a bargain diesel? I was looking for one not so long ago and it looked like a case of if it goes wrong, it goes wrong expensively.
01 March 2011, 01:22 PM
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friend had a 156. try 700 fixing a gearbox. another 200 sorting faulty door fobs out.
he'd actually bought a decent one too, not a grands worth of crap as he's loaded.
couldn't wait to px it and get shut.
only other bloke I know who had one (actually a 147) (bought brand new) got shut after 6 mths and bought an audi. fed up of faults on it.
dunno what 1200 will buy you in all honesty ? fiats perhaps ? citroens I think are overlooked and surprisingly good.
he'd actually bought a decent one too, not a grands worth of crap as he's loaded.
couldn't wait to px it and get shut.
only other bloke I know who had one (actually a 147) (bought brand new) got shut after 6 mths and bought an audi. fed up of faults on it.
dunno what 1200 will buy you in all honesty ? fiats perhaps ? citroens I think are overlooked and surprisingly good.
01 March 2011, 03:02 PM
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01 March 2011, 04:46 PM
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If you are going French - take a risk on a Citroen C5? As long as the suspension is ok should be good... know someone who had one for years as a tow car and it never failed. The estate is hearse like in load capacity too.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2558299.htm
5t.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2558299.htm
5t.
01 March 2011, 06:19 PM
#81
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Hmm still looking but nothing concrete yet. Eventually, I'm having another Scoob so I may try keep my decision sensible to keep costs down. The Mondeo or 406 is obviously sensible as petrol or deisel they are common and easyish to work on with cheapish parts.
01 March 2011, 09:57 PM
#84
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Our accountant lady has a diesel mondy and the DMF clutch went on that. Think £700 was mates rates - pretty sure it started out over a grand. It's not on big miles either.
It sounds almost like a when not if problem with them.
Think?? its only diesels that have the issue.
It sounds almost like a when not if problem with them.
Think?? its only diesels that have the issue.
01 March 2011, 10:01 PM
#85
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Our accountant lady has a diesel mondy and the DMF clutch went on that. Think £700 was mates rates - pretty sure it started out over a grand. It's not on big miles either.
It sounds almost like a when not if problem with them.
Think?? its only diesels that have the issue.
It sounds almost like a when not if problem with them.
Think?? its only diesels that have the issue.
02 March 2011, 05:32 PM
#88
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1. Insurance is with a generic insurer not a specialist so would be horrendous if they want £600 off for a 406 LX
2. 3 doors and I need 4 really for baby seat.
05 March 2011, 09:25 PM
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Today was the first time I'd gone and looked/driven a car. Went to Mansfield to look at a Saab 9-3 turbo (low pressure model). Was a lovely drive and had a stamped service history book, tax, test etc. But 2 things put me off slightly, there was a slight oil leak from the right hand side near the cylinder head and the steering had slight wobble with the wheel off centre.
The car was up for £990 and I tried to negotiate this down a little for the above but the dealer wasn't prepared to negotiate at all.
So search continues....
The car was up for £990 and I tried to negotiate this down a little for the above but the dealer wasn't prepared to negotiate at all.
So search continues....