Diesel Mondano

[pistol pete]

I need some cheap diesel wheels asap (big mileage increase, want better mpg). Max budget, maybe £2k. Preferably from a dealer as they might take my current cheap petrol wheels as part ex, hence I dont need to worry about a few jobs it could do with.

Is this the way to go? Anything to go for/avoid? When did the CDTi (is that what you call the new ones) engine come in?

Cheers,

Pete

[mondayo]

Unless you have to buy a ford and/or mondeo, then dont bother looking at a diesel ford. The new TDCI diesels only came out more recently and are a fair way out of your reach on a 2K budget.

If I were you, I'd look at something like a VAG diesel for that sort of money

[nighthawk]

TDCi engines didn't get to mondeo until the 2001 series in 130Ps form
not a chance of picking one of these up for the amount you want to spend m8,

the 97-> (mk II) used the 1.8 endura engine, not that refined or economical tbh.

i'd have a look for a pug, resonable build, strong diesel heritage and comfy on a run.... not to mention cheaper to buy than a VW pastit.

[dern]

My brother has been running an old (94 I think) diesel mondeo for about a year which he bought for about 900 quid. I serviced it for him a month or so ago and they seem fine. It's pretty slow and the engine is rather noisy I guess but they are no where near as bad as you've probably heard. I'd put up with a bit of noise for the savings in purchase price, parts and servicing over a vw if it's just cheap wheels you're after.

We've had a mondeo for 5 years now and only normal stuff has broken/worn-out and would happily buy another. Pug build quality is an absolute lottery... had two near identical 205s GTi - one was great and one was an absolute nightmare despite being the better bet on paper, wouldn't touch another one.

Mark

>> Edited by dern on Wednesday 13th April 10:30

[towman]

Autotrader....

2000 SKODA OCTAVIA 1.9LX DIESEL,
W reg. 5dr, 1owner, 12 months MoT, service history, PAS, CL, twin airbags, superb drive, high mileage, PX possible, Teignmoiuth area. £1,895 . ono. 01626 775571.

2001 SKODA OCTAVIA SDi TURBO DIESEL,
51 reg. Twin airbags, PAS, MOT November, central locking, high mileage. £1,995 . 07863 371959.

High mileage no prob with these. Just make sure the belts have been done.

[DennisTheMenace]

Citroen ZX TD , me mothers had hers for years and apart from servicing its never gone wrong , french reliability is just as good as everyone elses , not only that it goes like the clappers still gives my 115ps TDCI focus a run for its money very underated car , in the early 90's car mags raved about them , the focus of their day .

[dern]

DennisTheMenace said:

french reliability is just as good as everyone elses

Sorry but that's bollox. You may well have a good one there but to say their build quality is anything other than extraordinarily variable is misleading. My experience is...

Cit 2cv - great, no problems
Cit BX - went through driveshafts, lots of small problems often leaving me stranded, eventually its engine seized.
Pug 205 Gti 1.9 - great no problems (except the wheel folded under car when I hit a curb at 5mph)
Pug 205 Gti 1.6 - most problematic car I've ever owned, the interior and exterior finish was garbage and it was totally unreliable and appeared to be beyond the pug garages ability to fix
Mates 205 diesel - seemed to go forever despite oil light coming on in corners even when topped up
Same mates 206 gti - all the laquer peeled off weeks from new
Mates zx volcane - great to begin with then started to fall to bits costing a fortune. Engine & cat problems at very low mileage.
Mate company laguna - ok car but bits constantly failing and/or falling apart from new

French cars are cheap for a reason and buying one is a gamble.

Mark