What estate car?!

[legrandefromage]

To be honest, for £1500 you could pick up a fairly low miler (<120k), and it would be a long time before one would need to worry about flywheels.

Longer than one would likely retain the car.

Meanwhile one would be driving a top spec comfy economical wagon.

mondeo 2nd generation (mk3) diesel can go as early as 80,000m for both flywheel and rear bushes

Dip the clutch when the engines running - if you hear an odd 'whirring' that changes as the clutch pedal is depressing in and out - walk away

120,000 miles is perfect knackered flywheel territory - it takes out the starter motor too as the wheel disintegrates

VW has DMF but as far as I'm aware, far less prone to disintegrating. However, cambelt changes are a must! And make sure the whole kit is used. As the bearings wear, the belt and followers start eating into the housing. The water pump should be changed at the same time as the impeller is not splined so spins freely when worn

 

[legrandefromage]

The eight year olds as sold were generally built in 2001/2002, and are not the years known for flywheel problems, which incidentally is not nearly as common as it seems to be suggested.

The Passat is not as reliable as the price it commands second hand would suggest.

You won't find a more suitable, or better value, car for the job in question than an early 2000s Mondeo.

The choice of engine is down to what the car will be doing most of, but you could run the larger petrol options for a couple of years then swap for something else if you don't do crazy high miles and need the diesel economy.

sorry but you are wrong about 'early' mk3 mondeos - they all have the flywheel issue - the firm I work at runs 40 to 60 mondeos at any one time and the flywheel was a day one problem.

They do have timing chains though whereas the mk4 does not.

I'll find out whats the biggest issue with the Mk4 later

 

[legrandefromage]

Yes plus a few petrol. Bad news on the Mk4 - the dmf is still an issue with the record set at 38000 miles! And there is also an internal engine belt that munches the engine if it goes. Mk4 also eats steering racks. One thing I remember from the Mk3 is eats rear calipers and hand brake cables

 

[alanf]

Ford Galaxy

more boot space than all of them^^^^ cheap to run, ferry people around too, and I've put 176k miles on mine and it's cost very little to run.

x2

the load area is huge with the seats taken out and the load platform isnt to low when you have you lug stuff in and out and is easier on your back!

 

[djoptix]

Galaxy is winning so far! What engine? 2.3? Motorway pootling will be the order of the day.

 

[legrandefromage]

Galaxy used VW engines for diesel

Ford 2.3 petrol is good but thirsty

 

[pigman]

Is the galaxy, VW sharan and seat alhambra the same beast, or different animals with the same coat?

 

[legrandefromage]

pretty much the same gizzards - diesels are all VAG, petrols - who knows! VW VR6 went into the Galaxy, Ford 2.3 too

ironically Ford were upset with the quality control - probably too good??

*edit

Similar in the same way Fiat Ulyesse/ Peugeot 806/ Citroen Synergie

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Galaxy

 

[alanf]

the 1.9 tdi is the better option for mpg, the 2.3 (ford)and the 2.8(vw) are thirsty beasts! the 1.8t(vw) isnt too bad the 2.0(ford) petrol is a slug under powered and thirsty and should be avoided!
things to look out for are working ac! electrical faults, water ingress! and interior trim condition! ac is a big thing on these! you need it! they are like a green house in the summer and mist up like crazy in the winter!
electrical faults are mostly wireing failures! the looms to the door and rear hatch fail with all the opening and shutting
water ingress can also cause lecky faults! mainly due to the alarm/central locking ecu being situated under the front passenger seats on early models which are known to fill with water! as long as you keep the scuttle drain clear this problem doesnt happen
Interiors are getting rare now on the earlier models, seats are interchangable across the range, its things like door cards and interior panels that are getting hard to find in good condition
I know it sounds bad but I had mine from 50k and stuck over another 125k on it before I swapped it out, and I still miss it :cry:

 

[Splatter Paint]

My Dad picked up a 1.8 GLX Mondeo estate, one owner, full Ford service history, 65k miles with tax and MOT for £550. You, really, really can't beat Fords for second hand value. Plus at £500 a time you could have three for your £1500!

SP