Looks like my old Octavia is almost past the point of not being worth repairing, so I’m looking around for an alternative.

Tidy looking 52/53 plate Mondeos seem to be available for between 1k an 1.5k, but are there any major issues I should be aware of? Most seem to have 100 to 120k miles on them and have seen a nice Ghia for not a lot of cash.

Not too bothered about mpg as I only do around 7k a year.

Ta!

rear subframes fail

Age. Firmly into the skimping on servicing/high miles etc etc phase. Buy on condition and thoroughly test drive it. At that age/price you dont have much comeback on a dealer sale if anything goes wrong.

Agree with hora on this one. Best bet is take it for a test drive and give it a proper pasting. Clutches will be your downfall. Any hint of slip. Unless its cheap walk away. Then again my old man bought an old escort diesel that needed a clutch. But with carefull driving got 30k before it needed a new one.
Basically you’re buying on condition and using common sense. Read some ford forums.

Excellent choice at that price/age. A service history would be good, expect a bit of rust and don’t expect diesel mpg and you’ll be fine. Fords are as good if not better than most at that age, including VAG.

i have on 03 plate 2.0 tdci with 157k on the clock, mine has had:
brake discs/pads rear calipers.
an exhaust.
drop links and springs all round.
some oil.
lots of diesel.
some tyres.
thats the lot, a thoroughly decent motor ime.
sick of the sight of mine now, but it will stay as long as it can pass the test every year.

my father has just parted with is Y reg 2l mk3 ghia x. sticking rear calipers and breaking springs were the only issues. both cheap to fix (after market springs outlast ford ones by a huge margin.)
he used to see 36-38mpg. Great car
we’ve got a Mk3 TDci 112k so far still a great car.

The estate has better rear suspension. The petrol’s are very reliable. The plenum chambers can get gunked up and the egr’s can stick. Other than that great cars, no cam belts and the clutches last much longer on the petrols. Prefer the zetec to the ghia, plastic wood looks a bit naff.

What’s been paid above. Springs corrode so make sure check them, usually snap about 4-5 inch into the coil from the bottom. Bushes on rear sub frame go but easy fix. Early Mondeo’ doors rusted at the bottom so have a good look.
Might sound a bit silly but I always check the tyre brands. If they are a good brand and all matching then most likely the owner won’t have skimped on the other maintenance.

I bought a 51 plate 2ltr Ghia nearly 2 years ago.

Cost me £895 with fsh. Near immaculate car. Done 40k miles in 2 yrs (156k in total) 70 miles commute per day, 39mpg ave. took 5 of us fully loaded with a roof box to s France last summer.

I’ve had some very nice cars in my past (when kids didn’t burn all my money), but I genuinely love this one. Amazing car.

I believe they also have a chain so no cam belt to change.

sticking rear calipers and breaking springs were the only issues.

Apart from general wear items, that’s the only issues I ever had with mine (’02 diesel eventually sold after 9 yrs owning @ 12 yo with 185k miles), but neither were an expensive fix so not that big a deal breaker and both could be argued as wear items also. 2 springs and 2 seized calipers over 9 yrs/185k so not that bad really. You’re maybe more likely to experience aged caliper seizing if it’s left for long periods unused regularly.
My clutch lasted 185000 miles and for all I know, a fair bit longer. As above, clutch is an expensive fix on mondy.
Towards the end I also started having noticeable rust problems to bodywork (door sills) and frame required a bit of welding (not expensive).
Overall tho, I’d say they are a fairly safe bet compared to others at that age.

Rust, especially along botyom of doors.

spend 600-900 on a fresh pre-vvti avensis hatch, end of thread!

Thanks folks, sound like they could be a good buy – still in two minds wether to ditch the Octavia!

Its a 99 model, it goes and stops. But the steering has started ‘twanging’ suggesting new springs are needed, the locks work when they feel like it and I just feel the clutch is starting to go as it slips a bit on hill starts.

And after 8 years of having a dog in, two water leaks and being used as a skip . . . it bloody stinks!!

I’ve had a couple from that era – rear spring bushings or some such (I’m not technically minded) are apparently a weak point but not an expensive fix at £100 a set.

Price seems expensive for the age/mileage you’re looking at.

My post wins on the mileage game I think….
Sister had a 52 plate 2 litre petrol.
Was an ex taxi with 230k on the clock 😯 still had original engine which was still going fine but suspension and other parts saw the end of it.

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/any-diesel-experts-in

I’ve had mine 9 years. New rear subframe bushes, 3 springs, sticky rear caliper, intermittent EGR sticking but it clears itself. Rusty driver’s door bottom but they’d fixed that by 52 plates. That’s about it. I get 39mpg overall, the VED is a bit steep at £260 last time.

Not the same engine but my old mondeo st (so same shape as what you’re looking at op) was one of the best cars I’ve ever had.