So, following on from my “Should I buy a Rover 75” I have come to my senses.

I have about 4k to spend. I want a big estate – normal STW story.

My best options appear to be either a Ford Mondeo or a VW Passat.

What should I be looking for in either of these?

I did have an Octavia and I fancy something different.

I am drawn to the Mondeo this time – I think they look a little nicer.

And what about high mileage? Should I avoid? What is high mileage for a car such as these?

I’ve seen this one:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201601180181138?body-type=estate&sort=pricedesc&make=ford&radius=15&search-target=usedcars&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&price-to=4000&page=1&postcode=GU12%205JF&model=mondeo&logcode=p

Any good?

What about a Honda. Rode in a taxi Honda estate, it felt lovely, looked good, and the taxi man ras raving about it on a cost to buy and run basis

it’s what i wish I’d bought, instead of a Passat, to be honest

Honda Accord?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201511108573234?page=1&make=honda&model=accord&sort=pricedesc&price-to=4000&radius=10&search-target=usedcars&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&postcode=GU12%205JF&logcode=p

A Passat?

*TANNOY*

MOLLY TO THE FORUM PLEASE? REPEAT: MOLLY TO THE FORUM PLEASE!

*TANNOY*

Mazda 6 (but the petrol one)

Mileage isn’t as much of an issue these days. Engines will last to 200k + easily. You just need to check the servicing of the other parts. Younger cars with high mileage will mainly be motorway miles and absolutely fine. Far better than a car that’s been shunted around on short journeys everywhere.

I have come to my senses.

good man.

the mileage thing is tricky. 150k on the motorway is better IMO than 50k driven on the stop/start pot-holed school run/round town. So it’s more a case of how/where it’s driven rather than the absolute mileage.

A downside of the one you linked to above for me is the heated windscreen. As soon as I latch onto the windscreen heating elements, that’s all I can see. hate it.

Is there any love for petrol saabs? I may be in the market for an estate in the near future (doesn’t need to be mahoosive though) and still like the look of the late model 9-3 estates myself. I know they’re no longer made but spares are still plentiful from what I hear and they seem well priced.

ooh.

Saab.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201601210269580?make=saab&price-to=4000&radius=10&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&body-type=estate&page=1&search-target=usedcars&sort=pricedesc&postcode=GU12%205JF&logcode=p

As above though the 9-3 is not a big estate.

And I think the diesel is a Vauxhall unit. And therefore a bit pants?

I’m not sure it’s the same engine in the 9-5 though.

I think I’ve listed the life of woe with a Saab 9-3 TiD on some threads before. Don’t. Just don’t. Petrol would be a different story, but buy couple of spare sets of springs anyway, as they’re consumables.

downside of the one you linked to above for me is the heated windscreen

…and just for balance… the heated windscreen is one of the things that keeps me coming back to Mondeos. Fantastic.

The only downside of the Mondeos is the relatively poor fuel economy.
Typically 45 mpg maximum from my 163ps, if driven like a granny.

Citroen C5 estate if you want big…

Skoda Superb – not sure how many will fit into your budget…

Honda Accord Estate…

Why is this not easy. I just want there to be one option!

🙂

When I went looking for mondeos at this price, it didn’t really feel like good value… Like, you get a few less miles, maybe a year or two fresher than you get for £3000, but nothing really massive. So I spent half my budget, and saved the rest for any big bills. Now fair play mine was cosmetically rough but it cost me £2200, 3 years older but 10000 less miles than that Zetec you linked, bigger engine and nicer spec. Basically it felt like pretty minor changes in age and miles were commanding a big price premium.

(I wouldn’t want the 18s on that particular one mind)

I had the Mk3 Mondeo and went to the Mk2 Octavia. The Ford is better in build, handling, comfort and economy. It is a bigger car which with shrinking car parking spaces can be awkward.
I can’t really knock the Mondeo as it is very good car and the badge snobs will try and knock it to justify why they spent much more money on car that is no better.

…and just for balance… the heated windscreen is one of the things that keeps me coming back to Mondeos. Fantastic.

I really, really liked the heated windscreen on my old Focus. Really, really!

The Ford is better in build, handling, comfort and economy.

I went from a Mk1 Focus Zetec to a Mk1 Octavia vRS and would agree with, apart from the economy bit. Although, saying that, the Ford did have more small niggley problems (as opposed to bigger, easily fixable ones on the Skoda).

SAAB? Maybe a few years ago but as they get leggier than Usain Bolt it’ll be a wallet implosion.

Imagine planning your next garage visit monthly for another issue or adding up the post mot bill.

Buy simple of buy Japanese. I buy only Japanese 8)

I asked a bloke on a course last week ‘so why do you drive a Corolla’?

He replied ‘lime you I like to spend my monthly wage on other things non car related’

9-3s are decent cars if you’re looking at 03/04 onwards – you have to remember that they were priced in the same ballpark as a 3 series. This meant that they didn’t review that well when they were new, but now they’re half the price of a 3 series they’re very good value.

A lot of the running gear is shared with the Vectra C, and the SAAB parts business still exists, so parts availability isn’t a big issue. Rear suspension is different to a Vectra C, with rear wheel steer designed in so they corner pretty well for the size of car they are. Not as good as an E46, but decent enough.

I’ve had mine for about 35000 miles. Running costs aren’t dirt cheap but they’re not ruinous – rear calipers go (they’re the same as Vectra C ones, I’ve changed both mine) and exhausts aren’t cheap as it’s not a common car. All the brake parts are common sizes so they’re cheap enough. A 20000 mile service costs £40 in Mobil 1 plus about £30 in filters if you go for pattern parts, which is about the same as any other modern quickish car.

Engines are cast by GM but with SAAB input to the design and SAAB engine management to make the turbocharging work. The 150 models can easily be pushed up to 200bhp and the 210 bhp models can go up to 250 without any physical modifications. Noobtune can do this for much less £ than you would expect. The engines and engine management systems were used in some Vauxhall / Opel models so again, all the bits are still available from GM.

All the diagnostics are done via Tech 2, which again is a GM piece of kit so you don’t have to hunt high and low for a specialist to find someone who can read codes.

The seats and general ergonomics are great, they’re nice quiet cars and they go well. Mine is a heavy convertible, and it’s quicker from a rolling start than a new 420D, which I think is a pretty good go to £ compromise. They’re also pretty safe – 5 star euro NCAP which is better than you get from most cars in the price range.

The main downsides to the car are that the 6 speed GM box isn’t the nicest and you can get through £180 worth of Continental tyres pretty quickly if you give it a lot of stick, but again, that’s common to any powerful car. They don’t have much of an “image” which I quite like, as people let you out at junctions 😆

The