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What car (read 'CruiseMobile') to replace my 1996 Mk.II Mondeo Ghia?!

Evening All,

Well, after being pig-sick of the IT industry for some time now, I have finally landed a new job in AV, and with it, a nice redundancy payout from my existing employer. So I'm in the market for a new 'Motah', as they would say in the East End of London!

I've been driving an early Mk.II Mondeo Ghia X since 1999, and have since racked up 115,000 miles on it. It's been a damn good car, and still drives well, but the suspension has since become sloppy, and although the Zetec 2.0 still goes, it has become less willing over the last year or so; certainly it is noticeably slower than when I bought the car with 24,000 miles on it in September 1999.

So, I am open to suggestions for a new car. I've been searching for a Scorpio Ultima 2.3 for some time, and looked at loads, but they've all being either bent / clocked / abused in some way, apart from one gem of a 2.3 Ultima that I missed out on, 'cos I was too slow!!

Anyway, here are the criteria:

- Large Family Saloon, must be top spec (Ghia X equivalent)

- Suitable for occasional towing of a medium-sized trailer (Brenderup) or boat (Laser II)

- Comfortable for high-mileage crusing (currently averaging 30,000 miles per annum)

- All the toys; cruise, leather, aircon

- Not too thirsty (current 2.0 returns around 34mpg average)

- Self-serviceable. This is important, as I am insistent on doing EVERYTHING myself (yes, including 16v cambelts - a nightmare!)

- Refined ride - doesn't need to go like the clappers; comfort is more important than speed (i.e fully loaded - did I mention that already?!) "Q-Car" speed in disguise might appeal though.

My thoughts were:

  1. Mondeo Mk.III Ghia X with the new common-rail diesel engine. I'm told that, developing 130bhp, it's a damn good motor.
  2. Mondeo Mk.III Ghia X with the 2.5 V6 engine. Quick as you like, but on the thirsty side - and probably not much of an upgrade on what I've currently got.
  3. Audi A4 or perhaps A6. I *DO* like big cars - but not stupidly large (I'm attached, but no kids yet)
  4. Volvo V70.
  5. BMW 5 Series, with the big diesel lump. Think the model is a 530d. Like the idea of the status, and apparently these beasts return 40mpg, whilst still managing to go like a rocket. Got driven to Heathrow in one recently, a T plater that cost £11,000GBP privately.
  6. Volkswagen Passat.
  7. The Scorpio Ultima (1998 facelift version; finding a goodie now is tantamount to discovering rocking horse s**te in your back garden).

Ultimately, I have circa £10,000 to spend - I would be looking to buy privately, around 2 years old (or more, in the case of the Beemer). I'm a frustrated mechanic at heart - but do like my cars to look good and most of my time is spent 'crusing along' in comfort.

I would be genuinely keen to hear all suggestions for a top motor, that will serve me well for the next five years. At the end of the day, the budget is not fixed, and can be stretched for something that is really worth the money!

Thanks to all for their suggestions :)

Regards,

Al.

Reply to
Alan Dempster
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Have you thought about a Skoda Superb? Basically a VW Passat/ Audi A6(?) in disguise. Can be found with a 2.5 litre V6 turbo diesel which goes like the clappers but is relatively frigal on fuel. Cheap as chips.

Reply to
Rob

Other than being maybe a bit too thirsty, I'd say a Rover P5B coupe would be about ideal for you :) Not sure you could get them with aircon though.

Reply to
Stuffed

'Refined ride'? Have you ever driven one? Suspension by Harland and Woolf...

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Consider Peugeot 406 HDi 2.2, in Exec spec (i think thats the top one nowadays...). About 140bhp from that motor, and its supposed to be a really really crackin engine. Renowed for its ride and handling. Base models come with most stuff, top models come with everything. You could maybe even get yourself a Coupe if you were feeling a bit flash ;) Big still, but probly not as roomy as the saloon, but can be had with that spanking 2.2 HDi...

Reply to
Dan405

Not driven, but have been a passenger in one. I'm not into lard arsed cars myself, but I thought it was pretty good really.

I suppose an SD1 would be a better choice though? ;)

Reply to
Stuffed

Heh heh - hardly what I'd call a refined ride either. You'll need something with an independant rear end for that.

The XJ6 still takes some beating.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Nobody mentioned Saab 9-5? Very comfortable cruiser and should fit your budget nicely.

Reply to
Johannes H Andersen

Have a look at a Nissan QX 3.0 SEL (33.7mpg on a run). Superb car, luxurious, all the toys and gadgets you could want, and Japanese reliability at it's best.

Mogweed.

Reply to
Mogweed

ghia X tdci out of the ones listed, it's the one I'd have

2.3 ultima's are cheap as chips though and you'd have the thick end of about £8k to spend on something else :)

Reply to
dojj

A6s are good, though you get more for your money with a Passat. Mind you, from a certain point A6s came with leather as standard, but I doubt any of them will be down to £10k yet. Mind you, the saloons don't hold their value nearly as much as estates, so maybe worth a look. The 2.5TDI V6s are supposed to be nice, but the 1.9TDI PD 130bhp is almost as powerful and much more economical. I'd personally go for an A6 over Passat all day long as to me as I'm just not keen on the look of the Passat, particularly the estates, which IMHO do look very square and dull.

Mondeo TDCI - maybe, Volvo V70 - wasn't it a saloon you were after - though V70s do have nice styling - you could go for an S60 or even an S40, you might quite like them even though they're a bit smaller than other things you're considering. 530d - quite possibly. Scorpio Ultima - maybe.

Or here's a mad idea that you probably won't like the idea of - Carlton 24v Estate - there's one on ebay at the moment that looks very nice in the piccies, and will probably go on for many more miles, and I reckon it'll go for around £1500.

You haven't mentioned Omegas - I know they haven't got the greatest reputation, and really don't have strong residuals, but you get plenty of toys with them, the ride quality and comfort levels are very good (I briefly had a '94 TD Elite and loved it, particularly the electric seats which still worked perfectly with 265k on the clock, as did all the other electrics bar one bulb out somewhere on the dash), and you could get a decent specced one pretty much brand new for around £10k from trade sales type places (or probably just 2nd hand in general). You could go for the 2.6 or 3.2 V6, but thinking of economy, the 2.2, although probably not the most economical thing in the world, would still probably average 30-35mpg, and is chain driven as well, and supposed to be a pretty good engine - a massive improvement on the older 2.0 16v which seemed to have quite a few electrics problems - sensors packing up and such like. But not having a cambelt to break would be a big plus point for me. The Elites have everything - dual zone climate, electric leather seats, electric everything - a lot of stuff you might find hard to find on BMWs/Audis - and the ride quality is actually very good. Definitely worth a look. Only thing is, they'll depreciate like a stone, so buy as cheap as you can. Update - just searched on AutoTrader and can't find any 2.2 petrols in Elite spec, but it looks like £12-13k will get you a nearly new (up to 52 reg) low mileage 2.6 V6 or 2.2DTi, which might be worth a look. Though at those prices you're probably better off looking at a slightly older BMW or Audi.

Peter

Reply to
AstraVanMan

On that note I'll reiterate the Carlton Diamond 24v on ebay at the moment,

155k with fsh, and if it's a goodun it'll be an excellent buy. Only thing missing that I would like is electric seats.

Peter

Reply to
AstraVanMan

Thanks to all for their suggestions. I will probably do the 'boring' thing and go for the new 130bhp TDI Ford.

Or maybe the Beemer 530d.... will keep you updated!! :)

Again, to all who contributed, I'm very grateful for your input.

Regards,

Alan.

Reply to
Alan Dempster

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