I agree.

Just been for a nice drive in my dads 2.2tdci mondeo and it ain't half nice to drive covering the miles effortlessly.

There is no question that out of the newer cars the Mondeo is the best you can get for that money.

If you want a bit older the E39 5 series is also best in class by a long way. You should be able to pick up some excellent models in that price range. The new shape E60 is even heading towards that price these days.

I have come from having a Meg 225, (first version brought out with out the cup pack). The car was quick comfortable, and loaded with all the toys you would need. However in the 18 months i had it, it needed 4 new injectors, a new ecu, and a new drivers side seat cover as the side bolster had worn through. The other problem it had was that it wore rear tyres faster than fronts:wonder:, which considering it is a front wheel drive car was remarkable this was traced to an over enthusiatic stability control program, which changed to a later one. Oh and one other problem was that the out of eight pots in the front brakes it managed to seize 6 of them and left me sailing out of a junction with no stopping power, though when they worked they the brembos were great.

Now I have a Mondy st that I bought with 13k on the clock for 14k. The car is real world fast. I my terms that means it's not going to rip your arms out with out right speed, but it travels quickly comfortably across all roads and regularly does 550 miles to a tank (compared to 250 miles- 300 miles on a good day for the Meg). When you press on it keeps gripping and handles well though you can feel the extra weight of that pig iron diesel lump up front swinging around up front. So far it has had a CV boot changed under warrenty at about 25k, and now has 32k on it with no other probs.

All things considered, if you can get a good Meg they are great fun, the boot is small but you rarely see one. The Mondy is safe some would say boring but does exactly what it says on the tin, and dare i say it you'll probably see less of them on the road than a 3 series or A4, and for the amount extra kit at that price is badge snobbery worth it. :wonder:

looks like 320d sport is the only one i can get with the money i have. Should do well with a chip :)

My advice is to go for plenty of test drives. :)

I wholly agree that the Ford oval is now a relatively rare thing compared to the german propeller.

I drive classic PPP scoob, Mondy Est ST 2.2, MGB and a couple of bikes and the Mondy is a hoot. In reality the quickest point to point and good for 43mpg in hard use.

In gear acceleration is a blast if on boost, handling very good and cornering really flat.
I can stick top box on and have the carrying capacity of the QE2, drive all day in great , heated seats listening to a fantastic Sony head unit, with full iPod compatability.

I get to drive alot of vehicles and I would not want a 3 series; 1 series is a joke. A 535d touring might persuade me, but nothing less.

Thing is that you get alot of car for 11K if you go the Mond way, and some sucker has taken the hit on the depreciation.
Mine (lease) was £23.5k. A private sell would get you one for £12 to £13k.


Still you appear not to be swayed, so go with the masses and occupy the outside lane and take the bulbs out of the indicators...........Rant over

Cheers

I was in this position last November - without the family requirement, but needed something reliable and comfortable on the Motorway.

I opted for an Accord TypeS.

It has been a good all round car, looks nice with the subtle body kit (no spoiler) IMO. It handles very well, not a car for the back roads, but great on open A-roads. Note that the suspension is different from the Exec version.

Performance is hard work with the V-tec, but rewarding when pushing on and being a Honda it wil not break down. Worth an addition to your test drive list.


Nik

Ford round my way are actually trying to sell 54 fiestas for 9k, and 55reg KA's for 8k. :lol:

Thing is the average brit is just a complete imbecile when it comes to cars thing that ford will be one of the cheapest and most reliable when it actually no longer like that. The average brit just loves a ford for some reason.

The only fords worth buying is the Transit, Focus ST, and the Transit connect. All other models are ripoffs.

Hmm odd that my ford has less problems than any of my previous cars, guess i must just be lucky. :Whatever_.

Anyway speaking of imbeciles i can't wait for your witty response, which smiley this time :sleep:or maybe the old standby :rolleyes:.

Anyway best get out side in the sun or i might turn into a pale skinned internet surfing plumber with a german car fetish, nah forget that i left school with more than a pencil case and ability to socialise.

330d
 

i'm surprised no-one has mentioned the 330d, 184bhp stock, 220+ with van aaken chip, you will get one for 11k but will need to shop around for a good one.

You took the words right out of my mouth, well said.

rover..erm no
mondeo..erm no
i've had more than my fair share of beemers in the past and always have used the indicators :)

i'm now 100% set on some form of 3 series, either 325,320d,330d

That's why anyone with half brain buys from the car supermarkets and gets a year old car with near 50% off.

Cheers
Lee

Merc c220 Avantgarde Estate
Automatic
Full Command (i.e. Sat Nav, Phone, no TV though)
Leather Black
Xenons
Alloys
Full Merc History
Metallic Burgandy
£12K,

PM if iinterested.

Car supermarkets tend to be just as expensive, and their main customers are those with bad credit ratings so that they can load them with a high interest finance package.

My little brother got is 06 seat ibiza 1.4 sport for 8.5 grand with 3,000 miles on the clock, I told him to go for it straight away as thats an amazing deal for a quality vehicle. Ford couldnt match that price on their all round inferior fiesta at all. They were a grand dearer for a car that was older and had more miles. They sure are lucky that they have got the average british imbecile who think fords are great to pay those prices!

Wrong again, the big players like Motorpoint, Motorhouse 2000 and Trade Sales are far cheaper than dealers and do not rely on buyers with poor credit ratings
There are some that play on credit like Carcraft but they are best avoided.

I have some dealings with Motorhouse 2000 and over 75% of their sales do not involve their own finance. Your 55 plate Ka for £8k can be bought for £4399. They have delivery mileage Mondeo TDCi's with £10k off list price or what about a Bentley Continental GT in for £96999, delivery mileage 911 Carrera at £59999 or delivery mileage Ranger Rover V8 diesel Vogues for £56999. Im sure the poor credit people will be lining up to buy those at 30%APR.

Cheers
Lee

People round your way must be really stupid to pay those prices I agree, you can pick 56 plate Fiesta 1.4 Zetec's up for less than £7.5k and 56 plate Fiesta Styles for £6.5k. As for the Fiesta being inferior, that's open to debate but the Fiesta is certainly more fun to drive than the Ibiza. The Ibiza has the VAG electic power steering that is also found on the Polo and Fabia, it's over assisted, offers little feel and sometimes can get caught out at low speeds.
My wife has one and it isn't anywhere near as good to drive as my Dad's Fiesta, the Fiesta is full of feel and drives like a gocart.

Cheers
Lee

Only have the likes of car craft and others that play on credit around london to my knowledge.

If what your saying about motorhouse etc is true then I put my hands up and will admit that not all car supermarkets are a rip-off places for the poor.

My brother agrees that the fiesta zetec is a better drive, but he reckons his ibiza sport with the low profiles and sport suspension is the better performer, and its slightly more powerful. Having driven the car myself I have to say it handles much better than I thought it would. Steering is rather light at low speeds though.

Sean, test the 3 series Sports before buying - as you know I had the 320CD Sport until recently - fab car, looked superb, drove really well, but with the sport package its a no-no as a family car - the suspension was harder than my SBC kit on the 205, it tramlined due to the 18" M wheels and was a very very firm ride.

The Beemer was great as a drivers/sports car, but not a patch on our Civic as a family car, though the Civic is over budget. It wasn't the most reliable car we've had either, our old FORD Focus wins that contest hands down :)

Sod the German ****e, how about an is200 or is300?

if german stuff is ****e whats the british and american stuff? Sewage waste? :lol:

British and American are even worse lol. Will only buy jap now.

you would buy a toyota? :eek2: :eek:

Oh yes. The IS range is really nice to drive. Have had german cars in the past and have been ripped off and let down with them. However the only German car I wouold buy is Audi. The old quattro sport GT coupe was an awesome car.

What you mean a nice british built car ;)

Derby's finest. :D

A lot more reliable and with a higher customer satisfaction rating than your usuall German rep mobile. :p ;) :D

Some Jap manufacturers are spoiling the image though with company's like Mitsubishi falling down the reliability charts.

Cheers
Lee

Didnt skoda beat toyota in the last reliability and satisfaction survey ;) :D

Yep,

Which means with the same parts the Czech's are a lot better at building cars than the Germans. :D

Cheers
Lee

I test drove a 300d sport today, didn't find it 'too' firm at all. Really loved the car, hoping to secure one in the next few weeks. I'm not paying bmw main dealer prices that's for sure :)