Help ! Car info

[louisesgarden]

My mondeo estate is no longer ! after a crash on the motorway on my birthdays off all days !!!! Now i need to buy another car, but not sure i want another mondeo, i want something of a decent size, i dont like little cars. everytime i see one i think i like someone tells me how rubbish they are!!!!! does anyone own a mondeo sized car, not new 5 to 7 year old ish, that they can say is reliable ? as i need reliabilty rather than looks with the mileage i do.

[SarzWix]

I had a Mondeo, loved it.. I went to a Focus estate, not quite so wide, but plenty of room. They're not a bad price, you can get them with a decent spec, esp Ghias, and I've never had a breakdown with mine in 3 years. It's a V reg, so 9/10 years old.

[louisesgarden]

I did like my mondeo, never had any problems apart from 1, with the fuel injectors, a common fault i gather on the turbo diesel models, but a very costly repair. i wonder if the focus diesel would have the same problems.

[Incy]

If you're after reliability then Ford or Mazda would be a good option. Both renowned for not breaking down. Ford parts are cheaper though so that could be a consideration.

[bluemoon]

Like Sarz we went from the Mondeo estate to the Focus estate, I much prefer it, but both being Fords it wasn't like having to learn to drive all over again. It's lovely and roomy, fits camping gear, two dogs and a grandson in without needing the trailer or roof-box. When we bought it OH was dithering between that and a Laguna estate, but we bought the Focus because the Ford was a known quantity. We also have a Micra which is getting old, but we've had it from new and doubt we'd part with it now until it goes to the great motorway in the sky. It's brilliant for economy round town or when the Focus is rammed with stuff OH needs for work and we can't be bothered to empty it, but roomy it isn't - though I did once get a washing machine and a large rabbit hutch in with the back seats down, but had help from the men at Curry's and the next door pet-shop (needed both urgently and couldn't wait nearly a week for delivery and OH and the Focus were in Grimsby).

[digthatchick]

Volvo V70 - reliable, safe and very reasonably priced at 5 -7 years old.

[HeyWayne]

I'm selling my Accord, and hoping to buy the estate version. Unfortunately mine is an 05, so probably doesn't meet your criteria.

Engine (diesel) is bulletproof, and on a recent trip up north I managed 520 miles on 3/4 of a tank.

[lainey lou]

Might be a bit small for you but I LOVE my Corsa, its so comfy to drive and pretty spacious for a smallish car, good size boot (I have 2 children and we regulary go camping).

[lainey lou]

Engine (diesel) is bulletproof.

Useful!

[smallblueplanet]

We've got a diesel Ford Fusion 3, from new, for the past 5 years, a bigger car but not a 'people carrier'. Its easier to get into & out of (if you're a bit older or stiffer! ). Its not a bad ride and has lots of space. Would get another.

Ford Fusion Overview

[HeyWayne]

I always have a look on Parkers website to get a decent idea of what's worth a look and what's not (after taking personal choice into consideration).

New & Used Cars, UK Car Dealers - Parker's

Some things must be taken with a pinch of salt however - having read that the Saab 9-5 Estate was a "roomy" car I sat in one recently. Granted I'm larger than Joe Average, but I wouldn't have considered it "roomy" - less knee room in it than my Accord oddly.

But facts and figures will give you a good steer.

[vicky]

I've got a diesel focus estate (03 reg) and I really like it. It's currently in the garage having it's 100,000 mile bits done (they have to change things when it's done that many), it just passed it's MOT without any work. If I won the lottery I'd buy a new one!
We always buy our cars at the auctions - you can save quite a bit of money, you don't have to know about cars but if you can recognise your local car dealers they only bid on things that are ok so you know which to go far! Sneaky!

[louisesgarden]

Volvo V70 - reliable, safe and very reasonably priced at 5 -7 years old.

Just been and looked at one of them, i quite liked it x

[louisesgarden]

I'm selling my Accord, and hoping to buy the estate version. Unfortunately mine is an 05, so probably doesn't meet your criteria.

Engine (diesel) is bulletproof, and on a recent trip up north I managed 520 miles on 3/4 of a tank.

I do like honda`s in my girl racer years !! i used to have a Honda prelude 2.2 vtec, had it for ten years from new, it was a fantastic car, i cried when i had to get rid and buy a sensible family / dog friendly car !

[allotmentlady]

So sorry to hear about your accident! are you okay? look at it this way, at least next year when peeps say what did you do on your birthday last year? you can always say........

DONT get a volvo....drink too much fuel.

What about 2004 VAUXHALL ASTRA 1.7 DTI 16V LS