Ford Mondeo - good value?

FutureGuy

Guys and gals,
My car took a turn for the worse and as I was getting it checked in a dealership, I happened across a 2007 Ford Mondeo (New model) Zetec 1.8L Diesel. After enquiring about it and doing a little bargaining, I was offered it for 13000 pre-trade in.

It has 76000 miles and one owner who was a Ford employee who used it on business (good roads). The dealership has a full service history at this dealership and I can speak to the guy if I have any questions.

Only problem is that the tax is 500 as opposed to 300 for the 2008+ model and it comes with a 6-month warranty (I got a year for my Focus).

Given the mileage, do you think this is a good buy?

bazz26

Seems decent enough value for a new shape Zetec as I know someone who recently sold an old shape Mondeo 2.0 TDCi LX privately for €11k with similar mileage. I'd try and get them to offer a longer warranty though.

Henry Ford III

I had a 1.8 TDCI recently as a hire car. I didn't like it much tbh. Car is fine but the engine is very on/off as regards it's power delivery.

bazz26

1.8 TDCi lump is knocking on in years now, it originates back to the Sierra afaik but has been updated over the years with common rail injectors. New shape Mondeo is also a big heavy car.

Henry Ford III

Yep. The 1.6 petrol 110bhp (I had one of these for a day too) was actually better to drive. Sweeter and pulled more evenly.

FutureGuy

Hi all, thanks for your opinions...so the consensus is that it's not a great idea? I'd also like to add that alot of my driving is in a 3-mile stretch in and out of Limerick city centre, and half the time is spent in traffic.

I'm going to take it for a test drive today. What sort of questions should I ask?

R.O.R

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I had a 1.8 TDCI recently as a hire car. I didn't like it much tbh. Car is fine but the engine is very on/off as regards it's power delivery.

I'll second that - serious lag under acceleration.

Cracking car for steady speed motorway journeys (took one to Cork and back on the M8), but if you have to accelerate then it takes a while before the power comes in. Also, for a diesel it is ridiculously easy to stall when setting off.

Price seems pretty good, but it wouldn't be my first choice for stop/start traffic or short journeys.

OP - you might be better off with the 1.6. I've never driven one but Henry said it's much smoother. Fuel will cost you a bit more, but the tax is lower on an 07 and should be cheaper to buy in the first place.

unkel

Is it just me or does anyone else think 13k is steep for a 3 year old Mondeo?

neilthefunkeone

FutureGuy wrote: »

It has 76000 miles and one owner who was a Ford employee who used it on business (good roads).

What was it driven in England??

Hefty amount of milage for 3 years.. Sounds abit much imo..

bazz26

FutureGuy wrote: »

Hi all, thanks for your opinions...so the consensus is that it's not a great idea? I'd also like to add that alot of my driving is in a 3-mile stretch in and out of Limerick city centre, and half the time is spent in traffic.

I'm going to take it for a test drive today. What sort of questions should I ask?

Price is good imo but the 2.0 TDCi is much better suited to the Mondeo. Given the type of driving you say you do then the 1.8 is probably good enough for the job. As you say the best thing to do is test drive it and see if you can live with it.

Try and get them to up the warranty though.

FutureGuy

unkel wrote: »

Is it just me or does anyone else think 13k is steep for a 3 year old Mondeo?

Hi Unkel,
I checked Carzone and can't find a New Model 1.8 Diesel Zetec for anywhere near that price. is there anywhere else I should be checking.

I was pretty set on bring in a 2009 Focus Econetic from the UK for similar money but this mondeo has turned my head.

After a good nights sleep, and given the fact that I would be more of a city driver than anything else, should I look at a good 08-09 diesel Focus instead?

FutureGuy

bazz26 wrote: »

Price is good imo but the 2.0 TDCi is much better suited to the Mondeo. Given the type of driving you say you do then the 1.8 is probably good enough for the job. As you say the best thing to do is test drive it and see if you can live with it.

Try and get them to up the warranty though.

Funnily enough, when i spoke to them yesterday, they were quite flexible on the price, but they seemed adament that it was a 6-month warranty.

Henry Ford III

FutureGuy wrote: »

Hi Unkel,
I checked Carzone and can't find a New Model 1.8 Diesel Zetec for anywhere near that price. is there anywhere else I should be checking.

I was pretty set on bring in a 2009 Focus Econetic from the UK for similar money but this mondeo has turned my head.

After a good nights sleep, and given the fact that I would be more of a city driver than anything else, should I look at a good 08-09 diesel Focus instead?

Yes. It'd be better suited for city driving. The 1.6TDCI is a lot more modern too.

FutureGuy

neilthefunkeone wrote: »

What was it driven in England??

Hefty amount of milage for 3 years.. Sounds abit much imo..

For Ireland (motorways etc)

mickdw

Get a nearly new focus instead. Even though the focus is changing soon, Id have it before that Mondeo. The miles are high plus if it has mileage clocks, it must be an import. If so, it could well have even more than that on it.

bazz26

unkel wrote: »

Is it just me or does anyone else think 13k is steep for a 3 year old Mondeo?

I know somebody who sold an old shape 07 Mondeo TDCi for €11k private recently so I don't think €13k for the newer shape model from a dealer with a warranty is a bad price. That car cost around €27-€28k new so 50% depreciation in 3 years is not bad imo if you are a buyer.

FutureGuy wrote: »

Hi Unkel,
I checked Carzone and can't find a New Model 1.8 Diesel Zetec for anywhere near that price. is there anywhere else I should be checking.

I was pretty set on bring in a 2009 Focus Econetic from the UK for similar money but this mondeo has turned my head.

After a good nights sleep, and given the fact that I would be more of a city driver than anything else, should I look at a good 08-09 diesel Focus instead?

If you don't need the space then the Focus makes perfect sense. It is a year or 2 younger with the balance of the Ford warranty and is taxed on the new system meaning annual motor tax is only €104. 1.6 TDCi is a cracking engine in the Focus (I had one) and alot more modern than the 1.8 TDCi.

FutureGuy wrote: »

Funnily enough, when i spoke to them yesterday, they were quite flexible on the price, but they seemed adament that it was a 6-month warranty.

The warranty may be a garage policy on cars of a certain age and may not be negotiable. It just means you can use it to haggle a little bit more off the asking price.

FutureGuy

mickdw wrote: »

Get a nearly new focus instead. Even though the focus is changing soon, Id have it before that Mondeo. The miles are high plus if it has mileage clocks, it must be an import. If so, it could well have even more than that on it.

Good catch there Mickdw. I didn't see the clock yet, but it was definately bought in Ireland.

I have always liked the Focus, but there is something about the design of the Mondeo that I love. Thats probably the reason I am considering it!

EPM

I'd rather pay a few qid more and buy something with 30 or 40k less on the clock. Just less bills pending and a better longterm prospect. A friend of mine got a Focus Econetic recently and it's a great car