Mondeo 1.8 petrol. Opinions?

Pottler

Hi All. I need a presentable car for work, at present I drive vans and have a hack for taking the kids out at the weekend. Missus has a car of her own. Due to a change in circumstances I need to buy a presentable car for work. Not much of a badge fan, not a number plate snob either, so I've kinda settled on a Mondeo, c.a 2001-2003 and I fancy a petrol for the lack of complexity/potential bills that slaughter any fuel savings. I can claim mileage so it will almost cover the cost of fuel anyway. Question is, what engine? Most I've seen are 1.8s or 2.0 but I know sfa about Ford petrols(I run 4 transits so I know their diesels). Any help as to what petrol Mondeo to go for? I need to buy this w.end so the pressure is on:)Also, whats the reliability like?Any and all views much appreciated as I know there are some very clever people knocking about here.

eth0

You might get an ould Peugeot 406 for a few 100. Nobody wants the 1.8 petrol 406's, but they're a mighty car

ninty9er

Unless your mileage rate is extremely generous you should forget a petrol Mondeo of that era as you'll make a loss on anything less than 40c/km by the time you have tax, tyres, servicing etc factored.

A Vectra would probably do the job just as well.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3351190

Could probably knock at least €500 off the price.

bazz26

If I was looking for a petrol large size family car of that vintage it would have to be the Mazda 6. Prettier, as good to drive as the Mondeo and probably the least likely to break down in that class of car.

Pottler

eth0 wrote: »

You might get an ould Peugeot 406 for a few 100. Nobody wants the 1.8 petrol 406's, but they're a mighty car

ninty9er wrote: »

Unless your mileage rate is extremely generous you should forget a petrol Mondeo of that era as you'll make a loss on anything less than 40c/km by the time you have tax, tyres, servicing etc factored.

A Vectra would probably do the job just as well.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3351190

Could probably knock at least €500 off the price.

406, Thats my hack! I've a diesel 98 2.1 and I hate it. For sale to highest bidder and he needent be that high either. Very economical, but it's an estate and it looks all wrong. Have my eye on a clean 1.8 2002 1.8 Mondeo(missus reckons I should buy a fresh merc or bmw but I'm meanish:( and will buy with my own cash so it kills me to spend a lot). I get 58c per mile but running costs are not really an issue as when it's running, it's earning, I need reliable, fairly presentable but not flash. What are Vectras like for reliabilility?

Pottler

bazz26 wrote: »

If I was looking for a petrol large size family car of that vintage it would have to be the Mazda 6. Prettier, as good to drive as the Mondeo and probably the least likely to break down in that class of car.

I had the last of the 626s and I hated it with a passion - 2l, dead as a nail, thirsty and looked like a boy racer gone wrong. Also had a warning light of some sort illuminated every second week...:(

ninty9er

Pottler wrote: »

406, Thats my hack! I've a diesel 98 2.1 and I hate it. For sale to highest bidder and he needent be that high either. Very economical, but it's an estate and it looks all wrong. Have my eye on a clean 1.8 2002 1.8 Mondeo(missus reckons I should buy a fresh merc or bmw but I'm meanish:( and will buy with my own cash so it kills me to spend a lot). I get 58c per mile but running costs are not really an issue as when it's running, it's earning, I need reliable, fairly presentable but not flash. What are Vectras like for reliabilility?

58c/mile is approx 36c/km. A cheap clean older Vectra would see you through for a few months.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3265455

eth0

Pottler wrote: »

406, Thats my hack! I've a diesel 98 2.1 and I hate it. For sale to highest bidder and he needent be that high either. Very economical, but it's an estate and it looks all wrong. Have my eye on a clean 1.8 2002 1.8 Mondeo(missus reckons I should buy a fresh merc or bmw but I'm meanish:( and will buy with my own cash so it kills me to spend a lot). I get 58c per mile but running costs are not really an issue as when it's running, it's earning, I need reliable, fairly presentable but not flash. What are Vectras like for reliabilility?

Pottler wrote: »

I had the last of the 626s and I hated it with a passion - 2l, dead as a nail, thirsty and looked like a boy racer gone wrong. Also had a warning light of some sort illuminated every second week...:(

What else do you hate?

Mondeos seem like too much of a 'Generic car for a man with a suit' to me

Pottler

eth0 wrote: »

What else do you hate?

Mondeos seem like too much of a 'Generic car for a man with a suit' to me

I need to be that man for a bit. Be that what it may.:) Question is, are they any good? 99R, I like the look of that Vectra, Thanks for that.

ninty9er

Pottler wrote: »

I need to be that man for a bit. Be that what it may.:) Question is, are they any good? 99R, I like the look of that Vectra, Thanks for that.

I drive a 1.8 Mondeo, motorway MPG about 35/38 if you get a 6 speed 04 onwards model.

Bulletproof, but not highly economical

bazz26

Pottler wrote: »

I had the last of the 626s and I hated it with a passion - 2l, dead as a nail, thirsty and looked like a boy racer gone wrong. Also had a warning light of some sort illuminated every second week...:(

The 626 and 6 have nothing in common, they are like chawk and cheese, hence why Mazda changed the name.

Honda Accord of that vintage is also smartly presented.

andyseadog

have a lovely 03 diesel vectra for sale myself, plenty of tax and test, if you want cheap, reliable and presentable :pac: very same as the one posted above.

Idbatterim

op what kinda mileage do you do, how long do you spend in your car per day and is it mostly motorway or what?

lifer_sean

bazz26 wrote: »

If I was looking for a petrol large size family car of that vintage it would have to be the Mazda 6. Prettier, as good to drive as the Mondeo and probably the least likely to break down in that class of car.

I thought Mazda used the Ford 1.8 petrol engine in the Mazda6 ? So why would it be more reliable than the Mondeo ? Confused !!!

Henry Ford III

Mondeo 1.8 Zetec of that era is an excellent used choice. Huge value for money too. The ride and handling are superb.

padma

How about a 05 vectra for 2600 http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3311003

George Dalton

Be very careful buying a 2001-2003 1.8 Mondeo. A lot of those 1.8 engines are very tired at this stage. They weren't exactly the greatest Ford ever produced.

gerardk55

OP I'd be another to recommend the Mazda6, have one from new since 2005, pre-facelift model. 1.8 H/B, currently on 321,000km. Only replaced a few bearings, one bushing and a brake caliper. Very comfortable and reliable. Not crazy on petrol and I think a much nicer cabin than the same era Mondeo.

There seems to be plenty on Donedeal at the minute for very small money, been keeping an eye on them lately. If you're purchasing try and get either the sports or the touring model which have a/c and cruise control as standard, which should make them even more pleasant.

MuppetCheck

padma wrote: »

How about a 05 vectra for 2600 http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3311003

There is plenty of cosmetic damage. Doesn't go with the "top class condition" line.

lifer_sean

George Dalton wrote: »

Be very careful buying a 2001-2003 1.8 Mondeo. A lot of those 1.8 engines are very tired at this stage. They weren't exactly the greatest Ford ever produced.

+1

Try getting a secondhand engine for one of these, almost impossible.

However if you get one with a good engine, you will have a good value motor.

@George, was the engine better in the facelift 2004-2007 model or same ?

Victor Meldrew

gerardk55 wrote: »

OP I'd be another to recommend the Mazda6, have one from new since 2005, .... Only replaced a few bearings, one bushing and a brake caliper. Very comfortable and reliable. Not crazy on petrol and I think a much nicer cabin than the same era Mondeo.

I have similar, but with only 98k on the clock. How do you know the (wheel) bearings and bushings are going.

i agree, they are a lovely car.

By the way, the 1.8L motor is a Mazda unit, which is used by ford and volvo in a few cases.

Pottler

George Dalton wrote: »

Be very careful buying a 2001-2003 1.8 Mondeo. A lot of those 1.8 engines are very tired at this stage. They weren't exactly the greatest Ford ever produced.

The lad who services all our yokes said the same to me today George, his words "nah, I don't rate them" which is a speech coming from that lad!(he never says much). I'm a bit stumped now-every time I come up with an option someone says to me. "Yeah, but the blah de blah goes on them and it costs a packet to fix". "Chatty" the mechanic said get an Avensis....

gerardk55

Victor Meldrew wrote: »

I have similar, but with only 98k on the clock. How do you know the (wheel) bearings and bushings are going.

i agree, they are a lovely car.

By the way, the 1.8L motor is a Mazda unit, which is used by ford and volvo in a few cases.

Had to replace a bearing on both front wheels, heard a whining noise and a slight drag if that makes sense? At around the 160k and 200k mark.

The bushing was the rear left, felt a bit of a rattle, mechanic drove it round the block a few times and thought was fine, only noticed it when they put it on the ramp.

Service it every 20k kilometers and the mechanic is good for pointing out potential stuff to look out for.

George Dalton

Pottler wrote: »

The lad who services all our yokes said the same to me today George, his words "nah, I don't rate them" which is a speech coming from that lad!(he never says much). I'm a bit stumped now-every time I come up with an option someone says to me. "Yeah, but the blah de blah goes on them and it costs a packet to fix". "Chatty" the mechanic said get an Avensis....

The only petrol engine that is more difficult to find than a 1.8 Mondeo engine is a 1.6 Avensis engine.

I rang practically every breaker in the country looking for one last month. Most of them laughed at me when I told them what I wanted :pac:

Idbatterim

I rang practically every breaker in the country looking for one last month. Most of them laughed at me when I told them what I wanted

you could have probably got one from uk and have used shiply.com for delivery...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=mondeo+engine+1.8&_sacat=0&_odkw=mondeo+engine&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

S28382

I have a mondeo lx 1.8 2001 and its a good car i travel about 500kms every week in it and i never have a bother with it, its nice and comfy, the boot is big as is the interior so there is plenty of space

Pottler

I do rather high mileage in a week, I can clock up 5-600km in a day if I need to go to the North(which is very often) which ends up killing cars very rapidly and servicing a diesel becomes a pain as it comes round so often. I rob the wifes citroen a lot and it has 300k up at this stage, my own hack has 200k plus and the vans just get run into the ground(can hit 400k quite quickly)-another reason why I hesitate to go for too new as they just get ruined and lose a hell of a lot of value. I bought a nearly new Toyota jeep(1 year old) but did 60k in it in 6 months and it was getting to the point of needing a transfer box etc and I was only using it part time.. My fuel bill is nuts anyway so petrol/diesel is academic but I'd rather a car that won't need time consuming repairs too often-the time spent in the garage is another problem..

bazz26

lifer_sean wrote: »

I thought Mazda used the Ford 1.8 petrol engine in the Mazda6 ? So why would it be more reliable than the Mondeo ? Confused !!!

It is the other way round afaik. The 1.8 litre engine in the 6 was Mazda's MZR engine that found it's way into Fords at some stage, 2004 I think. Upto that Ford used their own Zetec engine.

mondymike

Geo might know better, but form what i recall, when i bought my mondeo, i found out that the early, 01-03 engines had an issue with the butterfly valve, it was made of what turned out to be brittle plastic, which had a habit of breaking up and leading to engine failure.

That being said, i find the mondeo to be a great car, like some have said, there is the SCi (?) model, a 6spd manual, which if you are doing big driving, will surely help, also there are plenty out there so dont rush, and get the best you can, spec wise.

I'd understand your wariness in buying diesel thou, if you are doing big miles you will be buying flywheels in no time, and from your transit stable you'll have an idea on price.

Pottler

mondymike wrote: »

Geo might know better, but form what i recall, when i bought my mondeo, i found out that the early, 01-03 engines had an issue with the butterfly valve, it was made of what turned out to be brittle plastic, which had a habit of breaking up and leading to engine failure.

That being said, i find the mondeo to be a great car, like some have said, there is the SCi (?) model, a 6spd manual, which if you are doing big driving, will surely help, also there are plenty out there so dont rush, and get the best you can, spec wise.

I'd understand your wariness in buying diesel thou, if you are doing big miles you will be buying flywheels in no time, and from your transit stable you'll have an idea on price.

Flywheels are not too bad or often, but not a week goes by that I don't get a front wheelbearing, almost literally. Mechanic now just keeps one in the workshop for me. I do his welding, he fits the wheelbearings-especially on the heavyduty 115/350 models, and they are a pig to do as well.

Leonard Hofstadter

Early Mk3 Mondeos were renowned for burning oil for no apparent reason as the miles piled on.

Early VVTi Toyotas are also noted for doing the same thing.

If you find one that's not burning oil though they're bulletproof, but you have to know what you're buying!

Neither engine was either manufacturers' finest hour to be honest though.

carbon nanotube

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Mondeo 1.8 Zetec of that era is an excellent used choice. Huge value for money too. The ride and handling are superb.

had one, great car. my 2,4 accord gets more milage on a tank than the mondeo though. (driven easy and using cruise etc).

Pottler

Getting to the point of being bored looking at saloon cars now. Have slightly gravitated towards spending a bit more(6-8k) and getting a Passat, pref black, and despite my concerns, probably a diesel.. I thought this would be simple enough...

bazz26

Pottler wrote: »

Getting to the point of being bored looking at saloon cars now. Have slightly gravitated towards spending a bit more(6-8k) and getting a Passat, pref black, and despite my concerns, probably a diesel.. I thought this would be simple enough...

??

Pottler

bazz26 wrote: »

??

as in I've looked at a lot and none are any good so far.