Most efficient way to buy cars?

WhatsGoingOn2

I have a 08 Mondeo with 105k miles. It has been well maintained and serviced regularly. The only small issues are a couple of scratches on 1 wing and the central locking is not working.
I am been offered between 5k and 6k on trade ins. I am looking to buy a 2011/2012 Mondeo/Mazda6/Pasaat size car to replace it. So probably going to have to spend 9k or 10k. However, I obviously don't like spending that much money every 3 years.

Am I better off fixing up the few issues, selling privately and then importing from the UK? With the fall of the euro imports are not as attractive as they once were. Should I just hold onto the Mondeo for another few years? I don't want to get to a point where I am spending lots of money on repairs though, which is why I want to sell now.

bazz26

Selling your old car privately will nearly always mean you can buy the new one cheaper than trading it in. So get the central locking looked at as it is an obvious sticking point with a buyer but may not be an expensive fix. Scratches can either be left alone (some marks on a 7 year old car are to be expected) or if they really are bad get a quote for sorting them and either get them repaired or just take the cost off the asking price.

Nobody here can really advise you whether it is best to keep what you have or sell, that will boil down to your personal circumstances. Just take into account that if you do change cars then there is no guarantee that the other car will not need repairs either at some point.

Mechanic365

You Mightaswell sell it if your worried about repairs because it's only a matter of time before the mondeo starts falling apart. Upgrade to a model of passat or whatever that causes no trouble and drive it into the ground.
Unless this mondeo is a very good car but over the last couple of years any over 6 year old are blowing up! Wiring and injector pumps being main issues

WhatsGoingOn2

Thanks for the replies.
I really like the Mondeo, especially the practicality of the large boot in the hatchback. I might go for another 2011 or so model if I can find a decent one with good service history.

WhatsGoingOn2

Has anyone dealt with Carwise in Dublin? (PM me if discussion not allowed)

Their prices seem very good.
Looking in particular at

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-mondeo-2-0-litre-diesel/8403477?offset=8
and
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-passat-2-0-litre-diesel/7614002?offset=1

Miike

Mechanic365 wrote: »

You Mightaswell sell it if your worried about repairs because it's only a matter of time before the mondeo starts falling apart. Upgrade to a model of passat or whatever that causes no trouble and drive it into the ground.
Unless this mondeo is a very good car but over the last couple of years any over 6 year old are blowing up! Wiring and injector pumps being main issues

I'm about to buy a Mondeo and you're making me think thrice, are they really that bad? Am I bidding into hell?

bazz26

WhatsGoingOn2 wrote: »

Has anyone dealt with Carwise in Dublin? (PM me if discussion not allowed)

Their prices seem very good.
Looking in particular at

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-mondeo-2-0-litre-diesel/8403477?offset=8
and
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-passat-2-0-litre-diesel/7614002?offset=1

Two very bog standard base model cars with very little in the way of spec, both are UK imports and generally are standard sales rep mobiles. I'd be digging very deep into the history of both cars with such low mileage for their year.

WhatsGoingOn2

bazz26 wrote: »

Two very bog standard base model cars with very little in the way of spec, both are UK imports and generally are standard sales rep mobiles. I'd be digging very deep into the history of both cars with such low mileage for their year.

I ran checks with both motorcheck and vehicle check and no issues were shown, but the mileage hadn't been recorded for either. The inside of the cars look very fresh with no wear on the seats or floor, but hard to tell.

bazz26

WhatsGoingOn2 wrote: »

I ran checks with both motorcheck and vehicle check and no issues were shown, but the mileage hadn't been recorded for either. The inside of the cars look very fresh with no wear on the seats or floor, but hard to tell.

UK cars can hide mileage very well especially if all they do is spend their time driving on the motorway network. The fact that the mileage is not recorded for both being sold by the same establishment would raise alarm bells with me. I'd be running UK history checks on both and verify the car's VIN matches that on the official reg documents/mot certs.

If something sounds too good to be true then usually it is.

Mechanic365

Miike wrote: »

I'm about to buy a Mondeo and you're making me think thrice, are they really that bad? Am I bidding into hell?

Ok looking back I've exaggerated that
It's the 01 to 06 model I'm referring to really,
In particular to the injector pump issues is the 2litre Tddi models
It's a really nice car to drive, and very good on diesel but troublesome and expensive to fic
Like for example to change the fan belt is harder on these engines is particularly hard. Often a 2/3hour job.
The front springs break after 150k miles usually, again it always takes longer to replace them.on a ford because everything is pressfit rather than bolt on
The powersteering in particular is driven by belt that is driven by the camshaft so it's in the centre of the engine bay and covered by everything
Etc........
Low mileage is the best bet if your buying one of this model, if the engine is running PERFECT!
If it's not then the injector pump is probably on the way out which is generally cheaper to replace strangley even though it's 700euro

Miike

Mechanic365 wrote: »

Ok looking back I've exaggerated that
It's the 01 to 06 model I'm referring to really,
In particular to the injector pump issues is the 2litre Tddi models
It's a really nice car to drive, and very good on diesel but troublesome and expensive to fic
Like for example to change the fan belt is harder on these engines is particularly hard. Often a 2/3hour job.
The front springs break after 150k miles usually, again it always takes longer to replace them.on a ford because everything is pressfit rather than bolt on
The powersteering in particular is driven by belt that is driven by the camshaft so it's in the centre of the engine bay and covered by everything
Etc........
Low mileage is the best bet if your buying one of this model, if the engine is running PERFECT!
If it's not then the injector pump is probably on the way out which is generally cheaper to replace strangley even though it's 700euro

I'm look at a 2008 Mondeo at the moment, 1.8 Diesels but people seem to have mixed reviews. I'd love to hear any input you have on buying them? Any ones for that matter... PM if you pref, I don't want to take over a thread with an unrelated topic.

Thanks a million for your info so far!

WhatsGoingOn2

Miike wrote: »

I'm look at a 2008 Mondeo at the moment, 1.8 Diesels but people seem to have mixed reviews. I'd love to hear any input you have on buying them? Any ones for that matter... PM if you pref, I don't want to take over a thread with an unrelated topic.

Thanks a million for your info so far!

That's the car I'm selling. I've had it for 4 years and have driven about 60,000 miles without any issues. Great car, really like it. Loads of room, so very practical and nice to drive too. The 2.0l version is probably a better engine, and that is what I am looking to buy now. Look at honestjohn.co.uk for reviews.