New car ideas...

[waue1978]

But you are 19 - not 18. That extra year can make a big difference.

Sat bored in a Tesco Value hotel room, so it gave me something to do to see what cars I could insure if I was in the same boat. Obviously quotes come out a lot different because I don't know Sam's exact situation, but all I did with mine was make me an 18 year old student with 1 yrs no claims. After a search on Auto Trader for sub £3k diesels, under 10 years old with less than 100k on the clock I got the following TPFT quotes:

Berlingo HDi - £1840
206 DTurbo 2.0 HDi - £1840
Fiat Stilo JTD 115 - £2015
2001 Seat Leon TDi 110 - £2051
2001 Scenic DCi - £2051
307 HDi 90 - £2070
2003 Vectra DTi - £2246
Mondeo TDDi - £2416
Xsara HDi 90 - £2416
Mazda 6 TD 120 - £2416
Rover 75 TD - £2711
Volvo S40 1.9D - £3209
My 406 LX HDi Estate - £3871
1998 Audi A4 1.9TDi - £3886
C5 2.2 Estate - £3988
2001 Passat TDi 100 - £4389
2004 Saab 9-3 1.9 TiD - £4514
& while I was at it, I thought I'd see how much it would cost to insure my first car (the one that I insured my self anyway) ;

1985 Granada 2.8i Ghia X - £3785! I complained about paying just over £1000 in 97!

[Bailes1992]

Had a look about.
Going to go for a TDCi 115 Mondeo.
Either a Zetec or a Ghia.
This means I can afford a newer faclift model 2003 - 2005 or if I go for a slightly higher mileage one I can get a 2006 to 2007 model.
The facelift Mondeo's come with loads of spec as standard (Climate, cruise and trip).
The only difference between the Zetec and Ghia is the radio and the wood dash.
I'm changing the radio and not a fan of wood.

By not going for a Ghia X I can get the 115bhp engine over the 130 but I loose out on leather, electric and heated seats.
But I can get them retrimmed at a later date

[waue1978]

Go for a 2005 final facelift (with the flashier rear lights) & you avoid the rusty door issues too. But you will find that a lot of the later Mondeos won't have all the engine, battery & suspension strut covers under the bonnet. As far as equipment goes, all the Ghia gets over the Zetec is folding wing mirrors & the Sony 6 disc stereo. Cosmetically, it's different alloys & the chrome door handles & window trims. The chrome handles are nice, but avoid the chrome window strips as a mod. They look nice, but they rub against the paintwork more than the standard trims & they cost a bomb to buy when they turn up for sale. Ghia X gets the leather & heated seats along with the 17ins wheels, but if you aren't keen on the wood then you are better off with the Zetec & fitting leather later. Mondeo interiors are cheap & easy to get hold of, & pre-wired for electric seats due to the fact that they all have electric height adjustment.

Be warned though, aftermarket stereos look sh*te in them & you can't just stick the Sony 6 disc (or MP3 if you're lucky enough to find it) in place of the standard Ford stereo in a Zetec. The housing needs to be changed & it involves dismantling the whole centre of the dash.

If you can, try to find one where the clutch has already been changed. Where they wear out so quick, not many TDCis are still on their originals now.

[Bailes1992]

Go for a 2005 final facelift (with the flashier rear lights) & you avoid the rusty door issues too. But you will find that a lot of the later Mondeos won't have all the engine, battery & suspension strut covers under the bonnet. As far as equipment goes, all the Ghia gets over the Zetec is folding wing mirrors & the Sony 6 disc stereo. Cosmetically, it's different alloys & the chrome door handles & window trims. The chrome handles are nice, but avoid the chrome window strips as a mod. They look nice, but they rub against the paintwork more than the standard trims & they cost a bomb to buy when they turn up for sale. Ghia X gets the leather & heated seats along with the 17ins wheels, but if you aren't keen on the wood then you are better off with the Zetec & fitting leather later. Mondeo interiors are cheap & easy to get hold of, & pre-wired for electric seats due to the fact that they all have electric height adjustment.

Be warned though, aftermarket stereos look sh*te in them & you can't just stick the Sony 6 disc (or MP3 if you're lucky enough to find it) in place of the standard Ford stereo in a Zetec. The housing needs to be changed & it involves dismantling the whole centre of the dash.

If you can, try to find one where the clutch has already been changed. Where they wear out so quick, not many TDCis are still on their originals now.

I'm not a fan of chrome, so if I get a 2005+ I will be fitting plain facelift lights, same with the door handles, front grille and if I get chrome around the windows too
I can live without folding mirrors, would be nice though? But now I'm looking more towards Mileage Vs Age rather than spec. The facelifts get a bloody good spec too!
I'd probably get an ST220 interior if I had the money, but wiring up all the electrics could be a royal pain in the arse if the recaors aint the same?
I'l be fitting my own double din stereo if I can find a double din facia, but right now. I can't?
I will be fitting a solid flywheel conversion as soon as the clutch starts to go.

I been looking at pictures of my Dad's old ST220...


Would love to get it looking like an ST but with the flared wheel arches etc it would cost a fortune. I may just stick with a ZS kit like this for the time being...


Still a very nice looking car though.
Although after you've been in an ST220 every day for 3 years, ever other mondeo looks very 'plain'

[sirwiggum]

Fair dos. They're a nice shape those generation of Mondeo.
But you are going from a troublesome Ford to a Ford I do hope it doesn't give you as much trouble.

[ToddM]

What about an Alfa 147/156159/166. Once you get into one you will not want to come out. Especially a facelifted 156 onwards. Some GTs can also be had for around £3K nowadays C'mon you know you want one really badly

[sirwiggum]

What about an Alfa 147/156159/166. Once you get into one you will not want to come out. Especially a facelifted 156 onwards. Some GTs can also be had for around £3K nowadays C'mon you know you want one really badly

You have to own an Alfa at some point.

From my GTV experience, you will love driving it when you get an open road. But the electrics will drive you mad, if you don't get the timing belt replaced every 30k miles it will snap taking the valves with it (and even if you do, it could still snap! ) and the suspension bushes will make even the Focus feel as well built as a Corolla.

But for sheer mini-Ferrari/mini-Maserati feeling, nothing beats an Alfa.

[FarmerPug]

the 156 never had a 2.0 diesel it was a 2.4, fast but i bet hard to insure.

[Bailes1992]

Can't insure an Alfa Already tried.

[highlander]

I'm not overly fussed about Alfa Romeos. I don't like the way they look, therefore I have no burning desire to get behind the wheel of a notoriously unreliable car.

They just don't do anything for me.

Except this one:



The 2uettottanta concept car. Very sexy.

[OdinEidolon]

I'm not overly fussed about Alfa Romeos. I don't like the way they look, therefore I have no burning desire to get behind the wheel of a notoriously unreliable car.

They just don't do anything for me.

Except this one:



The 2uettottanta concept car. Very sexy.

8C competizione. 'nuff said.

[FarmerPug]

ahhhh im drooling over that alfa, i want one.
But i like the 159, a lot better looking than the old 156 (which i didnt think looked good).

[highlander]

8C competizione. 'nuff said.

Sorry, not keen. The whole front end just looks wrong to me. Like some weird kind of insect, or something.

Even the Alfas designed by Pininfarina typically do nothing for me (the spider concept I posted is a Pininfarina design though).

[Bailes1992]

The front end look slike it should be taller than it is...
My favorite Alfa...


Same car as this funny enough...


Best Modernish Alfa is the new 169 though...


When they come down in price and I can afford the insurance, I may consider

[sirwiggum]

My favourite