There’s almost nothing a big old Mondeo can’t do
This executive lounge is a perfect purchase
The Ford Mondeo Mk4 is an excellent example of a working class company car. Some people call it the Mk3, but in reality there were two separate ones, then an excellent third and then this very decent workhorse.
It’s hard to avoid the obvious fact that it’s absolutely huge inside, whether in sedan or station wagon form. There are plenty of engines to choose from. The tiny 1.6-litre petrol doesn’t really work until you get to the facelifted 2010 model, when the Ecoboost engine was introduced, being both lively and economical.
Otherwise, the 2.0-litre petrol is fine if you’re doing a few miles, and there’s a 2.5-litre turbocharged V6 that’s nicely nippy. Practically it still has to be diesel for most people, and the 2.0-litre rather than the less sophisticated 1.8-litre. There’s also a 2.2-liter if you want or need a bit more punch.
The base trim is the Edge, and even that is air-conditioned. Then there’s the Zetec and even a Zetec Business Edition with satellite navigation and more. Econetic does what it says on the badge. The large titaniums are present in numbers in several varieties, including X, Plus and X Sport. There really aren’t any bad choices, but the more toys the better.
There was more standard kit from 2010, including a rear-view camera and various lane-departure and vigilance gadgets. This facelift was literal, bringing a new front end with LED lights. During this time, the interior received a quality treatment. Air conditioning failure is quite common.
Otherwise, it is electrical, such as remote lock and other ECU problems; and noisy power steering, which could mean the rack is popping out. Shop carefully for a tidy example, then sit back and enjoy
The ones we found
2007 Ford Mondeo 2.5 V6 Titanium X, 97,000 miles, £3,250: Here’s a great old gas-powered Mondeo with reasonable miles and full spec. Just the previous owner, too, and he can be driven into the ULEZ with impunity. Great purchase.
2009 Ford Mondeo 2.2 TDCi Titanium, 111,000 miles, £3,790: It is a diesel Mondeo complete with premium heated seats, half-leather trim and Bluetooth. It appears to have been maintained by three previous owners and has had recent servicing.
Or try this
2010 Skoda Superb 1.9 TDI S, 104,000 miles, £2,945: Here’s a five-door from Skoda with the most frugal pairing of manual gearbox and 1.9 diesel. Two ex-owners and a full service history, as well as recent invoices for the timing belt and water pump.
idol fantasy
Saab 9-3X, 2009–2011: The 9-3X was probably the pinnacle of contemporary Saab, and it still looks remarkably modern now.
Taking the 2005 9-3 wagon and adding off-road capabilities was a smart move, even if its Cross Wheel Drive (XWD) was rather expensive to build. This complicated technology works quite well and does all the work for you, as any good system should.
Even so, rather than being a hardcore mud plugger, the 9-3X is more usefully “lifestyle”. There are two engines, a 1.9 TTiD diesel and a 2.0T petrol. Incredibly the diesel rides 20mm lower so the petrol is the most versatile
It has a super standard specification which includes heated partial leather sports seats, cruise control, a good stereo, dual-zone climate control and 17-inch alloys. You also get plenty of space: 477 liters or 1331 with the rear seats folded down. The steep rear screen means square things fit, and there’s space under the floor to keep hidden items or muddy boots out of the way.
There’s not much to check except for small electrical items, such as windows and remote locking. Parts are available from Orio and others.
Buy now
Kia Rio, 2001-2005: This is a five-door sedan resembling a station wagon gone wrong. Like all Kias of the time, it is certainly not a looker. In fact, it’s just a boring old thing with some engines. That makes it cheap, if not cheerful, but the chances of a good one breaking down are slim: this is a super reliable little family bus.
There’s not a lot of choice whether it’s a 1.3-litre or 1.5-litre petrol engine, and by 2004 Kia had narrowed the range down to just a few specs. All you need to know is that the older LX and newer LE+ give you a bit more. At the very least, get air conditioning, which you’ll find in an SE or LX+.
It’s a struggle to find problems with all but the most overlooked and overlooked examples. Any problems must simply be related to wear and tear, therefore brakes, exhaust, tires and localized corrosion if not MOT.
One we found
2003 Kia Rio 1.3 LX, 64,000 miles, £1,495: This is a fairly clean example, sold by a two-owner dealership. The LX trim means power windows and central locking but not air conditioning. This is not a deal breaker, as it has an ULEZ compatible gasoline engine and very reasonable mileage. It would make a decent, budget-friendly family car and a great alternative to a dumb SUV.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-05-03 05:01:24
