Car shopping tomorrow.

"Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell." (oppisitelock)
11/29/2015 at 14:06 • Filed to: None

A friend’s brother is returning from upside down land soon and needs a car. He sent over Ł1’000 and wants us to find him a diesel estate that isn’t too slow. So we’re going to view this tomorrow.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Reasonable mileage and condition based on the pictures, but you never know until you see it. Tomorrow is my first day off work in quite some time (I work 6 day weeks on an irregular rota) so car shopping is a good way to enjoy it.

DISCUSSION (19)

Steve in Manhattan > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
11/29/2015 at 14:40

I can’t remember if we got a version of the ‘world car’ here in US America.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Steve in Manhattan
11/29/2015 at 14:43

I know you got a version of the Mondeo before this one, not sure if you got this one.

Laurence > Steve in Manhattan
11/29/2015 at 14:50

This variant of Mondeo didn’t make it to the US (previous ones were sold as contours, I think). There may have been a Mercury that was identical mechanically at some point though.

(Also, nice choice with the Mondeo, there isn’t a lot else in this price range that can beat them, apart from possibly something Swedish)

Amoore100 > Laurence
11/29/2015 at 14:52

Most Swedish diesels are rather slow though so the trusty Mondeo is likely a good choice...

Steve in Manhattan > Laurence
11/29/2015 at 14:57

We did have the Contour - replaced the Tempo/Topaz (‘Tempaz’) I believe.

My citroen won't start > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
11/29/2015 at 14:59

I’d probably go 3 series wagon.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > My citroen won't start
11/29/2015 at 15:05

Cost of maintenance is too high, rust is a huge problem on them here.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
11/29/2015 at 15:41

For a <Ł1k diesel estate, I know I’d go right to the Peugeot 406 HDi. That said, there’s still a lot of those Mondeos about.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Laurence
11/29/2015 at 15:43

Ifeel like this maybe the one we got as an X-Type? Could be mistaken though.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
11/29/2015 at 15:44

The Mondeo is definitely a lot easier to find.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
11/29/2015 at 15:50

For another 500 “quid”, buy it for me, hold on to it until it’s legal to import, and ship it to me in the states.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
11/29/2015 at 16:07

Naa there’s far cooler stuff to do that with. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv…

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
11/29/2015 at 17:07

I don’t know, I think I’d rather have the Mondeo wagon. $1500 USD for a 2002 something with 84,000 (whatevers) is really a great deal.

Laurence > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
11/29/2015 at 17:17

Oh yeah, i’d forgotten about the x type. They're the same as these underneath too

Laurence > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
11/29/2015 at 17:19

And this is the high end of the market for these; hundreds get scrapped, none worth more than about $500

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
11/29/2015 at 17:27

Yeahthis one is actually fairly cheap. Most 1k mondeos have more miles or are in worse shape.

Dru > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
11/30/2015 at 15:56

Looks like an incredible deal for 1000 pounds. You likely wouldn’t get anything close to that in terms of usability in the US for the equivalent, $1,510 as of today.

Perhaps UK car ownership is more expensive than the purchase price.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Dru
11/30/2015 at 15:57

It is, our insurance and fuel costs are through the roof, tax is high on most petrol cars too.

Dru > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
11/30/2015 at 16:04

I believe last I looked UK petrol is around $7 per gallon, maybe it’s gone down since. It is just under $2 per gallon where I live.

Tax assessed annually is around $190 for my wife’s 2.4L small estate car.

Insurance is around $800 per year, full coverage.

Best of luck with your search.