As I\'m sure most of you know I\'m still looking for a 97/98 Mondeo Ghia X.
Until now, I\'d narrowed my choice down to a 2.0 16v model, becuase being just 20 last week the insurance on anything more would be rather ridiculous to say the least. This, in part, has contributed to my difficulty in finding a car to buy.
However, I\'ve just got a quote with Admiral - they want just £1167 to insure a Mondeo Ghia X 2.5 V6 TPFT. This is around about what I was being quoted for a 2.0 everywhere else. With Admiral, a 2.0 is £1067.
So, this has led me to reconsider my decision to focus solely on the 2.0 examples, and consider 2.5\'s as well. However, insurance isn\'t the only concern.
One of the other reasons why I had chosen the 2.0 over the 2.5 was perceived reliability. I figured the 2.0 would be cheaper to service and less likely to suffer horrific wallet destroying faliure than the 2.5 V6.
Am I right? What are Fords 2.5 V6 engines like reliability wise? Would it be far more likely to turn into an expensive money sucking black hole than a 2.0 would be? Whats is the fuel economy like - I do about 5000 miles a year, mostly in town.
I get a few more toys on the V6 as well, rear disc brakes and traction control, but thats nothing I couldn\'t live without.
What do you reckon? Insurance aside, V6 or 16v?
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There was a W registration (unknown mileage presumably >100k)
2.0GhiaX hatch in the Midland Autotrader for £2995 this week. A manual in state blue with all the history.
I have heard the 2.5 model is less reliable and I know its more difficult and costly to fix. If the cambelt goes you really are in trouble. 16v not V6 I'm afraid is what you should go for. Have you tried searching on the BCA website for upcoming cars ?
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A colleague of mine ran a Mondeo Ghia-X 2.5 V6 as a company car from 1997 to 2000. He put something like 80,000 miles on it, and never had a problem. A mate of his purchased it from the leasco, and still runs it today. It had 150,000 miles on the clock the last time we talked about it, and continued reliability not just of the basic car, but also of the (many) bells and whistles.
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I've got a '98 2.0 16v (LX rather than Ghia x), and it's a pretty good car. I haven't had to have it serviced yet, but running cost don't seem too bad; I get around 37mpg, mostly on 30 mile return cross-country commute. I'm insured with Eagle Star, and they've always been cheapest for me (but worth hunting around, especially online as some offer extra discounts). I didn't bother considering the V6 as I was afraid running and insurance costs would be excessive.
One thing to watch out for is the clutch, as it's apparently very expensive to replace. A good site I found when looking for mine is the Mondeo Enthusiasts Group at www.fordmondeo.org/
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I ran a 2.5 V6 Ghia X for 18 months - it averaged low 30's cruising at motorway speeds ;-).
Other than the aircon being topped up, nothing went wrong with it, a friend like it so much he bought one and this is now at 140k and still going strong.
Spark plugs can get corroded in (especially the ones at the back which be a problem) but most independents can service these as well as the 2.0 16v.
I preferred the manual to the automatic but thats me, I'd test drive both engine versions and see which you prefer.
Depreciation on the V6 is high so you may well get a better car for your money.
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I saw another ghia X 2ltr last week. It was a 98S with 107k miles and full history. Non-standard alloys with good tyres. It looked ok except for rust on one rear arch, and at the bottom of the door. It sold for 1550. I would of bought it and dropped you an e-mail had it not been for the rust.
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Hi,
I'm considering getting a 2.5 V6 Mk2 Mondeo instead of a 2.0 16v one, however I am having difficulty working out what sort of economy I can expect from either engine.
I do no more than 400 miles a month, and spend the majority of that time in town (This isn't a thread to question the sanity of buying a 2.0 or 2.5 Mondeo for this sort of journey). However, 'in town' isn't quite as bad as it may seem.
Traffic here is rather free flowing - indeed, on many of my trips I don't need to stop at all throughout the entire journey, and when I do, it's usually only once or twice at lights etc. My regular journey consists of a mile down a single track lane, then 3.5 miles along a dual carriageway with a 40mph limit which takes me almost into town, where I will complete the final 0.5 miles at approx 30mph, and then try and find a space.
Sounds straightforward, however there is a snag - the single track lane has 7 harsh speed bumps, requiring me to slow down to just 2-5mph to negotiate them, something I think really affects my fuel economy.
With my Xantia TD, I average about 34mpg per tank fill of about 400 miles. When I spent a week away, I managed much higher, presumably becuase of the lack of speed ramps.
So, given the information I've given can any of you learned chaps give me an indication of what I can expect to receive economy wise with a 2.0 16v and 2.5 V6 Mondeo? I realise this depends a lot on your driving style - I don't tend to drive everywhere with my foot planted to the floor, though.
I can cope with over about 20mpg, but if we are going to be acheiving mpg figures in the teens I think my search for a 2.0 must continue.
Cheers.
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I used to get about 34mpg from my 2.0 Mondeo (1997, revised model) on a main road/cross country drive - max 60mph, three sets of lights, then cross country at 40mph, total distance 20 miles. On a longer motorway run at steady speed (80mph) I got 38mpg. Best I saw was 45mpg in Norway, cruising at 50mph on single carriageway for hours, and hours, and hours......
Hope this helps.
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Michael,
Didn't you ask the same question a few days ago and get several replies?
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I asked a general question a few days ago which covered things other than consumption as well and got some helpful replies, yes. But this time I'm after some more specific information and only information on fuel consumption, hence I've provided some details of the journeys I undertake in the hope that someone has done simila trips in either of the cars in question :)
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I've no actual figures, but if you're driving pretty steady I'd have thought you'd be unfortunate to get mpg in the teens even with the 2.5 V6.
Mind you, 34 mpg from a Xantia TD doesn't sound too cracky - maybe your journeys are thirstier work than they sound.
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With the mileage your are doing (less than 5000 a year) surely the mpg is almost irrelevant ?
At this sort of mileage I would get whichever model you prefer and stuff the mpg ........
jd
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I have had both 2.5 and 2.0 mondeo estates.
Driving around town and on short trips the V6 gave 24-27mpg.
The 2.0 was about 28-30.
On a run the bigger engine would run up to 33mpg, allowing 350 miles on a tank. The 2.0 might stretch that by about another 30 miles. (I'm not the most economy minded of drivers.)
The performance difference though was significant, the V6 would make me grin every time I drove it but the company car tax rules made it impossible to keep. I had the V6 for 4 years and clocked up 130,000 miles. It was very reliable up to 110k then bits started to get expensive.
If you can afford the insurance for the V6 then you'll have a hoot driving it. The fuel consumtion shouldn't really be a problem.
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And if the V6 is anything like the 2.0 V6 in a Mazda 323 I once drove, town driving can become quite relaxing - it would trickle round twisty town centre bends still in 5th gear with barely 1000 rpm showing and then pull cleanly and smoothly away with a flex of the right foot.
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And if the V6 is anything like the 2.0 V6 in a Mazda 323 I once drove, town driving can become quite relaxing - it would trickle round twisty town centre bends still in 5th gear with barely 1000 rpm showing and then pull cleanly and smoothly away with a flex of the right foot.
That's an interesting idea - one thing I really enjoy about driving my TD is the fact I don't need to change up and down all the time, something you do need to do with a 2.0 petrol.
The V6 sounds very appealing if I can get 24mpg out of it *and* retain the ability to pull in any gear :)
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I'd definitely go for the V6, it really is a cracking car if you can stand the fuel economy.
Doesn't quite have the flexibility of a TD but does pull well from low revs - much better handling and ride, very good feedback, much more involving that most cars.
I had a Van Aaken tweaked Xantia TD and rarely saw less than 40mpg unless I was in seriously bad traffic - 34mpg sounds like something needs adjusting?
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I'm pretty sure its the speed bumps that wreck the economy. When I've gone further afield I've had up to 50mpg out of the Xantia, and over 40mpg in town.
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Michael, just to summarise, you are looking to spend £1200 to insure a 2.5 Mondeo TPFT. A car that you may get for about £3k or so. So close to 30% of your purchase price on insurance. If you have an accident that is your fault, then all your money is down the tubes, so to speak.
You are then going to drive it about town for 400 miles a month, or 100 miles a week, encountering speed bumps on every journey.
Just can't help but think your money could be better spent. Personally, I think paying that amount for TPFT insurance is crazy.
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Whatever I insure is going to be around the £1000 mark anyway. I'm currently paying £1067 to insure my TD Xantia, it's just what happens when you are a young driver.
However, I've pretty much decided I'm probably best off with my original plan, a 2.0. I don't need the extra performance the 2.5 gives me, I could do without the extra fuel bills it will give me, and I can do without wondering when the next expensive faliure is going to occur :)
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Hi, I'm bit late on this one but based mainly on recommendations here last year I bought a 97P Mondeo 2 ltr Ghia with 107,00 miles on it. I had it serviced and the cam belt changed for the same price as the first service on my wifes Picasso. I've put on 8,000 in 3 months and it has been excellent, no problems. Plenty of power (IMO), excellent roadholding, quiet and I get 36mpg on a fast 250 mile run that in the Picasso (HDi) gives me 41mpg. Good luck and let us know how you get on.
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Check out Elephant.co.uk for insurance. I am 20y/o have 0 NCB and just insured a new Audi A3 for £1180 fully Comp, living in the South East. That quote was easily half of what my existing insurer (direct line) wanted, and less than a quarter of the £5000 that Norwich Union asked for.
Chris
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Ditto for me, if you haven't tried Elephant.co.uk you should, you could get a pleasant surprise. For me (virtually same position as Chris was in), fully comp was only £100 more than TPFT, well worth it for the peace of mind IMO.
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It was Admiral/Elephant who gave me the excellent quotes on the 2.5 V6. It was only £100 more than the 2.0!
My opinion is that I'd rather spend £2500-£3000 on a nice Mondeo and another grand on insurance than spend £3000+ on a Fiesta or something and then £600 on insurance :)
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