Volvo - Right Volvo to replace Mondeo

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Sun 28 Mar 2010 23:30
Volvo - Right Volvo to replace Mondeo - MorrisOx

I've posted under discussion about this, but wonder whether technical minds might have a more informed answer.

I'm about to trade in a troublesome Mondeo TDCi 130 which isn't wearing its age well, and have looked at an 05 Volvo V50 1.8S with under 50k miles, and an 03 Honda Accord 2.2 CTDi with nearly 90k miles, both under £6k.

I'd be interested to hear opinions on both. Like the look of the V50, though worried it might be a tad small, also like Hondas having had a succession of reliable Civics as second cars, but have heard one or two suggestions the Accord may not be as trouble-free. What's the received wisdom on these two?

Only other option is an older, high-mileage Volvo V70, though at under £6k there don't seem to be many D5s which haven't been half way to the moon. I've never had an older, high-miler and wonder whether I'd be buying nothing but regular bills???

Edited by MorrisOx on 28/03/2010 at 23:32

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Mon 29 Mar 2010 20:35
Volvo - Right Volvo to replace Mondeo - sandy56
The Volvo is small, and the Honda has a checkered history.
As a Mondeo Mk3 owner I would suggest another Mk3 Mondeo- Petrol.
Mine is 2004 2.5 V6 Ghia X a lovely car and these days you can pick them up for beer money.
But only if you dont drive 20k miles a year- 29 MPG is the best I get. Am thinking of going LPG but with my low mileage payback time is still about 3yrs.

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Tue 30 Mar 2010 00:37
Volvo - Right Volvo to replace Mondeo - MorrisOx

Sandy, thnx for reply. Looked at V50 today, noticed the size thing but wondered whether I'd manage. Gone off Mondeos, tho - mine looks OK, but just doesn't seem to be standing up to a very average existence anywhere near as well as my previous Passat TDi, particularly cosmetically.

Also seen online a 2006 Volvo S60 2.4D (the original 163bhp D5) with 98k on the clock for under £5.5k. Looks stunning, has FSH, but a 98k-er is well outside my experience.

Any views on such a high miler?

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Tue 30 Mar 2010 10:30
Volvo - Right Volvo to replace Mondeo - Peter.N.

I would tend to go for the older lower tech car, modern cars are to complicated for their own good. If you are going for a diesel the older IDI engines are far more durable, maybe not quite as economical but the extra you spend in fuel will probably save you considerably more in maintenance. I have run diesels for 30 years or more but I wouldn't run a modern one, my cars are 15 years old and reliable, The Mondeo is a good car but if you want reliability get a petrol one.

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Wed 31 Mar 2010 00:03
Volvo - Right Volvo to replace Mondeo - Avant

Honda petrols have a well-deserved reputation for reliability, but judging by posts on this forum over the years, the diesels are not so good. Depending on your milege, do you need a diesel? It does seem that dlesel engines - not only Hondas - can suffer major failure as they get older which can be very expensive to repair. If anything we seem to hear fewer disaster stories about diesel Mondeos than some others.

You were born abot 50 years too late Morris Ox! A Morris Oxford would have been perfect - solid, reliable and cheap to repair.

Edited by Avant on 31/03/2010 at 00:05

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Thu 1 Apr 2010 00:07
Volvo - Right Volvo to replace Mondeo - MorrisOx

Avant, my first car had a 1622cc engine under rolling acres of Farina-styled bonnet, a dip switch on the floor, a semi-circular chrome horn-push inside the steering wheel rim, masses of room inside, a huge boot, a crank to start it if the battery went flat, a wind-down spare wheel carrier under the boot, and always ran better after a de-coke

It was bought new from Morris Garages in Reading, and came to me as a family hand-me-down. Learning on a car which had no syncromesh on first and a leisurely attitude to braking was an interesting experience...

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Thu 1 Apr 2010 11:52
Volvo - Right Volvo to replace Mondeo - loskie

I changed from Octavia estate to V50 and find it too small and lack of storage etc. Great car to be in though. Very comfy.

What about a late Mk1 Octavia estate? Should be plently about and at sensible prices especially if you are going for petrol models.

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Mon 5 Apr 2010 12:18
Volvo - Right Volvo to replace Mondeo - sarka1230

It has to be a v70 if you need the space , but as previous answer i would look at the octavia its a great car and less than a v 70 try one you will like it

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