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[Doctor Gollum]

Starting to look around for a winter beater and exploring options.

One possibility is the '07+ Mundeo. Petrol ideally, but probably diesel.

Now I know these aren't Euro6, but given the official mpg is double that of the ML, ULEZ cost is less of an issue.

For comparison, as lovely as it is, TPC is £30 a day, so even a £10 saved isn't to be sneezed at.

Thinking 2.0. any good? What to avoid/look out for?

[Viral_Jim]

I haven't had that Mondeo, but given that our galaxy is essentially the same underneath, just with a sexy 7 seater body on top, I can offer a couple of thoughts. Below pertains to the 2.0tdci 163, which in every relevant way is mechanical the same as the more common 140ps. 

• To date ours has been reliable barring a very few little niggles - failed parking sensors and some electronic wierdness that went away when I swapped the battery.
• The engine isn't the smoothest diesel and gets significantly noisier when its due an oil change. 
• Timing belt on the diesel is (iirc) 10yrs or 100k - the engine is the wrong way round making the job a bit of a b!tch - if your purchase needs one, do yourself a favour and do it before the weather turns
• Suspension bushes, arb links etc seem to all start dying off around the 10yr/100k mark. None of them are bad to do, but all *will* be rusty (see below)
• Driveshaft oil seals can leak where they meet the grearbox on both sides. Again not a bad job, rusty suspension components notwithstanding but it makes a right fu£king mess. Also due to undertray positioning, all the gearbox oil can escape without leaving a drop on your driveway, and that is a more costly fix.
• Its a ford, so the underside will look like its been at the bottom of the Solent since new. The underside of ours is worse than the American lawn ornament which is 5yrs older, albeit with 20k fewer miles
• Don't buy the auto if its a PowerShift (and I believe they *all* are from this era). Just. Don't.
• Interior holds up well, other than the driver's side seat squab on titanium/zetec models (TitX has leather with a different structure and they hold up better) - the foam disintegrates on the door side leaving a metal support bar to dig into your right thigh/ar$e cheek. Fix is straightforward but a faff as the seat needs to be removed/disassembled. I never did mine.

In summary ours has been a reliable workhorse for the 2.5yrs / 35k we've done in it. Parts have been cheap and not required often. Finding one that's been looked after may be a challenge though as these are very few people's pride & joy.

Good luck in the search -  I'm amazed you aren't looking for a w211/212. 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I believe Tigger said his Mondeo came with a tranny lump in it.

[STEMO]

I believe Tigger said his Mondeo came with a tranny lump in it.

That must have been entertaining on long journeys 😂

[STEMO]

Oh.......the engine 

[Sir Tigger KC]

Yes mine was the 2.2TDCi Titanium X and I had it for about 7 years. It had about 113,000 on the clock when I bought it and about 178,000 when the dual mass flywheel packed up which is a common failure apparently.

Apart from the terminal flywheel issue it was a reliable old thing and about all I had to do was front shock absorbers, starter motor, Lamba sensor, seal up a leak to stop the spare wheel well from becoming a pond and had the wheels refurbished.

The Titanium X not only has better toys and trim, but stiffer suspension as well, and I'd say it's one of those cars that if you can find one that is in decent condition with reasonable history and mileage, and it's in budget, I wouldn't think too deeply about it. 

[Doctor Gollum]

Ta

Purchase criteria are broadly similar to the Bini I had a couple of years ago... Lowest price Vs longest MoT.

Mundeo was one of the more interesting things that popped up, others included smaller BMWs and C Classes.
And avoiding the power shit was on my list of things to do

[TheBoy]

I know Mondeo's that aren't well cared for are prone to rust underneath, so thats something else to properly check when looking.  The last models of the Mondeos also suffered electrical glitches, probably a trick Ford picked up during their ownership of JLR , though these tend to be minor, transient issues.

I quite like the look of the last of the Mondeos, and the better spec ones are comfortable enough for longer drives.  The handling isn't brilliant though, and the engines - petrol and diesel - are a bit unrefined when in a hurry.  But as a bargain banger, if you can find one not too neglected underneath, I don't think its a bad choice

[TheBoy]

Oh, and more exclusive than a Beemer or Merc

[Sir Tigger KC]

Oh, and more exclusive than a Merc

In a tidy sorted 2.2 TDCi Titanium X he'd never look back! 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Had a test drive in a Mondeo ST220 once.

It was quite some time ago and from memory it came with a 3 litre V6 ( I think)