Small car high mileage

[robert.saunders]

Oi.....
I haven't defected............... Yet!

Regards
John

Worth a look though

 

[MBManInKen]

Worth a look though

That's quite enough of that, thank you very much! We don't need this kind of traitorous talk!

John, glad your daughter found something to her liking, in the end what counts is that she is happy with it.

Even if her taste clearly needs improving .

 

[robert.saunders]

Fordclub

 

[scumbag]

. I think little Scumbag is to blame!! She has read his posts and now war has been declared (don't tell him that)

She will wish the Fiat 500 was the option! I know. Just you wait and see!

Still, nice to know that girlies still pay attention to me and do exactly what I say. My faith in womenhood remains unbroken.

I am now off to make my tea, and eat it, by myself , in luxurious silence!

A ford, Pah!

Could be worse!

 

[robert.saunders]

Could've been a Mondeo

 

[lil.smartie]

Cool, well done. It's never easy making sure kids & parents are happy!

Kate

 

[gaz_l]

We haven't seen this one and it is in blooming Cornwall, which is a different country and ten thousand miles away or 39 Cornish miles

Shame she wasn't interested. I had one of those a few years back (albeit the 2 litre V6, not very insurance friendly ) and it was a lovely car. The interior was a but dull, but even today I still think it's a great looking coupe - one of the best to come out of Japan.

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Ahhh the 323F. Great looking car. I remember watching Top Gear when it was launched - when I were't just t'lad - watching two of them doing Russ Swift style synchronised dancing on an ice rink.

My sister-in-law has just acquired a very nice red one - it's her second car (still got the first) but not yet passed her test - she's only eighteen.

My F-i-L bought it from a chap who worked for him and had owned it from new - he washed it every time he used it. It became my M-I-L's car but she hardly ever used it, few hundred miles per annum.

She gave it my B-i-L last year, and he's just bought a RAV4 and so he's now given it to my S-i-L who still lives at home with my M-i-L and F-i-L.

So three owners in 6 months, but all in the same family and probably less than 1000 miles covered in the meantime. Phew.

The point of me posting is that IIRC nothing has ever broken on it, ever. An incredible car, and really good looking. Lots of her friends have posh new cars, but none of them will look as good nor be as reliable as that 323F.

 

[Carrotchomper]

I accept your vehicles 'should' be well maintained but how long does Avon & Zummerzett keep them for please?

regards
John

Ages actually! The marked Foci generally have a lifespan of about 4-5 years before they are replaced, which is pretty good considering the punishment they receive on a daily basis and general pressure on them. General replacement mileage is well over 100k too.

The unmarked cars used by CID and the like go on far longer, I know of a number of T and X-registration Foci still going strong. I think the fact they are kept on significantly past warranty period (Unlike many fleets) is a good testament of their toughness.

 

[mkindy]

Glad she has good taste! despite all the negative comments I say the old shape still looks good and performs just as good as far more modern kit. Put it next to a Golf or Polo of the same year and makes both look very tired designs. Don't drive it too much you might get too used to the handling and then try the same sort of tricks in something German and end up going through a hedge .

Good luck to her!

 

[glojo]

She will wish the Fiat 500 was the option! I know. Just you wait and see!

Still, nice to know that girlies still pay attention to me and do exactly what I say. My faith in womenhood remains unbroken.

I am now off to make my tea, and eat it, by myself , in luxurious silence!

A ford, Pah!

Could be worse!

If only,
If only you had recommended a Focus

I wonder if Fiat's top ambassador might have swayed my decision

I took onboard ALL the excellent, very valid and helpful remarks from everyone. All the points were considered and I think the mileage and history of this car helped in making the decision, and now the task of giving this car our standards of TLC will commence.

Thanks again for all the excellent posts
Regards
John

 

[big x]

Ford admit to making cars to last less than 100K...

When and where have they said that ?

Parts prices have to be factored in to. Recently ECP sent me a flyer and Ford parts are very cheap.

adam

 

[robert.saunders]

Must admit the Mercedes I had went over 100k no worries really, and I was confident with that mileage. The Mondeo has 50k currently (I've done 20k in the last 12 months!) and I'm admittedly not confident at it reaching 100k despite my looking after it

 

[big x]

It's no secret that I'm no Ford fan , but I have driven the Focus more than once, as a hire car on trips abroad and the one that a family member owns and they are dreadful IMHO. Plastic look and feel (admittedly that's perhaps more perception), quite noisy and I wasn't too impressed with the engines or gearbox. Lacks the Teutonic feel of robustness.

Compared to a Polo, even though that is a smaller class car, I'd go for the VW anytime - although I'd probably go for the Golf.

Then again, I'm probably making a not very factual judgement here - it's more about "feel", I'm surprised about my own lack of scientific objectivity .

When I hired a Polo I was surprised how poorly it handled. It rolled around like a tug in a storm.The crude torsion bar rear suspension doesn't help matters but the terminal understeer at even moderate speeds is deeply unsatisfying. VW clearly agreed because they hired the guy who designed the Focus suspension to work on the current Golf !!
The Focus on the other hand is a delight. Come off the throttle and the car nicely tucks into a bend, step on the throttle and the car straightens nicely at the apex.. No armfuls of steering lock required and regardless of speed the car is composed.

adam

 

[Frank O' Phile]

reluctant defence of ford.

Must admit the Mercedes I had went over 100k no worries really, and I was confident with that mileage. The Mondeo has 50k currently (I've done 20k in the last 12 months!) and I'm admittedly not confident at it reaching 100k despite my looking after it

Why does the Mondeo keep cropping up in these forums?

Mine (actually it was supplied by the work) has just gone past 156K. I picked it up 2 years ago (next month) and it had 66k then.

Its a 98? S plate MK2 1.8 TD with FSH. No power, no acceleration but will sit on the motorway all day at 70 (ish). I really can't fault it. I don't like it, (prefer my old W124) but I have to say its the second best thing Ford ever made. Even got the thumbs up on Top Gear!

Still, would prefer if they give me a Merc next time.

 

[robert.saunders]

Why does the Mondeo keep cropping up in these forums?

Must be life as we know it

 

[glojo]

My daughter will not be throwing the car into any bend nor hopefully will she be finding out how good the handlling are.

Robert,
I'm sure that if your Mondeo is well maintained it will easily see out 100,000 miles. I just checked with Ford about replacing the cam belt but was told they are a 100,000 mile item, so could that be where this 100,000 mile saying comes from?

I'm not into type casting any marque of vehicle although there are lots I would never buy; I think the secret is to respect the decision of anyone stoopid enough to buy a Mercedes-Benz.

Regards
John

 

[robert.saunders]

Agree what you're saying and I think the cam has a chain? Anyway, the car itself just doesn't feel as sturdy as the Mercedes that was on double the mileage. It may just simply be a hatchback vs saloon issue, but there is undoubtedly a difference that is deeper than just pedigree, even accepting the 2002 W203 I had wasn't the best of build quality in its own right

 

[GrahamC230K]

My daughter will not be throwing the car into any bend nor hopefully will she be finding out how good the handlling are.

Well there are other ways of testing the susepnsion

 

[glojo]

Well there are other ways of testing the susepnsion

We are talking about my daughter??