Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2021 9:51:39 GMT
As Humph says for a car I won't use much, who cares if it's a bit old fashioned. Yes. Old-fashioned is one thing but this is just plain old. My Volvo from the same series and period broke after 13 years. (Admittedly in the engine and gearbox, which were both different from what this one has.) But the other thing to bear in mind is that that generation of V70 isn’t that big inside. Fine in the front, but tight in the back and not ‘cavernous’ in the boot either. Aren’t we back to the well-worn advice to buy on age and condition, rather than make and model? How new a Focus 2.0 estate could you get for £3000? Less than 17 years, I’ll bet. My old fashioned comment was referring to the 2.3 engine in the Mondeo. I've no intention of buying a 2004 Volvo. I agree entirely, the newest Focus 2.0 estate for the money would be a better choice. As would the newest Mondeo for the money, which would be a bit better for rear seat leg room for a 6-foot plus teenager. At this age.pricepint it appears the Focus and Mondeo are of broadly similar value for example: www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107235355737On balance I think I'd be getting more car and a better proposition for my family with a Mondeo over a Focus estate. |
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Post by Humph on Aug 4, 2021 10:36:16 GMT
It is ironic in a small way, that a Mondeo estate is probably about as close to being "all the car anyone could ever need" given the imminent demise of the model.
If you look at the equation where factors include, practicality, reliability, availability, driving pleasure, comfort, affordability, ease and costs of maintenance etc it just ticks more or less every box. The ones I've had have been just about the best all round cars I've ever had. I'm currently sticking with my E class because I really like it, and it didn't cost me as much as it should have, but it's only marginally better, and even then in only subjective ways, at being a useful thing than a Mondeo would be.
Not to say there aren't alternatives of course, but it has to be near the top of the obvious choice list.
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Post by EspadaIII on Aug 4, 2021 10:37:49 GMT
Haha, it's a 17 year old car, two grand and a few scratches are putting you off. Yes because our 17 year old Punto is in far better condition despite the hammering our son has meted out to it and my ten year old E350 with 71,000 miles is unmarked internally. So that Volvo has been treated very badly (which does not bode well for the mechanicals) or the mileage has been 'tweaked'... |
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Post by Humph on Aug 4, 2021 10:38:01 GMT
...but, I saw a Tipo estate close up yesterday and have to say it seemed a pleasant enough thing.
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Aug 4, 2021 11:17:54 GMT
My Volvo from the same series and period broke after 13 years. (Admittedly in the engine and gearbox, which were both different from what this one has.) But the other thing to bear in mind is that that generation of V70 isn’t that big inside. Fine in the front, but tight in the back and not ‘cavernous’ in the boot either. I'll grant you they are not huge in the rear seat but the bodyshell and mechanicals will outlast a Ford from that era. My S60 registered in Sept. 2004 is still going strong with no advisories at 238,882 miles when it was MOT'd last Sept. View the MOT History of "SV54 XSA", the S60s were built in Belgium, I think the V70s were still being built in Sweden. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2021 11:36:13 GMT
...but, I saw a Tipo estate close up yesterday and have to say it seemed a pleasant enough thing. Boom. Another one for my side. Sadly they haven't depreciated to the £3k level yet. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2021 13:14:21 GMT
P.S. I'll probably delay any moves until September, as we've got some driving to do for holidays in the next few weeks. Don't want the hassle of a car change and the risk of it throwing a problem soon after purchase on a holiday drive...
I'll revisit the lie of the land then. And we'll only be 3 months from 17th birthday zero hour....
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2021 10:19:06 GMT
Struggling not to go and pick this up for the lad right now. This dealer seems to have some fairly nice stock at reasonable prices. I wonder what they're like on closer inspection though. Same place which has the 2.3 Mondeo with the worn out parking sensor button. www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107275521886 |
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Post by EspadaIII on Aug 6, 2021 11:07:02 GMT
Buy it!
That is so much better than the Volvo. It's a sensible price and even if it only lasts a year £800 is not a huge amount to lose if you factor in the costs of a service and MoT.
Bet it has A/C and a heated front screen as well. You'll be wanting it....
Go Al Go!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2021 11:10:54 GMT
No way I'd pay someone to service an £800 car, that's a DIY job!
I'm just off to have my daily swim (joined a local club recently, I'm sure you're all delighted to hear), I shall mull it over whilst doing my lengths. Lad is out on his volunteering activity today (a charity who provide sports activities for kids with mental health problems), I'll run it past him but I expect a nose may be turned up as he's desperate for something Japanese...we'll see.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Aug 6, 2021 11:49:56 GMT
Mmm, velour! (What’s left of it anyway.)
2004 Focus 1.6 Ghia, for future readers. £799 plus £99 for the privilege of actually buying it.
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Post by Humph on Aug 6, 2021 11:51:49 GMT
Would that be ULEZ compliant, and would that matter?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2021 12:27:17 GMT
This one is London ULEZ compliant. Other cities and future schemes may differ.
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Post by Humph on Aug 6, 2021 13:51:56 GMT
Our strategy, if we had one, was to get a car that would work as a platform for our son to learn on, and be suitable to take him through what remained of sixth form and on through uni. Which it has achieved without problems. It was 7 years old when I bought it for him, with one previous owner and 38,000 miles, FSH, new MOT etc. Apart from servicing and tyres it hasn't needed any other work. It is 11 years old and has fifty a lot thousand on it now.
He'd quite like something a bit more grown up now, but he's pretty realistic about the costs of that and it's not a big deal to him for now anyway just to keep going with his current car. He likes cars, but it's not top of his list to change it yet. I think he's rather hoping to inherit his Mum's Jeep at some point, but she's not for parting with that. She's totally smitten with it.
Anyway, if all this rambling has any kind of point to make, it might be that you'd do well to try to source something that is a bit more future proof, and that could be a useful thing for a few years.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2021 14:01:40 GMT
Hmm. I see where you're coming from but there are a lot of T/V reg Focuseses running around still. It would need to last 5/6 years to see him through 6th Form and University. But even if it went bang it's only got an asking price of £800 on it. Which seems so low, under current circumstances and from a dealer, as to appear slightly suspicious thinking about it.
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