I'm a MONDEO MAN, now !!!

[Andy]

last bit deserves that, so true.

I've had to make a serious choice in deciding that I *need* a reliable cheap car that I'm willing to put a fair bit of money into, to last 5-7 years.

I'm looking at less than 40k cars, enough room to fit either my mates or fishing gear in, and in blue.

Ive ruled out diesels, as although I drive about 100 miles a week just commuting, I don't think the offset of diesel works against petrol, so I'm looking at 1600cc or smaller petrols really.

I'm sold on Fords as they're cheap like you say! Might not be as refined as say Hondas or VW's they're still great value for money.

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Andy

VW's

Our secretary has had nothing but problems with her 55 plate Passat - It's literally in the garage every couple of months and it's only got 88K on it !

[Andy]

Yeah, my old lady said to check out the Polio in the garage where she bought hers from, but I'm struggling to find a good review for them. Bloody cheap to insure though! A 1.4 Sport comes in a sub £300 for me!

[Roadkill]

Just tipped 196,500 miles today . . . the big 2-0-0-0-0-0 will be here in June I reckon (doing some training locally so should reduce my miles for April/May).  

No problems and no money spent on her . . .

[Cunning Plan]

Any servicing planned coming up?

Oil and filter change maybe?

[Roadkill]

Last serviced very late July, 2011 at around 181,000 miles so I'll probably leave it a bit longer . . maybe at the magical 200,000 point ?

[Andy]

Quoting: Roadkill

maybe at the magical 200,000 point

Treat her to the finest stuff

[Cunning Plan]

20k on the same oil

Still, it's been chugging along so far

[Andy]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

20k on the same oil

Hmm, How does this fit with you. My Focus was serviced in February, mileage 22.5k, it reckons in the book, the next oil change isn't due till 50k?!

I'm taking the bugger back and getting it done either way, but thats according to the book.

[Cunning Plan]

WHAT?!

There is no way I would leave oil going for 20-odd thousand miles

I know oil technology has improved, but still, sludge, fuel contamination along with all the metal fragments floating around isn't ideal.

The manual for my gf's Fiesta says Ford recommend 12k intivals but Haynes recommend 6k, especially the filter, which is what we stick to. It is only £20 for oil and a filter for a Ford.

[Fieldy]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

There is no way I would leave oil going for 20-odd thousand miles  

I have left mine for 25k miles without changing

Just had mine MOT'd, advisory on a tyre which I knew about but couldn't source one in time

[art b]

you will find its the turbos which wont like dirty oil...
and there not cheap or easy to replace...

[Andy]

Quoting: Andy

Hmm, How does this fit with you. My Focus was serviced in February, mileage 22.5k, it reckons in the book, the next oil change isn't due till 50k?!

I'm taking the bugger back and getting it done either way, but thats according to the book.

Ignore that, read the book wrong...

[art b]

check out the case study half way down the article...

http://www.turbodynamics.co.uk/technical/diagnostics/turbocharger-failure/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.turbodynamics.co.uk/technical/diagnostics/turbocharger-failure/

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: art b

you will find its the turbos which wont like dirty oil...
and there not cheap or easy to replace.

Quoting: art b

check out the case study half way down the article...

Yup, for £20, I would rather just change the oil.

[Fieldy]

Mine is non-turbo petrol

[Roadkill]

Meh.

I figure at nearly 200K she's worn in enough to cope.

Besides I want the old oil to mix with "creosote"  to paint the fence with this year and I'm not quite ready to do that yet.

[Andy]

Do you want a drum of creosote? Got a drum at mine thats doing nothing but stinking the place up!

[Roadkill]

Already have my own smelly drum in the back garden - been saving it for this occasion !!

[Andy]

balls.

Regret buying the thing now. It was a bet my dad set me, saying you can't buy it any more 'yadda yadda' huh, I showed him, bought a whole 25 litre drum. Turns out he didn't want to creosote the shed after all, instead use some nancy boy preservatives.

[EDGE]

creocote is awesome!  I use it in our garden on things that I want to last.. everything else gets 'preservative'

[Roadkill]

197,050 miles . . . . She had a relative rest last week while I was training.  Back to it this week.

[Cunning Plan]

Monster!

I am going to get my old Mondeo back on the road to give to my sister, that's at 162k. (Petrol).

[ianjpage]

Quoting: Roadkill

197,050 miles . . . . She had a relative rest last week while I was training. Back to it this week.

So is the 200k this week or next then lol

[Roadkill]

I average about 2100 miles a month so mid June I reckon.  I'll hold off servicing until then.