Hi.

I am just about to buy a mark 2 (05/06/07 year) after my beloved mark 1 has reached the end of its life.

Is there anything in particular that I should be looking out for when I go to view a potential purchase that could make the car either expensive to repair after purchase or a fault that means I should walk away from the car?

Also the car will be used by my wife mainly for short journeys but I have always fancied a diesel for the savings in running costs. My friend is saying that because they have a diesel particulate filter and they don't like short journeys I should stick with a petrol version. But I have been told that the 1.8tdci is an older engine that didn't have a DPF. Is that correct and will I really make savings with the car used only as a run around?

Am I correct in assuming that a diesel engine has a longer life expectancy than a petrol engine making a higher mileage car not such a bad thing?

Thanks.

David.

Hi.

I am just about to buy a mark 2 (05/06/07 year) after my beloved mark 1 has reached the end of its life.

Is there anything in particular that I should be looking out for when I go to view a potential purchase that could make the car either expensive to repair after purchase or a fault that means I should walk away from the car?

Also the car will be used by my wife mainly for short journeys but I have always fancied a diesel for the savings in running costs. My friend is saying that because they have a diesel particulate filter and they don't like short journeys I should stick with a petrol version. But I have been told that the 1.8tdci is an older engine that didn't have a DPF. Is that correct and will I really make savings with the car used only as a run around?

Am I correct in assuming that a diesel engine has a longer life expectancy than a petrol engine making a higher mileage car not such a bad thing?

Thanks.

David.

Hi mate, that is correct the 1.8 tdci has no dpf but can be hard to find.i personally dont have derv but a petrolhead so petrol only.dont know diesel reliability but i have 1.6 duratec 2010 titanium & its awesome. Less on power but adequate. But i'm comparing to mk1.5 2.0 esp with 145 psi with mods. If budget can be stretched then the mk2.5 is a better car all round. My 1.6 isnt bad on fuel averaging 28mpg & above local start stop. But urban will give me from 38 - 45mpg.

Yunii

Yes I believe there is two versions of the 1.6 petrol which would be my other choice other than diesel.

One has more bhp. Is one more reliable than the other?

At that age of car unless you want large repair bills avoid the 1.6tdci at all costs. poor design. unless you find one that had the egr blanked from day one and the dpf deleted as well as ocd servicing. Otherwise it's gonna cost you much more to keep running

No was only considering the 1.8tdci as a diesel because of the lack of a DPF.

Multiple & regular short journeys in any diesel is asking for trouble & if the car has a DPF, multiple & regular short journeys are not an option at all, so you'd be better off with a petrol engine

Avoid the 1.6TDCi DV6TED4 diesel at all costs

to be fair, there is nothing wrong with the 1.6 TDCI IF it has been looked after and some minor changes are made... or not so minor if you want to deal with the DPF.

in saying that, neither the 1.6 or 1.8 TDCI will love you for doing short trips, if you cant get at least a couple of good long runs out of it a week then forget it, you will only get around 35MPG cold around town driving like a granny WITH the modifications its the long runs that make it up, for me, it takes about 7 miles of driving before my MPG hits 60+ I average at about 55-60 if I just do town driving I rarely keep it up at 40.

MPG aside short trips stick with the petrol, long trips, knowing what I know now, id go for the 1.8 or research the buggery out of any 1.6.

If you don't mind getting your hands dirty you will find the 1.6 TDCI a pain in the sump? you will need ot take the DPF off which also means the fan needs removed which (to do it by the book) requires the radiator removed. Broken filler pipe? thatll be the whole rear subframe removed then. A complete nugget designed that setup, BUT its a very nice engine if looked after with some great fuel saving!

Another thing I was curious about was in photos of various cars some have a Ford branded Stereo and some a Sony version. Why would that be? Also I'm looking for either a Ghia or Titanium spec car but I don't see any Ghias with leather seats only the odd Titanium version.

Another thing I was curious about was in photos of various cars some have a Ford branded Stereo and some a Sony version. Why would that be? Also I'm looking for either a Ghia or Titanium spec car but I don't see any Ghias with leather seats only the odd Titanium version.

Leather was option cost only so rare. I recently purchased full heated leather interior. As for radio sony versions came late 2007 onwards then had dab. In titanium /ST . Not sure about zetec - s .

Yunii

Oh thought I'd seen some Sonys on 06 cars. Unless they changed the unit, if that's possible.

They are easy to change

Rust. Check the front wings and sills, they rot like hell on the bottom of the wings.

If it is only doing short journeys, go for petrol as any savings made by the diesel will be spent on maintenance.

If you buy the petrol version, invest in a engine cover. The washer jets, unless modified, leak into the spark plug ports making them fill with water, and it is an afternoon's work drying them out and putting it right.

Personally, I would avoid the mk2 and spend a little extra getting a mk2.5. That is what I did, much improved over the mk2 with a lot of the issues rectified.

Sent via the 'Clacks'

GNU STP