Are these any good?

Anything to look out for when buying one?

Thinking of having a look at one when we change the wifes car in June.

My list so far consits of

Citroen Picasso HDi

Focus Estate Tddi

Golf Estate Tdi

got about 4k to spend max.

Typical French car really.

If looked after they are very good, but tend to be a bit fragile.

The suspension collapses unexpectedly as well.

Looking at your choice of cars, they may be a bit big.

Typical French car really.

If looked after they are very good, but tend to be a bit fragile.

The suspension collapses unexpectedly as well.

Looking at your choice of cars, they may be a bit big.

I agree on them being a bit big, but i want something that when we go on holiday we can use too. instead of my octavia.

Just been looking on autotrader and saw a Focus Ghia TDDi estate on a 200 W plate for 2.5k, that seems like a bargain to me.

I agree on them being a bit big, but i want something that when we go on holiday we can use too. instead of my octavia.

Just been looking on autotrader and saw a Focus Ghia TDDi estate on a 200 W plate for 2.5k, that seems like a bargain to me.

At that price and age I would expect it needs either a lot of tlc, or money spending on it, and they are not particularly nice either.

For me, a Picasso would be better, although they are French ( again) they love a bit of abuse, and are very practical.

We had an 'x' plate one with 150k miles on it, and although it was falling apart and woefully slow, it still did its job.

At that price and age I would expect it needs either a lot of tlc, or money spending on it, and they are not particularly nice either.

For me, a Picasso would be better, although they are French ( again) they love a bit of abuse, and are very practical.

We had an 'x' plate one with 150k miles on it, and although it was falling apart and woefully slow, it still did its job.

What's not nice about the Focus?

the one i have seen has got a FSH and just had a major service, full mot and some tax.

I agree about the picasso being ok but i don't want to go down the people carrier route if i can help it.

the focus would be a better car witch engine are you looking at in the 406 is it the 1.9td 2.1td or the newer 2.0hdi the better one cheeper tax as well. my old mans got a 2.1td not estate goes great drives well but a bit french if you know what i mean.

all in all a good car.

my dads is on a p plate and done about 50 000 miles he brought it new and looks after his cars. check all electrics on a french car before you buy it push all butons and twist all the knobs

the focus would be a better car witch engine are you looking at in the 406 is it the 1.9td 2.1td or the newer 2.0hdi the better one cheeper tax as well. my old mans got a 2.1td not estate goes great drives well but a bit french if you know what i mean.

all in all a good car.

my dads is on a p plate and done about 50 000 miles he brought it new and looks after his cars. check all electrics on a french car before you buy it push all butons and twist all the knobs

the 406 would have the 2.0 HDi engine.

I used to have a focus and i really enjoyed it plus the wife really likes them and it will be her driving it mostly.

Sorry, I just don't like Focii.

The TDDI isn't the best engine, I'd hold out for a later TDCI myself.

I think the 406 HDI is a bargain really, quite underated, and very durable.

The TDDI isn't the best engine, I'd hold out for a later TDCI myself.

I think the 406 HDI is a bargain really, quite underated, and very durable.

TDCI's are out of my budget. From what i have read on FFOC the TDDi is pretty bullet proof, lots of satified owners, wheras the TDCI has several known issues, such as poor fuel economy and dual mass flywheel failure to name two.

The 406 seems to be a lot of car for not a lot of cash to me. But there must be a reason for that.

TDCI's are out of my budget. From what i have read on FFOC the TDDi is pretty bullet proof, lots of satified owners, wheras the TDCI has several known issues, such as poor fuel economy and dual mass flywheel failure to name two.

The 406 seems to be a lot of car for not a lot of cash to me. But there must be a reason for that.

with the 406 you will get a lot of car for your dosh because they are french they drop in price a lot from new,i think my dads one was about

Would you consider a Mondeo estate? Just had a quick scan of 'Trader and found a silver '02 2.0 TDCi 130 with 91k for £3,950, Zetec spec.

Just an idea but that's where I'd go, given your requirements.

Steve

Would you consider a Mondeo estate? Just had a quick scan of 'Trader and found a silver '02 2.0 TDCi 130 with 91k for

Anything to look out for when buying one?

Yes.

They were/are very popular for towing caravans. If it is fitted with a towing hitch, check for damage to clutch/power train generally.

Sal

Possibly, yes. I really like the mondeos myself. What are they like with that sort of mileage? Anything i should be looking forwhen buing one?

Won't they suffer from the same DMF problems as other TDCi engines?

The only other thing to consider would be how much the insurance will be for the wife.

a freind of mine had a mondao old shape TD that had well over 200 000 miles on (ex taxi) it so they will keep going i think they are built better than the peugot but i prefer the ride in the peugot and i think they handell quite a lot better. (just my opinion)

a freind of mine had a mondao old shape TD that had well over 200 000 miles on (ex taxi) it so they will keep going i think they are built better than the peugot but i prefer the ride in the peugot and i think they handell quite a lot better. (just my opinion)

I know someone at work with a mondeo TDDi and he is very happy with it.

Yes.

They were/are very popular for towing caravans. If it is fitted with a towing hitch, check for damage to clutch/power train generally.

Sal

i do think that the 406 was voted once the best toeing car of the year or something like that by the caravan club mag not sure may have been someone else but they are good or toeing as well.

I know a fisherman with a 406 hdi who toes his boat and he was moaning about his cluttch sliping. but he dose love the car

Personally don't like anything French - something to do with them selling us stuff and refusing to buy ours, and problems with a firms van on the front suspension , so that loses my vote on the Citroen. Mondeos locally seem to do well as taxis - focus TDCI- driven from 02 -56 at work - as dull as dishwater - heavy, lifeless - more poke in a 1.4tdi Furby.Now Golf - never driven the car - but the van - older style TDI - less power than car i would suspect - but fun like Furbi, estate looks like it has capacity and if the handling is anything like the van ---solid.

Notice you don't mention another car of same size as Golf - Astra estate --massive back with seats down -certain versions had problems with runaway after switch off - especially TD ---burning the oil (especially if oil high)

My 2p

Personally don't like anything French - something to do with them selling us stuff and refusing to buy ours, and problems with a firms van on the front suspension , so that loses my vote on the Citroen. Mondeos locally seem to do well as taxis - focus TDCI- driven from 02 -56 at work - as dull as dishwater - heavy, lifeless - more poke in a 1.4tdi Furby.Now Golf - never driven the car - but the van - older style TDI - less power than car i would suspect - but fun like Furbi, estate looks like it has capacity and if the handling is anything like the van ---solid.

Notice you don't mention another car of same size as Golf - Astra estate --massive back with seats down -certain versions had problems with runaway after switch off - especially TD ---burning the oil (especially if oil high)

My 2p

I have seen that astra diesel estates can be had for the money i am talking but i know very little about them. What engines should i look for? What are common problems with them? I wouldn't rule one out though.

The TDDI isn't the best engine, I'd hold out for a later TDCI myself.

I think the 406 HDI is a bargain really, quite underated, and very durable.

The TDDI sounds and drives like it was stolen from the local John Deer factory...

I think it's an awful engine and almost on par with the old endura engines. The TDCI is much nicer and the 406 IMHO is an excellent and durable car. The suspension on the peugots I've been near stands up to our cr*p roads a lot better than the VAG stuff and IMHO the parts are a lot cheaper too, ditto for ford parts.

The Astra estates of that generation are our pool cars of choice at work. TBH they are flimsy feeling, uneconomical, but reliable and actually pretty well built. Agreed about the loadbay as well, it's colossal with the seats down.

I rather like 406's, I looked at one myself. Lot of them as taxis around here and I often ride in the as a result and I always think how remarkably quiet and smooth riding they are. Supposed to handle half-decent as well, as for reliablity, I'm not sure but I'd guess it's not bad otherwise they wouldn't be popular taxi transport?

It seems that the wife may not be getting something as large as a 406 now.

Having weighed everything up we probably only need to get her something no bigger than a Focus sized car. Which would be ideal for her to use for work and still ok for us all to fit in, except for holidays when we will use the octy.

I am considering a Fabia also.

What do i need to look for on the 1.4/1.2 petrol engines? with high milage? When do the cam belts need doing?

also considering

Fiat Punto

Nissan Almera

Opinions please???