Weighed around 1520kg when I stuck it on a weigh bridge. I think due to the high spec? Tows our 5 berth van (1325MPTLM) with ease.
Nice example there mate!
Ive had one of these passat estates for the last 6 years and its been the best car ive ever had.
The maximum braked tow weight on them is 1600KG. My van is 1350KG MAM and i still get over 30mpg.
Mine had 120'000 mile on it when i got it and it covered that in the first 3 years of its life!!<img align="absmiddle" src="forum_images/smiley3.gif" width="17" alt="17">
It was a gamble when i bought it but one which has paid off big time! As long as you have a full service history with these, dont worry about mileage- within reason.
The only thing mine has had is a radiator, just after i got, 200 quid pattern afair from ebay <img align="absmiddle" src="forum_images/smiley36.gif" width="17" alt="17">, a 12 quid temp sensor and a battery! Apart from the usual consumables like tyres, CV boots and brake pads, thats more or less it and its now covered 165'000 miles!
Its still on the origonal factory clutch AND exhaust system for christ sake!
Mondeo's are a great car but i think you'l struggle to match the build qaulity and longetivity of the B5 passat, its a shame the same cannot be said of the later version!
I would have another one of these tomorow if i could find one with reasonable milage,
fantastic car in every way.
Thanks Gary, will sorry to see it go, probably the best car I've ever had. But I have a company's car and fuel card so I'm just not using it. Looking at 4x4's for towing/dogs/lanes to get for my wife to use instead of her Fiesta as we are very rural and the lanes are wrecking the wheels on her car and it always looks like a rally car! So we'll go from 3 cars to 2 hopefully.
To the OP - just keep looking until you find something you are 100% comfortable with. There are so many dodgy cars & sellers out there, if it seems iffy it probably is. Ask lots of direct questions before you even arrange to look. And dont buy anything without service history! "I've serviced it myself" is meaningless unless the seller can prove he or she is qualified to do so.
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Why does it have to be 10 years old? You can get a 7 year old Mondeo for the price of a 10 year old Focus and it is a better tow car to boot.
I'd go for the Mondeo but try and go for a 2004 - 2007 model with the 130PS engine if possible.
Bear in mind that a tow bar could cost £500 so take that into consideration when comparing two cars. A lot of people get put off by the towbar as they think it means the car has had a hard life so it's not usually a selling point but it is a big bonus for you.
if i was looking at a mk3 diesel mondeo id be looking more toward 2006 and newer , these dont seem to have the injector / fuel system issues that the early model seems to be plagued with.
check to see if clutch / dmf / csc have all been changed as these are a common failure as on most modern diesels.
good point with these engines though is no expensive cambelt change to worry about.
On the C5, Parkers give it 4.5 out of 5 for buying used.
Buying used
"Here's where C5 really comes into its own - having shed pounds in the showroom, and depreciated further for every mile put on it, a used C5 is upscale-branded, family motoring at bargain basement prices."
49 miles per gallon ain't bad either and the hydrolic suspension means it's smooth and a dream to tow. Servicing at a non Citroen dealer is cheap as chips.
Quote: Originally posted by audicab26 on 18/11/2012
"I've serviced it myself" is meaningless unless the seller can prove he or she is qualified to do so.
Meaningless? Hardly. I've serviced our households vehicles for years, as well as several friends' and neighbours' vehicles. Whilst being more than competent, I hold no formal qualifications. However from personal experience working within the motor trade, I happen to know that I am a damn sight more thorough than many service mechanics, who are tasked with rushing through umpteen vehicles a day and understandably can't often give every routine service more than a cursory once-over at best.
I would much rather buy a good running home-serviced vehicle with a folder full of parts invoices, past MOT certificates and associated paperwork than one that has nothing but a flimsy book full of stamps.
Quote: Originally posted by DaveCoaches on 18/11/2012
I'd go for the Mondeo but try and go for a 2004 - 2007 model with the 130PS engine if possible.
Bear in mind that a tow bar could cost £500 so take that into consideration when comparing two cars. A lot of people get put off by the towbar as they think it means the car has had a hard life so it's not usually a selling point but it is a big bonus for you.
Agree on the facelift mk3 mondeo with the 2.0 TDCi 130 engine, but I would since I drive one
But £500 for a towbar? Damn, sure as heck wouldn't want to shop where you do...
Ive got a MK3 2.0 Petrol Mondeo hatchback, its a 2001 Y reg. Bought it 18 months ago with 77000 on the clock. Came with 12 months MOT and 6 moths tax. It was and still is in excellent condition and has never let me down. Paid £900 for it, as I was on a very tight budget. Ive even had both the car and my 5 berth caravan fully loaded ie 4 adults and a dog, tows no problem. Half the time you don't even feel its on the back of the car
Skoda Octavia would be my first choice with or without 4x4.
If you buy a Mondeo watch out for the particulate filter not regenerating and, if it's got a dual mass flywheel, budget another £1000 to have it replaced at some point (soon).
A Volvo estate would also be a good solid towcar and can be picked up cheap enough. The C5 is a nice car but becoming thin on the ground. The alternative choice that you may wish to consider is an MPV. Galaxy, Sharan, Alhambra, Multipla, Previa etc all are good for towing and should return 45mpg (diesel) in everyday use.
------------- I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
Quote: Originally posted by Cledan on 23/11/2012
If you buy a Mondeo watch out for the particulate filter not regenerating and, if it's got a dual mass flywheel, budget another £1000 to have it replaced at some point (soon).
I agree with that partly but be aware that most cars these days are fitted with DMF's that can give trouble after 30'000 miles or 230'000 miles, its the luck of the draw not only applicable to a Mondeo.
My ole passat is still on the clutch and DMF it left the factory with 165'000 miles ago.
Alot depends on how the car has been driven by previous owners wether or not you have DMF problems! Drag racing starts and heat from clutch slip are the biggest killers of DMF's. A new one for mine can be got for about 300 quid.
Bloody useless particulate filters are also becoming very common now and again, if the car has been used on short stop start journeys they can also give problems and become blocked. A "forced re-gen" can cost about 200 quid and is only possible at a dealership unless you have the very expensive software required on a lappy!
Quote: Originally posted by Cledan on 23/11/2012
Skoda Octavia would be my first choice with or without 4x4.
If you buy a Mondeo watch out for the particulate filter not regenerating and, if it's got a dual mass flywheel, budget another £1000 to have it replaced at some point (soon).
A Volvo estate would also be a good solid towcar and can be picked up cheap enough. The C5 is a nice car but becoming thin on the ground. The alternative choice that you may wish to consider is an MPV. Galaxy, Sharan, Alhambra, Multipla, Previa etc all are good for towing and should return 45mpg (diesel) in everyday use.
Mk 3 Mondeos don't have a particulate filter. All modern diesels suffer with DMF problems, not just the Mondeo.
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Topic: what 10yr old car best for towing
