Mondeo diesel estate as a tow car

sailorman said:
Drive hard - DMF needs changing well thats a surprise
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Why shouldn't a car owner be able to use a 130hp engine to put out 130hp without expensive failures?
The one thing that, historically dating from the days of Newcomen engines, is impossible to break is.....the flywheel. I'm sure the Titanic's flywheels are still in good nick.
Now, apparently, it is a delicate item that costs 500 to replace if you use the car in the wrong way. No wonder Mondies are cheap. Why can you buy a popular kit to replace them with solid flywheels?
To the OP, don't get hung up on a perticular model, just look at the weights, I would look at a scruffy Merc personally, probly petrol as well, good luck.
 
jerrytug said:
Why shouldn't a car owner be able to use a 130hp engine to put out 130hp without expensive failures?
The one thing that, historically dating from the days of Newcomen engines, is impossible to break is.....the flywheel. I'm sure the Titanic's flywheels are still in good nick.
Now, apparently, it is a delicate item that costs 500 to replace if you use the car in the wrong way. No wonder Mondies are cheap. Why can you buy a popular kit to replace them with solid flywheels?
To the OP, don't get hung up on a perticular model, just look at the weights, I would look at a scruffy Merc personally, probly petrol as well, good luck.
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The DMF is need in the designed due to the modern lively engines with short power ranges to smooth-out poor driving skills & take the erratic strains off of the engine.
it the solid flywheel is fitted instead of a DMF then the cam belt life is foreshortned by some 40k miles
 
Having owned a Mondeo 2.0 diesel and a Passat 1.9 diesel at the same time, I far preferred driving the Passat, which also gave as much as 60 mpg on a run, 50+ mpg normally, a good 10 mpg better than the mondeo. The mondeo cost more to keep on the road too (DMF...)
 
Dylan. What does your trailer weigh? I seem to remember it has a launch trolley.


I always take a loaded trailer, complete with rudder, sails, outboard etc to the weighbridge to make sure I am within limits. It'll only cost you a fiver.

Weighbridgeslip.jpg

The bit written "car" is the load, it was my trials car. That was easy to remove and weigh separately of course. With a boat on a trailer you will only get the gross weight, but that is what you are looking for of course.

Don't forget that transferring the weight to the car may get the trailer's gross weight under the limit but filling the car with gear may take the Gross Train Weight of the whole outfit over the manufacturer's limit.
 
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sailorman said:
The DMF is need in the designed due to the modern lively engines with short power ranges to smooth-out poor driving skills & take the erratic strains off of the engine.
it the solid flywheel is fitted instead of a DMF then the cam belt life is foreshortned by some 40k miles
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Very interesting thanks, I guess the best Mondeo would be an old diesel auto in that case!
 
dylanwinter said:
sorry to do this again

hopefully the last time

when I sell Harmony I am going to buy a Mondeo to tow the Hunter

they can tow 1800kg - some can tow 2000KG

http://carleasingmadesimple.com/business-car-leasing/ford/mondeo/towing-weight-limit/

the minstrel weighs 1045kg

that should give me headroom for the trailer and boat related gubbins and keep the police off my case

has anyone on here towed heavy boats with one?

I am looking to get one with between 130,000 and 190,000 on the clock

hoping to pay around £600

the charts suggest 50 mpg - is this true?

D

PS _ I am very happy to read posts about Volvos, subarus and old jeeps but I also need a car that Jill will be prepared to drive - she can hack a mondeo but will kick up a fuss if she is expected to drive anything bigger
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The 2000+ Mondeo estate is actually bigger than a Volvo 850 or the first two versions of the V70, I know as I had both simultaneously. The Mondeo was a 2.0 tdi, not tdci and was bought at 80K, ran it as a tow car till 160K, basically it commuted back and forward from UK across Europe to regattas towing a large box trailer with two large dinghies on customised rack on top, plus loads of spares, tools and gear. Car was pretty faultless, until the climate control went haywire shortly before it was traded in.

On the 2.0 tdi actual towing fuel consumption was in the low 30s and barely better than 40mpg on it's own even on long runs.
 
I have a 2005 2.00 tdci. lots of low end torque and pulls the caravan really well. seeing the post above, the air con needed a regas but that's easy. currently up to 125,000 miles. i intend to run it until it dies as there's nothing to be gained by replacing it. use the fully loaded tyre pressure - 37 front and 35 back as at the normal pressure, mine wore the outside of tyres and after numerous checks of the tracking didn't help, the higher tyre pressures cured the problem. towing i get about 35 + mpg and nearly 50 solo
 
jwilson said:
The 2000+ Mondeo estate is actually bigger than a Volvo 850 or the first two versions of the V70, I know as I had both simultaneously. The Mondeo was a 2.0 tdi, not tdci and was bought at 80K, ran it as a tow car till 160K, basically it commuted back and forward from UK across Europe to regattas towing a large box trailer with two large dinghies on customised rack on top, plus loads of spares, tools and gear. Car was pretty faultless, until the climate control went haywire shortly before it was traded in.

On the 2.0 tdi actual towing fuel consumption was in the low 30s and barely better than 40mpg on it's own even on long runs.
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Follow up to this - the older 2.0 tdi is chain cam and has no DMF, so very little to go wrong, unlike newer versions. Newer ones are more economical on fuel but much more to go wrong.
 
Drifting the thread, my solution the the boat tow-car conundrum is to own a 1972 Land Rover. No car tax, classic car insurance on limited mileage and with the overdrive + freewheel hubs (and a 200di conversion) it does about 35 mpg on a run and burns 50% sunflower oil. On the down side I have to use ear defenders when going more than 50mph and the stopping distance is from here to the back of the lorry in front.
 
When I had a Minstrel although Hunters say it weighs 2300lbs(1045kg) this is for a bare boat.Mine on the trailer was approaching 2T .The trailer with the launching trolley is pretty heavy.A friend with a Minstrel could not manage his safely with a Sierra but I think it may have been a 1600cc.I towed it for him with my Ford Scorpio 2.9 automatic which was no problem.Do I remember you towed it originally with a Transit? Before you commit, as others have suggested it may be worth getting it weighed.
 
ditchcrawler said:
When I had a Minstrel although Hunters say it weighs 2300lbs(1045kg) this is for a bare boat.Mine on the trailer was approaching 2T .The trailer with the launching trolley is pretty heavy.A friend with a Minstrel could not manage his safely with a Sierra but I think it may have been a 1600cc.I towed it for him with my Ford Scorpio 2.9 automatic which was no problem.Do I remember you towed it originally with a Transit? Before you commit, as others have suggested it may be worth getting it weighed.
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some mondeos are rated at two tonnes

those are the ones I am after

the previous owner towed it with a passat estate

I used to tow the E boat with a sierra 1600

D
 
has anyone mentioned that the reason mondeos are so cheap at that mileage is the clutch is on its last legs , and its a front end out , subframe the lot to change it , easily 700 quid + in a garage .
 
jimmcgee said:
has anyone mentioned that the reason mondeos are so cheap at that mileage is the clutch is on its last legs , and its a front end out , subframe the lot to change it , easily 700 quid + in a garage .
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then off to the dump it goes

aiming for 3 to 5,000 a year

so if I can get one with 150K on it then I stand a chance of getting through the first two years

buying old cars is always risky

those of us - such as searush - who operate at this level just have to roll with it

year's mot, good tyres, drives okay, all electrics working


hold your breath and hand over the cash

D
 
I like your thinking, and if you read the papers today , the mayor of London wants to ban diesels in London , and the government will see a money spinner from it and ramp up the price to drive in London , so you will get a three litre jag 59 plate for 6 quid :encouragement:
 
I know your not , but there is going to be a run of cheap cars when the government bump up the tax :encouragement: oh , and I drive an 02 with 170 thousand :encouragement:
 
jwilson said:
Follow up to this - the older 2.0 tdi is chain cam and has no DMF, so very little to go wrong, unlike newer versions. Newer ones are more economical on fuel but much more to go wrong.
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I've had an 03 plate, diesel estate 2ltr, the 115 hp one, for the last 7 years or so - it had only done 10k miles when I got it, now it's on 135k. Can't fault it, no cam belt change needed as Jwilson says. I've had a new clutch but can't think of anything big that it's needed apart from the usual suspension/brakes etc. Never towed anything of any weight so can't comment on that.
 
dylanwinter said:
.........hold your breath and hand over the cash
D
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It's no good, your receive filter is clogged, you sound like a man with his eyes set in the middle distance. Kamikazi pilots used to wear that expression.

Just make sure that the car starts from cold, feel the engine, check the glow plug light comes on and goes out right away. Do not touch it if the light comes on with the engine running. Give the thing a good test, let it labour in low gear and then cane it, watch the glow plug light all the time.

Unlike the cars of yore if the technical wizardry gives out it will not carry on running, If that light flickers and/or the engine cuts out, even once, these cars have no value.
 
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