The perfect 3-car garage for the price of a Ford
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Mondeo man used to be a thing back in the day, a term ascribed to the average Joe driving the average car. Times have moved on however and today’s Mondeos are much more than just your average car.
In fact, most of Ford’s offerings have moved up the social rankings leaving the ‘average’ ranking to other brands.
This automotive gentrification has also led to an increase in prices and while many of the latest Fords are thoroughly capable, we were wondering if it were now possible to have three desirable used cars for the price of one new Ford.
To keep things representative, we picked from across the entire range, don’t worry, the trusty old Mondeo is still part of the list.
Our aim was to find a trio of cars that would fit the family car/weekend toy/business executive profile the best without exceeding the allocated budget.
It may sound like an impossible task but read on because some of these results are sure to surprise you…
Ford KA+ Zetec Colour Edition £12,095
The very cheapest Ford nowadays is the KA+, it is a huge step up from the dismal original and this top-spec Colour Edition comes with some cool exterior details and an 85 bhp engine that is nippy enough for city driving purposes.
2009 Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 £3,000
The Zafira is a solid load-lugger that will fit up to 7 people and still have space for a bag or two.
The 1.8-litre engine is no ball of fire but you will still be going quicker than in the KA+. Of course you could get the turbocharged version if you are in a real hurry.
2003 Jaguar X-Type 3.0 V6 £4,000
Classy old barges like the X-Type usually tend to cost a few body parts to maintain but these should be relatively trouble-free and the 3.0 V6 is a great engine too.
2003 BMW E46 convertible £3000
This old, old shape BMW 3-series convertible was a common sight in the more affluent parts of London some years back and while they may have since made way for newer and shinier things, a good condition one is still a pleasure to drive.
The best ones are the 6-cylinder 325i and 330is, and they can be found for as little as £3,000.
Ford Mondeo Vignale £31,195
So to our reasonably-priced family car, base Mondeos still dip below the £20,000 mark but you can also opt for the fancy Vignale model which, when equipped with a 180 bhp turbo diesel engine it is a far more substantial £31,195.
You do get features like a heated steering wheel, rearview camera and LED adaptive headlamps but that is still a fair chunk of cash for a family car.
2013 Mercedes-Benz C220 CDi £10,000
The Mondeo Vignale is a fine car but for less than a third of the price it is hard to ignore this very capable Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
It may not be quite so well-equipped but it will have an even better ride and is sure to last for decades. The 168bhp C220 2.2CDi fits right into our price range.
2014 Volkswagen Touran 1.6TDi £10,000
The Touran in 103 bhp 1.6TDi diesel guise may not be a speedy car but it is spacious and very practical and you won’t mind carting the family pets around in it either.
2009 Audi A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI £11,000
For those weekend trips when you just want to let your hair down, why not let the wind blow through it too with an Audi A5 cabriolet?
It is quick enough to be entertaining and offers seating for four.
Ford Focus RS Edition £36,295
The latest RS is a proper hot hatch, its 350 hp 2.3-litre engine and limited-slip differential make short work of twisty roads and it is more than a match for some very fancy and expensive sports cars around a race track too.
It also has liberal doses of carbon-fibre trim inside if that is your sort of thing.
Yet, for that sort of money we can find three great used alternatives that we think are even more impressive.
2007 Porsche Boxster S £12,000
This last-generation Boxster is not quite as quick in a straight line but it is even better to drive and will still be mightily impressive in the corners.
Plus, you get to experience that sonorous naturally aspirated 295bhp 3.4-litre flat-six with the top down whenever the sun peeks out from between the clouds.
2004 Porsche Cayenne Turbo £12,000
This mighty 450bhp SUV may even beat the RS away from the lights and it is still being capable of scaling a rocky mountain path if one happens to get in the way.
Sure, it uses scary amounts of fuel and it can quite easily bankrupt you if something breaks, but, if you are brave enough, this is a lot of car for the money.
2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E220 CDI £12,000
Smooth and unassuming, the E-Class is just the thing for your daily commute.
It will also counter the horrendous fuel bills of the Cayenne with its frugal diesel engine.
Ford Edge Vignale £41,945
The most expensive ‘normal’ Ford is currently the Ford Edge Vignale. If you pick the 210bhp turbo diesel engine and tic a few minor options you will be looking at £41,945.
Standard equipment includes premium leather upholstery with powered and heated front seats, 20-inch alloys, navigation, adaptive LED lighting and enhanced ambient lighting.
Nice, but we can find three cars that can do better than that.
2011 Mercedes-Benz S350CDI £15,000
This Merc offers supreme ride comfort thanks to its air suspension and massaging front seats, the 255bhp S350CDI also won’t break the bank when it comes to fuel costs.
2010 BMW X5 35d £15,000
Big and fast, the X5 is a great all-rounder and still looks good in this second-generation shape.
The 286bhp 35d offers good fuel economy and you can have it with 7 seats too.
1997 TVR Chimaera 4.0 £12,000
This scary old British sports car is actually one of the more reliable models TVR made.
In 275 bhp 4.0-litre form it is also not going to try and launch you into the bushes whenever you press the throttle.
Ford GT £400,000
This is the most expensive production car that Ford has ever made, a projected 1,000 units will be built over the next four years and all have already been sold out.
A race car for the road, the Ford GT is a bit compromised for the school run although not much comes close to it on a race track.
But at £400,000, there are some seriously talented rivals to pick from…
2011 Bentley Flying Spur W12 6.0 £75,000
This is one of the fastest four-door saloon cars on the road and is filled with luxury and convenience extras that will have you arriving at your meetings more relaxed than when you left.
2017 Range Rover Sport 3.0SD £75,000
Superb comfort and luxury are the Range Rover’s strengths too but it is even better at ferrying the kids around, not to mention its off-roading capabilities.
The 302bhp 3.0SD V6 fits our budget and leaves us a fair bit over for our weekend choice…
2017 Ferrari 488 GTB £250,000
At almost half the price of the GT, the 488 GTB seems like a relative bargain.
The Ferrari may not be quite as quick on a race track (it would still be very close) but it offers similar thrills and leaves space in the budget for a few more practical weekday cars too.