how many miles can a diesel do

High miles isn't a problem for the 1753 engine in my experience but sad to report that my mondy has succombed. I got her off a friend who ran 6 as taxis and R296 had 206000 miles on at 3 years old when she cost me £2200 from the lease co in Scotland. I have put 17000 on each year since then and she has been the best car I've ever owned. I have loved driving her and never looked at another car. This year was likely to be her last anyway as the body was increasingly tatty and didn't create a good impression pulling up outside customers premises, but after a trip to Canterbury to see the uni with daughter no2, R296 decided to blow the head gasket. I saw excess smoke in the headlights of cars behind, then noticed the tailgate glass was wet and understood immediately. Not smoke but steam. Onto the hard shoulder and a ride home on the recovery truck. The head gasket was blown and not cost effective to repair with poor body so unhappily I removed the 4 new tyres and new battery, kept the service book and photograpghed the speedo at just shy of 384000 miles. So I say don't worry about the mileage. Just keep her serviced.

Now replaced with R490 in ghia format and only 101000 and very tidy condition so I am looking forward to a long relationship with my new mondy.

One reason I "need" a mondeo estate is the tailgate width. Yo can get a 4foot wide sign in across the angle and more modern cars just aint that wide, unless you go for a people carrier.