I should add, the reason I don't want a diesel mondeo is mostly because I'm now paranoid that the turbo will die on me like it did with the focus and (unless I'm wrong) diesels in general need more looking after to avoid things like turbos blowing etc... Am I being paranoid or are the Mondeo diesels pretty solid?

Is your annual mileage over 15,000? If not, go for a petrol. As I've just said on another thread, it's getting increasingly difficult to find a good reliable used diesel. My impression is that Ford are one of the better makes for reliability and longevity in diesels.

Another advantage of Fords is that there are lots of them to choose from, and because of the numbers they lose value quickly and make good secondhand buys.

If you do go for petrol power, look at the Japanese makes: Japanese diesels seem to be nothing special, and used Mazda diesels should be avoided (many stories of expensive failures at higher mileages).

"....either their owners had issues and traded em in or they just made a lot more diesels."

They did indeed make a lot more diesels. Mondeos are mainly sold to companies, and diesel is still the norm for high-mileage company car drivers. There have long been scare stories about diesel polution, but only recently have they been getting much more publicity, and a growing perception that diesel cars will soon go out of fashion - and hold their value less well than they do at the moment.

I owned a 2002 1.8 petrol Mondeo from 3yrs old to 10 yrs old. Not much went wrong other than consumables. At 10 yrs old and 90k miles it was still on original exhaust/clutch.

The only fail to start was a failed fuel pump around 7 yrs old.

Needed new rear calipers around 8 yrs old. Some HT lead or other ignition problem causing a misfire at 9 yrs old. - Cheap £20 fix.

Suspension bushes. Two springs.Other than that just consumables - tyres, disc,brake pads plugs, wipers etc.

I finally got rid of it through a combination of several things needing done at the same time, age related, and approaching MOT. Plus just wanting a newer car.

My Octavia 1.4TSI petrol has similar interior space and performance but does 10mpg more and cost around £120 less per year in tax.

The only thing I really miss on the Mondeo compared to the Octaviais the front screen heater. I think a goood 2007 petrol Mondeo would be a decent buy with a good few years economic life left in it.