Don't give up in diesel I've just bought 07 plate Mondeo ST TDCi for the kind of money your talking about.
155Bhp and enough torgue to pull up trees. In fact mid range is fantastic.
Well quipped and economy is good I'm currently getting 40 round town. Only had it a week so can't comment on long journeys.
Ain't too many of them around either.
There is also the ST220 (petrol), drinks petrol and goes well.
http://www.stdrivers.co.uk/forum/att...hp?attid/6416/

