Mondeo vs Mazda 6 vs E46
Discussion
Update on Page 4
Looking at changing my Focus (bought in November) for something a bit more comfortable and have some requirements including <60K miles, >2004 reg, N/A petrol engines only. Must be a maximum of about £4K.
I've narrowed it down to-
2005 Mondeo 2.0 Zetec £3,000
2005 Mazda 6 2.0 TS2 £3,200
2004 E46 BMW 318i £3,450
To be honest, my priorities are above all else, low running costs. The one thing I'll say for the Focus is that parts are cheap as chips and I've really enjoyed the fact that when it's needed new brakes or coils, the parts never seem to cost more than £50. How would the Mazda and the E46 compare to the Mondeo on that score? (I'm guessing Mondeo will be the cheapest by far)
Also, are there any other things I should be aware of regarding reliability of the Mazda or the E46? I've heard of Valvetronic problems with the E46 but not sure how common these are? I'm not sure if perhaps the Mazda has the same 2.0 engine as the Mondeo?
I've always liked the Mondeo, a lot, but the Mazda that I've found comes with a Bose sound system, which I'm going to assume is pretty good
Looking at changing my Focus (bought in November) for something a bit more comfortable and have some requirements including <60K miles, >2004 reg, N/A petrol engines only. Must be a maximum of about £4K.
I've narrowed it down to-
2005 Mondeo 2.0 Zetec £3,000
2005 Mazda 6 2.0 TS2 £3,200
2004 E46 BMW 318i £3,450
To be honest, my priorities are above all else, low running costs. The one thing I'll say for the Focus is that parts are cheap as chips and I've really enjoyed the fact that when it's needed new brakes or coils, the parts never seem to cost more than £50. How would the Mazda and the E46 compare to the Mondeo on that score? (I'm guessing Mondeo will be the cheapest by far)
Also, are there any other things I should be aware of regarding reliability of the Mazda or the E46? I've heard of Valvetronic problems with the E46 but not sure how common these are? I'm not sure if perhaps the Mazda has the same 2.0 engine as the Mondeo?
I've always liked the Mondeo, a lot, but the Mazda that I've found comes with a Bose sound system, which I'm going to assume is pretty good
Edited by Blue Oval84 on Friday 14th March 13:38
swerni said:
Have a search on top gear.
They did a comparison along with the Vectra VXR.
The Mondeo looks nicer but the Mazda was 4 wheel drive and looked more fun.
The VxR, while being the quickest had shocking handling
Liked that test, but those aren't the models the OP was looking at.They did a comparison along with the Vectra VXR.
The Mondeo looks nicer but the Mazda was 4 wheel drive and looked more fun.
The VxR, while being the quickest had shocking handling
Can't comment on the Mazda or the BMW but I've currently got an 05 Mondeo TDCI.
Can't fault it. Put a fair few miles on it since May last year and it's never gone wrong. Seems to go through front tyres every 10k or so though, maybe that's just my enthusiastic driving steering. Handles pretty well for a big car. Got enough go about it too. 48mpg more or less all the time.
Hope this helps.
Can't fault it. Put a fair few miles on it since May last year and it's never gone wrong. Seems to go through front tyres every 10k or so though, maybe that's just my enthusiastic driving steering. Handles pretty well for a big car. Got enough go about it too. 48mpg more or less all the time.
Hope this helps.
I used to have a Mondeo ST TDCi a few years back myself, it was my experience with that engine that made me vow to never buy another diesel out of warranty! Rest of the car was superb though!
If the Mazda 6 drives like a Mondeo, plus has a Bose sound system, we could have a potential winner
If the Mazda 6 drives like a Mondeo, plus has a Bose sound system, we could have a potential winner
I was quite impressed with a 2012 Mazda 6, apart from an auto gearbox. No idea how close it is to the '05.
A Mondeo will always be fairly predictable for running costs, but fuel economy probably isn't brilliant.
I couldn't bring myself to sit looking at an E46 interior, I'm probably alone there though.
A Mondeo will always be fairly predictable for running costs, but fuel economy probably isn't brilliant.
I couldn't bring myself to sit looking at an E46 interior, I'm probably alone there though.
Mazda,if you ask me had 2 mondeos and are good cars but pretty common. Mazda always seemed nicer version.
3 series bmw are a bit like a clit every
has got one but if you want rwd drivers car they are good once you get over the common as muckness and they have tiny boots and a lack of interior space. I tried 318/320 and they only would suggest anyone who enjoys driving needs a 2.5 upwards the 318/320 petrols arent exactly powerhouses as 3 series is heavy.
3 series bmw are a bit like a clit every
has got one but if you want rwd drivers car they are good once you get over the common as muckness and they have tiny boots and a lack of interior space. I tried 318/320 and they only would suggest anyone who enjoys driving needs a 2.5 upwards the 318/320 petrols arent exactly powerhouses as 3 series is heavy.Caulkhead said:
I struggle to understand why you are looking at medium/large saloons with 2.0 petrol engines if this is the case?
2.0 Petrol Mondeo is good for about 35-38mpg with ease on a motorway, about 25mpg round town.My TDCi Mondeo achieved about 33mpg round town and 44mpg on the motorway. It cost me over £1,200 in clutch and DMF costs and I moved it on when it needed another £1,200 worth of injectors!
I would have to do a LOT of miles to make that money back!
kambites said:
A smaller petrol engined car would be better than either, though.
Currently have a 1.8 Focus and it only gets 40mpg at best on the motorway regardless, and it's no where near as comfortable as a larger car, I'm used to an E39 so have found the Focus a bit of a culture shock! Blue Oval84 said:
kambites said:
A smaller petrol engined car would be better than either, though.
Currently have a 1.8 Focus and it only gets 40mpg at best on the motorway regardless, and it's no where near as comfortable as a larger car, I'm used to an E39 so have found the Focus a bit of a culture shock! kambites said:
The Mazda 6 and Mondeo are largely the same car underneath - I'd expect running costs to be very similar. Pretty sure it's the same engine and it's actually a Mazda developed unit (the Duratec).
That's my understanding. We have a 53 plate 2l petrol base model Mazda 6 bought as it was the best petrol estate available when I was looking, if I had to do the same search I'd be hunting one down because I'm genuinely impressed with it.
Bill said:
That's my understanding. We have a 53 plate 2l petrol base model Mazda 6 bought as it was the best petrol estate available when I was looking, if I had to do the same search I'd be hunting one down because I'm genuinely impressed with it.
I think my problem with the Mazda is that whilst the interior looks like it may be a better place to sit, I can't help but prefer the look of the Mondeo.That said, I live in the centre of Brighton which means I never actually see the car as it's normally parked at least one street away so I suppose the interior is more important.
Has your's got the Bose sound? What's it like if so?
Blue Oval84 said:
2005 Mondeo 2.0 Zetec £3,000
2005 Mazda 6 2.0 TS2 £3,200
2004 E46 BMW 318i £3,450
My thread has arrived !2005 Mazda 6 2.0 TS2 £3,200
2004 E46 BMW 318i £3,450
I've owned all three of these cars.
Mondeo - as dependable as the sun rising each morning. I've owned two of the mk3's and the only things I had to do to both of them in 55,000 miles consumables aside was a coil pack and a rear caliper. Not the most exciting drive but a well balanced chassis and tremendously chuckable for such a big unit. Not the most economical. Road tax is a joke price wise.
Mazda - I dont think I did anything to the Mazda in my ownership. Got the oil changed, put winter tyres on it. Wiper blades, thats it. Good spec, nice inside good stereo, looks excellent (I had a saloon). The 2.0 makes a great noise for an n/a petrol! Trip computer reads in litres per 100 miles which is a bit of a brain fry converting it to mpg. Surprisingly economical - I saw 50-52mpg on a run being light footed but not crawling. Watch for rusty rear arches - the pre facelift ones are very very prone. More exciting than the Mondeo. Road tax the same as the Mondeo.
E46 - My first BMW. Really nice to drive, so so neutral in the bends with that air of quality over the bumps. Was the most unreliable of the three for me and also the newest. Mainly electrical issues, rear cluster, real window (radio aerial within), random warning lights - thankfully had a warranty. Really nice driving position and a good size boot. 6 CD in the boot with tape up front was good connecting iPod easily. Not particularly economical day to day - better than the Mondeo but not as good as the Mazda. I did get 57mpg driving Glasgow to Edinburgh once, but I think I had my eyes more on the trip computer than the road!
Overall - I'd say take your pick between the Madza and the BMW, unless you get a really, really good deal on the Mondeo.
ETA - The Mazda will have cruise, as will the BMW if its an SE, dont think the Mondeo will - handy if you do any long trips on quiet motorways. I went Bothwell to Blackburn in the BMW only having to interrupt it once!
Edited by MondeoMan1981 on Tuesday 8th January 22:18
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