Upgrading from Mondeo to....... which German car?
Discussion
Hi all this is my first posting, I am hoping some hard core commuters can offer me some good advice.
I have landed a new premium well paid job and looking to now upgrade my 10 plate Mondeo for something more premium.
I will be commuting daily from Stoke on Manchester which is 100 miles return (currently doing Birmingham which is also 100 mile return) so I am used to commuting. I am anticipating my journey shall be M6/M56/M60 on the way and all A and B roads on the way home through Handforth, Macclesfield Leek etc.
In the past 10 years I have had your typical diesel fleet cars: 2 Vectras, 1 Rover 75, 1 Insignia, and 3 Mondeos, the latter 10 plate being my favourite by far from many perspectives from comfort, handling, economy, reliability and maintenance.
What I am hoping you will tell me is, yes the Mercedes E Class, Audi A6, Jag XF, BMW 5 series etc are all nice etc, but am I going to be blown away by any of these compared to the latest Mondeos, or even the 07-14 models?
I am happy to budget £10k for a 12 plate German or Jag XF with 70k on the clock but I really want to notice some difference in comfort and driving etc and not just pay for the brand and nice trims, otherwise I am struggling to justify not going for another Mondeo 14 plate for £5k
Baring in mind I am doing 100 miles per day, I am not fussed about the depreciation etc I just want to see a considerably upgraded car for the money and not just pay for the badge.
For those loyal Mondeo users I am sure you sure the same opinions, cheers Mat
I have landed a new premium well paid job and looking to now upgrade my 10 plate Mondeo for something more premium.
I will be commuting daily from Stoke on Manchester which is 100 miles return (currently doing Birmingham which is also 100 mile return) so I am used to commuting. I am anticipating my journey shall be M6/M56/M60 on the way and all A and B roads on the way home through Handforth, Macclesfield Leek etc.
In the past 10 years I have had your typical diesel fleet cars: 2 Vectras, 1 Rover 75, 1 Insignia, and 3 Mondeos, the latter 10 plate being my favourite by far from many perspectives from comfort, handling, economy, reliability and maintenance.
What I am hoping you will tell me is, yes the Mercedes E Class, Audi A6, Jag XF, BMW 5 series etc are all nice etc, but am I going to be blown away by any of these compared to the latest Mondeos, or even the 07-14 models?
I am happy to budget £10k for a 12 plate German or Jag XF with 70k on the clock but I really want to notice some difference in comfort and driving etc and not just pay for the brand and nice trims, otherwise I am struggling to justify not going for another Mondeo 14 plate for £5k
Baring in mind I am doing 100 miles per day, I am not fussed about the depreciation etc I just want to see a considerably upgraded car for the money and not just pay for the badge.
For those loyal Mondeo users I am sure you sure the same opinions, cheers Mat
Not a company car just my own. I am hoping someone will justifiably say to me yes I had a Mondeo (Skoda or Passat for that matter) and then I bought a Merc, XF or BMW and yes it was definitely worth the extra money by far for this this and this reason.
Or alternatively will they say actually I found the Mondeo to be a better car??
Or alternatively will they say actually I found the Mondeo to be a better car??
Not a company car just my own. I am hoping someone will justifiably say to me yes I had a Mondeo (Skoda or Passat for that matter) and then I bought a Merc, XF or BMW and yes it was definitely worth the extra money by far for this this and this reason.
Or alternatively will they say actually I found the Mondeo to be a better car??
Or alternatively will they say actually I found the Mondeo to be a better car??
If it's just for motorway commuting, then i'd keep the Mondeo.
I run a ten year old Focus and do about 20,000 miles a year. It's perfectly adequate, despite being worth £1000. And at 126,000 miles, it's still as comfortable and economical as when it was new.
Not spending any money on my commuting car leaves enough in the bank to indulge my TVR/motorbike/Caterham habit.
Spending £300 a month or fifteen grand to get behind the wheel of a boring car that's a bit more shiny than my old Focus? It's not my scene.
But if it was, I'd buy an Alfa.
I run a ten year old Focus and do about 20,000 miles a year. It's perfectly adequate, despite being worth £1000. And at 126,000 miles, it's still as comfortable and economical as when it was new.
Not spending any money on my commuting car leaves enough in the bank to indulge my TVR/motorbike/Caterham habit.
Spending £300 a month or fifteen grand to get behind the wheel of a boring car that's a bit more shiny than my old Focus? It's not my scene.
But if it was, I'd buy an Alfa.
To answer your question,
I currently have a 520d with various options. My Sales Manager has a Passat 190 Tdi DSG GT.
This week I used his car for a 300 mile trip as mine was in for a service. The Passat has Pano roof, comfy seats, quiet engine, smooth ride, Sat Nav, decent stereo, adaptive cruise control (which I though was brilliant), LCD Dials, Reverse Camera, etc etc. and for the long motorway journey was spot on. My BMW has less kit, not as good ride and while looking more premium doesn't feel it after 300 miles. The Passat list price is £13K cheaper than my 5 series (with the options I have) but the 5 series is not £13K more of a car.
So if it was my own money I would be looking at a Superb, Mondeo or Passat as they do all the premium cars do but for a lot less dosh.
I currently have a 520d with various options. My Sales Manager has a Passat 190 Tdi DSG GT.
This week I used his car for a 300 mile trip as mine was in for a service. The Passat has Pano roof, comfy seats, quiet engine, smooth ride, Sat Nav, decent stereo, adaptive cruise control (which I though was brilliant), LCD Dials, Reverse Camera, etc etc. and for the long motorway journey was spot on. My BMW has less kit, not as good ride and while looking more premium doesn't feel it after 300 miles. The Passat list price is £13K cheaper than my 5 series (with the options I have) but the 5 series is not £13K more of a car.
So if it was my own money I would be looking at a Superb, Mondeo or Passat as they do all the premium cars do but for a lot less dosh.
As your commute is mostly motorway I wouldn't get hung up on rwd/fwd, handling or badge and focus on how nice the interior is and how comfortable it is.
For 100 miles you're going to be spending a lot of time in there and comfort is far more important than anything else. I certainly like the Mk4 and it's great on the motorway but things like the XF etc undoubtedly have a much nicer interior.
Personally while a nicer interior than the older Mondeos I didn't think the Mk4 Mondeo seats were as comfortable as my old Mk2 seats. Possibly due to being sports seats in the Mk4 though. They're not bad or uncomfortable, just not as good.
No idea if the facelift models are better or what the Mk5 is like.
For 100 miles you're going to be spending a lot of time in there and comfort is far more important than anything else. I certainly like the Mk4 and it's great on the motorway but things like the XF etc undoubtedly have a much nicer interior.
Personally while a nicer interior than the older Mondeos I didn't think the Mk4 Mondeo seats were as comfortable as my old Mk2 seats. Possibly due to being sports seats in the Mk4 though. They're not bad or uncomfortable, just not as good.
No idea if the facelift models are better or what the Mk5 is like. I moved from a 2010 Mondeo Ecoboost Titanium X Sport to a new Merc C350e last year. I tried an E-Class and a 5 series.
The difference is nowhere near as night and day as some would have you believe, particularly now that most German cars are running 4 cylinder engines. RWD has some benefits but makes bugger all difference hacking along the motorway or sitting in traffic.
The Mk4 Mondeo is a really well engineered car. Chassis, suspension, steering and brakes are easily a match for any of the German cars. There's loads of space, and the seats are comfortable. The Mk4.5 is marginally improved again.
Yes, the technology on the Merc is more visually appealing, but functionally it's not a huge leap forward. The satnav routing on the Mondeo was definitely better than the Garmin in the Merc. The Merc is 7.5 years newer.
OK, so the Mondeo will have hard plastic door bins but you don't look at them when you're driving.
IMO the best bang for buck for this type of car is a Mk4.5 Mondeo Titanium X or Titanium X Sport with navigation.
The difference is nowhere near as night and day as some would have you believe, particularly now that most German cars are running 4 cylinder engines. RWD has some benefits but makes bugger all difference hacking along the motorway or sitting in traffic.
The Mk4 Mondeo is a really well engineered car. Chassis, suspension, steering and brakes are easily a match for any of the German cars. There's loads of space, and the seats are comfortable. The Mk4.5 is marginally improved again.
Yes, the technology on the Merc is more visually appealing, but functionally it's not a huge leap forward. The satnav routing on the Mondeo was definitely better than the Garmin in the Merc. The Merc is 7.5 years newer.
OK, so the Mondeo will have hard plastic door bins but you don't look at them when you're driving.
IMO the best bang for buck for this type of car is a Mk4.5 Mondeo Titanium X or Titanium X Sport with navigation.
Depends what you really want from a car...
Sounds a bit like you have got bored of the blue oval...?
The cars you mention ... do they really have an "air" of prestige about them...?
IMHO - I'd say not as they aren't exactly exclusive and pretty much run of the mill - more often than not when sighted the versions being at lower end of the range .
If you are going to make a step change, make it noticeable and worthwhile and not think in 6 months time that you'd wished you'd not wasted the money...
Although to be fair back in 2004 I went from a Mondeo ST200 Tourer to a 3 year old E39 M5 because I'd got bored of the Ford (it was the 3rd Mondeo I'd had one after the other).
Sounds a bit like you have got bored of the blue oval...?
The cars you mention ... do they really have an "air" of prestige about them...?
IMHO - I'd say not as they aren't exactly exclusive and pretty much run of the mill - more often than not when sighted the versions being at lower end of the range .
If you are going to make a step change, make it noticeable and worthwhile and not think in 6 months time that you'd wished you'd not wasted the money...
Although to be fair back in 2004 I went from a Mondeo ST200 Tourer to a 3 year old E39 M5 because I'd got bored of the Ford (it was the 3rd Mondeo I'd had one after the other).
IMO there is only any point going for a more 'premium' car if you go for a properly specified one with an engine and transmission not available in the less 'premium' (I hate that word) options. A 520d manual is not a better car than a Mondeo diesel, likewise an E220d or A6 FWD etc. If you go for a 550i, E500 or A6 3.0TFSI Quattro then yes they offer power, smoothness and refinement that the FWD 4cyl competition do not.
I'd just spend the extra budget on a newer lower mileage mondeo as 25k miles a year commuting soon accumulates the miles on a car, the Mondeo is a great car for m-way commutes and unless you are really itching for a bit of badge then why fork out for an older higher mileage model which will inevitably throw up a big bill sooner than a newer, lower miles Mondeo
icedchetty said:
I have landed a new premium well paid job and looking to now upgrade my 10 plate Mondeo for something more premium.
I am happy to budget £10k for a 12 plate German or Jag XF with 70k on the clock
piss take right ? a "premium" job and want a "premium" car for 12k ??? LOLI am happy to budget £10k for a 12 plate German or Jag XF with 70k on the clock
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