Stick with the car that I know, or?

[catman]

Hi all,

I have owned Mondeos for the last 15 years or so, with my current car a low miles Mk4 2.0 petrol Titanium. I have been impressed with their rock solid reliability, equipment and space.

I am now considering a new (to me) car which has all the above, but maybe a little more refinement and performance. The newer Mondeo is turbocharged, so I imagine that it has much higher gearing, which would be nice on a run.

I was also thinking Skoda Superb or Volvo S60, although the S60 appears to have limited space for a fairly large car? Total reliability would be my number one priority though, as I have never had a breakdown in 15 years.

Very top budget would be in the region of £18k. If anyone has any experience of these cars, good or bad, I would like to hear your thoughts.

Cheers!

[Pistonheader101]

All good cars, test drive them!

[catman]

Thanks, but as mentioned,I was looking for people's personal experience of the cars mentioned.

[ZX10R NIN]

You might find the S60 a bit to small, the Superb is a decent car & with your budget you'll get a nice one:

Sportline

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009083...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009183...

L&K

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008142...

But the Mondeo is the better steer, Vignale trim is the pick, I'd pretty much driven everything in this segment so when I went looking for a daily I knew it was going to be the Mondeo Vignale & it's proved to be faultless

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008293...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007030...

Or a highly optioned Titanium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009043...

[catman]

Hi, thanks for taking the time to provide such a detailed reply! It's interesting that you would pick the Mondeo over the Superb.

I'm so used to people running Fords down, it's good to find someone who shares my enthusiasm! The Vignale looks very nice indeed and good value too. I also thought that the Volvo looked small, which is a shame, as they look nicely put together.

I just have to wait until my house sale completes, then I can start looking. Thanks again, you've been a big help.

[philipbrown123]

I would have thought the Skoda and Volvo no more 'upmarket' than a Mondeo.

Lexus for 100% reliability. My 2007 LS460 is on 212K miles and totally reliable.

[ZX10R NIN]

catman said:

Hi, thanks for taking the time to provide such a detailed reply! It's interesting that you would pick the Mondeo over the Superb.

I'm so used to people running Fords down, it's good to find someone who shares my enthusiasm! The Vignale looks very nice indeed and good value too. I also thought that the Volvo looked small, which is a shame, as they look nicely put together.

I just have to wait until my house sale completes, then I can start looking. Thanks again, you've been a big help.

It easy to run Fords down but they've been making good cars for decades, also people will forgive VAG/BMW/Mercedes sometimes poor reliability for them having bought a bad one when in reality there are inherent issues.

As I said when it comes to FWD options the Mondeo is the pick.

[catman]

Yes, the Lexus is a good suggestion. Never driven one and only been in an (I think) IS 220, but that felt very well made.

I agree about the Ford bashing, and I've read a lot about major engine faults with VW derived cars that wouldn't be tolerated in anything else.

It's always a dilemma between staying with what you know and buying something totally different. As mentioned, it will always be about trying them out, but a little first hand experience is always a good starting point. Thanks all.

[ZX10R NIN]

Lexus wise the IS range is to small so you'd need to be looking at a GS300:

F Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007301...

Luxury

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008042...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008042...

[catman]

I agree, the IS is small. Those GS models look like a lot of car for the money though. They look beautifully made.

[Fastdruid]

catman said:

I agree, the IS is small. Those GS models look like a lot of car for the money though. They look beautifully made.

Plus it's a Lexus so it won't go wrong.

[catman]

Yes, true. I've been really lucky with my 4 Mondeos too. Over 15 years, I've probably spent £200 on non service items!

[ZX10R NIN]

catman said:

Yes, true. I've been really lucky with my 4 Mondeos too. Over 15 years, I've probably spent £200 on non service items!

I wouldn't say you've been lucky Ford make decent cars, the Lexus are good but they should be with an N//A engine there's not a lot to go wrong on that note if you want something along the line of the Lexus then look at the Infiniti Q70 (I have two familly members who use this drivetrain in Q50's & have supplied a fair few now) it's as well built the hybrid drivetrain just as reliable.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009013...

Q50 smaller so I'd say it's ruled out.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009234...

[catman]

That's an interesting alternative, never considered one before. They look pretty good interior wise.

[ZX10R NIN]

They're becoming harder to find but spec wise they come with everything 360 cameras/Adaptive cruise/Air Cooled/Heated Seats/kerb cam to save the alloys the fit & finish is on par with everything out there.

The Q50 is nicer than the Q70 looks wise but both are very good picks & I'd buy one over a Lexus GS but both are good, with the Lexus being easier to find.

The drivetrain is a peach very smooth & properly quick with 0-60 in the 5's, only when in very slow crawling traffic can you feel the change from electric to ICE.

Now Infiniti have pulled out of the UK you now have access to more dealers as they (there were only 6) are now amalgamated with Nissan dealerships (which is what they should have done in the first place) making servicing easier.