Cheap family "workhorse: 3rd gen Mondeo 2.5T or 2.0 TDCI?...
Discussion
Due to a recent relocation for personal reasons, my wife and I sold our vehicles (2021 Mazda CX5/mk7 Golf Estate) to facilitate the purchase of a new house. I bought my wife a 3k Mercedes-Benz A-Class diesel (2nd gen) as she has a 30 mile commute for her new job, it had the elevated driving position that she was used to from the Mazda, cheap to run and tax and quite spacious/practical and feels pretty solid/safe for a small car, she’s pretty happy with it.
My new job is only a 7 mile commute and I have been using one of my parent’s vehicles, as they live locally and are retired so don’t need 2 vehicles all of the time but I feel that it’s becoming a bit of an inconvenience for them, so want to purchase my own vehicle. I was initially thinking something like a 6th gen (the good-looking late 2000s shape one) Fiesta would be a good choice and found a nice one (1.6 Titanium 5 door in that purply red colour) for a smidge over 3k. Cheap to run and fix (and insure) hopefully and I've always liked that generation Fiesta. I wanted a bit of power but wanted to avoid the 1.0 Ecoboost, as I’ve heard there can be issues.
However, a 3rd generation Mondeo (I struggle with Ford generations), so let’s call it the “Casino Royale” spec one, Titanium X hatchback with the 2.5 5 cylinder turbo just came up more locally for 2.5k and it looks like a lot of car for the money. 2007, so a fairly early one and 100,000 miles but it does look really tidy. A good friend of mine used to own a mk2 Focus ST with that engine and the engine and gearbox was lovely but I have no experience of it in the Mondeo. I remember thinking at the time that it was pretty “juicy” though even in comparison to the Impreza WRX that I was running at the time! Would the 2.0 TDCI be a more sensible match for that car? I’m still in a bit of a mid-2000s mindset that diesel is the better choice on a large family car but many people say that more modern diesels are less reliable and expensive to fix, so the fuel/tax saving over a petrol equivalent isn’t really worthwhile? I still went diesel with the A-Class, as it seemed like the punchiest option in that car and those chain cam Mercedes diesels seem to be pretty reliable. Maybe with the shortish commute I can justify the 2.5? Belt or chain and how much would the RFL be on the 2.5?
For a similar budget, I could equally consider an Insignia/Octavia hatchback, as these large non-premium hatchbacks seem to offer really good value but a 1.8 petrol Insignia or the Skoda equivalent doesn’t massively excite me. I’ve admired Fords for a long time but never actually owned one (I’m a bit of a VW fanboi) and although I’ve driven a few recent ones (Kuga/Ecosport) and wasn’t really impressed, there was a 20 year period or so, where they were nailing their core range (Fiesta/Focus/Mondeo). I used to have a bit of a thing for the previous gen ST220 but a nice one is more money, they look a bit dated now and those alloy wheels seem to go furry, so I kind of think the 3rd gen is better value and looks better now.
I know that a Fiesta to a Mondeo is a bit of a jump, I was thinking that the A-Class would be practical enough for family duties and the cabin is pretty spacious but the boot is a bit smaller than I might have hoped, so a larger car might be useful for tip runs/longer trips/family holidays and those big non-premium hatchbacks offer a lot of space and value without the price premium of an estate car. So is the 2.5 Mondeo a good choice as a cheap family workhorse or would I be better off with the 2.0 TDCI?
My new job is only a 7 mile commute and I have been using one of my parent’s vehicles, as they live locally and are retired so don’t need 2 vehicles all of the time but I feel that it’s becoming a bit of an inconvenience for them, so want to purchase my own vehicle. I was initially thinking something like a 6th gen (the good-looking late 2000s shape one) Fiesta would be a good choice and found a nice one (1.6 Titanium 5 door in that purply red colour) for a smidge over 3k. Cheap to run and fix (and insure) hopefully and I've always liked that generation Fiesta. I wanted a bit of power but wanted to avoid the 1.0 Ecoboost, as I’ve heard there can be issues.
However, a 3rd generation Mondeo (I struggle with Ford generations), so let’s call it the “Casino Royale” spec one, Titanium X hatchback with the 2.5 5 cylinder turbo just came up more locally for 2.5k and it looks like a lot of car for the money. 2007, so a fairly early one and 100,000 miles but it does look really tidy. A good friend of mine used to own a mk2 Focus ST with that engine and the engine and gearbox was lovely but I have no experience of it in the Mondeo. I remember thinking at the time that it was pretty “juicy” though even in comparison to the Impreza WRX that I was running at the time! Would the 2.0 TDCI be a more sensible match for that car? I’m still in a bit of a mid-2000s mindset that diesel is the better choice on a large family car but many people say that more modern diesels are less reliable and expensive to fix, so the fuel/tax saving over a petrol equivalent isn’t really worthwhile? I still went diesel with the A-Class, as it seemed like the punchiest option in that car and those chain cam Mercedes diesels seem to be pretty reliable. Maybe with the shortish commute I can justify the 2.5? Belt or chain and how much would the RFL be on the 2.5?
For a similar budget, I could equally consider an Insignia/Octavia hatchback, as these large non-premium hatchbacks seem to offer really good value but a 1.8 petrol Insignia or the Skoda equivalent doesn’t massively excite me. I’ve admired Fords for a long time but never actually owned one (I’m a bit of a VW fanboi) and although I’ve driven a few recent ones (Kuga/Ecosport) and wasn’t really impressed, there was a 20 year period or so, where they were nailing their core range (Fiesta/Focus/Mondeo). I used to have a bit of a thing for the previous gen ST220 but a nice one is more money, they look a bit dated now and those alloy wheels seem to go furry, so I kind of think the 3rd gen is better value and looks better now.
I know that a Fiesta to a Mondeo is a bit of a jump, I was thinking that the A-Class would be practical enough for family duties and the cabin is pretty spacious but the boot is a bit smaller than I might have hoped, so a larger car might be useful for tip runs/longer trips/family holidays and those big non-premium hatchbacks offer a lot of space and value without the price premium of an estate car. So is the 2.5 Mondeo a good choice as a cheap family workhorse or would I be better off with the 2.0 TDCI?
Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 19th August 16:35
Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 19th August 16:36
Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 19th August 16:40
Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 19th August 16:42
Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 19th August 16:43
Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 19th August 16:43
Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 19th August 16:44
Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 19th August 16:45
Lot of fuel in for not much performance out with that 2.5t in a Mondeo, it was the mid range engine in Volvos and you'll be much happier if you view it in that light rather than as a performance motor.
If you're not doing many miles and you're ok with 25mpg for the amusing noise and the refinement vs diesel then go for it, no DPF nonsense to worry about either if you've got a short commute, and it's generally pretty sorted although there can be PCV issues and I seem to remember a friend changing the oil filter housing on his for some reason.
The 2.0TDCi is a rough and pretty weedy thing, I'd have pretty much anything in preference.
Have a look at Volvo S60s, they're so naff they're usually a bargain but they're far less likely to be w
ked out than a £2.5k 18 year old Mondeo.
If you're not doing many miles and you're ok with 25mpg for the amusing noise and the refinement vs diesel then go for it, no DPF nonsense to worry about either if you've got a short commute, and it's generally pretty sorted although there can be PCV issues and I seem to remember a friend changing the oil filter housing on his for some reason.
The 2.0TDCi is a rough and pretty weedy thing, I'd have pretty much anything in preference.
Have a look at Volvo S60s, they're so naff they're usually a bargain but they're far less likely to be w
ked out than a £2.5k 18 year old Mondeo.Edited by GeniusOfLove on Tuesday 19th August 16:52
GeniusOfLove said:
Lot of fuel in for not much performance out with that 2.5t in a Mondeo, it was the mid range engine in Volvos and you'll be much happier if you view it in that light rather than as a performance motor.
If you're not doing many miles and you're ok with 25mpg for the amusing noise and the refinement vs diesel then go for it, no DPF nonsense to worry about either if you've got a short commute, and it's generally pretty sorted although there can be PCV issues and I seem to remember a friend changing the oil filter housing on his for some reason.
The 2.0TDCi is a rough and pretty weedy thing, I'd have pretty much anything in preference.
Have a look at Volvo S60s, they're so naff they're usually a bargain but they're far less likely to be wked out than a £2.5k 18 year old Mondeo.
Thanks. Good suggestion on the Volvo. Yeah, 10 years ago, I wouldn't even consider an 18 year old car as a daily but cars seem to be ageing better (or I'm getting old and remember driving these cars when they were new)! But then newer cars seem to have got more expensive post-2020 ie I look at some 10-15 year old cars and they look like really "strong" money. I think they did a 2.2 TDCI (twin turbo?) in that shape Mondeo too, which ought to be punchier but probably more complex/less reliable. I guess even in the Focus, the 2.5T was pretty thirsty for the performance but it was a pretty "peachy" engine and the 2.5T Mondeos are significantly cheaper (and probably less abused) than the 2.5 Focus STs.If you're not doing many miles and you're ok with 25mpg for the amusing noise and the refinement vs diesel then go for it, no DPF nonsense to worry about either if you've got a short commute, and it's generally pretty sorted although there can be PCV issues and I seem to remember a friend changing the oil filter housing on his for some reason.
The 2.0TDCi is a rough and pretty weedy thing, I'd have pretty much anything in preference.
Have a look at Volvo S60s, they're so naff they're usually a bargain but they're far less likely to be w
ked out than a £2.5k 18 year old Mondeo.Edited by GeniusOfLove on Tuesday 19th August 16:52
Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 19th August 19:17
The 2.5T is a great option, yes they're a bit juicy but they drive well & with a 7 mile commute it won't feel that bad.
The Titanium X is the pick.
They also made a 2.3 but these are only a smidge better on fuel than the 2.5T at which point I'd always choose the 2.5T.
2.3:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507014...
The Titanium X is the pick.
They also made a 2.3 but these are only a smidge better on fuel than the 2.5T at which point I'd always choose the 2.5T.
2.3:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507014...
ZX10R NIN said:
The 2.5T is a great option, yes they're a bit juicy but they drive well & with a 7 mile commute it won't feel that bad.
The Titanium X is the pick.
They also made a 2.3 but these are only a smidge better on fuel than the 2.5T at which point I'd always choose the 2.5T.
2.3:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507014...
Didn't know that. 2.3 is just a 4 cylinder?The Titanium X is the pick.
They also made a 2.3 but these are only a smidge better on fuel than the 2.5T at which point I'd always choose the 2.5T.
2.3:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507014...
Mr Tidy said:
A diesel makes sense for a 30 mile commute, but a potential nightmare for a 7 mile commute if it has a DPF!
If a Fiesta was an alternative option to the Mondeo what about a Focus ST?
Yeah, I'd love a Focus ST but too expensive (budget is c 3k) and high insurance cost I expect.If a Fiesta was an alternative option to the Mondeo what about a Focus ST?
I had a 2011 MK3 Focus Titanium X estate with the 1.6 eco boost (same engine as the Fiesta ST) in 150bhp flavour, (180bhp was also available) and it was a fantastic workhorse. Barely put a foot wrong in that time. Would do over 40mpg on a run, heated seats and windscreen were handy in winter, tons of room for not a massive footprint, took to over 110k miles and would happily recommend.
white_goodman said:
Mr Tidy said:
A diesel makes sense for a 30 mile commute, but a potential nightmare for a 7 mile commute if it has a DPF!
If a Fiesta was an alternative option to the Mondeo what about a Focus ST?
Yeah, I'd love a Focus ST but too expensive (budget is c 3k) and high insurance cost I expect.If a Fiesta was an alternative option to the Mondeo what about a Focus ST?
white_goodman said:
However, a 3rd generation Mondeo (I struggle with Ford generations), so let’s call it the “Casino Royale” spec one, Titanium X hatchback with the 2.5 5 cylinder turbo just came up more locally for 2.5k and it looks like a lot of car for the money.
That's the 4th generation.Nice car but personally I'd skip back to the 3rd generation where you could have a nice 3.0 V6 in Titanium X, Ghia X or ST220 specification.
Mine was a Ghia X and was a truly glorious thing, but I swapped it for a Range Rover when I got bored of its reliability and cheap running costs
Deranged Rover said:
white_goodman said:
However, a 3rd generation Mondeo (I struggle with Ford generations), so let’s call it the “Casino Royale” spec one, Titanium X hatchback with the 2.5 5 cylinder turbo just came up more locally for 2.5k and it looks like a lot of car for the money.
That's the 4th generation.Nice car but personally I'd skip back to the 3rd generation where you could have a nice 3.0 V6 in Titanium X, Ghia X or ST220 specification.
Mine was a Ghia X and was a truly glorious thing, but I swapped it for a Range Rover when I got bored of its reliability and cheap running costs
As I said, I had a thing for the 3rd gen ST220 for a while but it's an old car now and nicer examples are creeping up in value but I do like the character of that 5 pot in the 4th gen. Not particularly quick by modern standards ie compared to something with the VAG EA888, which will be significantly more economical too but it does lack character in comparison.
Not a bad shout on the Focus Estate, I forgot they did the mk3 with the 1.6 Ecoboost. Good cars, Focus ST aside, it was only really the engine options putting me off a Focus but I fear that it will feel inferior compared to the mk7 Golf TSI Estate that I owned for the last 6 years.
I ran a Mk4 2.5T Mondeo estate (which is what you are referring to - mine was a '57' plate) from 146,000 to 218,000 miles. Tuned 'stage 1' with a Superchips tune so closer to 250/260bhp.
It could do 33mpg on a run, but you don't buy an engine like that for fuel efficiency! It didn't need much in the way of looking after and was a comfortable easy to drive vehicle. Mine was a Titanium X so had a few things on, but will be less than what you can get now.
It could do 33mpg on a run, but you don't buy an engine like that for fuel efficiency! It didn't need much in the way of looking after and was a comfortable easy to drive vehicle. Mine was a Titanium X so had a few things on, but will be less than what you can get now.
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