RE: Shed of the Week: Ford Mondeo Titanium X

[smig12345]

I like it, these handled nicely for a big car and are roomy and comfortable, I like the 3.0 V6 and manual gearbox too. I wouldn't pay over £1000 for it though, tops.

[egern0]

Purchased this beauty (with 2.5 excellent litres of Duratec V6) 253K km behind it a few weeks back, for the princely sum of 12000 DKK/£1449.
Broken driver's seat heating? Check
Cheapskate previous owner replaced heated windscreen with unheated to save 500 DKK? Check
Rust in bottom of driver's door? Check
Assorted bumps and bruises? Check
It's an eye-watering 5600 DKK/£676 in road-tax per year and has a healthy appetite for 95 RON.
Brilliant car, I love it

Edited by egern0 on Friday 21st December 15:47

[Alex P]

s m said:

Autocar put their long termer 2.0 litre one up against the hot hatch elite on the Handling course back in 2003.

Did OK for a boggo saloon on the circuit
Finished mid-order

The most revealing thing about this test is how crap VW group was/is at chassis engineering - in the case of the Octavia VRS especially, one of the most powerful cars in the test beaten by a wide range of cars including a larger car with less power and torque!

As for the Mondeo, I like the look of it as a saloon and this looks like a genuine car. Sensible mileage for its age and a nice combination of a manual gearbox and 3.0 V6 engine - all but non-existent for the new car buyer nowadays.

As for the Duratec/Jag V6, my parents have it in their Jag XF and it really does sound nice.

Edited by Alex P on Friday 21st December 18:16

[SidewaysSi]

I do quite like these as a stmobile. Haven't had one but probably worth a punt for a few quid at some point.

I think today most will be worn out though.

[aaron_2000]

SidewaysSi said:

I do quite like these as a stmobile. Haven't had one but probably worth a punt for a few quid at some point.

I think today most will be worn out though.

I think any car for a few quid will be worn out.

[Brett748]

It’s such a shame they don’t make every day family cars with big engines with more than four cylinders anymore.

[S0 What]

I am so behind the times lol my motorway hack is a Mk1 mondy i never really liked the Mk3 but they are a treat to work on (as a mechanic) and a lovely drive, they just do everything 75% of perfect !
TBH it's just the looks i'm not too keen on but i will admit that is more a failing of me being stuck in the past (i'm so very proud my daily is an 06 fiesta and oh so very modern! )
Mondeos will allways be a shed! just as they should be and were intended to be and dam they are good at it !!
I remember saying said way back in the day (mid 90s) they needed a 3.0 to make a modern "savage cortina" and they did, a "bit" special but not a lot lol

[MadDog1962]

I've always rather liked these. For only £1100 that's an awful lot of car.

Given that it's got 11 months left on the MoT this car looks like an absolutely excellent shed.

Top work Mr Shed.

[Ahbefive]

Article Said: said:

Shed might be in a minority here, but he really likes the look of the second-gen (not counting the Mk1 facelift as a second-gen) Mondeo.

This is a mk3 Mondeo. Why wouldn't you count the mk2 as being the mk2 which it is? Odd.

These articles never seem to escape errors. There's always google if you are unsure.

[Blackpuddin]

This is the second generation Mondeo though.

[Ahbefive]

Blackpuddin said:

This is the second generation Mondeo though.

No it's not. 2nd gen chassis maybe although even that is not identical.

[JD2329]

We had two V6 Mondeos in our family garage and they were both great.
They go pretty well - about the same as a 325i - and are a different proposition to the 2.0 4 cyl Duratecs which have to be the most rattly and thrashy engines around.
Given the number of 6cyl E46s and E39s around for less money this is a bit on the pricey side, but a good Shed nontheless.

[SidewaysSi]

JD2329 said:

We had two V6 Mondeos in our family garage and they were both great.
They go pretty well - about the same as a 325i - and are a different proposition to the 2.0 4 cyl Duratecs which have to be the most rattly and thrashy engines around.
Given the number of 6cyl E46s and E39s around for less money this is a bit on the pricey side, but a good Shed nontheless.

True - a 6 cylinder BMW will always be preferable for me.

[iSore]

I'd have this over some godawful E46. Mondeos have issues for sure - rusty brake pipes is a biggie - but they're nothing like as rot prone as the E46 with its exploding cooling system and chocolate window regulators.

I wouldn't want a four cylinder Mondeo though. I'll suffer 25 mpg and have the proper one.

I bet £800 in readies might take this. What a chariot!

[Gribs]

JMF894 said:

But as mentioned above, as a motorway hack for which many may use it for, the Ford doesn't come close

It really does. The ride comfort is good and it has adequate levels of power for motorway use so it doesn't feel slow. Fuel economy is marginally better, mid 30's compared to low 30's in the Saab for me. The seats aren't as comfortable but what is? I got rid of mine as I wanted something quicker and at 10 years old the rust was starting to become a problem.

[aaron_2000]

iSore said:

I'd have this over some godawful E46. Mondeos have issues for sure - rusty brake pipes is a biggie - but they're nothing like as rot prone as the E46 with its exploding cooling system and chocolate window regulators.

I wouldn't want a four cylinder Mondeo though. I'll suffer 25 mpg and have the proper one.

I bet £800 in readies might take this. What a chariot!

The E46 is a much nicer place to be in, as long as you get an M Sport, but for anything other than a 330d or 330i with a manual, the Mondeo is simply the better buy

[Drive Blind]

Alex P said:

The most revealing thing about this test is how crap VW group was/is at chassis engineering - in the case of the Octavia VRS especially, one of the most powerful cars in the test beaten by a wide range of cars including a larger car with less power and torque!

Octavia and Leon based on the golf mk4 platform?
It clearly reinforces the view that the mk4 golf platform was at the bottom of the class when it came to chassis dynamics.

[JMF894]

Gribs said:

JMF894 said:

But as mentioned above, as a motorway hack for which many may use it for, the Ford doesn't come close

It really does. The ride comfort is good and it has adequate levels of power for motorway use so it doesn't feel slow. Fuel economy is marginally better, mid 30's compared to low 30's in the Saab for me. The seats aren't as comfortable but what is? I got rid of mine as I wanted something quicker and at 10 years old the rust was starting to become a problem.

I can imagine the ride on the ford being better for sure

[JMF894]

aaron_2000 said:

iSore said:

I'd have this over some godawful E46. Mondeos have issues for sure - rusty brake pipes is a biggie - but they're nothing like as rot prone as the E46 with its exploding cooling system and chocolate window regulators.

I wouldn't want a four cylinder Mondeo though. I'll suffer 25 mpg and have the proper one.

I bet £800 in readies might take this. What a chariot!

The E46 is a much nicer place to be in, as long as you get an M Sport, but for anything other than a 330d or 330i with a manual, the Mondeo is simply the better buy

My E46 M sport 320cd coupe has 160k on the clock, everything works perfectly, it goes much better than it should for 148bhp and I get well over 50mpg. It's not even got any rot on it either. It's much more comfortable than my 17 plate 220d GT, faster, more frugal and far better to drive. Whilst it is very subjective, for looks and driving pleasure I think the E46 represents a hell of a lot of car for the money. I'm not foolish enough to deride how the Mondeo drives because I know they can be good but, well, just look at them. They're just an old outside lane rep mobile for me. Sorry.

[Truckosaurus]

Brett748 said:

It’s such a shame they don’t make every day family cars with big engines with more than four cylinders anymore.

Indeed. The American version of the Mondeo seems to be available with a V6 still (with or without turbos).