MkIV Mondeo Estate to replace a Mk3?
Discussion
I've had a Mk3 Mondeo TDCI 130 Ghia X estate for the past 4 years. I have to say that in that time it has been a superb car.
I now feel that the time is approaching for a replacement. (Used, ~3 years old/up to around 60k miles)
I'd like a good luggage space, a composed ride and I like a car to 'handle' well (goes where I point it, controlled body roll, holds a line and remains balanced when pressing on, quick steering with plenty of feel, doesn't understeer everywhere, copes with bumps). I'm not a fan of huge wheels with rubber band-esque tyres as I drive enthusiastically on real roads -Think more road rally than Nurburgring(it was closed when I went there). Steel 15/16" wheels (with decent tyres) would be my ideal.
I'd prefer a larger petrol over a diesel, but the tank range, fuel economy and VED all favour a diesel... Do 2.5-3.0 petrols that manage a real world average of 40mpg exist?
I do like a reasonable level of performance (I ride a bike and my previous car had around 90bhp more), but away from Alpine passes and the Autobahn when more power would have been nice, the '130' hasn't been bad and all cars feel a bit slow compared with a 2-wheeler anyway.
When I've considered this before another Mondeo seemed to the most obvious choice in TDCI 140.
Are there any reasons not to go for a MkIV Mondeo estate?
-Does the newer model allow you to use brake and throttle at the same time, eg. Heel/toe or does it have a VAG-style 'safety feature'?
A late Mk3 ST220 (with smaller wheels fitted?) might be fun, but the running costs for a utility car would put me off a bit.
I now feel that the time is approaching for a replacement. (Used, ~3 years old/up to around 60k miles)
I'd like a good luggage space, a composed ride and I like a car to 'handle' well (goes where I point it, controlled body roll, holds a line and remains balanced when pressing on, quick steering with plenty of feel, doesn't understeer everywhere, copes with bumps). I'm not a fan of huge wheels with rubber band-esque tyres as I drive enthusiastically on real roads -Think more road rally than Nurburgring(it was closed when I went there). Steel 15/16" wheels (with decent tyres) would be my ideal.
I'd prefer a larger petrol over a diesel, but the tank range, fuel economy and VED all favour a diesel... Do 2.5-3.0 petrols that manage a real world average of 40mpg exist?
I do like a reasonable level of performance (I ride a bike and my previous car had around 90bhp more), but away from Alpine passes and the Autobahn when more power would have been nice, the '130' hasn't been bad and all cars feel a bit slow compared with a 2-wheeler anyway.
When I've considered this before another Mondeo seemed to the most obvious choice in TDCI 140.
Are there any reasons not to go for a MkIV Mondeo estate?
-Does the newer model allow you to use brake and throttle at the same time, eg. Heel/toe or does it have a VAG-style 'safety feature'?
A late Mk3 ST220 (with smaller wheels fitted?) might be fun, but the running costs for a utility car would put me off a bit.
Edited by MC Bodge on Monday 12th December 21:25
i have an '08 tdci estate and i absolutely love it. comfy ,v. nice to drive, even the base models have decent kit, reasonably nippy, excellent build quality and half decent economy. the dpf/dmf issues did worry me a little before i bought it, but i have a reasonable commute , so the car gets warmed up properly and i never let the engine labour or pull high gears at very low revs (obviously can't vouch for the previous owners driving habits)
huge space inside as well, in fact it is quite a large car all round really, very long
huge space inside as well, in fact it is quite a large car all round really, very long
bamberwell said:
i have an '08 tdci estate and i absolutely love it. comfy ,v. nice to drive, even the base models have decent kit, reasonably nippy, excellent build quality and half decent economy. the dpf/dmf issues
did worry me a little before i bought it, but i have a reasonable commute , so the car gets warmed up properly and i never let the engine labour or pull high gears at very low revs (obviously can't vouch for the previous owners driving habits)
huge space inside as well, in fact it is quite a large car all round really, very long
My car generally gets used for long-ish journeys. The bike or the wife's car is used for shorter journeys.did worry me a little before i bought it, but i have a reasonable commute , so the car gets warmed up properly and i never let the engine labour or pull high gears at very low revs (obviously can't vouch for the previous owners driving habits)
huge space inside as well, in fact it is quite a large car all round really, very long
Yes, the base model would be fine as it has Cruise control, which is one of the few 'luxuries' I'm keen to retain. I can certainly cope without heated electric leather seats and 17/18/19/20" wheel rims. 16" Steels with the trims removed and painted with black/gunmetal Hammerite are where it's at.
On the size, there are a lot of comments about how big the MkIV is. Does it really feel that much bigger than the Mk3 in estate form? I appreciate that it isn't an Elise, but it would be a shame if the newer car was a bit cumbersome.
The Mk IV is far from cumbersome (we have the 2.0 petrol) but it is a big car with a long wheelbase.
Visibility is my bugbear - smaller windows make seeing front and back a lot harder. We have a hatch which is still absolutely cavernous (we use it as a sort of second shed storing a child's bikes, numerous wellies, umbrellas, pushchair - there's nothing that won't fit. So for added security, it's ideal.
The only reason I'd go for the estate is it's easier to see where the back of the car is.
After 2.5 years, ours has been faultless save for the seal beneath the doors getting kicked off by the kids in the first week. Replacing it had the same result. Oddly, leaving it off doesn't create any leak at all.
Visibility is my bugbear - smaller windows make seeing front and back a lot harder. We have a hatch which is still absolutely cavernous (we use it as a sort of second shed storing a child's bikes, numerous wellies, umbrellas, pushchair - there's nothing that won't fit. So for added security, it's ideal.
The only reason I'd go for the estate is it's easier to see where the back of the car is.
After 2.5 years, ours has been faultless save for the seal beneath the doors getting kicked off by the kids in the first week. Replacing it had the same result. Oddly, leaving it off doesn't create any leak at all.
LuS1fer said:
The Mk IV is far from cumbersome (we have the 2.0 petrol) but it is a big car with a long wheelbase.
....The only reason I'd go for the estate is it's easier to see where the back of the car is.
What sort of mpg do you get on a run and in town?....The only reason I'd go for the estate is it's easier to see where the back of the car is.
I like the carrying capacity with passengers (due to the more square back end) and low rear lip of an estate boot. Camping, carrying bikes inside, trips to the shops and the tip, carting child paraphenalia etc. are all much easier than with a hatchback.
Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 13th December 08:57
Iang84 said:
the mark 4 is certainly bigger but it certainly doesnt feels bigger when you are driving I use a mark 3 for work and have a mk4 st for my own use and have never gone from one to the other thinking that they have a big difference in size
That's good to hear.What are the Mk3 and MK4 models you drive? How do they compare?
-yes, I am planning to take a test drive.
MK3 2.0tdci litre ghia x (saloon) mk4 2.2 titanium x sport (st diesel) (hatchback) get around 35mpg in city and plus 10-15 on motorway I would say that I have found that with spirited driving I have lunched my way through a front set of tyres within 12k (mk4) with normal use and rotating tyres would have thought you would reach 25k the ghia is obviously softer to drive and as such isnt treated as badly as my own car. If being used for bikes and camping would go for a ghia rather than titanium as has softer and slightly higher suspension to handle the bumps better.
Iang84 said:
MK3 2.0tdci litre ghia x (saloon)...mk4 2.2 titanium x sport (st diesel) (hatchback)....If being used for bikes and camping would go for a ghia rather than titanium as has softer and slightly higher suspension to handle the bumps better.
My current Mk3 Ghia X has just about the ideal combination of ride and handling for a big estate so I'd be looking for an Edge or a Ghia with give in the suspension, some air cushioning in the tyres and some ground clearance rather than a 'sport' model.valiant1 said:
MC Bodge said:
What about alternatives?
Mk3 Mondeo-sized estate, good driving/handling, good mpg(& reliable engine).
Skoda Octavia Vrs. Mk3 Mondeo-sized estate, good driving/handling, good mpg(& reliable engine).
Enough power, decent mpg, reliable and a massive boot. What's not to like?
My Father-In-Law has a Mk2 TDI (not a vRS) and it just doesn't seem as good as the Mondeo.
I might try one though, 140ps is probably enough.
Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 13th December 13:55
Iang84 said:
the mark 4 is certainly bigger but it certainly doesnt feels bigger when you are driving I use a mark 3 for work and have a mk4 st for my own use and have never gone from one to the other thinking that they have a big difference in size
MK4 ST?? when did they start making them?finlo said:
Iang84 said:
the mark 4 is certainly bigger but it certainly doesnt feels bigger when you are driving I use a mark 3 for work and have a mk4 st for my own use and have never gone from one to the other thinking that they have a big difference in size
MK4 ST?? when did they start making them?
OP - I don't know much about the mk4 Mondeo, but I have a mk2 which I swapped my mk3 for and they are brilliant cars. Have you thought about just replacing it with a newer 2.2 TDCI mk3?
MC Bodge said:
LuS1fer said:
The Mk IV is far from cumbersome (we have the 2.0 petrol) but it is a big car with a long wheelbase.
....The only reason I'd go for the estate is it's easier to see where the back of the car is.
What sort of mpg do you get on a run and in town?....The only reason I'd go for the estate is it's easier to see where the back of the car is.
I like the carrying capacity with passengers (due to the more square back end) and low rear lip of an estate boot. Camping, carrying bikes inside, trips to the shops and the tip, carting child paraphenalia etc. are all much easier than with a hatchback.
I take your point but re-emphasise the hatch area is massive so you might be surprised and it has a low loading lip. That said, I think the estate actually looks better.
LuS1fer said:
MC Bodge said:
LuS1fer said:
The Mk IV is far from cumbersome (we have the 2.0 petrol) but it is a big car with a long wheelbase.
....The only reason I'd go for the estate is it's easier to see where the back of the car is.
What sort of mpg do you get on a run and in town?....The only reason I'd go for the estate is it's easier to see where the back of the car is.
I like the carrying capacity with passengers (due to the more square back end) and low rear lip of an estate boot. Camping, carrying bikes inside, trips to the shops and the tip, carting child paraphenalia etc. are all much easier than with a hatchback.
I take your point but re-emphasise the hatch area is massive so you might be surprised and it has a low loading lip. That said, I think the estate actually looks better.
SD1992 said:
Was going to post the same, but read in another of his posts in this thread that it has the 2.2 TDCI engine that was used in the mk3 ST TDCI - probably what he means
Spot on Ford changed the name from ST to Titanium x sport so they can keep it in a slightly lower insurance group 13 instead of 15 iirc
Is the 2.2 much different to the 2.0?
I suppose the obvious thing will be for me to test drive one.
It probably won't seem that big having owned a Mk3 for a while, although the Mk4 is probably now Granada-sized.
Cars like the 3 Series Touring and Focus Estate would satisfy the driving criteria but are just a bit too small.
I suppose the obvious thing will be for me to test drive one.
It probably won't seem that big having owned a Mk3 for a while, although the Mk4 is probably now Granada-sized.
Cars like the 3 Series Touring and Focus Estate would satisfy the driving criteria but are just a bit too small.
Isn't the 2.2 175bhp and the 2.0 140?
So quite a bit more power and I would think similar increase in torque.
Mate has that engine in his Galazy and its certainly a strong engine.
I've driven a few MKIV's as hire cars and the 2.0TDCi Titanium estate was a very good car. It handled and gripped well and was a good ride even with the big wheels. TBH it would look silly with 16" steels on it. Even the standard wheels (17"?)look too small on the lower models
So quite a bit more power and I would think similar increase in torque.
Mate has that engine in his Galazy and its certainly a strong engine.
I've driven a few MKIV's as hire cars and the 2.0TDCi Titanium estate was a very good car. It handled and gripped well and was a good ride even with the big wheels. TBH it would look silly with 16" steels on it. Even the standard wheels (17"?)look too small on the lower models
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff