2005 Vauxhall Vectra or Ford Mondeo

[Sonofabeesting]

Hi

I am looking for a cheap, reliable car to use for taking the little one out when we go out as a family. The mileage wont be a lot so I am looking for petrol model.

My budget is about £2000 and I want a hatchback (but not golf sized) so its really between a Ford Mondeo or Vectra about 2005. The outside choice is Mazda6 but they are a bit more expensive.

Would the Mazda be much more reliable than a Mondeo or Vectra? Out of the Mondeo or Vectra which would be better?

Thanks

[valverguy]

I'd take the mondeo, ive had both at a similar age (although the vectra was the sri diesel 150). Handling is in all fairness poor on them, so one with the bog standard suspension must be even worse, Mondeo handled better and felt better screwed together...
My opinion of course, the mazda is a nice car but not enough to warrant more money on a daily.

[HustleRussell]

100% Mondeo. The Mazda 6 is pretty much the same car but less common and with greedier parts stockists.

[crosseyedlion]

Sorry if its a little unhelpful...but this is pistonheads....

Volvo v70 T5
BMW e39 530i touring
BMW e46 330i touring
Alfa 156 sportwagon

HTH

[underphil]

HustleRussell said:

100% Mondeo. The Mazda 6 is pretty much the same car but less common and with greedier parts stockists.

Totally different car actually

[Apache]

Reliability might be better on the Mondy although a colleague bought one from his company and had to replace the DMF (ouch!) The Vectras have a history of engine management probs so it's pot luck there.
Now, IMO it is inadvisable to buy any Vectra other than the SRi as they are utterly dreadful in the handling dept, at least the SRi has had some Lotus input and IMO handles rather well for what it is. I've had several Mondeos of that era and found them to be ok but the seats were extremely hard, the throttle delay was awful and the mirrors chucked dirt up the glass and I was forever cleaning them. The Vectra was marginally better on mpg but the trim was cheap and nasty

[thescamper]

Rover 75?

More toys, better finished, more power, faster.

[HustleRussell]

underphil said:

HustleRussell said:

100% Mondeo. The Mazda 6 is pretty much the same car but less common and with greedier parts stockists.

Totally different car actually

The Mazda is built on a Ford Mondeo platform and uses Ford engines and running gear.

[Sonofabeesting]

Thanks for the advice people.

I think i will look for a Mondeo.

Next question. Is the 1.8 (LX spec) so slow it is not worth it. Should I be looking for at least a 2.0?

Cheers

[underphil]

HustleRussell said:

The Mazda is built on a Ford Mondeo platform and uses Ford engines and running gear.

No it isn't

[SuperHangOn]

Sonofabeesting said:

Thanks for the advice people.

I think i will look for a Mondeo.

Next question. Is the 1.8 (LX spec) so slow it is not worth it. Should I be looking for at least a 2.0?

Cheers

In reality the 2.0 uses no more fuel so I can't see the point with a 1.8.

Its not like its a rare car, you can afford to be choosy!

[98elise]

SuperHangOn said:

Sonofabeesting said:

Thanks for the advice people.

I think i will look for a Mondeo.

Next question. Is the 1.8 (LX spec) so slow it is not worth it. Should I be looking for at least a 2.0?

Cheers

In reality the 2.0 uses no more fuel so I can't see the point with a 1.8.

Its not like its a rare car, you can afford to be choosy!

Also the 2ltr has a cam chain.

[SuperHangOn]

Personally I would avoid the LX model as I found the seats to be a bit unsupportive along the sides- the Zetecs were much more comfortable on long drives. As I say, you can be really choosy.

[farrendahl]

thescamper said:

Rover 75?

More toys, better finished, more power, faster.

Not a hatchback though which is what the OP is looking for, of course they could go down the Tourer route which would be my first choice (Infact it was y choice sort of, when stuck with the same cinundrum I ended up getting a 52 plate ZT-T for £600 and enjoyed the remaining cash on a holiday)

[Yuxi]

underphil said:

HustleRussell said:

The Mazda is built on a Ford Mondeo platform and uses Ford engines and running gear.

No it isn't

The Ford uses an engine designed by Mazda but made by Ford in Valencia (and other places around the world, for non european cars). The Mazda uses the same engine but made by Mazda in Hiroshima and other places. Mazda still own the engineering for this engine and designed the latest GDI and GTDI versions that Ford and Mazda have started to introduce. Ford cannot make any changes to these engines without permission from the Mazda engineering team.