Ford Mondeo Titanium X Sport
Discussion
I'm potentially looking at buying a Mondeo Titanium X estate in sport trim. Anyone got one who could give a few pointers on what to look out for when viewing?
I've seen one around 100k miles with the usual Titanium X Sport stuff, leather heated and cooled seats etc. It comes with full history and a few owners. From a independent, any Idea on what price I should be looking at? Parker's is way off or its way overpriced!
I've seen one around 100k miles with the usual Titanium X Sport stuff, leather heated and cooled seats etc. It comes with full history and a few owners. From a independent, any Idea on what price I should be looking at? Parker's is way off or its way overpriced!
Tit-X Sport estates are priced quite high compared with lesser models, but they sell easily as they're more desirable.
Is it the diesel you're looking at? I had a '58' Tit-X Sport 2.2 TDCi estate which I recently sold.
Good things:
1) The seats are FANTASTIC in my opinion. The seat back is merely "good" but the base is perfection. You do get the same seats (minus the red stitching) in the Tit-X, though.
2) Hydraulic PAS steering on the Mk4 Mondeo means that despite its size it can be good fun to chuck about when the mood takes you. But don't get me wrong... It's a BIG car, if you want something properly nimble then look elsewhere.
3) When the 2.2 diesel is "in the zone", it's faster than you'd expect. The 400Nm gives you a proper kick in the back.
4) You can get a Ford-modified OBD device that connects to a laptop and lets you change loads of settings on the car and read values from every sensor. Although it's all 3rd party software and there is a risk of bricking the ECU, so do this at your own risk... I used it to enable auto-locking of the doors at 5mph, disable warnings about dodgy tyre pressure sensors and some other minor changes.
5) In my opinion, the ride was nice. It was on the firmer side with the slightly lowered suspension in the 'Sport' model as well as the 18" wheels... But it wasn't too bad. I like it firm. I've seen people say they hate it though, and the standard Mondeos were far better... Try it out and see what you think.
Bad things:
1) It feels really big. I mean, it is big, but it feels it.
2) If it's the 2.2 diesel, the MPG is awful. Please don't go into it thinking you'll get over 40mpg, because you won't, despite what some people claim. If you drive like a saint at a constant 60mph in 6th then you might, if you're very lucky, see 45mpg. But in reality, in normal (gentle) driving, high 30s is the best you'll do. Low 30s if you drive less gently.
3) The 2.2 diesel is also quite rough IMO. It doesn't feel/sound like a modern diesel. It can be whiney, rattly and just unpleasant. But the torque does make up for this somewhat.
4) The dual exhaust for the Tit-X Sport estate is rare and therefore not made by any 3rd party manufacturers. IIRC Ford wanted roughly £350 for a single back-box. I got mine welded, but I've heard that the dual exhausts from some higher-spec Volvo V70 models are straight-fit and cost £350 for both sides.
5) The cooled seats are useless. It's just vents underneath the seats that blow out air with an approximately 0% chance of reaching your bum through the thick seat padding, so it all goes forward and makes your feet cold.
Things to look out for:
- The Ford tyre pressure sensor valves don't last long. Watch out for leaky tyres.
- If you need a new clutch you'll also need a new DMF and you should expect to pay >£1,000
- Even if your clutch is good, the DMF is delicate. If the previous owner drove everywhere at 1,000rpm it'll be at death's door.
- Brake caliper issues are common. They're not too expensive though, I got a leaky one replaced for £130 including labour.
- With the 2.2 diesel, the MAF sensor will almost certainly need done when you buy it, or soon after. It's not obvious when it goes, it just kinda takes the edge off the torque under full throttle... But that's where all the fun happens. Aftermarket MAF sensors do not suit this car, I tried a few including big-name brands, you need to get a genuine Ford one.
- The EGR/intake hoses will be literally SOLID with black gunk unless you're lucky enough to get a car that has always been driven hard (and therefore the engine will be a lot cleaner). I spent days cleaning mine out and it was a thoroughly unpleasant job.
- The turbo hose leading away from the intercooler at the front of the engine bay (driver side) sometimes splits. Cheap and easy to replace, though.
- Worn out buttons on the dashboard. I can't remember what year it was that Ford fixed this, but before that year, they all wore out very quickly and looked tatty. Same with the Ford logos both on the car and on the key fobs.
- The DPF regenerated fairly frequently, at least once a week in my experience, and for about 15 minutes it makes the engine feel quite jerky and fuel economy drops to about 6mpg according to the computer.
BTW if you happen to need a genuine Ford dog guard, I still have mine and was planning to put it on eBay soon.
Is it the diesel you're looking at? I had a '58' Tit-X Sport 2.2 TDCi estate which I recently sold.
Good things:
1) The seats are FANTASTIC in my opinion. The seat back is merely "good" but the base is perfection. You do get the same seats (minus the red stitching) in the Tit-X, though.
2) Hydraulic PAS steering on the Mk4 Mondeo means that despite its size it can be good fun to chuck about when the mood takes you. But don't get me wrong... It's a BIG car, if you want something properly nimble then look elsewhere.
3) When the 2.2 diesel is "in the zone", it's faster than you'd expect. The 400Nm gives you a proper kick in the back.
4) You can get a Ford-modified OBD device that connects to a laptop and lets you change loads of settings on the car and read values from every sensor. Although it's all 3rd party software and there is a risk of bricking the ECU, so do this at your own risk... I used it to enable auto-locking of the doors at 5mph, disable warnings about dodgy tyre pressure sensors and some other minor changes.
5) In my opinion, the ride was nice. It was on the firmer side with the slightly lowered suspension in the 'Sport' model as well as the 18" wheels... But it wasn't too bad. I like it firm. I've seen people say they hate it though, and the standard Mondeos were far better... Try it out and see what you think.
Bad things:
1) It feels really big. I mean, it is big, but it feels it.
2) If it's the 2.2 diesel, the MPG is awful. Please don't go into it thinking you'll get over 40mpg, because you won't, despite what some people claim. If you drive like a saint at a constant 60mph in 6th then you might, if you're very lucky, see 45mpg. But in reality, in normal (gentle) driving, high 30s is the best you'll do. Low 30s if you drive less gently.
3) The 2.2 diesel is also quite rough IMO. It doesn't feel/sound like a modern diesel. It can be whiney, rattly and just unpleasant. But the torque does make up for this somewhat.
4) The dual exhaust for the Tit-X Sport estate is rare and therefore not made by any 3rd party manufacturers. IIRC Ford wanted roughly £350 for a single back-box. I got mine welded, but I've heard that the dual exhausts from some higher-spec Volvo V70 models are straight-fit and cost £350 for both sides.
5) The cooled seats are useless. It's just vents underneath the seats that blow out air with an approximately 0% chance of reaching your bum through the thick seat padding, so it all goes forward and makes your feet cold.
Things to look out for:
- The Ford tyre pressure sensor valves don't last long. Watch out for leaky tyres.
- If you need a new clutch you'll also need a new DMF and you should expect to pay >£1,000
- Even if your clutch is good, the DMF is delicate. If the previous owner drove everywhere at 1,000rpm it'll be at death's door.
- Brake caliper issues are common. They're not too expensive though, I got a leaky one replaced for £130 including labour.
- With the 2.2 diesel, the MAF sensor will almost certainly need done when you buy it, or soon after. It's not obvious when it goes, it just kinda takes the edge off the torque under full throttle... But that's where all the fun happens. Aftermarket MAF sensors do not suit this car, I tried a few including big-name brands, you need to get a genuine Ford one.
- The EGR/intake hoses will be literally SOLID with black gunk unless you're lucky enough to get a car that has always been driven hard (and therefore the engine will be a lot cleaner). I spent days cleaning mine out and it was a thoroughly unpleasant job.
- The turbo hose leading away from the intercooler at the front of the engine bay (driver side) sometimes splits. Cheap and easy to replace, though.
- Worn out buttons on the dashboard. I can't remember what year it was that Ford fixed this, but before that year, they all wore out very quickly and looked tatty. Same with the Ford logos both on the car and on the key fobs.
- The DPF regenerated fairly frequently, at least once a week in my experience, and for about 15 minutes it makes the engine feel quite jerky and fuel economy drops to about 6mpg according to the computer.
BTW if you happen to need a genuine Ford dog guard, I still have mine and was planning to put it on eBay soon.
Thanks for the heads up on those issues, I'm looking at the 2.0 TDCi in either the 140 or 163bhp guise. Any thoughts on either?
It may be a big car but I'll be coming from a 85hp VW T5 so it will feel fast and nimble to me! My commute is nearly 100 miles round trip, 85% motorway 15% rural which I have to do 2 or 3 times a week. It should be enough to clear the guts out!
Gutted about the cooling seats! Had never heard of the concept so to hear that they're rubbish is disappointing! Ideally, if I could get a sunroof then I would but they're like rocking horse s
t seemingly.
It may be a big car but I'll be coming from a 85hp VW T5 so it will feel fast and nimble to me! My commute is nearly 100 miles round trip, 85% motorway 15% rural which I have to do 2 or 3 times a week. It should be enough to clear the guts out!
Gutted about the cooling seats! Had never heard of the concept so to hear that they're rubbish is disappointing! Ideally, if I could get a sunroof then I would but they're like rocking horse s
t seemingly. Chicken Chaser said:
Thanks for the heads up on those issues, I'm looking at the 2.0 TDCi in either the 140 or 163bhp guise. Any thoughts on either?
It may be a big car but I'll be coming from a 85hp VW T5 so it will feel fast and nimble to me! My commute is nearly 100 miles round trip, 85% motorway 15% rural which I have to do 2 or 3 times a week. It should be enough to clear the guts out!
Gutted about the cooling seats! Had never heard of the concept so to hear that they're rubbish is disappointing! Ideally, if I could get a sunroof then I would but they're like rocking horse st seemingly.
I've driven the 140 version a few times and thought it was decent. Nowhere near the kick of the 2.2, but smoother, quieter, better economy and didn't feel underpowered.It may be a big car but I'll be coming from a 85hp VW T5 so it will feel fast and nimble to me! My commute is nearly 100 miles round trip, 85% motorway 15% rural which I have to do 2 or 3 times a week. It should be enough to clear the guts out!
Gutted about the cooling seats! Had never heard of the concept so to hear that they're rubbish is disappointing! Ideally, if I could get a sunroof then I would but they're like rocking horse s
t seemingly. I've heard that the 163 version loses too much fuel economy and smoothness compared to the 140 without gaining enough performance... But I don't know how true that is as I've never driven a 163 version.
I know that the 2.0 engines have a very common issue with a boost solenoid that goes faulty. It affects power and seems to be very difficult for garages to diagnose but is a very simple fix and easy to test. If you have this problem, a quick google should tell you what you need to know.
If it's anything like the 2.2 engine, then no amount of driving will clear out the gunk that has already accumulated between the EGR and the intake. It needs manual cleaning.
In my case, it was a 2 foot hose about an inch in diameter packed SOLID of black gunk. The entire thing. And the intake itself was the same, there was just a small clear "channel" for air to pass through, with inch-thick black gunk surrounding it. It only had 50k miles, so I'm guessing the car wasn't driven hard very often before I got it!
I was also disappointed about the cooling seats. First time I tried them I thought they were broken, but google showed everyone saying the same thing. Shame! On the plus side, the heated seats are great!
Hi,
I have a 2010 Titanium X Sport, however mine is a saloon and a 2.0 Ecoboost (petrol with turbo) and the powershift gearbox.
I have to say, I'm coming up to 5 years of owning this car and its about to tick over to 100k and the thing still behaves like something much newer, the ride is good, the handling is good, and the engine mated to that Powershift gearbox is brilliant. Comes with a small turbo so is pretty fast too.
I would half agree on the cooling seats, you can feel it when they first come on but after a few minutes you seem to not notice the difference, although I think this is because it uses the air from the car, so once the climate brings in the temperature you want then you no longer feel any benefit from a few fans circulating air.
The seats are great although I wish the backs were a little bigger (I'm not even tall). Never a fan of full leather so these with half leather and half whatever it is are very nice indeed.
Think I bought mine at 3 years old and wanted an Audi, but for the price I paid, I got heated/cooled seats, half leather, Xenons, Sat nav, cruise, etc etc it was a bit of a no brainer at that time, I wasn't keen on the design of the car but having just started a family it was the obvious choice and has grown on me.
Couple of things for me, I personally would never buy another ford diesel, I had a Mk3 ST TDCI (2.2) and the mpg was rubbish compared to most other brands, then the injectors started playing up and cost me a small fortune. I bought the Tit X as it was petrol (Would have loved the 2.5 to be honest.....). Ford sell this as an ecoboost, but don't be fooled by that, fuel economy isn't that great, but when you consider it has 205bhp (I think) then its pretty good, I have also owned An ST24 and an ST220, the ST220 was 3.0l V6 and the fuel economy on my current car is way better, so I guess it is "Eco" relatively speaking.
Also the Auto/Powershift box has sold me for life, I never want another manual gearbox, ever!. On occasions it can be bait jerky at low speed but you learn its ways so to speak and its fine after that. It is very very good.
To put it into context, this is my 6th Mondeo in 20 years of driving (Couple of Audis also) Its not my favourite Mondeo I have had, that accolade goes to my ST24 (Quite young when I got that so that maybe why). however generally this has been by the far the best car I have ever owned. Its pretty much faultless.
They are seriously good cars, plenty of kit and great value.
I have a 2010 Titanium X Sport, however mine is a saloon and a 2.0 Ecoboost (petrol with turbo) and the powershift gearbox.
I have to say, I'm coming up to 5 years of owning this car and its about to tick over to 100k and the thing still behaves like something much newer, the ride is good, the handling is good, and the engine mated to that Powershift gearbox is brilliant. Comes with a small turbo so is pretty fast too.
I would half agree on the cooling seats, you can feel it when they first come on but after a few minutes you seem to not notice the difference, although I think this is because it uses the air from the car, so once the climate brings in the temperature you want then you no longer feel any benefit from a few fans circulating air.
The seats are great although I wish the backs were a little bigger (I'm not even tall). Never a fan of full leather so these with half leather and half whatever it is are very nice indeed.
Think I bought mine at 3 years old and wanted an Audi, but for the price I paid, I got heated/cooled seats, half leather, Xenons, Sat nav, cruise, etc etc it was a bit of a no brainer at that time, I wasn't keen on the design of the car but having just started a family it was the obvious choice and has grown on me.
Couple of things for me, I personally would never buy another ford diesel, I had a Mk3 ST TDCI (2.2) and the mpg was rubbish compared to most other brands, then the injectors started playing up and cost me a small fortune. I bought the Tit X as it was petrol (Would have loved the 2.5 to be honest.....). Ford sell this as an ecoboost, but don't be fooled by that, fuel economy isn't that great, but when you consider it has 205bhp (I think) then its pretty good, I have also owned An ST24 and an ST220, the ST220 was 3.0l V6 and the fuel economy on my current car is way better, so I guess it is "Eco" relatively speaking.
Also the Auto/Powershift box has sold me for life, I never want another manual gearbox, ever!. On occasions it can be bait jerky at low speed but you learn its ways so to speak and its fine after that. It is very very good.
To put it into context, this is my 6th Mondeo in 20 years of driving (Couple of Audis also) Its not my favourite Mondeo I have had, that accolade goes to my ST24 (Quite young when I got that so that maybe why). however generally this has been by the far the best car I have ever owned. Its pretty much faultless.
They are seriously good cars, plenty of kit and great value.
Excellent thanks for the reviews. We are a growing family too and with wanting to spend some money on extending our house, I don't want to be shelling out a fortune or throwing money towards a personal lease despite the attraction. For a shade over £5k there seems to be a few Sport editions with around 100k and the interiors have looked to be pretty well wearing. I was initially wary with such high miles but I understand a belt change is 100k so if it's between one with just over 100k and a belt change and one under and without then I'd probably go for the one which has had a big bill. I'll have to see whether a turbo petrol would have the pulling power for a modest caravan
The interiors don't wear too bad. Mine has 99k and the seats are great along with all the buttons etc. Altho Vodafone had mine before me and they put the bulk of the mileage on it's still coming up to being an 8 year old car so they do wear well.
For your budget you should be able to get a really good example so don't rush into it. Although when I looked on auto trader yesterday there was only 8 like mine in the country for sale. So makes it quite rare but doesn't push the price up unfortunately!
I reckon the petrol would pull a caravan fine it has enough power but I'm not sure on the torque figures but it must be somewhere near the diesels.
Good luck with it!
For your budget you should be able to get a really good example so don't rush into it. Although when I looked on auto trader yesterday there was only 8 like mine in the country for sale. So makes it quite rare but doesn't push the price up unfortunately!
I reckon the petrol would pull a caravan fine it has enough power but I'm not sure on the torque figures but it must be somewhere near the diesels.
Good luck with it!
STS121 said:
Although when I looked on auto trader yesterday there was only 8 like mine in the country for sale. So makes it quite rare but doesn't push the price up unfortunately!
When I was looking for mine I really wanted a 2.5 Tit-X Sport manual estate. But given there are currently ZERO 2.5s in either body shape with either gearbox... My search didn't get very far and I ended up with the 2.2 
ZX10R NIN said:
Result! I hate that search engine!! 
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