Mondeo or Insignia?

[eleveneleven]

I have £4.6k max to spend on a runaround and 7 days to pick something. Ideally wanted a Volvo S60 or a Honda Diesel but everything I'm looking at is outside of budget. May have to settle for either a diesel Mondeo or Insignia. Which one would be the better option? Im looking for something reliable above anything, the insignia looks to be the better buy but I’ve read a lot on here about oil pick up pipe issues. Which engine in the Mondeo is the better option 2.0 or the 2.2?

Also considering…

- Focus (1.6t, 1.6tdci or 2.0tdci)
- Astra 2.0cdti (same engine as the insignia??)
- Skoda Superb 2.0tdi (manual)

Any of these worth a closer look?

Requirements are petrol or diesel, would prefer an auto but not quite sure if its a good idea at this price point. Needs to be reliable and a good quiet motorway cruiser.

Any other suggestions welcome
Cheers guys

[keo]

All I can add is I drove a mondeo and insignia company cars and I much preferred how the mondeo drove. This is going back 10 years or so and I can’t remember much apart from thinking “the mondeo knocks spots off the insignia”

They were both manual. The insignia was very numb but I suppose it’s not a problem if you are just sitting on the motorway and from what I have read on here they are pretty good value for money.

[ZX10R NIN]

The Mondeo is the better car overall BUT you'll get a newer Insignia & if you want an auto the Insignia becomes the better option.

With the Mondeo I'd say go for the 2.0 (but if you can find a nice 2.2d don't be put off) it's the better unit overall, model wise look for a Titanium X:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306058...

Do your checks but a cat car may work for you:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307089...

With the Insignia budget £200 tp get the oil pick up pipe sorted.

Insignia Elite auto:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305317...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307069...

This facelift Elite Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307089...

Or this facelift SRI manual are the two that would get the nod for me:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307129...

[georgeyboy12345]

You should get more for the same money with an Insignia, but as above the Mondeos are nicer to drive.

If having an auto Mondeo, you absolutely must get the 2.2 diesel and avoid the 2.0 at all costs. The 2.2 comes with a conventional torque converter auto that is strong and reliable, while the 2.0 has the troublesome powershift dual clutch gearbox. The 2.2 and 2.0 engines are PSA jobbies and are very reliable - they are used in Peugeot Boxer and Partner vans that I have seen cover 300-500k miles with no issues.

The 2.0 Multijet II's in the Insignias and Astras are also reliable, but they do need to have FSH with no missed oil changes for the reasons you mentioned.

Avoid the Ecoboom 1.6 petrols from Ford, especially at this price point, but the 1.6 and 2.0 TDCis are reliable. Again, avoid powershift gearboxes.

The Skoda will probably be ok.

I'll have a look on AT and post some ideas up later maybe

[Ted H]

I have had many Insignias as hire cars, in addition to a few Mondeos. I'd choose the Mondeo any day of the week as it was just a nicer car to drive.

I found the 1.5 petrol insignia to be particularly thirsty even when being driven conservatively. I'd do the same journeys each week, and the fuel cost for the insignia was consistently higher than other hire cars. This was not the case for the diesels though.

[williamp]

Mazda 6?

[ingenieur]

Why not an c-class or e-class though? It has better fuel economy and lower tax than the Mondeo / Insignia: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305137...

[imck]

williamp said:

Mazda 6?

£4.6K probably going to be a 2008-2012
Petrols yes. Both diesels can have problems.

Recently sold my 2008 2.5 petrol. A bit scabby underneath but no big problems in 5 years. Mid 30s MPG

[keo]

ingenieur said:

Why not an c-class or e-class though? It has better fuel economy and lower tax than the Mondeo / Insignia: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305137...

I don’t know anything about them but to me that’s hell of a car for the money!

[Ash_]

I used to have one of these and loved it, being the 3.0l V6, it was also pretty quick, and very comfy. I personally never had any problems with almost 2 years of ownership.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307139...

[eleveneleven]

Thanks everyone. C class would have been a great option, not too sure at this price point though, Used car market is insane right most of the cars I’ve looked at barely have a service history. Seems like I’m still in shed territory with my budget.

[ingenieur]

keo said:

ingenieur said:

Why not an c-class or e-class though? It has better fuel economy and lower tax than the Mondeo / Insignia: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305137...

I don’t know anything about them but to me that’s hell of a car for the money!

They're exceptionally aerodynamic, really low drag coefficient number. Benefit of that is being cheap to run at speed as post 50mph wind resistance starts to really bite. Will be quieter as well.

[ingenieur]

eleveneleven said:

Thanks everyone. C class would have been a great option, not too sure at this price point though, Used car market is insane right most of the cars I’ve looked at barely have a service history. Seems like I’m still in shed territory with my budget.

I spent a long time looking at these sorts of cars as they fit my requirement for a small family car that's mostly for me to use for commuting. I looked at every fact that's available like performance, economy, etc and both the BMW 3-series and the Mercedes of this era are cracking cars. The 'british' equivalent Mondeo / Insignia lose on every metric. Should bear in mind the BMW in particular was the most popular car in Britain during that period. "Playing safe" and going for the popular choice means going for the BMW. The Mondeo / Insignia are rare cars by comparison.

On Autotrader at the moment there are 1286 BMW 3-series between the years of 2007 and 2011. For the Mondeo there are only 349. A much less popular car.

742 C-class Mercedes = twice as popular as the Mondeo.

Edited by ingenieur on Thursday 20th July 15:00

[Ankh87]

I looked at both Mondeo and Insignia when I were after a cheap motorway cruiser. I get 45-48mpg and that includes sat in traffic thanks to roadworks. Also get a lot more on a much longer run say 100+ miles on a motorway. I get 700 miles on a full tank, that includes before 2020 when there were more traffic.

I got an Insignia. The Mondeo just felt older, a bit more meh inside and it cost more for the equivalent Insignia spec.

As for the oil seal issue, just get this sorted when you buy the car. Find a place that will do it and then get it done. Neighbour has a Mondeo (same year as my Insignia) and he's had loads of issues. Stuff like central locking, boost pipes, build quality issues. Maybe his is just a lemon. Otherwise the Insignia is solid but if you get a diesel you need to do the miles otherwise the regen will kill the car.

I also looked at a S60 but the boot isn't anywhere as good as a Mondeo or Insignia.

I'd try to look for a facelift Insignia as they are nicer looking overall. Either Mondeo or Insignia will do the job on a motorway but you'll not care about driving the car on a Sunday afternoon. They are just A to B cars.

[biggbn]

Toyota Avensis? Not soul stirring but wallet preserving!

[nco74]

Had one of these as a company car couldn't really fault it.

Hyundai i40

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307149...

or Kia

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307159...

Or the Mini cab of choice

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307069...

[Rough101]

Insignia has everything


From shampoo to shower gel.

[Ash_]

Rough101 said:

Insignia has everything


From shampoo to shower gel.

Those were the days!! Not available any more is it?