I need a family estate car - should I go for the Volkswagen Passat TDI or the Vauxhall Vectra?

I'm looking to replace my ageing Astra with a used family estate car (I need something a big bigger than the Astra due to a growing family!). My budget is up to £5000 and after lots of searching I've come down to either a Volkswagen Passat TDI (approx 2002-2003) or a slightly newer Vauxhall Vectra CDTI (120 bhp version). My concern is that for my budget, both cars are likely to have high mileages, and I need something reliable.

I've spent many hours browsing through online forums to try and learn more about these cars, and potential issues. However it's proving easy to find horror stories for both! Based on your knowledge and experience, which of these (or any other models) would you recommend?

Asked on 9 September 2010 by p-a

Answered by Honest John
The Mondeo is better.
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Far better than previous Vectra. Now with decent handling and an excellent ride. Plenty of safety kit. Roomy in the front. Big boot. Good looks.
A better drive and better equipped than the previous Passat. Comfortable and has more status than, say, a Ford Mondeo.
 

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