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I think Quinny is right. I ran a 406 HDi 90 before changing to a Mondeo 130 3 months ago. The 406 was perhaps a bit lethargic, but it was quiet and towed well. The Mondeo goes very well and showed the 406 for what it was. However, much depends on whether you really want to use all that performance. Those of us who have been around rather a long time probably prefer the low-revving flexibility of the larger engine, rather than the Le Mans start at the traffic lights. Not sure I would want to go back to the 90 now, but it was perfectly adequate for what it was. So, I would have thought that a 115 should be fine - it really depends what type of performance you are looking for.
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Thanks for both responses.
I think one of the main benefits of a diesel is effortless mid-range acceleration and, while the 115 might be good in isolation, it's probably a significantly dis-advantaged compared to the 130. Think I'll hold out for a 130.
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Has anybody experienced the 130 Auto yet? I believe it is actually a manual box operated by electric motors with buttons on the steering wheel.
Regards and happy new year to you all.
Martin.
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Well, I've had a 130 Ghia since June. It goes like stonk and on the motorway, if you're not very careful, you'll find yourself well, and I mean WELL over the speed limit. Only drawback I've found is that it is a little high geared for motoring around town. Still I got one less than 12 months old, Ford Direct 6K miles on the clock, Ghia, all the bells & whistles for less than £12K. Oh, and it does 46 mpg.
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Has anybody experienced the 130 Auto yet? I believe it is actually a manual box operated by electric motors with buttons on the steering wheel.
I had one for a few days a couple of years ago. I think I've seen the Duratorq box described as you have, but in practice it drove like any other auto. The one I drove had sequential shifts on the gearstick, but they may well have buttons now.
Coupled with the 130Bhp TDCi engine, there was quite a delay, both setting off from rest, and picking up drive again, say on entering a fast roundabout. I think the set-off delay is quite common with diesel auto's. In the end, where it mattered, I spooled the engine up and held it on the footbrake.
Once it had started moving, power kicked in to such an extent that I was glad it was an auto so I could hold the wheel with both hands!!
Mine did approx 40MPG in the time I had it (and that was mainly on steady motorway runs) - I've heard the auto box murders the fuel consumption, so it doesn't seem to benefit from being similar in operation to a manual.
Overall it was a nice package, spoiled quite a lot by very excessive wind noise from the side windows at anything over 45MPH (I believe all Mondeo's do this to some extent).
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We have a 2004 Mondeo Ghia X auto TDCi. The gearbox is a standard 5 speed automatic box with button/stick overide. As i'm used to driving a smart I thought i'd try the buttons and to be honest it is very like a smarts paddleshift in that you press the button and there is a delay before it shifts up/down. I rarely use it now, the gearbox doesnt really need it.
Economy around town driven sensibly is about 32mpg, if you need to zip about then it drops to 26mpg. One motorway run to London from Bristol via Oxford on the return leg showed 38mpg on the computer. BUT our car has a very innacurate speedo. I would say it overreads by 10%, at one point it was showing a clear 10mph over the GPS speed. I also am not a fan of the cruise control, the tap up and down function takes longer than i'd expect to back off or speed up.
They appear to have a standard resonance as you start off, like an exhaust hitting the body, was the same in the manual and auto's I drove. The nsf wheel will spin if you pull out of a junction sharply but otherwise its well behaved. I havent noticed the delay (as mentioned above) in moving off. I find the engine is a bit clattery most of the time (compared to the hired Mondeo tdci we had before Christmas when ours went in for a coolant leak AND a new power steering pump) Oh and ours has a friend that comes to visit every few weeks. Its called the engine management limp home mode. The dealer has flashed the ECU with new software twice but it still happens. Leave it for 20mins and its fine.
Other than that lot (sorry Ford) its a nice car. Bags of space and lots of toys (though we both hate the photochromic rear view mirror - too slow to adjust to lights behind) The ride on the Ghia X is far better than the Zetec S we first drove.
Would I buy another? Maybe. Would I recommend one to someone else? Yes, and just hope they get one without ecu issues.
Tony
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to zip about then it drops to 26mpg. One motorway run to London from Bristol via Oxford on the return leg showed 38mpg on the computer. >>
This does not sound right even for an auto, my manual Ghia X TDCi hatch never get below 45mpg.
also am not a fan of the cruise control, the tap up and down function takes longer than i'd expect to back off or speed up.
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I find the cruise control great in the way that it seemlessly takes up drive from the driver and "hands" it back again when you cancel it. The tap up and doen functions are not as violent as some cars though offer a gentle increase/decrease in speed, you have got you right foot to use if you want anymore. Again perhaps the auto is different to the manual.
I find the engine is a bit clattery most of the time (compared to the hired Mondeo tdci we had before Christmas when ours went in for a coolant leak AND a new power steering pump) Oh and ours has a friend that comes to visit every few weeks. Its called the engine management limp home mode. The dealer has flashed the ECU with new software twice but it still happens. Leave it for 20mins and its fine.
The "clattery" engine compared to the other TDCi you have driven could be due to the ECU updates, the ECU has a learning function which improves refinment over time. The one time that my car had an ECU update it was a bit less refined striaght afterwards though within a few hundred miles it had settled down.
though we both hate the photochromic rear view mirror - too slow to adjust to lights behind
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Again I find this great perhaps it is slower to react on an estate where the rear window is further back from the mirror and, I guess, does not let as much light in.
>>The ride on the Ghia X is far better than the Zetec S we first drove.
Must say it is better still on 16" wheels as per the Ghia, Zetec etc.
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Without doubt take the 130 Bhp as it will give more pleasure and better fuel economy than the 115. Our local ford garage lends us the 115 now and again due to breakdown and long repair delays with our 130: Breakdown on holiday,repaired (badly) by Reg Vardy Reading and sent back to France where we live 3 weeks later. Car almost immediately broke down again 5 days later in Toulouse. Electrical problems as cruise control would cut in everytime I turned-off the Air-con.Car broke down again in Ford garage forecourt after 2 week attempt to find problems. In all, we've kept the 115 about 4 weeks and i've done 7.000 Km's in it.Our 130 is one year old and done about 60.000 Km's of which 3/4 was motorway driving. Fuel consumption is 5.8 Litres/100 km for the 130 and 7.3litres/100 km for the 115. I'm driving the 130 again and just come back from a long drive with the cruise control set to 140 km/h which returns a super 5.3L/100. Apart from chronic engine management problems after 10.000km and two breakdowns the Ford remains a good long distance car as long as you Lease it and get free breakdown cover under the 2 year guarantee. All the electrics have now been replaced to a cost of 1900 Euro (£ 1250)under warranty.
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Thanks Montpellier, and others.
The 130 won't give me more pleasure if it breaks down as much as yours!
I wonder why the 130 has so much better fuel consumption - you're showing only 39MPG for the 115 and 49MPG for the 130 - 26% better. It's not suppossed to be that way around!! The 115 you get isn't Auto, is it?
I really like Mondeo - especially with the hatch it's a perfect family car compromise but I'm really nervous about the horror stories people have, especially after a nightmare year with a 406. I'm leaning back towards the Accord Diesel at the moment, assuming (hoping) that should be pretty reliable.
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I suppose that there must be some people who have been very unfortunate, but to be quite honest, we genuinely don't seem to have that many problems with the TDCi in the Mondeo.
Focus C-Max, now that's another matter, but the Mondeo is good.
I would just go for it if you can get one at a good price, I think they drive superbly, I just wish that I could steal one from the company car pool, never mind, I have my Fusion :-(
Blue
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I didn't mean to frighten anyone with my Tdci problems. The engine management does need the new"patches" downloaded now and again. The 115 Tdci was a manual box but nearly new. My 130 now has 70.000 km's and shows 5.8 l/100. I came back from a restaurant last night with the cruise on at 80 mph (the automatic radars in France go off at 83 Mph) and still got 6.0l/100! My best ever run without Aircon was an incredible 4.9 l/100! I may just take another Mondeo but with 155 engine. This car is just as comfortable as a friends Merc C-class. For security reasons too -as a friend got bashed on the head for his 3-Series in Marseille. The Mondeo is a discrete car and i'd say the pefect Q-car concerning performance. I'm always overtaken on roundabouts in 1st and 2nd but in 3rd and 4th it takes off and you're pushed back in the drivers seat. It's a bit brutal sometimes The 115 didn't quite give me the sensations I was looking for. I tried the new 407 2.0 Hdi last week. A friend has got one and does a bad 8.0l/100 at the moment. It's not as good as the Tdci! Try www.elite-auto.fr and go to Ford then Mondeo and click down to 2.2 Tdci....good discount. The same BMW,Audi would cost double!
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The 406 hdi has the same engine as the TDCi - must be other reasons for the difference!!
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The 406 was a pure Peugeot/Citroen diesel with 90 or 110 Bhp. The 407 uses the same engine as the Ford C-max,C4 .It's a joint venture engine made in collaboration with Ford. Theyve also made a very good 1.6 diesel too. The Mondeo has stuck to the original Ford 90,115,130 and soon 2.2Tdci 155. I haven't got a clue why they didn't ditch the engine and take the new PSA/Ford unit. All I can say is perforamnce and fuel economy is not as good in the 407 as the Mondeo. The 407 is a superb car though..apparently it'll get the V6 2.7 Hdi in September!
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The Mondeo has stuck to the original Ford 90,115,130 and soon 2.2Tdci 155. I haven't got a clue why they didn't ditch the engine and take the new PSA/Ford unit. All I can say is perforamnce and fuel economy is not as good in the 407 as the Mondeo.
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The Mondeo TDCi engine is potentailly more robust being chain cam rather than belt cam, it also has the ability to produce more torque and to be taken out to a larger capacity hence the 2.2.
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I've looked at your discount list - it's about £16k discounted in France (based on £1 = ?1.43).
www.newregcars.co.uk has the Mondeo Ghia X and ST 2.2 for £16,400 ish. I'm not sure that I'd say an equivalent Mercedes or BMW would cost double - I'd say the equivalent would be a C220 Elegance or Avantgarde, which would be about £24k (plus probably a couple of grands' worth of extras, if you needed them). BMW 3 series prices are all over the place with the impending launch of the new model so it's not really a fair comparison, but again £24k seems about right.
That said, the Mondeo is an absolute bargain and because there are so many of them, it's easy to forget exactly how good a car it is for the money. Even new, with the heavy depreciation that UK buyers have to contend with (they hold their value much better in France) they're still a decent deal.
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Chain and not cam belt! Now I've actually picked up something intersting about this engine. I'd still like to see that V6 2,7 Tdi in the 407! I'm not a badge snob so let's give one great big thumbs up to the Mondeo anyway. If you're looking for a great motorway car and not to flashy around town -it's the one to go for. I've tried just about every middle size car and still am lost for a replacement. I did exagerate about price difference and you can pick up a current 3 series for the same price. The only real problem I find with Fords has to be the Ford sales force 'negative' attitude. I've been to a couple of Audi and BMW events (cocktails for new model launches) and you get that "I want to be part of this" feeling. They really do try hard to keep their clients and seduce new ones. It almost worked for me...but not the bank manager! Chuckle..
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just had a look at the website and must admit the price is very good even compared to Continental prices. Another reason to go for the Ford 130! I don't think Honda give disounts on the Accord Ctdtdtdiiti thingy....and the Ford is made in europe at least! Did I really mean that? The Honda is quieter and drinks a little more..maybe? Handling about the same. I don't like the styling on the back of the Accord and it's looks weird when you add the plastic protection on the doors and bumpers especially the estate version(another option). Again the ratio cost, power, economy ,fun swings in favour of the Mondeo. Re-sale, reliabilty etc and we're looking at bigger loan and a Honda Ctdtditititidi on the drive!
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The Honda is quieter and drinks a little more..maybe? Handling about the same.
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Handling, the Mondeo runs rings around it!
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