From all accounts this is a cracking car - but the running costs can be high as well as thef uel consumption being heavy.
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Insurance is highish, 18" tyres not cheap, otherwise servicing costs are as per any other TDCi, at main dealer iro £150 every 12500, £225 every 37500, an extra oil change in between if you want would be iro £40. Combined MPG is only a couple less that the TDCi 130 so should average iro 45mpg mixed driving, excellent for the performance. The V6 Passat is a nice car though is a lot less economical than the 1.9 as well as more costly to service.
Remember the TDCi 155 engine is available in the Ghia X, higher spec, more subtle, 17" wheels.
One previous commentator has mentioned that depreciation should be no bar - I disagree, as a private individual it should be a key consideration factor and not perhaps the over riding factor.
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I think the point made was that if you can save £5-6k buying a Mondeo over a BMW it is likely to be worth a similar amount less so you have not lost out in depreciation terms.
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I run a 130 Tdci Mondeo and have 50.OOO on the clock. It has broken down on two ocasions. Engine management has been a real issue with this engine. The car goes back in September and my next car will be a private buy. I'd say try the Mondeo first. What you will like is the space in the front and back. The boot is just huge. Another plus is mid-range acceleratio between 40 and 80, although it can be really brutal with a severe kick-in effect. The front supension just about copes with all that torque peak. What you won't like is the cars uncomfortable ride in town driving. I mean slow speeds on average quality roads. On motorways it just feels fine but nothing special. I tried the new BMW 320d(without leather)on Saturday. This car is dynamically faultless in comparison. The down side is (again) poor seating in the back and awkward boot(no hatch). I found a near perfect driving position. The engine power came on so much smoother than my previuos test drive of a 155 Tdci. I'm going to try a Volvo D5 and maybe one other car with same power/pleasure before making decision. Now here's the thing: Is the pain of parting with an extra 8-9 thousand compensated by the pleasure of owning a car with 50:50 weight distribution.
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I have had my '02 Ghia X TDCi 130, now on 86k, from new and have to disagree with some of montpellier's post. Yes Ford have had some ECU issues however this has only affected mine once in nearly three years and 86k, the car was still driveable, just need pluging into the diagnostics system at the dealer.
I would not call the power deliver brutal, more relentless, it pulls like a train whatever gear, hill, load etc. In power terms the TDCi 130 in fact dynos only slightly less than the 320d though produces more torque 350nm v 330nm, the 2.2 155 in comparison produces a lot more torque again, 400nm, so does feel less subtle than either in its delivery.
Re 50:50 weight distribution, talk about sucked in by the BMW marketing machine, yes a powerful rear drive car can be great fun however the Mondeo has a great combination of ride and handling, it is pretty comfortable when driven normally (OK not C5 like over rutted roads) though really tightens up when pushed hard, corners as though on rails though with lots of feedback. Great fun on the back roads.
My other thought is what age/mileage 330d can you get for £15-16k?
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Took one out on a track the other week.
LOVED IT!!!! :-)
I agree with everything Cheddar says about the handling on this car, it is outstanding.
Blue
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Neither of the cars would be bought new. It's a question of a Mondeo thats a few months old, or a BMW thats two years old. I'm thinking that the BM ('old' shape) has suffered the worst of it's depreciation and may hold it's value better, despite the arrival of the new car. I'm aware the new Mondeo is out in 06 and think this will seriously hurt the values of the current shape. I currently own a MG ZT, so I'm used to a firm ride (not sure the mondeo could match its handling qualities though).
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Neither of the cars would be bought new. It's a question of a Mondeo thats a few months old, or a BMW thats two years old. I'm thinking that the BM ('old' shape) has suffered the worst of it's depreciation and may hold it's value better, despite the arrival of the new car. I'm aware the new Mondeo is out in 06 and think this will seriously hurt the values of the current shape. I currently own a MG ZT, so I'm used to a firm ride (not sure the mondeo could match its handling qualities though).
All good points bar the latter one, good car though the MG ZT is a Mondeo runs rings around it in the handling stakes. Drive a Mondeo, any model, drive it hard on testing roads, it comes alive as you push on, very responsive and rewarding.
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>>Re 50:50 weight distribution, talk about sucked in by the BMW >>marketing machine
Absolutely. Might there be a reason why BMW are almost on their own in persisting with RWD rather than FWD in everyday cars?
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We had a mondeo on test at work a while ago and I have to say that the MG is a much better handling car. (Although it wasn't a performance version)
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Must say I disagree, reckon you would be surprised if you did a few hundred miles in any Mondeo over a variety of roads pressing on a bit, it might seem fairly refined and unassuming at normal speeds however it's limits are much greater than most drivers will ever explore. By contrast many cars that feel just as capable at normal speeds are tiring and unrewarding to drive quickly, feeling skittish under braking, wallowy around corners etc.
To make a furher point about the Mondeo's handling in comparison to the 3 Series, as discussed on another post recently approx a year ago TopGear put a 2.0 ltrs saloon from all manufacturers involved in F1 in the hands of The Stig around their test track, a standard 145ps 2.0ltr Mondeo Zetec was nearly 2 secs faster that any of the others, including a 150ps 2.0ltr RWD 318i, Laguna, X-Type, Avensis etc.
Regards.
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As I'm a Traffic Officer, the Mondeo was 'put through it's paces' so to speak. Don't know if you've ever driven a ZT, but the grip level is fantastic and it goes exactly where it's pointed. Still, horses for courses as they say.
Still doesn't solve my problem, two year old BMW or nearly new Mondeo!!
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Still doesn't solve my problem, two year old BMW or nearly new Mondeo!!
If you can get a good two year old reasonable mileage 330d (not 320d) for your budget it would be worth concidering, otherwise a nearly new (or new via broker) Mondeo is probably a better bet than a two year old 30k to 40k 320d.
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>>Re 50:50 weight distribution, talk about sucked in by the BMW >>marketing machine Absolutely. Might there be a reason why BMW are almost on their own in persisting with RWD rather than FWD in everyday cars?
RWD BMW's are supremely well balanced, are rewarding to drive and handle exceptionally well however many front drive cars are more than comparable albeit charateristically different.
By being (almost) unique is perservering with RWD you cannot blame BMW in using it within their marketing stratergy.
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