Hi,
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking to replace my current car with a diesel estate with a budget of a maximum of £8k but would prefer to spend no more than £7. I will be buying with cash so no finance involved and will be keeping the car for a minimum of three years. I therefore want something that I will enjoy driving and I assume that I will be looking at around an 05-06 plate.
I have driven a diesel 130 Mondeo estate in the past and currently have an old 2.0 petrol estate mondeo. I quite fancy the look of the 155 diesel version. The other option is an Octavia 2.0 diesel 140 although I have seen a VRS 170 version with 82K mileage for just under £9k but my head is telling me to be sensible and exclude this.
Given my location, I will have to travel to test drive the cars so I am trying to gain as much info as possible in advance. Obviously I am familiar with a mondeo but has anyone driven both the mondeo 155 and Octavia 140 and can offer me a comparison in terms of performance, drive, build quality, running costs etc. Or should I just throw caution to the wind and go for the VRS despite its high mileage although it has 14 months left of manufacturer's warranty? Are there any other cars that I should consider?
Thanks in advance.
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Dad has a 57 plate 140 tdi Octavia elegance and I have just had extensive test drives in a Scout. I cannot speak for the mondeo but the Octavia is a good car. 140 is plenty quick enough for fast cruising and excellent at overtaking bursts. Good on fuel should see 48 to 50 mpg easily and with variable servicing fairly cheap to maintain, great on storage space . The only issue I had which put me off buying one this last week was I could not get comfy with the seats no matter how hard I tried so I was a bit disappointed.
Ordered a V50 instead.
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I have a Megan Estate, 1.9 CDi, 130bhp on a 57 plate.
Despite some people on this forum not liking them I bought it as I already had an Espace which has proved very good.
The Megan has been driven on regular long runs between Durham and Portsmouth. It has covered about 2000 miles each month on average and had regular servicing as per manufacturs guidance.
MPG is on average 52-54, but as high as 60. Lowest was 48 during two major hold ups.
Load space is huge (its actually bigger than the old Laguna) due to its vertical rear end. Seats fold flat too without needing to get rid of head rests.
x3 proper rear seat belts without it coming over from the roof enabling anyone to fasten it easily
Visability is good, handling very good and seat comfort "firm".
Nothing gone wrong except headlight bulb at 20,000miles.
I actually bought the estate as I didn't like the hatch versions "big bottom". However it has proved useful shifting my bike and belongings from job to job.
Could be yours for £8k....but you should consider it.
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1.9 CDi 130bhp
Despite our Renault ownership not ending on the happiest of terms, I will still defend this 1.9dCi engine to the hilt.
Makes almost every other four cylinder diesel engine sound and feel like something out of a tractor. It's just so smooth and quiet, even when thrashed. I've driven many petrol engines that don't spin to 5000 RPM with the eagerness, decorum, smoothness and refinement of this engine.
Reliable, frugal and gutsy too. Not as muscular as a VW PD, but what is?
Cheers
DP
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I drive a 2005 Mondeo ST 155 estate and to be honest it's one of the best cars I've owned. Excellent to drive and economical. Has passed 100,000 and is still as strong as ever. Bought it a year ago from Auction with 72,000 on the clock.
Has cost me a set of front tyres and two services so far. Good cruiser with superb handling. When I bought it I was specifically after an Audi A6 diesel estate, but couldn't justify the cost they were going through the auction for, so took a punt on the Mondeo, very very happy with my choice.
Big loading area, rear seats fold almost flat for a massive space. Well thought out cabin and comfy supportive seats. I have averaged about 44.5mpg since buying it, it rarely drops below 40mpg average when driven hard and averages over 50mpg when driven nicely.
I suggest you test drive both to be sure, and would happily recommend the mondeo option.
Hope this helps.
Paul
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Is this 155PS Engine any more reliable then 130PS Mondeo? Also read somewhere the torqe band is very narrow. Thanks
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