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Which to buy - VW Passat or Ford Mondeo?

Which to buy, 09 Ford Mondeo 1.8 TDCi or Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI?

Kevin Reilly (Dublin)

Feb 2011 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hiya Kevin,

Well it depends on what you covet most about your car. If you want something that is decent fun to drive on a back road as well as one that is comfortable then the Mondeo is still the better buy in that regard. The Passat feels more upmarket though and more like an executive car.

I would say it is probably more comfortable on a long journey than the Mondeo, so if you do a heap of miles and spend a lot of time in your car you might favour the Passat. Since they are both 2009 models you are talking about, me personally, I'd have the Passat, although you need to check it carefully. That electronic handbrake was a real problem area in some cars so make sure it all checks out. 

I hope this helps! 


Ford Mondeo or Ssangyong Kyron?

What car is a better buy: a 2005 Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCI 115hp Zetec estate with 89,500 miles (English import) and a tiny rust patch on roof; or a 2007 Ssangyong Kyron 2.0 XDI 141hp with 147,000 kilometres (Irish car) in good condition? I'm basically looking for a diesel with a big boot and I can get my hands on both of the above.

Thanks,

Dave

Dave Clarke (Carrigaline, Co. Cork.)

Feb 2011 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Dave,

No competition really: the Ssangyong Kyron is a complete dog and I'd be hard pressed to take one if I was handed it for free. Take the slightly rusty Mondeo instead.

 


I need a good car for commuting in England. Can you help?

I'm moving to England and will have a 100-mile round-trip commute each day. I currently drive a 2006 Ford Mondeo Platinum 1.8-litre petrol, but will be selling that. What would be the best diesel car to buy with a budget of around £3,000 sterling?

Jonathan Kelly (Carrigaline, Co. Cork.)

Feb 2011 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Jonathan,

You should be able to stay with your Mondeo in the UK, from 2005-2006 with a diesel for around that budget. Obviously there is much greater choice in the UK and lots might be high mileage but don't necessarily let that put you off because some of these might be cars that lived on motorways and as such won't have lived very hard lives.

We found a 2006 Mondeo Estate with 112,000 miles in the classifieds for £3,000 and it was a private sale and that could do a very nice job for you.

 

 

 


Should I buy a Fiat Croma?

I spend half the year in Ireland, half in the USA. I am being offered a low-mileage fully serviced 2007 Fiat Croma 2.4 turbodiesel for €9,000 with a full service history and the owner says they never had a problem, but there aren't many about (why?). Do you think it's a good deal for me as a 12,000 mile p.a. driver?

Henry Gibson (Oyster Cove, NY And Callan,, KK.)

Nov 2010 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi there,

The simple reason that the Fiat Croma didn't sell very well was that number one, it wasn't particularly good and number two, it was way overpriced for what it was. The result was that there were 33 sold in 2007 and just five sold a year later in 2008.

Having said that, I've often thought they would make a good second-hand buy because while they weren't a match to their key rivals such as a Ford Mondeo or Toyota Avensis, they are superb value on the used market and the 2.4-litre diesel engine that you mention is a particularly good one. 

That is a great price you are being offered for that car and if it is good and the mileage is low then I have to say I would be tempted. It certainly should be up to the task.


Can the Opel Insignia compare to the Ford Mondeo?

I was considering a new Mondeo, but Ford is only putting the 163hp 2.0 diesel in the Titanium Spec at about €34k, where as an Opel Insignia has a 160hp 2.0 diesel available at about €30k. However, I have heard the 130hp Insignia is more drivable.

Any comment?

Michael Morrissey (Kilkenny)

Nov 2010 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

Is there a specific reason you want the highest engine power in either car? In the case of both the Mondeo (140hp) and Insignia (130hp), high specification models of these can be had in and around the €30,000 mark. Granted the highest power output models in these are very potent, but the torque figure is equally important in diesel cars and the middle range Insignia has 300Nm of torque and the Mondeo has 340Nm, which is pretty much on par with that offered by the 160hp Insignia.

If I was to advise, I would say you should look at the Zetec Mondeo 140hp Diesel, which has performance to match the 160hp Insignia and in Zetec trim is pretty well equipped too. You can see the spec here.

I hope this helps,


When are new Fords coming to Ireland?

Do you know anything about new Ford Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo coming to Ireland? When and do you know the prices?

Fergal Reidy (Celbridge)

Aug 2010 Filed under: future cars

Expert answer

Hi Fergal,

An all-new Focus should be here early in 2011. More information was released this week (click here for the news story). The updated Mondeo will be on sale in Ireland before the end of 2010 (click here for our news story). I'm afraid we don't as yet know anything about a new Fiesta.

Prices are never released very far ahead of a car's launch unfortunately, but you can expect them to be in the same ballpark as the outgoing models'.

Hope that helps


How reliable is the 2005 Ford Mondeo?

Thinking of buying a 2005 petrol Ford Mondeo with 40,000 miles on clock. Are there any outstanding problems or things to look out for or are they generally reliable?

Thanks,

David.

David Lee (Gormanston)

Jul 2010 Filed under: reliability

Expert answer

Hi David,

The Mondeo has proven to be very robust and there are no major issues to worry about - so long as the car has been serviced regularly. Ensure that the engine runs smoothly and that there isn't any 'blue' smoke coming from the exhaust. Big expenses include windscreen replacement and changing the rear suspension bushes.

Overall though it's a reliable car.

Hope that helps.


Reliability issues with Passat?

I am thinking of a 05/06 diesel Passat, but am worried about reliability issues. I have heard about clutch problems and bulbs blowing constantly on these cars. What is your opinion? Also is there any other car you would recommend in this category? Mondeo, Octavia, A4?

Cyril Cleere (Kilkenny)

Jun 2010 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Cyril,

The Passat has had more than its fair share of reliability issues. There have been a total of seven recalls on the current model since 2005, but they were over different builds and won't have affected all cars. You can get full details of all of these from the VOSA website in the UK. There appears to be a recall for the clutch on later models, but we have also heard of reports of there being problems with the automatic handbrake and the power steering, while clutch judder on cars over 70,000 miles is not uncommon. 

This is certainly a car that has had issues, but it would not put me off buying one. There are lots of alternatives, but it depends on what you want. There are lots of good used Audi A4s around, though it is quite a bit smaller than the Passat; and obviously as they get older the repairs can get more expensive. I'm not sure if you would prefer petrol or diesel, but here is a low mileage 1.6-litre example at a SIMI dealer for €15,995. 

Something like this full-spec Mondeo X Diesel for €16,900 would be great. This is a gorgeous car and while quite discreet, would be great to drive.

I quite like this Mazda6 too. This is a very underrated car and the diesel model is a cracker. Let us know a little more about your budget and your needs and we can give you more considered advice. Just pop the details in the comment box below.


Should I go for manual or automatic Mondeo 2.0-litre diesel?

Just how good is the diesel Ford Mondeo 2.0-litre? Would you recommend manual or automatic?

Fergal Reidy (Celbridge)

Jun 2010 Filed under: gearbox

Expert answer

Hi Fergal,

I have just spent a week in a TDCi Mondeo. It was an automatic and I really liked it. The gearbox is a little lazy at times, but overall the car is a joy to drive. There is a new Mondeo coming later this year though so you might want to hang on for that as it features new engines as well.


What diesel to replace my Ford Mondeo?

I fancy a change from my Ford Mondeo, which I love. What do you reckon in a 2.0-lltre diesel: Merc, BMW, VW Touareg or Jaguar X-Type?

Fergal Reidy (Celbridge)

May 2010 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Fergal,

This is quite an eclectic mix of cars. We can't really give you an exact valuation on your Mondeo, but if we guess that it will be worth around €11,000 (you might get more) then you should have a budget of €31,000.

You could get into a brand new Jaguar X-Type for this price without too much difficulty. Bear in mind that this car is no longer made and while there are a few around, residuals won't hold up too well in the future. But you are getting quite a lot of car for your €30,000 with that. 

You could have a 2008 BMW 520d from a BMW dealer for under €30,000, obviously less than that if you decided to go non main dealer. Have a look at this one from a main dealer here.

A 2007 Mercedes-Benz E 220 CDi from a main dealer will cost you about €28,000. Here is an example. This would be more comfort-orientated, but obviously a year older than the BMW.

Finally if you wanted a passenger Touareg (as opposed to the commercial version), you would get a 2007 model, maybe a 2008 with this budget. This would obviously be a very different drive to what you are used to and running costs could be a little higher. Here is a good used example. 

Out of this lot, I would have the BMW, just from a personal point of view. That 5 Series was better than the E-Class of the same age. The X-Type is an old, discontinued car and I wouldn't spend that sort of money on a new one. The Touareg is nice, but it's very different to the others, so you would need to try it.

Hope this helps. 


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