Second hand: Mondeo or Passat?

JustAnotherSaver

Not the newest models of each but the cheaper versions.


Mondeo: https://www.parkers.co.uk/ford/mondeo/hatchback-2000/review/
Passat: https://www.parkers.co.uk/volkswagen/passat/saloon-2000/review/


I'd actually consider an Octavia of what would be in the same price/age bracket but really i was looking at Mondeo's or Passat's for now.


Not so sure of the trim level other than it must not have leather seats. I remember the Ghia on the Fords came with that crappy plastiwood trim but not sure if it still does. At any rate that can get changed so unlike the leather seats, that's not a deal breaker.




For the Mondeo i was looking at the 2.0 TDCI & either the 130 or the 155bhp versions.


For the Passat i was looking at the 1.9 TDI 130bhp engine.




Just wondering if anyone here has had either (or preferably both)? I've driven a 1.8 petrol estate version of the Mondeo so at least i've had a feel of the inside. I just felt the 1.8 petrol was quite underpowered for that car. I've never actually driven a Passat before, i've only sat in one & even then it wasn't on a drive.


Reliability would have to be a big factor. Comfort. Just all round driving experience. Just wondering which you'd opt for & why?




I understand there'll be suggestions of other similar cars that aren't on the list but hopefully we can at least get some feedback on the two or even three that i've mentioned put against each other for comparison?

attila_

I’ve had my passat 130 estate for 8 years now and its got 220,000 miles.

To be honest I’d be shocked abd disappointed if it didn’t go well beyond 300,000 miles. Its incredible. I have had the clutch and dmf changed at 200k.

It still pulls really well, lots of grunt at 1800rpm. Just passed its MOT saturday and no emission problems at all. The smoke test result was 0.64 and the limit is either 1 or 1.5

I can’t recommend it enough.


Re mondeo - i drove a ghia estate 2001 v6 as a company car. I really did not enjoy it. Lifeless, crap leather and worst of all a ford badge staring at you in the face reminding you the you’ve bought a ford!

JustAnotherSaver

Thanks for the feedback. What sort of MPG do you get out of yours & for that figure what is your driving - the typical journeys and your driving style? For example i pretty much just travel 10 mile to work and back on an A road in a 50-60 zone. I'll do the occasional trip to town some times but not often. I'll take a 6 mile run on the motorway from one junction to the next & for all that i'm hitting around 37-38 MPG in my car since i changed the fuel filter.

attila_ wrote: »

Re mondeo - i drove a ghia estate 2001 v6 as a company car. I really did not enjoy it. Lifeless, crap leather and worst of all a ford badge staring at you in the face reminding you the you’ve bought a ford!

See now this i don't actually care about. I'm no brand snob. I'm loyal to nothing other than what works for me. You could stick a smiley poop emoji on the front for all i care - if it's reliable and is comfortable then it'll do me.





I'll be looking at getting a remap on whichever i choose to be honest. Not straight away but after a bit of time to see if any faults crop up first.
And with the type of cars i mention i'm not going to be a back road rallyboy either. Picking boats as cars would be the wrong choice for that game.


I've had the small cars and the mid range cars. I wouldn't mind something a little larger now with a nice level of comfort. Has to have some go about it though.

GunJack

Mrs. G-J has been driving an 03 plate Mondeo TDC1 130 for the last 3 years - it's got a lot of grunt if you need it from very low down

MPG - she only does short runs (less than 5 miles at a time) and doesn't hang about and averages 43mpg. If I take it to work (15 mile each way) I can get it up to an indicated 60mpg, so the economy is there even if you don't treat it too well.

It's been reliable too, in all fairness. It's on 160k miles, no issues with clutch or dmf, and no signs of either.

Cost under a grand when we bought it.... would I have another? Yes, if we needed something of that size.

p.s. we've got a Ghia, and no leather

I've not driven a Passat of that era, I believe they're good cars, but anything needing doing will probably be dearer than the mondy to fix.

Richard53

56 plate Mondeo 2.0 Tdci, euro 3


Plenty of poke, quite a nice drive, pleasant interior (plastics are good quality), could find very little wrong with it. Massive, massive load space in the estate. Owned 7 years (that's like forever for me), only sold because I fancied a change.


42 mpg overall, 50+ on a long run, low 30s towing a caravan. Never let me down in 70k miles. Faults/repairs all minor, worst was a broken coil spring. Highly recommend.

DigForVictory

Another Mondeo driver here - it gets me to work & back daily (country lanes & motorways) and takes the whole family (add husband & 3 teenage lads) at weekends. 1.8 petrol & it still takes off promptly from lights etc.

Bought the original for the boot space & the expected baby is now 16 - so serial Mondeo driver for over a decade as it works. Plus the heated windscreens are a massive bonus in the snow. Looked at the estate - extra 3 cm longer - decided OK as I was. Add roofbars & topbox for holidays - dents the mpg a bit but adds even more space.

Spares easily sourced when needed & since I drive the lower end of the range, can upgrade bits (like sound) if I want.

Can't speak to the passat but for comfort & reliability the Mondeo is excellent & even my tall father liked it - easily adjustable front seat position.

fishybusiness

I have the Audi version, the A6 130 PD.

Drives well, the PD130 is still a good unit.

List of potential issues

Rear brakes may need 2/3 yearly attention as they seize up fairly easily.

Clutch/ flywheel replacement circa £900 - mine lasted until about 165k miles

Outer driveshaft gaiters seem to wear out quickly

Front electric window regulators fail

Front suspension arms (balljoints and bushes) seem to wear out too regularly

Headlight lenses lose their sparkle, likely will need a polish - headlights are awful as standard, better with 130% bulbs.

Mines at 202k miles now, and will no doubt with maintenance keep going and going. 41mpg average.

marlot

I did 100,000 miles in a 2004 Mondeo 130 tdci estate. A fair number of them towing a 1.5Tonne caravan.


No problems apart from the turbo going - but that was my fault - I'd been giving it some welly getting on to a difficult pitch and I stupidly turned it off without letting it cool.


The estates have different suspension to the hatchbacks - so don't have the void bushes that wear.

mollycat

Current car a 55plate 1.8 petrol Mondeo, (Zetec).

2 cars ago had a 1999 1.8 petrol Passat, (Sport).

Both around similar ages when I owned them so a like for like comparison appropriate.

Mondeo.....best car i have ever owned, (caveat....I'm a bangeromics nut so not comparing with anything very new or fancy) .
Huge boot space, a nice drivers car, never misses a beat and although always needs something for an MOT parts are cheap. Reasonably easy to work on for the basics, oil changes etc. Wish I'd bought one sooner.

Passat. Absolute money pit. Both front window regulators went, air con/heating packed up, common problem with plenum drain had previously soaked CCU under passenger seat so intermittent problems with electrics. Oh, suspension problems...never an easy or cheap fix.

Have never really bought an out and out lemon in all the years of sourcing cheap bangers but this was the closest. Clutch failed one day and was glad to offload for spares/repairs.

Obviously buying cars as old as i do, you could just be unlucky; but based on my own limited experience i would choose a Mondeo over a comparable priced passat any day!

Good luck.

poppasmurf_bewdley

I've just passed my 2008 Mondeo Ghia 2 litre Ghia estate on to my son after seven years.

It's now got 110k on the clock, returned 43mpg day in day out, and has been a completely reliable vehicle in every way. It never had a breakdown during my ownershship.

If I have one criticism, it would be that it is rather heavy on tyres, and at almost a £100 a pop, that can add up.

System

I used to get over 50MPG out of my MK3 Mondeo TDCi 130 and got 70MPG going to France with car full of family and luggage. Bought mine at 3 years old with 90k on it, sold with 168k on it and in the 6 years I owned it it only cost maybe £500 in repairs. It only ever failed one MOT in its life on a sticking rear caliper. https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/ EG04DVP for the reg.

Rear subframe bushes are a common point of failure over 100k and are £200 to do the lot. EGR valve also gets blocked but it is at the front of the engine easily accessible and only a few bolts to remove it and you can clean it yourself. Chain driven engine on the 130 so no cambelt to worry about.

Servicing at Ford dealers is dirt cheap and you get 12 months free pan European breakdown cover.

Go for Zetec at minimum, no need to get more than the 2L TDCi 130. Ghia has cloth seats and some nice extra toys I miss on my Zetec MK4, Ghia X/Titanium have leather seats.