Vectra v mondeo

[Shep Shepherd]

I'd go for the Vectra, simply because I haven't been a fan of Fords since the mark 3 Granada went out of production, which for me was the last decent car the company made.

[sierraman]

Sometimes it's worth making a note when someone's selling privately at a wildly optimistic price to call a few week later and if it's still there put an offer in. Chances are it's not a heap of shit as they'd be kiting it as cheap as to get shut of it.

[Jazoli]

I'd go for the Vectra, simply because I haven't been a fan of Fords since the mark 3 Granada went out of production, which for me was the last decent car the company made.

 

Really,? so you've never driven a Mk1 Focus, a Mk1 Mondeo, or Mk4 Fiesta, or a Mk1 Ka, or a Puma? I'm no Ford fanboi* but they were brilliant driving cars and way ahead of any of the competition, Ford turned it around in 1994 with the Mondeo and have been making great cars ever since (outgoing Escort not included)

 

The only Vauxhall with any chassis balance I have driven is the 2010 Astra the missus has, I have driven loads of Vectra's and Corsa's and they are pants dynamically compared to the equivalent Ford.

 

I guess it depends on your criteria for decent, for me a car has to drive well.

[Shep Shepherd]

Really,? so you've never driven a Mk1 Focus, a Mk1 Mondeo, or Mk4 Fiesta, or a Mk1 Ka, or a Puma? I'm no Ford fanboi* but they were brilliant driving cars and way ahead of any of the competition, Ford turned it around in 1994 with the Mondeo and have been making great cars ever since (outgoing Escort not included)

 

The only Vauxhall with any chassis balance I have driven is the 2010 Astra the missus has, I have driven loads of Vectra's and Corsa's and they are pants dynamically compared to the equivalent Ford.

 

I guess it depends on your criteria for decent, for me a car has to drive well.

 

I had a mark 4 Fiesta as a company car for almost three years in the mid-2000s. Its drivers seat caused me to develop severe, debilitating sciatica which still rears its ugly head from time to time. As a consequence, I associate 'modern' Fords with acute/chronic lower back pain

 

I've not driven any other post 1990 Ford, apart from a late model mark 1 Focus a couple of years ago. It left no lasting impression.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I know this goes against the inverted snobbery on here against German cars, but...

Over the years I've quite often considered Vectra's,Insignias, Mondeos, Passats, Superbs etc, then I've looked at a couple, seen the nasty ,invariably stained cloth upholstery, felt the cheap plastic steering wheel and shiny gear knob, got a feeling of despair and desperation that has been imbued by 3 years of some cheap suited ,target driven alcoholic, UKIP voting , shiny faced ,middle aged divorcee who's shagging his way through all the milfs on Tinder that live within his sales territory. Then........

I buy a slightly older, slightly leggier, 6 cylinder ( or 5) Merc,Volvo,BMW , Audi etc

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201509176999707?search-target=usedcars&make=mercedes-benz&model=e_class&price-to=3000&fuel-type=petrol&radius=1500&postcode=mk109aa&sort=atcustom&page=1&body-type=estate&onesearchad=new%2Cnearlynew%2Cused&logcode=p&adPos=8

 

Yes, I know this is a 4 pot, but it looks great value, post facelift , so nothing* to go wrong.

[JohnK]

 

I've been running this as a daily for the past 2 months - 1.9 CDTi 150 SRi.

 

Definitely not the most fun car I've ever driven, but she's dependable. I've put about 4K on her, seats are comfy for me and don't give backache unlike the equivalent Fords. I recently did Middlesbrough to London then London to Lichfield in a day and got out feeling fairly fresh.

 

45mpg, performance is adequate and I still think these facelift SRi's are a smart looking car - definitely doesn't look 11 years old. I paid £notmuch and this has full history including cambelt change at 88k. It's now on 124k, *touch wood* no DMF rattle or clutch woes.

 

I've had MK3 Mondeos in the past, my petrol 1.8 Zetec was ace, the 2.0 TDCi Ghia X I replaced it with was shite and spent more time in bits with injector issues than on the road. I actually sold it and replaced it with a Vectra C petrol at the time. That said, the Mondeo does drive better, but I would still go for a Vectra if it was my choice. The MK4 Mondeo however would trump it if that's what you're looking at ...

[warren t claim]

Go for an early mk4 Mondeo with the HDi lump. Fast and frugal with an indestructible ability to withstand abuse. 

[sierraman]

I had a mark 4 Fiesta as a company car for almost three years in the mid-2000s. Its drivers seat caused me to develop severe, debilitating sciatica which still rears its ugly head from time to time. As a consequence, I associate 'modern' Fords with acute/chronic lower back pain

 

I've not driven any other post 1990 Ford, apart from a late model mark 1 Focus a couple of years ago. It left no lasting impression.

 

The Mondeo was nice to drive, as was the Focus, it just depends what you are wanting, I enjoy driving the Focus for knocking about it, the handling is excellent, but by the same token I wouldn't want to do 20,000 miles a year in the Mk1. Liked the Mk2, felt a bit more solid, not of a happy medium between the Mondeo.

 

We'll never get to the bottom of this as every car has its faults and you like what you like. For me I'd have the Mondeo like a shot but if I was short of some transport I'd knock about in s Vectra Diesel, but not if there was a choice, I'd probably rate the Accord higher or a 406. Not sure why were limiting ourself to Vectra or Mondeo.

[Bren]

Went to look at an 08 plate mondeo edge 2.0 tdci.

 

133 k on the clock - interior had plenty of wear.

 

However the kicker was the DPF had been removed. Naughty.

 

Vendor told me what I could have taken it away for - I think he will have it for a while.

 

Are'nt ford interiors low rent?

[sierraman]

It would now fail the MOT on a missing or tampered DPF. Think some 1.8 models didn't have the DPF. Wouldn't necessarily discount one because of it but be aware it'll want a solid run every so often.

[Kiltox]

It would now fail the MOT on a missing or tampered DPF. Think some 1.8 models didn't have the DPF. Wouldn't necessarily discount one because of it but be aware it'll want a solid run every so often.

Depends how it's been removed really - if they've just gutted it and welded it back up it'd be pretty hard for a tester to fail it

[andyclayton30]

Here's an Idea. Why don't you go for a good MK2 Mondeo estate petrol and use the money you will save on repairs on fuel?

 

[sierraman]

True, but you'd need to reprogram it to delete the DPF.

[Kiltox]

Went to look at an 08 plate mondeo edge 2.0 tdci.

 

 

 

Are'nt ford interiors low rent?

Isn't Edge a low if not base trim?

[sierraman]

Yes base

[Brodders]

Isn't Edge a low if not base trim?

Yes, it was the lowest level in the range around the time of the launch, which I thought was a bit odd as the Edges were pretty well equipped run out editions of the Mk1 Focus and Mk3 Mondeo.

[Ghosty]

According to Glass's Car Checkbook 2004, the Mk1 Focus Edge is a Zetec based limited edition 'with additional equipment including 16in 5-spoke alloy wheels, rear spoiler', available August 2003.

 

Edge is the base trim on the mk4/2007-14 Mondeo and mk3 Focus, but on the Mk3 Mondeo it's an LX with a few extra bits on it, as seen here: http://www.carpages.co.uk/ford/ford-mondeo-14-02-06.asp

[New POD]

What about looking at the Honda accord 2.2 i-ctd-i ? The only problems before I scrapped mine at 140K was cracked exhaust manifold, alternator (twice), Drop links (cheap), abs sensors, and 6 cds stuck in the dash board.

Oh and the fact that the engine warning light was on and lots of 'BITS' in the oil (big bits)  

And the fact that your average back street garage has no clue about fixing them.

[New POD]

Here's an Idea. Why don't you go for a good MK2 Mondeo estate petrol and use the money you will save on repairs on fuel?

 

 

 

 

 

This is why when I replaced the Honda, I bought a petrol mk4 astra.  It seems that it's not costing me as much on fuel as I thought it would.

[Bren]

Nothing Japanese- I owned a mitsubishi galant - parts were truly horrific.

[SiC]

Honda 2.2 ctdi, as said earlier on the thread, is generally bullet proof. Just keep the oil level topped up, and don't let it run low.

 

Parts are readily available second hand as reliable and the engine is pretty much identical between the civic, accord, crv and frv.

[Cavcraft]

That reminds me, my mate's lad has a Mk2 Mondeo (petrol, I think) rotting away on his drive. I must get round to making a sub-Cartakeback offer on it so I can try and chip a few quid out of it and have weighed off.

[Faker]

My old vectra from half a dozen years ago. Awesome car

[sierraman]

Getting a bit scarce at the breakers the older mk2 Mondeo. I was overjoyed last week when I found one with the bungs intact in the boot floor for the ones were missing.

[Slartibartfast]

I had a modern Astra as a hire car for a week when I replaced my Mondeo with my first Tourneo (which promptly exploded). It was miserable and I learned very quickly that I couldn't take sharp right hand bends at 60 like I could in the Mondeo. That was a briefly terrifying moment filled with understeer and regret.