Thinking about a new Car

loki101 · 23 Nov 2007 at 14:32

As the title says, thinking of a new car in a few months. the prime car that i was thinking of was the toledo V5 but must be the 170 model, but seeing as they are not that common but quiet cheap for the car this could be a problem.

The second choice would be a octavia vrs, which also look nice bit for expensive that the toledo but more changes can be made to it. Easy to remap for bit more power and lots of other mods (tho unlikely that i would do any more than a remap).

The third choice is a 2.5 mondeo ghia X, but would it be as fun to drive? and how does its performance compare to the others?

Any other suggestion would be welcome, but imfairly sure one of the top two is the one.

Budget around 4 to 5.5k but must have at least part leather (always wanted that).

[TW]Fox · 23 Nov 2007 at 14:38

vRS and Mondeo would be most fun to drive. Toledo V5 is a quick cruiser but not a drivers car.

lordrobs · 23 Nov 2007 at 14:42

I prefered the Mondeo overall (well I looked at a Zetec-S but similar) but was worried that the fuel economy might be an issue so went for the vRS which is pretty good on fuel despite me doing lots of short trips and sitting in traffic.

loki101 · 23 Nov 2007 at 15:35

is there that much in it?

lordrobs · 23 Nov 2007 at 15:47

loki101 said:
is there that much in it?

A fair bit. Book figures are 28 mpg and 35 mpg on the combined cycle. Not sure how the Mondeo stacks up against that figure in reality but on decent trips the vRS is easily capable of hitting 35mpg.

For me 35mpg was as low as I wanted to go really with my mileage and the fact that 90% of the mileage I do in a year is for work.

[TW]Fox · 23 Nov 2007 at 22:50

lordrobs said:
the fact that 90% of the mileage I do in a year is for work.

Surely thats great, as work pays for your fuel? When I was on placement I was profiting on fuel in a 3 litre :confused:

lordrobs · 23 Nov 2007 at 23:15

[TW]Fox;10549481 said:
Surely thats great, as work pays for your fuel? When I was on placement I was profiting on fuel in a 3 litre

Not sure how your system worked but I know that at my place when I had my 1.4 306= 40 ppm, my vRS= 40ppm, a 2.5 V6 Mondy = 40ppm.

There is a section for engine cc so there might be a cut off at some point where the rate rises.

[TW]Fox · 23 Nov 2007 at 23:16

Above 1.8, 53p a mile, below 1.8, 40p a mile.

It was so awesome. I was at one point putting in £70 every few days..

... now I put it in every 5 weeks :eek:

lordrobs · 23 Nov 2007 at 23:21

[TW]Fox;10549635 said:
Above 1.8, 53p a mile, below 1.8, 40p a mile.

It was so awesome. I was at one point putting in £70 every few days..

... now I put it in every 5 weeks

Stupid Norfolk County Council :mad:

loki101 · 23 Nov 2007 at 23:23

5 weeks ? due you drive the car!? or run on air? :eek:

any-who back to the to choices not having driven either yet. is there much diffrence in speed, handling, between the mondy and oct.
I.e does the oct have more low down grunt cause of the turbo?

[TW]Fox · 23 Nov 2007 at 23:29

loki101 said:
5 weeks ? due you drive the car!? or run on air?

Do about 50-70 miles a week.

any-who back to the to choices not having driven either yet. is there much diffrence in speed, handling, between the mondy and oct.
I.e does the oct have more low down grunt cause of the turbo?

They both deliver their power in a different way - you really must drive both.

lordrobs · 23 Nov 2007 at 23:40

I'm crap at test drives so can only comment briefly on the V6 mondy but obviously I can say more about the Octy.

V6 mondy first. OK as I say I'm crap at test drives and it was accompanied and chucking it down so really didn't give it the beans. When I did let it rev up, lovely beefy sound compared to the Octy. Felt very linear, bit more urgent at high revs. Picked up well at low revs too though. Not sure the skinny tyres and 18"? wheels did much for the ride on the Zetec-S I took out but if your looking at Ghia's thats neither here nor there. The garage was out in the sticks so I wasn't on the best of roads.

Octy, obviously turbo as opposed to NA but the turbo spins up at low RPM and during normal driving its always on boost (1800 RPM and your already in the sweet spot) so you don't find yourself out of boost threshold* too often. Willing at higher revs too although I rarely take mine to the redline as there is no need, shifting with 1000 RPM still on tap drops you nicely at around 4k. Took Cybershot from these fine forums for a very small blast the othernight and he described it as being very linear which I guess it is, as I say from 1800 rpm you are off. Its geared quite long so I often find that I can hoon and be a lazy begger at the same time down the twisties because from 40 to "evening officer"

in 4th it pulls like a train. Thats worryingly positive for me so heres a downer

Engine noise is completely lacking. Not an issue to some but I'd like some vocals when I plant it.

Handling- the ride is firm but not too harsh, I wouldn't want it any firmer though. Feels very planted and there is stacks of grip. Front end doesn't wash out unless you plant it with your lead boots on mid corner. Does feel a little vauge though.

You'd think they would be chalk and cheese as ones an NA with 2 more cylinders and 700cc more but they both got the job done and I was impressed with both.

I guess a trump card for the vRS is that it can be remapped to take you to around 220bhp with no other modifications. I haven't had mine done and won't be for another year at least as it bumps my insurance up a fair bit but I still think its worth a mention.

*Notice I didn't say lag, do I get a cookie