E36 or Mondeo as a daily?
- Thread starter sigma
- Start date
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Just had a look through the PH classifieds... there are a LOT of dogs out there on the BMW front. If you're going down the E36 route, I'd hold out for a 328i, but ones you'd actually want to own are few and far between
Depending on where you are, this one might be worth an email, but dear GOD they're starting to look tired.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1245051.htm
Depending on where you are, this one might be worth an email, but dear GOD they're starting to look tired.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1245051.htm
Oh well.
You judge a car by it's own merits. You don't draw comparisons to a completely different model of car.
I'm just trying to understand why you think a MK4 drives better than a MK6 Fiesta makes any difference to the Mondeo.
I own a MK4 and I would agree that it isn't as dull as the MK6 to drive. But again we're talking about a Mondeo not a Fiesta.
I own a MK4 and I would agree that it isn't as dull as the MK6 to drive. But again we're talking about a Mondeo not a Fiesta.
Where did I say that it did?
I asked a question then put a full stop --> . <--- one of those, then wrote another sentence stating my experiences with driving different models of Fiestas.
It's really not that hard to understand.
I drove two different models, noticed the differences and wondered what differences there are between Mondeo models...
Last edited:
While I'm no fan of Mondeo's, without taking a look in personal, how do you know ? Missing service history can mean bugger all, he might have worked on the car himself... Why spend 500+ at garages/dealers/whatever for maintenance and perhaps some replacements on a car worth only 2k, he may have perfectly been able to maintain his car himself ? Tbh, I'd rather consider people fools who spend 1k every year (for example my car's previous owner, car was in nice condition etc but the last 2 bills/receipts at the dealer are ridiculous, I couldn't believe how stupid he was for spending so much on that car rather than trying it himself) at the dealer on a car worth only 2k...
Again, without actually taking a look you shouldn't make claims like this.
From the pics it looks well maintained.
Saying it'll be a dog because it says the service history is not complete in the ad is a premature statement.
Anyways, for my own situation, I'd get a BMW, as Mondeo's here as well speced as that with such a low mileage cost WAY more than even the most mint E36 bmw...
But, with a mondy like that with full leather seats and ghia spec for that price, I wouldn't think too long, I'd buy that... Bargain imo.
Last edited:
I drive a 328i daily and I have to say would definately prefer it to a mondeo (I've driven a few mondeo's etc), it's just better. They handle well, they have a reasonable amount of power, brakes aren't too bad, ass loads of feedback, rwd winrar, and still comfy and useable.
Quite like the look of this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1276558.htm
The cheaper the better, within reason of course!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1276558.htm
The cheaper the better, within reason of course!
I've done the e36 - BMW - Mondeo - BMW thing in a slightly arse about face manner tbh. 
I went from a '92 e36 318i to a '97 e38 728i to a '99 Mondeo (Mk2) 1.8TD, and finally, back to my current '97 e36 328i.
Shockingly (not) after the e38, the Mondeo felt like a turd on wheels, changing its square wheels for round alloy ones improved the way it drove markedly but, comparing it to the previous e38, it was still abysmal.
The only good part of owning the Mondeo over the e38 was its fuel consumption, £25 per week down from £55 odd per week was very nice!
That said, I found it an utterly bland & boring car to drive, don't get me wrong, it did what it said on the tin superbly, it got me from A-B frugally which suited my needs at the time.
It needed a few jobs doing in the 18 months or so that I owned it, the glowplugs being a re-occurring issue.
Anyway, the mondeo decided to pop its head gasket and I looked for a replacement.
My only gripe with my previous e36 was it simply had the wrong engine in it, so I found a 328i SE auto which is my current daily driver.
I've had it since march and thus far, its stung me for £460. (Water pump, Thermostat, Brake pads & service) - all to be expected sooner or later regardless of e36 or Mondeo at this budget I'd imagine.
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18056631&highlight=bmw+cooling+system
That said, it only cost me £900 plus the dying Mondeo, I'd hope a £2k example would not be quite so painful in its first 6 months of ownership....
As a drivers car its night & day better imo than the Mondeo, disregarding the fact the TD is dog slow, I'm just thinking in terms of the way it handles and rides. It (the e36) feels a lot better put together, more "solid" on the road and is a lot more refined.
To sum up, get a half decent one and I'd say yes the e36 is the better car to drive daily, the trouble is, finding a good one.
I went from a '92 e36 318i to a '97 e38 728i to a '99 Mondeo (Mk2) 1.8TD, and finally, back to my current '97 e36 328i.
Shockingly (not) after the e38, the Mondeo felt like a turd on wheels, changing its square wheels for round alloy ones improved the way it drove markedly but, comparing it to the previous e38, it was still abysmal.
The only good part of owning the Mondeo over the e38 was its fuel consumption, £25 per week down from £55 odd per week was very nice!
That said, I found it an utterly bland & boring car to drive, don't get me wrong, it did what it said on the tin superbly, it got me from A-B frugally which suited my needs at the time.
It needed a few jobs doing in the 18 months or so that I owned it, the glowplugs being a re-occurring issue.
Anyway, the mondeo decided to pop its head gasket and I looked for a replacement.
My only gripe with my previous e36 was it simply had the wrong engine in it, so I found a 328i SE auto which is my current daily driver.
I've had it since march and thus far, its stung me for £460. (Water pump, Thermostat, Brake pads & service) - all to be expected sooner or later regardless of e36 or Mondeo at this budget I'd imagine.
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18056631&highlight=bmw+cooling+system
That said, it only cost me £900 plus the dying Mondeo, I'd hope a £2k example would not be quite so painful in its first 6 months of ownership....
As a drivers car its night & day better imo than the Mondeo, disregarding the fact the TD is dog slow, I'm just thinking in terms of the way it handles and rides. It (the e36) feels a lot better put together, more "solid" on the road and is a lot more refined.
To sum up, get a half decent one and I'd say yes the e36 is the better car to drive daily, the trouble is, finding a good one.
Associate
- Joined
- 17 Jan 2004
- Posts
- 1,769
- Location
- Staffordshire
Eyes wide shut still I see. Finding a good one is NOT the problem. Paying for a good one is. Folks have trouble with that, and seeing as yours was/is a stop gap, it hardly counts as a good one or any particular example of what a good one is.