2009.5 Mondeo v 2010 Focus

[iaind]

As long as its the current model, the Superb is a fantastic car. Not with that awful 1.9 TDI though. That engine has been around for over a decade and was cack when it came out let alone now.

Didn't seem to bother him though?

I took a jetta with the same engine to Southampton a few weeks ago, I was expecting pain when the fleet manager told me what car I was having. But I was pleasantly surprised - it wasn't fast by any stretch of the imagination but it was capable, kept up with traffic and hills quite happily. It was surprisingly smooth and quiet (talking relatively here), probably more so than the 2.0 Octavia that i normally use. It returned a genuinely impressive mpg of about 55 for the whole trip there and back.

I wouldn't buy one, as for that money I'd be interested in performance, but at no point did I wish I was in something else. It did a fine job of ferrying me and 3 others in comfort a few hours down the road. Obviously the superb is bigger, but can't imagine it being completely intolerable.

 

[Rainmaker]

I know the engine's old, and as I said above not the fastest. However it really 'felt' nice (I'm an auld derv-head though, economy excites me more than speed ), and certainly pulled well enough.

It's not a case of not being able to afford the Mondeo. The dealer I spoke to yesterday (Gordon's Ford, Wigan) said I can order a Mondeo now and just pay in a month or so when I pick the car up, so that's not an issue. As I said in my (admittedly long) post above though, I've actually found it hard to get into the new Mondeo due to the doors' height.

The Superb feels great, smaller/old engine or not.

 

[iaind]

With a disability, i imagine being able to get in and out easily is probably much more important than a few bhp. Plus the superb is a superb car, pun intended. The only reason i can think for someone not interested in performance to get a better engine would be resale.... But that's not going to be an issue either is it?

 

[Kappa]

Big fan of the new Superb, really surprisingly lovely cars to be in. If you think the engine is fine and you've tested it up to motorway speeds then that should be enough for you!

 

[DM]

For all that money that you pay into the the scheme, how much of a deal do you get, if you want to buy the car at the end of the 3 years.

The superb is a very good car, the engine is poor tho, old tech, but if its cheap enough what the hell! personally i'd find a way of getting the mondeo, it really is a very good car in that spec.

Its an odd scheme the motability one, some of the cars on the scheme can require a 10k downpayment, in my mind, if u have 10k for a deposit, you realy shouldnt be getting a benefit!

You realise its a disability and war pension scheme dont you? Let me say that again DISABILITY and WAR, its lazy ***** that wont get a job that need benefits cutting, not disabled people.

Anyway back on track, they are a nice car the superb, try and stump up for the non tractor engine though

 

[Rainmaker]

The 'better' engine's quite a lot more down, I really don't see the point tbh. If I had that extra cash I'd be putting it to a higher spec (leather, auto) before I paid for a newer engine. I really found nothing wrong with the 1.9TDI PD, I was very surprised by it. I felt like I got to 60 much quicker than I probably did, it pulled well and got me out of a couple of tight spots at a quick poke of the gas.

EDIT: I should say as well, being a massive floating armchair you naturally don't WANT to go fast either. I found myself naturally doing under the limit a good portion of the time (i.e. provided I wasn't holding anyone up), as the car just naturally makes you want to relax and not rush about. Oh, Christ. I think it turns me into a grandad and I'm only 28. Spec me a 911 turbo?

 

[Howard]

In all honesty I've not got much against the 1.9TDI engine. Sure it's a bit rough around the edges but it's reliable and economical, two important factors when buying a diesel engine IMHO, in a car like the Superb with adequate levels of sound proofing, it won't sound rough.

I drove a Chrysler Sebring with the 2.0TDI VW engine and my god it sounded like an early 90s Transit from inside. It was such a bad car I was beyond hating it, and I just found it amusing to drive Drive a Passat with the same engine and it's like a night and day difference

 

[DM]

The 'better' engine's quite a lot more down, I really don't see the point tbh. If I had that extra cash I'd be putting it to a higher spec (leather, auto) before I paid for a newer engine. I really found nothing wrong with the 1.9TDI PD, I was very surprised by it. I felt like I got to 60 much quicker than I probably did, it pulled well and got me out of a couple of tight spots at a quick poke of the gas.

EDIT: I should say as well, being a massive floating armchair you naturally don't WANT to go fast either. I found myself naturally doing under the limit a good portion of the time (i.e. provided I wasn't holding anyone up), as the car just naturally makes you want to relax and not rush about. Oh, Christ. I think it turns me into a grandad and I'm only 28. Spec me a 911 turbo?

Thats it then you found yourself a winner

What colour you going for ?

 

[Tinders]

You realise its a disability and war pension scheme dont you? Let me say that again DISABILITY and WAR, its lazy ***** that wont get a job that need benefits cutting, not disabled people.

Completely agree, but it seems to be open to abuse in a big way, just like the rest of the benefits system I guess.

But thats a topic for another day.

 

[DM]

Completely agree, but it seems to be open to abuse in a big way, just like the rest of the benefits system I guess.

But thats a topic for another day.

I just had a read and it seems you need to be on the higher rate of some benefit, surely you dont get that if you aint in a bad way.

I dont know, i just have a bit of a soft spot for anyone wounded in war or disabled to be honest, regardless of how much money they might have.

 

[Rainmaker]

Thats it then you found yourself a winner

What colour you going for ?

Not sure yet mate, they have a few nice ones. I quite like the look of the deep forest green (not sure what it's called officially). It's unusual in that you don't see many cars that colour these days (Rover racing green anyone?), and it makes it stand out amongst the silvers, blues and blacks so prevalent today.

The following pic is actually a die-cast model of one. Google Images fails at finding a Superb in this colour, which just goes to show how uncommon it actually is lol

 

[Tinders]

I just had a read and it seems you need to be on the higher rate of some benefit, surely you dont get that if you aint in a bad way.

I dont know, i just have a bit of a soft spot for anyone wounded in war or disabled to be honest, regardless of how much money they might have.

So do i bud, both my mom and bro are disabled. But I personally know quite a few people who are abusing the system, just seems easy to fiddle it, hopefull the tories will fix that.

OP another car worth looking at might be the mazda 6, when my neighbour got his Picasso, the Mazda war near enough free for a pretty decent specced diesel.

 

[Rainmaker]

OP another car worth looking at might be the mazda 6, when my neighbour got his Picasso, the Mazda war near enough free for a pretty decent specced diesel.

The Mazda and Mondeo are basically rebadged versions of each other, aren't they? That'd leave the same issues with getting in and out of the thing. The Superb just keeps on selling itself tbh. I'm gonna have another go in it before I decide though, just to be safe.

 

[DM]

Looks well in green.

 

[Tinders]

The Mazda and Mondeo are basically rebadged versions of each other, aren't they? That'd leave the same issues with getting in and out of the thing. The Superb just keeps on selling itself tbh. I'm gonna have another go in it before I decide though, just to be safe.

Dont think they are at all, the mondeo seems way bigger, might share a platform, but the cars are completely different.

Dont get the superb in that green, urghhh.

How about picassos and the like, they will be much easier to get in and out off, if thats a big issue.

 

[alexthecheese]

I had a go on a Skoda Fabia, estate-looking one, with a 1.6 diesel engine. Not sure how much power it had, but that was a fantastic car. Quiet, more nippy feeling than it should've been with a 1.6 diesel pushing it along. Massively better than my Astra, unsurprisingly, but I was amazed at how good that car was right from the get go.

 

[[TW]Fox]

I had a go on a Skoda Fabia, estate-looking one, with a 1.6 diesel engine. Not sure how much power it had, but that was a fantastic car. Quiet, more nippy feeling than it should've been with a 1.6 diesel pushing it along. Massively better than my Astra, unsurprisingly, but I was amazed at how good that car was right from the get go.

It isnt that good, really, the problem is that it sounds like your Astra is bad - therefore most things seem like a jump up. In the context of cars available, the Fabia is pretty good for a small car but thats a bit like being pretty bright in bottom set Maths.

 

[[TW]Fox]

The Mazda and Mondeo are basically rebadged versions of each other, aren't they? That'd leave the same issues with getting in and out of the thing. The Superb just keeps on selling itself tbh. I'm gonna have another go in it before I decide though, just to be safe.

The Superb is a simply brilliant car, it is far better than it really ought to be, but you really ought to make sure you can get one with a decent spec and a decent engine. The one under the bonnet of the car you drive is horrible.

 

[Rainmaker]

The Superb is a simply brilliant car, it is far better than it really ought to be, but you really ought to make sure you can get one with a decent spec and a decent engine. The one under the bonnet of the car you drive is horrible.

Coming from a BM driver, quite possibly. But for me, it's the nicest engine I've driven to date, it does the job and it's affordable. It really is surprisingly good and pulls the Superb like a train. Drive one and see. As I said, I KNOW it's comparative to what I know, but isn't that the point? I can't afford a Beamer, or even the trim up from the one I've ordered, but who cares? I'm happy, I have a great car and an engine I'm happy with. What else matters?

I took the Mondeo and the Superb out again today, and placed an order for... the Superb. I couldn't pass it up, no way. It was just too good a package. It suits my physical problems perfectly, is a lovely drive, and looks great (imo). It was parked next to an Audi A6 in the dealer's car park and I honestly prefer the looks of the Superb.

I can collect mine at the end of this month, all being well. It may not be your choice, but I'm a happy camper. As you said, coming from a crap car (Berlingos really are dire), a Corsa would have been a step up - let alone a Superb.

 

[Rainmaker]

Dont think they are at all, the mondeo seems way bigger, might share a platform, but the cars are completely different.

Dont get the superb in that green, urghhh.

How about picassos and the like, they will be much easier to get in and out off, if thats a big issue.

Sorry, forgot this post. The green is actually very nice in real life - remember that photo is a die cast model and the paint looks nothing like the real thing. I just couldn't find a 'real' pic so posted that to give an idea. The metallic green looks really nice imho, it suits the car and is different from run-of-the-mill black/silver/etc.

I wouldn't touch Citroen again tbh. The Berlingo was woeful and the dealer network isn't much better. I'm very happy indeed with Skoda, it was an entirely different (better) experience.