Mondeo 2.0 Ecoboost Titanium X

mattx2 · 28 Jan 2011 at 20:26

Going to look at on of these on the weekend its for my Dad who currently drives a 2004 C240 Merc he likes it but thinks its expensive to run for what it is and doesn't really fancy the newer ones

After looking for sub 1 year old cars around the 20k mark the Mondeo seems to be really good value is there anything to look out for on these.....basically what's the catch on these cars less than 20k for a 6 month old car with 2/3k on the clock with all the toys inc sat nav leather etc...is it really just the badge or is the build quality horrendous

or is there anything else he should be looking at needs to be Auto, less than one year old, big enough to carry 5 adults and a decent size boot

Defcon5 · 28 Jan 2011 at 20:32

I would question why one is for sale with 2000 miles on it?

monkey_boy · 28 Jan 2011 at 20:36

Sorry, just to clarify, the budget is £20k?

FiremanSam · 28 Jan 2011 at 20:44

I have a 08 2.2 TDCi Titanium X and in the nearly 2 years I've had it the only issue I've had with it is a faulty heated seat switch which was repaired under warranty without any fuss.

Having a manual diesel means I won't comment on the petrol automatic aspect of your requirement, but generally it's a nice car to drive and a nice place to be. Handles well but the downside to this is the ride is a touch on the harsh side.

I would also look at the citroen C5 if their claims of improved build quality can hold any water.

Peerzy · 28 Jan 2011 at 20:45

In 2 years time that car won't be worth much more than £10k, so although his Merc might cost him a bit to keep running it's unlikely to shed £5k a year for the next 2 years.

monkey_boy · 28 Jan 2011 at 20:52

You could get a sub 1 year old 318i/320i M Sport or a C180K Sport all with decent spec for the budget, I'd start there personally.

Janesy B · 28 Jan 2011 at 20:52

If he's worried about running costs, why does he want to walk into one of the biggest running costs - depreciation?

Scania · 28 Jan 2011 at 20:56

Janesy B said:
If he's worried about running costs, why does he want to walk into one of the biggest running costs - depreciation?

This.

mattx2 · 28 Jan 2011 at 21:06

Janesy B said:
If he's worried about running costs, why does he want to walk into one of the biggest running costs - depreciation?

its not the running costs that are making him change that's just the reason he doesn't want another Merc he doesn't think the running costs justify the car

He's one of those people that thinks a 5+ year old car is ancient and will blow up after 100k so his 110k 7 year old car is going it also broke down on him twice in the last 6 months last which was basically whats triggered him asking me whats a good car for 20k ish.

Hes a company director he could reasonably afford whatever car wanted but its just an A to B tool to him really he only bought the Merc cause I told him to

but he won't buy a 30k car when a 20k one is just as good hes not a badge snob

Peerzy · 28 Jan 2011 at 21:13

The Mondeo is a brilliant car - at what it is and that is a very good cheap bargin second hand large car.

Buy a 2.5-3year old one and you get a car that will be practically brand new, go for ages, cost little to run, decent to drive and best of all dead cheap.

Buy a 1 year old one and you will lose £10k in 2 years, half his budget up in flames.

For 20k you can get much much better. Heck I can udnerstand he probably doesn't want quick so why not some sort of 3 series. The 320d is a very good car for what it does and a much 'better' buy at 20k than a Mondeo.

monkey_boy · 28 Jan 2011 at 21:22

If he's set on it being under a year old, the 3 series would put me off being near the end of it's life cycle. The C class looks like a really nice car to me.

Peerzy · 28 Jan 2011 at 21:27

monkey_boy said:
If he's set on it being under a year old, the 3 series would put me off being near the end of it's life cycle. The C class looks like a really nice car to me.

3 series has still got till end of 2012 hasn't it? 2 years on a 1 year car isn't too bad.

I've not driven the new C Class but I'm sure it's equally as good.

The main point is the Mondeo is brilliant because of the VFM, at £20k it's terrible VFM so a pretty bad choice.

mattx2 · 28 Jan 2011 at 21:35

Peerzy said:
3 series has still got till end of 2012 hasn't it? 2 years on a 1 year car isn't too bad.

I've not driven the new C Class but I'm sure it's equally as good.

The main point is the Mondeo is brilliant because of the VFM, at £20k it's terrible VFM so a pretty bad choice.

seems a top spec bmw or merc c180 is still 25k+ where as the mondeo is 20k after 5 years(normal time he keeps a car) the bmw/merc will not be worth 5k more that he would have paid

but its not even about money he just wants a decent spec reliable car I was just really looking for reasons not to get one but apart from depreciates like a stone and the badge :rolleyes:

doesn't seem to be much wrong with them

Peerzy · 28 Jan 2011 at 21:41

If money is no object and he doesn't mind losing half his money in 2 years then the Mondeo is a good car.

But if money is no object the 3 Series/C Class are better built, better to drive and feel more premium and probably in budget.

3 year old 335i's are dropping below £20k/£18k now so I can't see a 18 month old 320i costing much more than £20k?

Either way he'll get a decent car, just recon he'll lose more on the Mondeo and have more to gain on a 320i/similair.

[TW]Fox · 28 Jan 2011 at 23:05

The 318i is rubbish, whereas the Ecoboost Mondeo has a pretty decent engine.

Peerzy · 28 Jan 2011 at 23:12

Not sure if that is in reply to me but I said (and was suggesting) something more like a 320i/d or above.

£20k on a Mondeo? Really?

Castiel · 28 Jan 2011 at 23:13

[TW]Fox;18338775 said:
The 318i is rubbish, whereas the Ecoboost Mondeo has a pretty decent engine.

Indeed. The Mondeo is an excellent car for the money, to get the equivalent spec'd Beemer or Merc with similar mileage you will have to spend a lot more. Build quality is on a par with BMW and Merc and the drive is arguable better that the Merc C.

Shop around though, the 2.0 ecoboost with under 10,000 miles can be had for several thousand quid less that the £20k the OP quoted. I've seen a few on the forecourts at around the £16k-£17k mark.

You might want to look at the 2.2 TDCI Titanium X Sport as well, similar performance, but better MPG and VED.

mattx2 · 28 Jan 2011 at 23:26

Castiel said:
Indeed. The Mondeo is an excellent car for the money, to get the equivalent spec'd Beemer or Merc with similar mileage you will have to spend a lot more. Build quality is on a par with BMW and Merc and the drive is arguable better that the Merc C.

Shop around though, the 2.0 ecoboost with under 10,000 miles can be had for several thousand quid less that the £20k the OP quoted. I've seen a few on the forecourts at around the £16k-£17k mark.

You might want to look at the 2.2 TDCI Titanium X Sport as well, similar performance, but better MPG and VED.

Same thoughts I had similar age spec bmw/merc is closer to 30k than 20k

seen one quite local for 19k probably at least 1k over priced but they might do a deal can't imagine these cars are flying off the forecourts at the moment

looked at the diesels they seem a few k more expensive and he's not a huge fan of dagdags

mattx2 · 28 Jan 2011 at 23:27

double post

Castiel · 28 Jan 2011 at 23:32

mattx2 said:
Same thoughts I had similar age spec bmw/merc is closer to 30k than 20k

seen one quite local for 19k probably at least 1k over priced but they might do a deal can't imagine these cars are flying off the forecourts at the moment

looked at the diesels they seem a few k more expensive and he's not a huge fan of dagdags

The new 2.0 Ecoboost gives the same performance as the older 2.5 but with lower emissions and better fuel economy (however that is subjective to how hard you drive it).

The new Powershift dual clutch gearbox is supposed to be as good as the DSG on the VWs as well.