BMW 530i Sport or Ford Mondeo ST220?
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Soldato
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i think the word you're looking for is HISTORIAN, not comedian.Barry Smalley said:
Oh yeah, as an aside, do you mean "pwn" as in condition wise, or "pwn" as in performance wise?
You are a true comedian, mate.
you said "compare that to a 1990 Ford (if there are any about)"
Sone did exactly that...and was correct in his statement.
as for condition there are far more tatty E30's on the road than clean ones.
I would deffo go for the e39.
Over
Anyday!
From my brief experience driving my 540i - all I can say is wow - such a well put together machine. Even my 1992 e36 felt solid and was the most reliable car I have ever owned!
BMW is so much more than a badge.
Over
Anyday!
From my brief experience driving my 540i - all I can say is wow - such a well put together machine. Even my 1992 e36 felt solid and was the most reliable car I have ever owned!
BMW is so much more than a badge.
btw - 66k mileage is all driven hard motorway miles and around town. Engine is fantastic 
http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=Ford+Mondeo+ST220&word2=BMW+530i+Sport
Says it all really. Infact, it should now be the ONLY way to pick a car.
Says it all really. Infact, it should now be the ONLY way to pick a car.
The mondeo looks better, sounds better, chances are you will be able to push it harder as well...
But buy the BMW, we all know how much you want one and so do you!
As nice as the mondeo is, i cant help but feel there value will drop and it doesnt stand out enough from the standard Mk3's and is almost identical to the ST TDCI looks-wise.
But buy the BMW, we all know how much you want one and so do you!
As nice as the mondeo is, i cant help but feel there value will drop and it doesnt stand out enough from the standard Mk3's and is almost identical to the ST TDCI looks-wise.
Soldato
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Berger said:
This is true, residules on ford and vauxhall, specially the vectra and mondeo all go the same way. With the new range they hold ok for 3-4 years then as the cars are replaced by the new models and they don't seem so advanced and amazing the value takes its final plumet. A 5 year old ford with 100k vs a BMW with 100k is chalk and cheese.
I would say If you wanted a mondeo ST220 you would need to find a 60-70k miles example and sell it on in possibly a year max to avoid having the main depreciation hit. You may only loose a few hundred, as long as you buy bottom book. If you look at the ST200 then a really good low miler only costs 4-5k now, a high miler is worthless, same as the ST24/Ghia X and are a pain to sell unless at the right price. 100k mile mondeos just don't shift unless there at rock bottom.
If you take the BMWs a good, well maintained on will hold some residual value significanly greater than a ST220 will with over 100k miles on.
To be honest Fox neither of these cars, if you buy them with arround 100k miles on are going to last 5 years (which you hope it will) as an everyday mileage mobile becuse sooner or later some very expensive parts will wear out. This will hit £££ on the BMW moreso than the Mondeo although both will be bad. If you only do 10k per year then possibly not so bad.
In your position, I would buy the BMW, hold out till you either get a really good one with say 80k on so you can run it for a coupple of years or buy a cheaper 100k one which you keep for a year, then sell on (assuming you paid bottom book for it in the first placed you won't loose much) and buy another one.
You also need to be prepared for the reaction from your placement office if you get the BMW becuse of the badge snobery. When I got the S60 it didn't go down to well with other collegues at work becuse tbh I had a better and newer exec car then the Managers and Directors had.
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The_Dark_Side said:
.....and saying a Sapphire Cosworth would "pwn" an E30 is still nonsensical. "pwn" as in what?????
Any person who replies with a one liner with that stupid "geek speak", should be overlooked IMO. 
Anyway, This is Mr.Fox's thread and I will not take it OT. If you want to argue about the current condition of German cars start another thread with Sone and I'll jump right in.
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Another excellent review Fox. I always come into these looking forward to your views.
For me, I'd have to say BMW. Not least because I really do not care much for Mondeos and (in my opinion) you could never realistically compare the two.
Why? For all the reasons you've mentioned. The quality of materials in the BMW and they way its put together is better than the Mondeo.
I agree about the engine notes, but I always wondered if this was due more to BMWs technology in this area with the use of balancer units and decent engine acoustics as opposed to just having a 'better sounding engine'
Handling, again, I know you've said that it was hard to compare them, but I really really miss RWD. Simple things like coming over a small roundabout that may have a slight dip across it. In FWD, if you're accelerating, the car almost feels like it jumps as suddenly the front goes light. This doesnt happen in RWD, especially the BMs. The car stays balanced and, like you said, is far more sure footed accelerating out of corners.
You mention that the handling limits of both are greater than your skill, but you are an enthusiast none the less. You will find as you gain confidence in either of these cars that the BMW will reward you greater.
Styling, I like the Mondeos looks (hate the interior). I love the 18"s and the bodykit, but like you, the E39 just looks mean and hard yet still eminating grace, beauty and modern style at the same time.
Which ever you choose, you will have made a good choice. But will you want eveyone to think....'oh look, Fox has a new Mondeo'?
BMW>Mondeo for me though
EDIT: I also don't understand the aversion everyone seems to have on here regarding parts, running costs, etc for BMWs. They really are not that expensive and bearing in mind that really you can cover 45k between major services, this is not all that bad!
Picky mode
Tis only one Turbo in 525d
Another quick Ninja Edit:
Straight 6 pwns V6
For me, I'd have to say BMW. Not least because I really do not care much for Mondeos and (in my opinion) you could never realistically compare the two.
Why? For all the reasons you've mentioned. The quality of materials in the BMW and they way its put together is better than the Mondeo.
I agree about the engine notes, but I always wondered if this was due more to BMWs technology in this area with the use of balancer units and decent engine acoustics as opposed to just having a 'better sounding engine'
Handling, again, I know you've said that it was hard to compare them, but I really really miss RWD. Simple things like coming over a small roundabout that may have a slight dip across it. In FWD, if you're accelerating, the car almost feels like it jumps as suddenly the front goes light. This doesnt happen in RWD, especially the BMs. The car stays balanced and, like you said, is far more sure footed accelerating out of corners.
You mention that the handling limits of both are greater than your skill, but you are an enthusiast none the less. You will find as you gain confidence in either of these cars that the BMW will reward you greater.
Styling, I like the Mondeos looks (hate the interior). I love the 18"s and the bodykit, but like you, the E39 just looks mean and hard yet still eminating grace, beauty and modern style at the same time.
Which ever you choose, you will have made a good choice. But will you want eveyone to think....'oh look, Fox has a new Mondeo'?
BMW>Mondeo for me though
EDIT: I also don't understand the aversion everyone seems to have on here regarding parts, running costs, etc for BMWs. They really are not that expensive and bearing in mind that really you can cover 45k between major services, this is not all that bad!
Picky mode
Noxis said:Maybe to remap the ECU and get more outta the Turbo's..... only thing I can think of
Tis only one Turbo in 525d
Another quick Ninja Edit:
Straight 6 pwns V6
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Soldato
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When are you planning on buying this car Fox?
Very tricky one this, the BM is undoubtedly the better car, better to drive and better put together,but to me it has no soul, which the ford does for some reason.
I can see where you are coming from the feelinbg special part on the BM, its much the same as the mercs, sitting in them gives a sense being for some very odd reason, and i hate mercs with a passion!
Personally at you age i would not buy a BM (nor at my age 29) as a young lad in a BM generally means drug dealer!
Another thing to note, you want to keep this car for 5 years right? well bear in mind when you start work after uni, you most likely will be doing many miles travelling a day, which is going to cost you a fair bit, i had the same problems, petrol started bleeding my wallet dry when i started my career!
Oh and finally parts will be more expensive on the BM but will be readily available,unlike the mondy, parts for the st-24 are only just really becoming easily available and thats a 10 year old car really.
I can see where you are coming from the feelinbg special part on the BM, its much the same as the mercs, sitting in them gives a sense being for some very odd reason, and i hate mercs with a passion!
Personally at you age i would not buy a BM (nor at my age 29) as a young lad in a BM generally means drug dealer!
Another thing to note, you want to keep this car for 5 years right? well bear in mind when you start work after uni, you most likely will be doing many miles travelling a day, which is going to cost you a fair bit, i had the same problems, petrol started bleeding my wallet dry when i started my career!
Oh and finally parts will be more expensive on the BM but will be readily available,unlike the mondy, parts for the st-24 are only just really becoming easily available and thats a 10 year old car really.
mrk1@1 said:
Hmm, this is where I disagree. I've been doing quite a deal of research over the last few months - as I do before buying any car - and the way I see it the only concern of running a 100k car for the next 4-5 years is residual value. I've calculated all my figures based on the assumption that the car will have a value of nil when I finish with it - overly pessimistic I think but better safe than sorry. YES - it will need repairs. I don't doubt this, but I think its a bit much to say they wont last. My now near 7 year old Mk2 Mondeo with nearly 140k is still fine - I see absolutely no reason why buying a 4-5 year old 5 Series will mean it'll be fit for the bin at 9 years old. I am prepared, and have funds aside, for the odd eye watering bill.
I'd not even given this a thought, do you really think its an issue? What sort of things did you experience?
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[TW]Fox said:
Hey buddy, yea, depends on your mileage and the car (previous history), if you only do 10k per year then your alright. Don't forget though your circumstances may change and end up like me doing 20-30k per year. You don't have to live far from work to end up doing that combined with private mileage.
People can get offy with you, very offy. I mean considering where I work the starting salary is high and everyone is an experienced consultant, senior/managing consultant or Manager/Director in my office. The main problem is jelousy. I mean take the average mid high level collegue who is married with two kids, wife doesn't work much and his salary is although high doesnt really go that far by the time you have paid for everything so without the disposable income so the bog standard family hatch/mpv is the only option.
This may or may not be a problem for you specially considering you are the year out student.
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In my view the 5 series is far above the mondy in many areas, but it will cost you more in r&m.
Although not the same era, I had a 3 month fling with an e34 530i while my sapphire was in bits having a new bottom end.
Apart from the outright power and handling limits, the beemer was a far nicer car in all other aspects (didn't rattle or break either!!)
Although Ford made huge advances with the mk3 mondy, they're really not comparable, plus you've hankered after a 5 series for ages.
Will you regret getting the mondeo in 6 months?????
Although not the same era, I had a 3 month fling with an e34 530i while my sapphire was in bits having a new bottom end.
Apart from the outright power and handling limits, the beemer was a far nicer car in all other aspects (didn't rattle or break either!!)
Although Ford made huge advances with the mk3 mondy, they're really not comparable, plus you've hankered after a 5 series for ages.
Will you regret getting the mondeo in 6 months?????