Car change- Does it make sense?

monkey_boy · 24 Sep 2009 at 09:14

Hi All,

My circumstances will be changing shortly and I'll go from doing very few miles to mega miles. The car I use for work is currently an 02 plate Seat Leon 1.9 TDI 110 SE with 88k Miles. Is there anything to gain by selling it, buying a £2k Mondeo Ghia X and keeping the rest until i can get a car that's a bit more exciting without trashing the residuals on it?
Or am I just better off keeping the Leon? What would it likely be worth? Webuyanycar.com says £2k, which if true isn't (obviously) worth swapping. But typically I feel that's undervalued, I just don't know how much by.

Thanks.

mattyprice4004 · 24 Sep 2009 at 09:38

Keep the Leon.

[TW]Fox · 24 Sep 2009 at 09:40

Don't keep the Leon, it'll suck for big miles, the Mondeo will be loads more comfortable, more kit and probably no less economical.

monkey_boy · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:13

rover416i said:
Keep the Leon.

I appreciate the input, but why?

[TW]Fox;14952956 said:
Don't keep the Leon, it'll suck for big miles, the Mondeo will be loads more comfortable, more kit and probably no less economical.

Thanks. Should I be looking at 2.0 or 2.2 tdci?

mondo · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:36

monkey_boy said:
I appreciate the input, but why?

Thanks. Should I be looking at 2.0 or 2.2 tdci?

If you are doing mega miles i would say you are probably better off getting a2.0tdci. However just to give you some idea my mondeo mk3 2.0 zetec petrol is currently doing 35 mpg.

chrislusty · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:38

The leon will be better on fuel, even the tdci mondeos. I dont think you will gain too much from the change. the mondeo is a better car for big miles, but i doubt the leon is that bad

monkey_boy · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:55

mondo said:
If you are doing mega miles i would say you are probably better off getting a2.0tdci. However just to give you some idea my mondeo mk3 2.0 zetec petrol is currently doing 35 mpg.

That averages less than our X5! It's only just better than my old man's 530i.

I get around · 24 Sep 2009 at 11:14

Keep the leon, the vag 1.9tdi engines are pretty much perfect for your needs.
Reliable, average around 60mpg on motorways, smooth.
And personally i find the leons to be quite cushty to drive.

iaind · 24 Sep 2009 at 11:19

monkey_boy said:
Thanks. Should I be looking at 2.0 or 2.2 tdci?

What are you looking at spending? They both do very similar mpg

Regarding comfort, I used to own a Toledo 1.9 TDI 110 and now have a Mondeo 2.0 TDCI. The Mondeo's obviously the better car, but the difference isnt worlds apart, the Toledo was fine on motorways and the like.

Mine is the Zetec-S though, which has lower/harder suspension and 18" wheels so the ride isnt as good. If you can find a 2.2 TDCI Titianium X it would probably much a better cruiser - how much better is down to you.

2k for your car doesnt sound too bad for a webuyanycar valuation, probably means about 2300~2500 for a private sale.

GinG · 24 Sep 2009 at 11:25

monkey_boy said:
That averages less than our X5! It's only just better than my old man's 530i.

Sorry to change the subject slightly, but what engine is the X5 you have?

monkey_boy · 24 Sep 2009 at 13:39

GinG said:
Sorry to change the subject slightly, but what engine is the X5 you have?

Its a 3.0d Manual 04 (don't know what power output)

SoliD · 24 Sep 2009 at 13:56

monkey_boy said:
Its a 3.0d Manual 04 (don't know what power output)

that would explain it then, he said the 2.0 petrol mondeo which will obviously get less consumption than even a big diesel engine.

mjt · 24 Sep 2009 at 19:39

the leon isn't that bad for long distances. at least the recaros aren't anyway

Jez used one as a motorway **** and he didn't seem to mind iirc. keep it

Howard · 24 Sep 2009 at 19:41

I doubt the Mondeo will be appreciably better than the Leon for motorway use, either

[TW]Fox · 24 Sep 2009 at 19:57

Howard said:
I doubt the Mondeo will be appreciably better than the Leon for motorway use, either

Of course it will, it will be smoother at speed, more refined, have more kit and crucially will have cruise control.

mjt · 24 Sep 2009 at 20:01

[TW]Fox;14957829 said:
Of course it will, it will be smoother at speed, more refined, have more kit and crucially will have cruise control.

how do you know his leon doesn't have cruise?

[TW]Fox · 24 Sep 2009 at 20:04

Because its a boggo 110 TDI?

iaind · 24 Sep 2009 at 20:48

[TW]Fox;14957893 said:
Because its a boggo 110 TDI?

I'm 98% certain it will have cruise - my Toledo 110 SE did

The mondeo is smoother and more refined, but not that much

Tute · 24 Sep 2009 at 20:51

[TW]Fox;14957829 said:
Of course it will, it will be smoother at speed, more refined

Both of these points are totally subjective.

I get around · 24 Sep 2009 at 20:54

You'd be surprised how smooth the leons are at speed, they're nice cars to drive and come with a fair amount of kit. The 130 bhp version of the 1.9tdi is the best engine to have, best compromise but the 110 is still quite good.
Cruise control is also easy and cheap to retrofit on a lot of VAG, if it doesn't come with it, a lot do.

I'd rather be driving a leon than a mondy for that amount of time, I can imagine a mondy being american being much less refined, thirsty and boatlike.