Mondeo's / Vectras / large hatchbacks.

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Hi Guys, just thought I'd pick your collective brains on advice re large hatchbacks.

At the moment I've got a 206 Shoddy Wagon :o which was, I must admit, a very poor choice of car. Only had it for around 6 months, but I must get rid of it as it's poor driving position is giving me back ache.

What's everyone's thoughts on Vauxhall Vectras / Ford Mondeo's? (I need something slightly larger than an VX Astra or Ford Focus as I need decent boot space for my bicycle)

Decentish estate cars seem to be rare - I think i'd be able to get a better hatch for the money ~ 5-7K

One thing which surprised me about the Vectra was I didn't even need to push the drivers seat right back to fit my 6'2"! :D Non wee car f t w!

(I realise this question has probably been asked a trillion times)

Thanks in advance

--
Brian
 
[TW]Fox said:
Mondeos are great, Vectras are not.

Mazda6's are also great, as are Passats. Renault Lagunas are not.

I'm not getting any other French car. Me old Renault Scenic fell to bits @ 56K, and this 206 is heading the same way with loads of random noises :confused:

I'll have a good scout around for mondys.

Hatchbacks do seem easier to find than estates it seems.

cheers

--
Brian
 
I would be looking for one of the very last Mk2 Mondeos like this one:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/225307.htm

Or a Nice Mk3 example but it will cost around double.

Both within your budget and both MASSIVELY better than a 206.

I don't think a £5k mondeo will offer too much over that St24 hence pointing it out despite way under your max budget.
 
[TW]Fox said:
Mondeos are great, Vectras are not.

Mazda6's are also great, as are Passats. Renault Lagunas are not.
Passat hatchback?

I wish there was :o

greengiant I recently bought a car with the same budget and your right you've got a lot more choice when looking at hatches.

Aside from some random side thoughts I quickly narrowed my search down to either a Mondeo or an Octavia. Problem with the Octavia is that if you want a petrol your options are rather limited- 1.4, lets not go there with this size car, 1.6 is adequate just- would probably feel lifeless, 2.0 dog of an engine, 1.8T the only one worth having but only available on the top spec models or the vRS.

Mondeo on the other hand has a great 2.0 engine, the 1.8 is pretty good too but theres no real need to go for a 1.8 as there are plenty of 2.0's around.

Both have a decent selection of diesels though.
 
mondeo TDCi would be my choice but that's coz i have one :D

some say that diesel isn't worth the premium, but diesel is actually cheaper than petrol in some places now, and the offset for a tdci over petrol mondeo isn't that great now, plus torque is addictive :D

you could probs get an '03/53/04 ghia (X) for your budget too.
 
Tesla said:
I would be looking for one of the very last Mk2 Mondeos like this one:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/225307.htm

Or a Nice Mk3 example but it will cost around double.

Both within your budget and both MASSIVELY better than a 206.

I don't think a £5k mondeo will offer too much over that St24 hence pointing it out despite way under your max budget.

I had an ST24 and I bought my wife an LX newer shape mondeo and I think I'm about to ditch my Focus ST for an ST220 and I can say from experience even the base newer shape mondeos are a much nicer place to be that the ST24. Thats really feeling its age now IMO.
 
lordrobs said:
Passat hatchback?

I wish there was :o

greengiant I recently bought a car with the same budget and your right you've got a lot more choice when looking at hatches.

Aside from some random side thoughts I quickly narrowed my search down to either a Mondeo or an Octavia. Problem with the Octavia is that if you want a petrol your options are rather limited- 1.4, lets not go there with this size car, 1.6 is adequate just- would probably feel lifeless, 2.0 dog of an engine, 1.8T the only one worth having but only available on the top spec models or the vRS.

Mondeo on the other hand has a great 2.0 engine, the 1.8 is pretty good too but theres no real need to go for a 1.8 as there are plenty of 2.0's around.

Both have a decent selection of diesels though.

IMO the 1.8 Mondeo is a better feeling than the 2.0 driven both and would pick the 1.8 any day, unless a 2.5 V6 came my way :p
 
willatwell182 said:
IMO the 1.8 Mondeo is a better feeling than the 2.0 driven both and would pick the 1.8 any day, unless a 2.5 V6 came my way :p
Leon had a 1.8 MK1 and I had a 2.0 MK2 Mondeo. The 1.8 was a lot more responsive in lower gears, wheras the 2.0 was better for motorway driving and suchlike. It really depends where you're going to be doing your miles in it.

He'll get a mk3 for that money no problem though. When I was looking at sensible choices (before I got the 200SX), I was looking around the £4k mark and there were loads of tidy examples. The TDCi is very good in the MK3 too and there are loads of estates around.
 
Tesla said:
I would be looking for one of the very last Mk2 Mondeos like this one:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/225307.htm

Or a Nice Mk3 example but it will cost around double.

Both within your budget and both MASSIVELY better than a 206.

I don't think a £5k mondeo will offer too much over that St24 hence pointing it out despite way under your max budget.

Nice estate, but 2.5L petrol is a wee bit too big. Majority of the time I do short journeys so I'd suffer a bit from very low MPG with that car.

Thanks for taking the time to look though.

--
Brian
 
thanks for the replies.

Certainly think I've got the right idea going for a decent hatch rather than an estate - after all the bike can have wheels removed in a few seconds so will fit in a hatch without too much bother. Just a case of keeping an eye out on autotrader over the next few weeks.

regards

--
Brian
 
greengiant said:
thanks for the replies.

Certainly think I've got the right idea going for a decent hatch rather than an estate - after all the bike can have wheels removed in a few seconds so will fit in a hatch without too much bother. Just a case of keeping an eye out on autotrader over the next few weeks.

regards

--
Brian


What about a bike carrier either on the roof or attached to the boot?
 
matt100 said:
I had an ST24 and I bought my wife an LX newer shape mondeo and I think I'm about to ditch my Focus ST for an ST220 and I can say from experience even the base newer shape mondeos are a much nicer place to be that the ST24. Thats really feeling its age now IMO.
This is interesting, I have only ever owned Mk2's but a friend has had a Mk2 and Mk3 Ghia X and said the Mk3 was more of a side-step than upgrade. I am looking to update to a Mk3 estate within the next few months though so I will pay extra attention to the interior and see what I think :)
 
Pyscho_Si said:
What about a bike carrier either on the roof or attached to the boot?

Don't like roof bike carriers or strapped on boot racks! Much better bike inside. (managed to pick up a cheap bike bag for the frame, and a pair of wheel bags for the wheels.)
 
I've had both, they are both very good.

The vectra feels a bit cheaper though, the interior isn't as nice. People say the Vectra is just a face-lifted Cavalier, which it is, but the Cavalier was a fantastic set of wheels.

But that is the the penniless student £800 range. :D

The mondeo is the better beast for £5-7k. :)
 
The Vectra boot is large but you would struggle to get in a bike without putting down the back seats(even without wheels). It is good if you are going to do a lot of motorway driving but if you are going to toodle about town in one they are rubbish.
Also (this may be because i am short) i find the pillars get in the way a lot, especially the larger ones at the back. They are alright cars, people on here much prefer Mondeos and that is fine with me, personally i don't hugely like DRZ's i find it uncomfortable compared to my car.
 
Last edited:
Seen a 2006 06 plate 1.8 LX Mondeo on autotrader with 35K miles on the clock for £6995, 2 previous owners.

Seems rather cheap for an 06 plate?

regards

--
Brian
 
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