New Mondeo Steering

[The Mad Rapper]

I've been given an 08 Mondeo Estate (Titanium Diesel 125 BHP) for the next few days. I have driven it home tonight and I must say that the steering feels weird. Does this car have steering by wire, or is it actually connected to the wheels? The weighting feels very artifical, and several times I felt as though I was having to fight the steering which felt exceptionally twitchy.

To get a second opinion, I've just taken Mrs Mad Rapper out in it and she told me she felt scared and the steering gave her no confidence in the car.

It's a much bigger car than she's used to driving, so I suspect her lack of confidence was partly due to that, but it was interesting that she noted the steering as well and I hadn't mentioned it to her.

I wonder if the wheels aren't aligned properly, it certainly felt strange.

Other than that, very nice car IMHO. Massive amount of space, but 125 BHP is nowhere near enough for a car of that size, we have more in the A3. It would need another 40 - 50 BHP IMHO before I'd be happy with it. It does not have the pull of a new Passat 2.0 TDi estate for example.

Mrs Mad Rapper complained about the centre console, especially the plastic surrounding the stereo which she said 'looks cheap'.

 

[robnut]

Maybe the speed sensitive steering is broken? ie its city light all the time? My stilo felt really odd if i left it in city mode by accident.

 

[MrMoonX]

could be your wheel alignment its worth getting it checked

 

[Kappa]

hmm, for me the steering is as tight as a focus. Maybe just something wrong I guess?

edit - even though it doesnt sound much the 2.0 TDCi 140PS is a very different animal, thats the engine I would recommend at a minimum for this car.

 

[Firestar_3x]

Check the front tyre pressures.

 

[1ofaKind]

Ive got the 175bhp 2.2 diesel and it's deffo not slow. The steering is very light and doesn't imo have as much feel as the focus mk1 I also drive from time to time.

Yes it's a massive car - makes a lot of other cars look tiny -also doesnt really fit in a parking space very well (mine sticks out at work). You can hustle it a long pretty well though. Mine has sports suspension and 18's which gives a harder ride.

Mines got the touch screen nav + a few other bits and for getting around etc I can't fault it. Converse+ is neat, bluetooth integration + touch screen control is excellent.

My only problem is that my job changed and I don't do the miles expected so really a diesel is wasted on me so looking to go back to a petrol car soon. Diesel has good shove but I don't care for the lag tbh. My workmates A3 (140 tdci) drives so different to my car engine wise. It feels like a petrol car (maybe thats due to the engine difference + lighter car) - no turbo shove like my car.

 

[Sneaky Peaky]

1.8 tdci here, no issues with the steering other than felt a bit floaty, fixed with some 18" wheels and low profile tyres from the titanium x sport