I'm thinking of an estate...

[219]

I had a friend who bought a new 626 saloon many years ago , he kept it for about ten years and ran it up to just shy of 200K with no major problems .

It was pretty rough when he gave it away to a young lad after that time .

 

[John Jones Jr]

Mondeo - they've been competent since the day they were launched. There are some stylish specs around too.

+1, a winner.

Great chassis, lovely steering and as cheap as chips (well, bloody good value)...so are the parts too.

 

[BTB 500]

Never driven one, but I've always quite fancied the Honda Accord estates as something that's mainstream but still a bit different.

 

[Dieselman]

I had a friend who bought a new 626 saloon many years ago , he kept it for about ten years and ran it up to just shy of 200K with no major problems .

It was pretty rough when he gave it away to a young lad after that time .

I had a new model 626 in 1986. Unfortunately it got cubed after 3 months...even more unfortunately, I was in it at the time...

 

[Spin_bowler]

+1, a winner.

Great chassis, lovely steering and as cheap as chips (well, bloody good value)...so are the parts too.

+2

I did 65K in a 2008 Mondeo over a couple of years, it was one of the most reliable cars I've ever had. Very comfortable, handled well, fully loaded and worth nothing when I sold it. A three year old one should be a pretty good prospect.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Lots of Mazda 6 company cars in the car park, and only ever heard one negative comment - poor in the snow for front wheel drive.

 

[Sp!ke]

suggest a Volvo V70 D5 SE.

Most comfy seats bar none, reasonably quick, economiical and one of the few cars that Honest John doesnt scare the hell out of you with his reliability report..

Wifey has S60 variant and 5 years in and its just been oil and filter maintenance. Car of choice every time when we drive to the inlaws in Croatia due to sublime comfort, reliability and frugal running.

Only complaint it the poor turning circle. (Note; if you ever get chased by the rozzers in a volvo, just do lots of u-turns)

 

[mct_cars]

Vovle V/S70 is a very capable and comfortable car with the D5 engine.

Mondeo is a great car.

Drive an Insignia before thinking of buying - in 160 Diesel form they are rapid, but also rock hard, even in SE form!

 

[BTB 500]

Drive an Insignia before thinking of buying - in 160 Diesel form they are rapid, but also rock hard, even in SE form!

Yup, we had a loan one (estate) for a week and the suspension was dfeinitely on the firm side! Nice car apart from that.

 

[trapperjohn]

Are Mazda not very closely linked to ford. I remember seeing Fords badged as Mazdas in warmer climes. It can only be a good thing if they are.

 

[Dieselman]

Are Mazda not very closely linked to ford. I remember seeing Fords badged as Mazdas in warmer climes. It can only be a good thing if they are.

Mazda are owned by Ford and the car platforms are the same, so the Mazda 6 is a Mondeo in drag.

 

[Nik_Endeavour]

Mazda are owned by Ford and the car platforms are the same, so the Mazda 6 is a Mondeo in drag.

They only own 3% of the company and as of 2010 has had no development ties with Mazda

 

[W2--]

Mazda is a very under rated car brand. The Mazda 6 is an excellent car, built quality is very good, reliable, and handling is up there with Mondeo.

 

[A210AMG]

I would rather have a Mazda than a Ford in the same way I would rather have a Saab than a Vauxhall.

For me its just looks and being different.


We have had 2 Mazda's in the A210 house hold and both superb, nothing ever went wrong and mine was treated to a few trips to the Alps... Both were MX5's and we had them for just over 3 years each.

 

[BigSilverEstate]

We had a Mazda 6, last shape but one, which I liked a lot (no AMG though!). Really like the new shape ones but always thought the last ones looked a bit bloated.

 

[vealige]

Mondeo's are good but it depends what stage of life you buy them in as above they do drive great etc however the weak point in the package is the TDCI engines. Sub 100K they tend to be ok turbo's don't last for some reason long after 100k ish the Delphi injectors fail and leak a lot, the water pump on them dies and the Dual Mass Flywheel also dies. All of the above are expensive to fix bar the W Pump and at the stage in the mondeo's life it almost makes it not worth repairing as its worth about £10.

For your average fleet buyer they are great for the first 3 years after that they are troublesome. It is also the same with any vehicle that uses the TDCI engine Jaguar X types, Transits etc.....

Ford aren't the only manufacturer to have issues with diesel engines mind. I wouldn't touch a BMW diesel especially 320D's or 330D's, the early VAG 140bhp 2.0ltr TDI, the Fiat diesels used in vauxhalls. Do a lot of research in diesels especially if you intend on keeping them for a long time reliability has been lost over the years trying to make them more refined and accountants making decisions over engineers.

 

[tasn1]

Ok I had a test drive. I think I went in the wrong car going to the test drive. I used the CLK. it was sunny, B roads everywhere! The old girl was at her home ground. She sparkled. I got in the Mazda. She did her best. All 170 bhp+ of her. Then I got into a Mondeo Titanium ( same engine). It was ok. But it felt wrong. Tomorrow I'm trying a Saab 1.9tdi. It's 90 miles away...

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Based on what you've said, I don't think the kind of car you're looking at will ever do it for you, so why not just carry on using te CLK, or buy another FIAT 500 if you like driving that?

 

[tasn1]

I've just put a deposit on the Mazda 6 sport estate! I will pick it up next weekend and post pictures!

 

[sspeed]

Based on what you've said, I don't think the kind of car you're looking at will ever do it for you, so why not just carry on using te CLK, or buy another FIAT 500 if you like driving that?

Lol ..