Mondeo or Megane diesel

sneakyST

Hi All

Looking at changing my car. Need some good MPG. Choices have boiled down to 2003 TDCI 115Ps mondeo or 1.5 Dci Megane 04. Are Meganes that bad? I need a bit of reliabilty as am doing huge mileage but obviously Megane has better fuel economy.

Other outside option is a 2002 S40 1.9d fully loaded for around the same price. (Bit old man though?)

Opinions appreciated.

Sneaky

spadder

sneakyST wrote: »

Are Meganes that bad ?

Worse, go with the ford,

Casati

1.5 DCI is great engine in the Megane, easily capable of 60/65 mpg. Not a lot goes wrong with them *(the engine that is)- as long as they get the right grade oil and timing belt is changed on time. Low insurance, low tax makes them a very cheap car to run. Most of them are 80bhp which is weak, the 100bhp in Dynamic spec is a much nicer car.

Car is prone to electrical issues- the window regulators give out (but are covered under warranty for 4 years) and minor issues with trim and dashlights are not unknown.

Mondeo is a super car, and will last the pace a lot better than a Megane though, will net you 50 mpg, tax & insurance will be a little higher. Parts & servicing are generally cheap though

rcdk1

Haven't ever driven a Megane but can say with hand on heart that the Mondeo is a great car. Apart from good reliability, it's a great car to drive both in terms of comfort and handling which is important if you're putting up high mileage.

colm_mcm

The Mondeo is superior in all but fuel economy. but repair bills would offset fuel economy IMO

rccaulfield

Tax on the 1.9 would negate any fuel savings.

colm_mcm

it's actually 2.0

Jaden

I have an 04 TDCi Mondeo, and I love it. It's a motorway monster, and just chews up the miles. Comfortable and reliable, with a bit of welly if you need it.

It's big point is that it's not French.

colm_mcm

Jaden wrote: »

It's big point is that it's not French.

It's American?

sneakyST

Thanks guys - Im in the UK so tax on the megane is £35 and the mondeo is £125.

Forgot to say the megane is 900 quid more to buy.

Sneaky

Jaden

colm_mcm wrote: »

It's American?

As long as it's not French/Italian.

pajo1981

Ford Europe are based in Germany.

The mondeo is a ****ty car IMO. Why cross-shop with a megane? Have you considered the 407? It shares the same Ford/PSA engine but is a much more sophisticated car IMO.

si_guru

Jaden wrote: »

I have an 04 TDCi Mondeo, and I love it. It's a motorway monster, and just chews up the miles. Comfortable and reliable, with a bit of welly if you need it.

It's big point is that it's not French.

But it has a Citroen engine.. !

AFAIK the TDCI 2.0 and 1.6 are PSA engines... (which is good actually) Did ford ever make a good engine??

pajo1981

si_guru wrote: »

But it has a Citroen engine.. !

Ford and PSA have been collaborating on diesel engines for a while now.

pajo1981

Jaden wrote: »

I have an 04 TDCi Mondeo, and I love it. It's a motorway monster, and just chews up the miles. Comfortable and reliable, with a bit of welly if you need it.

It's big point is that it's not French.

You do realize that you beloved Mondeo's engine is French?

How embarressing :rolleyes:

colm_mcm

would it be fair to say that the 2.0 (Puma TDCI) engine in the Mk3 Mondeo was only used in some Peugeot vans and not the same as the 1997cc engine used in the current Mondeo?

james1410

si_guru wrote: »

But it has a Citroen engine.. !

AFAIK the TDCI 2.0 and 1.6 are PSA engines... (which is good actually) Did ford ever make a good engine??

Yes they did the 1.8 diesal turbo and none turbo as used in the sierra escort granada mondeo fiesta.. and maybe more! were a very good engine!

also the 2.0/2.3 dohc as used in the sierra granada scorpio galaxy and rs 2000 were a great engine! not very economical but reliable!

the v6 was also a good engine i done hear much going wrong with them!

I think your best staying well clear from the renault i know people who have had them and there very unreliable! and alot stupid yokes go on them like the window motors.

si_guru

james1410 wrote: »

Yes they did the 1.8 diesal turbo and none turbo as used in the sierra escort granada mondeo fiesta.. and maybe more! were a very good engine!

also the 2.0/2.3 dohc as used in the sierra granada scorpio galaxy and rs 2000 were a great engine! not very economical but reliable!

the v6 was also a good engine i done hear much going wrong with them!

I think your best staying well clear from the renault i know people who have had them and there very unreliable! and alot stupid yokes go on them like the window motors.

What about the 1.7 motor in the Puma.. where did that come from.. or go to?

james1410

si_guru wrote: »

What about the 1.7 motor in the Puma.. where did that come from.. or go to?

I dont know much about 1.7 but i believe its zetec based and the zetec. ive heard good things about the zetec but i cant back it up as ive never owned a zetec ford.

another fairly good engine was the cvh.;)

EPM

Only thing the zetecs were made by Yamaha...

colm_mcm

Wasn't it only the Zetec SE engines that were DESIGNED by Yamaha (1.4, 1.6 and 1.7) and built by Ford.

VolvoMan

The S40 would have a lot more kit and be a more comfortable and expensive feeling car than the Ford. The 1.9 litre diesel also isn't a bad unit.

james1410

who ever designed them they also must of done the cvh as both engine share alot of parts and cylinder heads can be swaped between zetecs and cvh and are then known as zvh's

james1410

VolvoMan wrote: »

The S40 would have a lot more kit and be a more comfortable and expensive feeling car than the Ford. The 1.9 litre diesel also isn't a bad unit.

i have to agri with volvo man here the luxery in the s40 is very nice with big comfy leather seats!

si_guru

VolvoMan wrote: »

The S40 would have a lot more kit and be a more comfortable and expensive feeling car than the Ford. The 1.9 litre diesel also isn't a bad unit.

The newer S40 is a Focus underneath - probably a good thing. Again using the PSA 1.6 and 2.0 diesels - good again.

The earlier one was a same car as a Mitsubishi Carisma I think.. not sure where they got their diesel motor from though.

dnme

OP

I have had a 2004 Megane 1.5 DCi for past two years. UPC went twice. Its basically a very expensive fuse box, the trick when replacing is to place a plastic bag underneath it as there are holes in wheel arch where splash washes into the unit and blows it.

However on a far more serious note, the high pressure fuel pump in these Meganes is prone to disintigration which requires the entire fuel system being replaced.I am currently suffering this. I am in the process of ordering 2k stg worth of parts from the UK and then getting the thing rebuilt by a Renault mechanic. Once done, I intend to sell the car (the buyer will be getting a great car as the inherent fault will be newly dealt with)

I would avoid Meganes. Shame really, cos apart from the fuel system, I adore the car, very comfortable and powerful. I regularly get 65+ mpg. I love it if only it would stop costing me serious money.

EPM

si_guru wrote: »

The newer S40 is a Focus underneath - probably a good thing. Again using the PSA 1.6 and 2.0 diesels - good again.

The earlier one was a same car as a Mitsubishi Carisma I think.. not sure where they got their diesel motor from though.

Renault. Reliable enough too

sneakyST

Thanks for all the responses.

DNME- thats a quite worrying post. I've had a few fords and none ever broke but I wanted something a bit different. I'll be coming from an E320 , so maybe I'll look at that Volvo , unless there are some other suggestions. MPG and reliability are key so type of car doesnt matter.

maidhc

si_guru wrote: »

But it has a Citroen engine.. !

AFAIK the TDCI 2.0 and 1.6 are PSA engines... (which is good actually) Did ford ever make a good engine??

No actually!


The 2.0 TDCi in the 2004 Mondeo is 100% Ford, not a hint of PSA. (Unlike the 2.0 in lets say the 2005 Focus, which has a 2.0 PSA.).

colm_mcm

thought as much maidhc, Ford one is 1997cc and the PSA is 1998cc

Stevie Dakota

We have 2006 1.5DCI Megane, and have had 3 window regs go, all replaced under warranty. It has had a few minor electrical gremlins but have all been sorted out easily. Same with a lot of cars now I would suspect. Engine has been very frugal and the car has never let us down or failed to start. Car is a comfy cruiser (106bhp) and very refined compared to a Focus. While the Megane is not perfect by any means in the right spec it can be a great car for the money.

ianobrien

maidhc wrote: »

No actually!


The 2.0 TDCi in the 2004 Mondeo is 100% Ford, not a hint of PSA. (Unlike the 2.0 in lets say the 2005 Focus, which has a 2.0 PSA.).

Isn't the Mondeo Diesel the same as the Transit Diesel?

OP, I would go with the Mondeo, considering what hard life a buddy gives them (he's on his third now, and all taken over 250k miles)

colm_mcm

ianobrien wrote: »

Isn't the Mondeo Diesel the same as the Transit Diesel?

yeah, along with the Jaguar X-TYPE, LDV vans, London Taxi TX1 & TXII, Citroen Jumper, Peugeot Boxer, Fiat Ducato

bookerboy

Have a look at a Mondeo Ghia x Good value if you buy in the UK and pay VRT. They have a load of extras compared to the cars you get here.
Check out www.autotrader.co.uk or even www.ebay.co.uk
You will have a much better spec for the same money as bog standard here.

TheColl

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

Car is a comfy cruiser (106bhp) and very refined compared to a Focus. While the Megane is not perfect by any means in the right spec it can be a great car for the money.

bit OP is comparing with a Mondeo? personally OP, i would go for the S40 above the Mondeo or Megane.

pburns

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

We have 2006 1.5DCI Megane, and have had 3 window regs go, all replaced under warranty. It has had a few minor electrical gremlins but have all been sorted out easily. Same with a lot of cars now I would suspect.

Eh...what do you mean by '3 window regs and... few minor electrical gremlins' ....

I'd be going for a Focus or Mazda 3 with the PSA 1.6D engine if I was in the market for such a car. The Frenchies may not be so hot on assembling cars (and especially electrics) but they build great diesel engines. With the Ford or Mazda you get the best of both worlds...

Stevie Dakota

pburns wrote: »

Eh...what do you mean by '3 window regs and... few minor electrical gremlins' ....

3 window regulators went, pain in the hoop but all Meganes under 4 years will have them replaced FOC. But a weak spot for sure and well documented. Other gremlins were AC and heating stopped working once on different occasions, both were sorted and reset by running a diagnostic, nothing needed replacing. Heater event was out of warranty and it cost €20 to reset.

But the Megane has thrown up trouble, by comparison the Focus has been 100% faultless in 2 years.

Savman

Mondeo V Megane?? Sorry, but this is a no brainer for me tbh. Mondeo is a good strong car for the money, Megane....ugh. And before you Renault Bible bashers start, we used to own an older Megane and it was the worst P.O.S. I'd ever seen. You name it, dodgy electrics all round, indicators had a mind of their own and culminated with the missus being stranded at the side of the road with smoke billowing out of the engine (famous head gasket, apparently).

So, er, I don't think I'll be recommending a Megane over a Mondeo diesel anytime soon and yes I do own one (my second FWIW).

sneakyST

I think I've been put off the Megane's at this stage. I've seen a Zetec S Tdci 130 , fsh but has 97k on the clock for a shade under 4k. Would the high mileage be an issue here. From the pictures it looks spotless.....

tuxy

sneakyST wrote: »

I think I've been put off the Megane's at this stage. I've seen a Zetec S Tdci 130 , fsh but has 97k on the clock for a shade under 4k. Would the high mileage be an issue here. From the pictures it looks spotless.....

Why would you consider that high mileage for a diesel?

Savman

sneakyST wrote: »

I think I've been put off the Megane's at this stage. I've seen a Zetec S Tdci 130 , fsh but has 97k on the clock for a shade under 4k. Would the high mileage be an issue here. From the pictures it looks spotless.....

Nah, I test drove a TDCI with 175k on the clock, nearly bought it too. At least I know it wasn't clocked!:D

sneakyST

tuxy wrote: »

Why would you consider that high mileage for a diesel?

Why not? Its a car for work and will be run till its dead I suppose. But also I have a budget to stick within.

Savman

sneakyST wrote: »

Why not? Its a car for work and will be run till its dead I suppose. But also I have a budget to stick within.

What kinda mileage do you think you'll hit per annum? Most will tell you a diesel with 97k has plenty of life left.

Test drive it, I'd wager you'd not be able to tell without looking at the clock.

sneakyST

around 30k per year.