2004 vectra or 2004 mondeo

stevoman

i was thinking about either going for a 04 vectra diesel or 1.6 petrol or else a 2.0 diesel mondeo.

Havnt owned a ford or an opel before. any views on these cars or has anyone owned them or rate them?

EPM

Not really comparing like with like.

Diesel Mondeo so long as it was either the 115 or 130 brake model would be my choice. I think a Vectra is too big a car for a 1.6 engine. Plus, afaik they have pretty short timing belt intervals too

Ardent

I have a 04 Vectra 1.6 petrol myself, have it a year now. A few points:

EPM is correct - there's a school of thought out there that the Vectra body is too heavy for a 1.6 engine. Personally, I think it's much ado about nothing - I get 40 MPG on the motorway and 25 MPG pottering through town. One characteristic of the Vectra Ecotec engines is that they don't really open up until you get up to the higher gears. This means that acceleration is frustrating in 1st or 2nd but the car is well able to go once you get to 4th or 5th.

Timing belts should be replaced every 40,000 miles, try and find out when it was last done on the one you're considering purchasing. Also, check for condition of Anti-Roll Bar bushes and drop-links on both front and back - these are common wear points on Vectras.

Other points: The interior is spacious if unspectacular. She drives well but the suspension is a little on the hard side I find (I feel the bumps on every sh*tty Dublin city road).

I picked mine up for 5k from a main dealer last year, you should get yours for same or cheaper. I'd recommed one - they're a grand car and, at that price, you really can't go wrong.

Hope this helps.

Henry Ford III

Ardent wrote: »

...One characteristic of the Vectra Ecotec engines is that they don't really open up until you get up to the higher gears. This means that acceleration is frustrating in 1st or 2nd but the car is well able to go once you get to 4th or 5th.....

Surely the engine power is the same in all the gears?

Ardent

I'm probably getting my terminology arseways re the engine. I read it somewhere on one of the Vectra forums and it certainly ties with what I experience while driving every day - high revs but crappy acceleration in the lower gears and then lots of movement in the higher gears.

Henry Ford III

Ardent wrote: »

I'm probably getting my terminology arseways re the engine. I read it somewhere on one of the Vectra forums and it certainly ties with what I experience while driving every day - high revs but crappy acceleration in the lower gears and then lots of movement in the higher gears.

I think maybe you're confusing torque and momentum with acceleration.

The higher the gear the lesser the acceleration.

Ardent

Correct. When I say acceleration, I mean torque/movement.