Avensis or Mondeo

facksake

Getting a new car soon. Will have about €7kish to spend. I'm looking for a saloon, diesel preferably, around a 1.8 engine, roomy car.

Am very appealed to the Mondeo for some reason. I could get an 05 or 06 2.0 tdi for that kinda money. However everyone is telling me to get an avensis as they're extremely reliable.

I'm starting to warm to the avensis but I can't help but feel there's something boring about the car.

Has anyone here got any opinions on either car? Which would be more economical? Reliable? Powerful?

Thanks in advance!

Zubeneschamali

facksake wrote: »

I'm starting to warm to the avensis but I can't help but feel there's something boring about the car.

Something boring? There's absolutely nothing even faintly interesting about the Avensis. My fridge is more exciting.

Test drive both, and if you're not dead, you'll want the Mondeo.

squod

The new models should be out by now? Mk 4.5 is apparently completely different to the older one. 2.0 TDCI only with a lower emissions rating and smaller pricetag.
http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/31563

lukester

That model Avensis is not my cup of tea, looks like a noddy car imo. But it should be reliable- half of Dublin's taxi fleet run them.

I think the Mondeo is very ugly, but by all accounts nicer to drive. I still wouldn't own one. It'd make me feel like I should be living in some suburb outside Swindon, living on white bread and cheese singles.

Take a drive in each though before you decide. I've discovered that general consensus and journalist reviews are often at odds with reality when you actually drive the car in question.


Mazda 6? Supposed to have nice driving dynamics, and the petrol models have a decent rep for reliability.

bazz26

I've owned one of those Avensis, have driven a few Mondeos and owned a Focus. Not as entertaining to drive as the Mondeo but the Avensis edges it in cabin refinement for me. Engine and road noise are definately more noticeable in the Mondeo especially at motorway speeds. Ford didn't see the need to improve sound proofing, etc. I would say that both are on a par around reliability and running costs. Interior wise both are let down by drab looking interiors, miles of plastic everywhere especially on basic models but generally they are both well put together.

At the end of the day they are both average large family cars and most people put safety, practicality, etc ahead of driveability when choosing this mode of transport. So the best thing you can do is drive a few examples of both and see which one you prefer.

Just avoid the 1.6 litre Avensis and 1.8 LX Mondeo, the cars is too heavy for those engines.

bladespin

lukester wrote: »

Mazda 6? Supposed to have nice driving dynamics, and the petrol models have a decent rep for reliability.

Be wary of the Mazda 6 diesel, there's lots on the net about them.

The Mondeo is by far the more entertaining car to drive, it handles like a much smaller car, they're quick too, compared to other diesels, there's impressive acceleration in them for a heavy car. They're also very cheap to maintain (unlike Toyota), have a google for spares prices for both (wheel bearings, shocks etc). They're chain driven cam so you won't be shelling out for cam belts. The Zetec are good looking (I think anyway).

The Avensis is a good car too, personally I think they're a bit challenging to look at, there's better looking cars about for sure, but they are very reliable and economical to run, you'll see a return of well over 50mpg on long runs.

Relaibility is excellent on both from what I've seen, some Mondeos have issues with the clutch around the 100k mark(DMF), some dont, might be something to do with how previous owners had driven them. I know of more than one high mile (200k)avensis that ate it's turbo but I'd consider that reasonably good going TBH.

The hatch backs of both are hooooge, lots of space to carry pretty much anything you like too.

Had an avensis for work, have a Mondeo(03) of my own now,brother-inlaw, has an avensis as a taxi.

johnb25

I have an Avensis 2.0 Diesel (04), and I am very happy with it. Very comfortable, especially on long journeys, plenty of acceleration when needed. I am not a racer, but not a Sunday driver either, and the last time I checked I was still alive..

Regarding the Mazda, I believe the suspension is very hard, making it uncomfortable on the open road.

Leonard Hofstadter

The main advantage of the Avensis over the Mondeo is that it is that bit quieter at speed.

The Mondeo comprehensively outguns it in every other regard though. You'd want to value the slightly better made cabin and the better refinement(the Mondeo is a little too noisy at speed for my liking) of the Avensis a hell of a lot though to choose it over the Mondeo, especially as Mondeos sell for less even though they are a much better car. The Mondeo has more space, is more comfortable, and at least the poverty spec models in this car don't feel as cheap and nasty as the poverty spec Toyotas do.

If you are set on an Avensis then the 1.8 is slow enough in the Avensis so I can only imagine how weedy the poverty spec Paddy spec 1.6 is. The VVTi engines are prone to burning oil at higher mileages and ours is on its second gearbox even though it is only 5 years old, so I wouldn't be choosing the Toyota over the Ford on perceived reliability grounds; the Mondeo is very reliable once the swirl flaps are removed (200 euro job) although some early models, like the Avensis, can burn oil as well but it is much rarer than the Toyota, the earlier VVTis were notorious for burning copious quantities of oil at surprisingly low mileages.

If you want the much better Mondeo, then the 1.8 LX model has only 110 PS which is lower than some 1.6s so I would avoid that model as well.

I would recommend the 1.8 Zetec or the 2.0 TDCi Zetec, the 1.8is more reliable(all modern petrol engines are more reliable than their diesel counterparts) but obviously less economical.

bladespin

To quiten the wind noise on a Mondeo, fit wind deflectors to the front and inparticular to the rear windows, it's something to do with the shape of the car.

Sorry, remember seeing that on one of the Ford forums a while back, thought it might be useful.:D

Rabidlamb

Was in the same boat as you recently.
I only had €6k to spend so I had to choose between a '05 Avensis, '05 Mondeo or a '06 Primera.
I went with the Primera cause the hatchback version has a huge boot & I have 2 young kids.
The dash was a git more exciting aswell.
The Avensis was the dreariest interior I've ever come across.

Mr.David

bladespin wrote: »

To quiten the wind noise on a Mondeo, fit wind deflectors to the front and inparticular to the rear windows, it's something to do with the shape of the car.

Sorry, remember seeing that on one of the Ford forums a while back, thought it might be useful.:D

The main way you could fix it would be removing the wing mirrors

Apart from that, wipers are a source of wind noise. And poor sealing/thin glass is obviously an issue too.

Zubeneschamali

bladespin wrote: »

To quiten the wind noise on a Mondeo

...turn up the stereo a bit.

The Gride

Avensis- Trouble free with me anyways.