Avensis strata v Mondeo titanium v VW passat

moonshadow

All advice greatfully received re pros and cons of these cars,the first two are 2l the passat 1.6l all diesel all of the higher spec,titanium,strata passat highline.
Approx 40k km/year so toyata service warrenty does not really apply.All new off the shelf straight deal.
Again all help appreciated

PattheMetaller

I test drove a 1.6Tdi passat comfortline. Thought it was a bit slow off from a stopped postition but once on the move, it had good poke. The car was very comfortable, i found it a lovely drive as i prefer comfort over "a driver's car". The comfortline comes with 16inch alloys so has a higher profile tyre than the highline, I don't know if the lower profile higline tyre would detract from the comfort of the ride too much.

colm_mcm

I'd forget the passat, engine too small.

Personally I'd prefer the Avensis, although the Mondeo has probably got more kit.
Handbrake takes getting used to on Avensis and not as quick to activate as on passat.
Haven't heard of any issues on 6 speed Avensiss (post 06) and I can see the toyota having stronger resale.

mickdw

I would look towards comfortline 2.0 tdi passat & dsg if possible

-Corkie-

I would prefer the 2.0 Passat in a Comfortline. You get very little for the Highline spec. I would personally have the Mondeo the Titanium model is very well finished. The Avensis is terrible inside its so bland its not funny.

Have you considered the Skoda Superb Op.

bazz26

OP, what kind of budget do you have? A Honda Accord might fit the bill if within budget. I would also look at the Opel Insignia.

coolbeans

If it were me I'd go for the Mondeo on balance. I think the Avensis is boring and ugly, while the Passat is dull and seemingly fragile. Ford make great cars these days.

jock101

They are all great cars in there own way, but now many Mondeo's and Passat's reg'd in the 90's do you still see on the road today.

There are loads of 90's Toyota Carina E's, the predecessor to the Avensis. On the road today. Tonnes of taxi driver's using them since the Country crashed!

So if your buying for the longhaul, I'd go for the Toyota!

Even though the Mondeo comes with the most kit, the electric toys in the Ford's tend to go after a few years!

Green Hornet

coolbeans wrote: »

I think the Avensis is boring and ugly, while the Passat is dull and seemingly fragile.

Strangely enough, I actually think the new Avensis is not bad looking at all and actually has a road presence. I abhorred the last model and all things Toyota in general but I think there's at least a bit of design in this model. The owners of the last model generally dont like the looks of the current model so that's maybe saying something....

PattheMetaller

coolbeans wrote: »

If it were me I'd go for the Mondeo on balance. I think the Avensis is boring and ugly, while the Passat is dull and seemingly fragile. Ford make great cars these days.

What did you hear?

squod

If it counts, I'm genuinely envious of anyone with a 2011 Mondeo.

moonshadow

Thanks all so far,
In and about 30k with regard to budget,the more i look the more confused i get,in fairness the passat highline spec is ok and only lacking to the mondeo with bluetooth and cruise as standard .But with one upgrade i get bluetooth,gps and keyless start as spec for less dosh........
Dont want the 2l passat the 1.6 has great km/l.
Octavia.......sorry corkie i love the spec but...

moonshadow

squod wrote: »

If it counts, I'm genuinely envious of anyone with a 2011 Mondeo.

It counts allright;) but tell me why,
Ive never,ever had ford as they always depreciated really quickly and have they changed that much really?

EPM

Mondeo is a seriously comfy mile muncher and the titanium x spec wants for nothing tbh. Much nicer than a mid spec Avensis or a supposedly high spec Passat.

Also the 2 litre will give far superior performance.

mailforkev

If it's your own cash then maybe the Passat, otherwise get the Mondeo.

Unless you like hard scratchy plastic interiors and doors that feel like tin, then get the Avensis. The father in law has a 2010 current model one and it's horrible.

SpannerMonkey

Mondeo all the way and the spec on the titanium is very impressive , a toyota avensis is perhaps the most sterile car in existance and the passat is such an old car at this stage and nothing feels special about it , so for me definately the mondeo or maybe consider a new shape mazda 6 or Skoda superb 3 excellent cars there

squod

moonshadow wrote: »

It counts allright;) but tell me why,
Ive never,ever had ford as they always depreciated really quickly and have they changed that much really?

It's got the best reviews I've read. Wasn't gone at all on the mk4 (pre-facelift) but this one is more of a looker, has a lot more kit and the probably best ride quality of the bunch. Have an old '02 plate diesel mondeo so maybe I'm biased.

davy_b wrote: »

..... passat is such an old car at this stage and nothing feels special about it ,

That chassis is ten years old now, is that right?

colm_mcm

6 years old?

200motels

Honda Accord beats them all hands down.

bazz26

I'd choose this over the rest:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201101200773260

SpannerMonkey

hell ya i think they are one of the best looking cars on the road at the moment , but they are overpriced and the interior lets them down:( pity cause i just love the outside:cool:

jock101

200motels wrote: »

Honda Accord beats them all hands down.

So does its price!

R.O.R

You won't get the base model Accord in under 30k, unless Honda do something with their pricing (rumours abound).

Out of the 3 the OP is looking at, it would be Mondeo all the way - even though I think it's a bit bloated and difficult to guage where the corners are around town, it will be the best place to be for 30,000km. The 1.6 in the Passat is fine up to 100km/h, but there's nothing there after that. Personally, I don't think the current Avensis is a bad looking car, but the mid level Strata spec is out of it's depth against the Highline and Titanium.

Had 2 Highline 1.6's in last week, both Black with full leather and bluetooth. Very imposing car in black and I love what they've done with the new front and rear ends, but the rest of the car (except the lower spec, analogue clock and deletion of the 2 drawers) is the same as the last one.

If it was my hard earned, I'd stretch the budget slightly, overcome the looks and put my ar$e in the Superb Elegance. I've had better fuel economy from the 170bhp 2.0tdi Skoda than the 1.6Tdi Passat over my 120km a day round trip, and it's the most comfortable car I've driven over the daily grind.

If you can't overcome the looks (and many can't), then the Insignia Elite would be second on my list. I think it's a better car than the Mondeo all round, and with a decent bit of barganing the 4dr Elite with Metallic and Bluetooth would come under 30k. 5dr would probably slide a little over.

Zubeneschamali

The upside of the Mondeo being like a bloated whale on the outside is that it's huge in the back compare to the Insignia. It also doesn't drive like a whale, unlike the Avensis.

I would buy a Superb before a Passat: same oily bits, lower price, better built.

moonshadow

Ok deal done, was my own cash,settled on the passat highline against mondeo simply down to 3 yr residual value,straight deal inc phone and cruise... 27450 e eventually.
Happy with spec.........Just dont like the skoda :eek:.