2012 Ford Mondeo vs Hyundai i40 vs Mazda 6

adocholiday

Hi all,

I've been searching for a new car for ages now and I'm really struggling. There seems to be horror stories for any car I look at. I really took a liking to the Insignia and was holding out for a nice 160hp model but I've heard all sorts of horror stories about gearbox/clutch failures and engine rebuilds.

I've kind of settled on a choice between the Mondeo, Hyundai i40, or the Mazda 6. I'd take any of them but I'd like some input from anyone on here with experience with them. The Mondeo is a great reliable car but I'm not mad about the styling. The Hyundai i40 is a lovely looking car with a very nice interior too but I understand the suspension and steering aren't great, and the Mazda 6 is a great all-rounder.

What's the opinion on those? Any feedback?

MuppetCheck

Do a search on the Mazda 6 diesel on a few forums and you will see issues. It centres around the dpf design on the model you would be looking at - basically diesel mixes with the oil and causes the level to rise. The worry with a used one is it may have run a lot of the time like that and there could be damage done. Other than that timing chains can stretch and around that time there was steering rack issues.

I'd probably go for the Mondeo.

adocholiday

Thanks for that. The last thing I want is a car with a stretching timing chain. Having that issue with my current BMW and that's why I'm changing it!

MuppetCheck

You'd be as well off repairing the BMW. It's a small cost compared to the cost of changing. Unless you want a change that is.

JohnBoy26

adocholiday wrote: »

Hi all,

I've been searching for a new car for ages now and I'm really struggling. There seems to be horror stories for any car I look at. I really took a liking to the Insignia and was holding out for a nice 160hp model but I've heard all sorts of horror stories about gearbox/clutch failures and engine rebuilds.

I've kind of settled on a choice between the Mondeo, Hyundai i40, or the Mazda 6. I'd take any of them but I'd like some input from anyone on here with experience with them. The Mondeo is a great reliable car but I'm not mad about the styling. The Hyundai i40 is a lovely looking car with a very nice interior too but I understand the suspension and steering aren't great, and the Mazda 6 is a great all-rounder.

What's the opinion on those? Any feedback?

For me it would be between the Mondeo and the i40. The insignia is very old now and is very average in reliability and build. The Mazda 6 is the nicest car of the lot but as the above poster says there is question marks over that diesel engine.

My advice would be to go and drive both cars. The i40 isn't everyone's cup of tea when it comes to steering and how they drive, on the other hand some people love them so instead of listen ing to what others say try it for yourself and see how it suits you.

Have you looked at the Kia optima?

adocholiday

MuppetCheck wrote: »

You'd be as well off repairing the BMW. It's a small cost compared to the cost of changing. Unless you want a change that is.

I had considered doing that but the BMW is a 2002 (only 112k miles though) so at this stage I'm looking to change it because it's getting difficult to insure and there are other minor things going on it too. I was going to change after the summer but the timing chain issue is just pushing me to do it quicker.

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

For me it would be between the Mondeo and the i40. The insignia is very old now and is very average in reliability and build. The Mazda 6 is the nicest car of the lot but as the above poster says there is question marks over that diesel engine.

My advice would be to go and drive both cars. The i40 isn't everyone's cup of tea when it comes to steering and how they drive, on the other hand some people love them so instead of listen ing to what others say try it for yourself and see how it suits you.

Have you looked at the Kia optima?

Yeah I was just trying to see if there was any reason to avoid either car before I go test driving some of them. No point wasting time. I live beside a Hyundai garage so I might see if I can take one out this weekend. Never knew about that Kia it's a lovely car actually. How are Kia as a brand?

gallag

I40 is the worst car in the world.

adocholiday

gallag wrote: »

I40 is the worst car in the world.

Why do you say that? Is there something specific that makes it bad?

JohnBoy26

adocholiday wrote: »

I had considered doing that but the BMW is a 2002 (only 112k miles though) so at this stage I'm looking to change it because it's getting difficult to insure and there are other minor things going on it too. I was going to change after the summer but the timing chain issue is just pushing me to do it quicker.



Yeah I was just trying to see if there was any reason to avoid either car before I go test driving some of them. No point wasting time. I live beside a Hyundai garage so I might see if I can take one out this weekend. Never knew about that Kia it's a lovely car actually. How are Kia as a brand?

They are Hyundai's sister company and share many mechanical components. The optima is a much nicer car than an i40 though imo.

vkid

Similar boat myself. Seriously looking at a 132 optima which I can yet a very good price through a family member. Are they pretty reliable or what's the general feedback on them

gallag

adocholiday wrote: »

Why do you say that? Is there something specific that makes it bad?

Honestly the worst car I ever drove bud, I actually done a review/rant about it in the motors forum, can't find it though probably because the site is still broken.

m17

adocholiday wrote: »

Hi all,

I've been searching for a new car for ages now and I'm really struggling. There seems to be horror stories for any car I look at. I really took a liking to the Insignia and was holding out for a nice 160hp model but I've heard all sorts of horror stories about gearbox/clutch failures and engine rebuilds.

I've kind of settled on a choice between the Mondeo, Hyundai i40, or the Mazda 6. I'd take any of them but I'd like some input from anyone on here with experience with them. The Mondeo is a great reliable car but I'm not mad about the styling. The Hyundai i40 is a lovely looking car with a very nice interior too but I understand the suspension and steering aren't great, and the Mazda 6 is a great all-rounder.

What's the opinion on those? Any feedback?

Go 4 the Mazda 6 2.2 185 bhp great poke

adocholiday

gallag wrote: »

Honestly the worst car I ever drove bud, I actually done a review/rant about it in the motors forum, can't find it though probably because the site is still broken.

Fair enough! I think I'll still take one out for a spin though because the dealership is right beside my place. I think Mondeo might be the way forward here though. Seems to be a few nice examples of the 2012 140bhp model out there for reasonable money.