Ford Mondeo vs Toyota Avensis vs Mazda 6

carmenkx

I have a Renault Laguna 1.6(quite lazy for me ) and would like to go for a bigger car. I'm oscillating between 1.6 Ford Mondeo & Toyota Avensis or 1.8 Mazda 6. I'm doing about 100 km per day in city so I feel petrol engine would suits me fine (it's true that I've never had a diesel but I'm not really keen to hear about turbochargers and injectors). 2007 cars it's what I'm looking for...any recommendations?
Thank you

dodderangler

Avoid the mondeo. Heavy cars and a big bus of a yoke. Not great cars anyway. Can't go wrong on the avensis. Last you a long time. The Mazda ain't bad but the avensis is the better of the two.
Go with toyota.

Nuw

I'd personally go for the Mazda, good car this, less expensive to buy most likely (going to cost a tad more to insure though) but the 1.8 is a very decent engine that rarely gives trouble.

The 1.6 in the toyota will be a good bit underpowered, you'll have the same power than from the laguna but in a heavier car. The mazda is 120hp which doesn't make it fast but easier to live with.

grogi

Nuw wrote: »

I'd personally go for the Mazda, good car this, less expensive to buy most likely (going to cost a tad more to insure though) but the 1.8 is a very decent engine that rarely gives trouble.

The 1.6 in the toyota will be a good bit underpowered, you'll have the same power than from the laguna but in a heavier car. The mazda is 120hp which doesn't make it fast but easier to live with.

Seconded. I still remember when Mazda6 was introduced to Europe - I was searching for my jaw for couple of days...

It is very enjoyable to drive, and engine gives little trouble. It is chain powered, so not to worry about the belt... They have rust problems though - so check carefully before buying.

Avensis is ... a Toyota. Solid, reliable but awfully boring car.

bazz26

Or consider a 1.8 litre Avensis also. Most 1.8 litre Avensis are the higher Luna spec which for the year are pretty specced decently.

For example:
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-avensis-mc-luna-4dr-top-spec/12185777

colm_mcm

Should be noted that the Laguna II the OP probably has would be more comfortable than the other cars listed, plus being a hatchback would be more practical.

Just putting it out there, for 100km a day city driving, a Prius might fit the bill. Boot not as big as the others, but better suited to that sort of driving.

They're not bigger than a Laguna though.

Ericdravancrow

Mazda, rest are :-(

JohnBoy26

Ericdravancrow wrote: »

Mazda, rest are :-(

Until you have to deal with all the rust. Then the mazda is more than

sellasheep

Nothing wrong with the Mondeo. A sturdy car on the road with good fuel economy, most comfortable car to drive too. That avensis model is around from 2003 and had its issues.

JohnBoy26

sellasheep wrote: »

Nothing wrong with the Mondeo. A sturdy car on the road with good fuel economy, most comfortable car to drive too. That avensis model is around from 2003 and had its issues.

What issues? It's was one of, if not the most reliable car in it's class tbh.

ABC101

Good value to be had in pre 2008 cars, have a look at Subaru petrol models as well. Japs make some great cars, they do.

Don't forget to test reversing each car, my aunt bought a Avensis some yeas ago but found it difficult to reverse as the back window was too high ( for her anyway)

bazz26

sellasheep wrote: »

Nothing wrong with the Mondeo. A sturdy car on the road with good fuel economy, most comfortable car to drive too. That avensis model is around from 2003 and had its issues.

1.6 petrol engine that the OP is considering is not very economical in the Mondeo.

sellasheep

OP you're mad going for a pre 2008 petrol car doing 36500km a year...

sellasheep

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

What issues? It's was one of, if not the most reliable car in it's class tbh.

Gearbox bearings have a habit of going along with the window regulators. There were issues with the rear headlights melting too. Also the 1.6 runs at very high revs on the motorway too which is hard on fuel. The engine is very noisy and the gearbox is prone to problems overall, they like to fail. The avensis doesn't compare to the bullet proof carina, they were badly engineered and poorly designed.

Leonard Hofstadter

sellasheep wrote: »

Gearbox bearings have a habit of going along with the window regulators. There were issues with the rear headlights melting too. Also the 1.6 runs at very high revs on the motorway too which is hard on fuel. The engine is very noisy and the gearbox is prone to problems overall, they like to fail. The avensis doesn't compare to the bullet proof carina, they were badly engineered and poorly designed.

Don't the earliest models can be prone to oil burning, too.

They're still a good car and by 2004 the only thing to really worry about is the gearbox, bearings are a weak point on many VVTi engined Toyotas. After about 2004 the VVTi is bulletproof and just as reliable as older Toyota petrol engines, even the older ones are solid once the short block's been changed.

The 1.6 is best avoided in the Avensis for exactly the reasons you mentioned, they're heavy on fuel at motorway speeds because of the short gearing which is necessary to try and make the most of the very limited performance, but they're fine around town and on main roads. I'd still be going for the 1.8 minimum, the car really needs it.

Same goes for the Mondeo, the Mazda of course is not available with a 1.6 litre engine.

colm_mcm

You can't compare any modern car to a carina. If emissions and safety regulations didn't exist, Toyota could still build simple stuff like that.

No big 1.6 petrol car will be fast. I don't think the criticism of the Avensis in this case is fair.
Melting headlights won't affect the post 06 models the OP will be looking at, nor will oil burning.

Offaly Exile

Rather than open a new thread and sticking to the subject of Toyota Avensis I was wondering if ye have any thoughts on this car. Would Donegal plates put anyone off ? Mileage a bit low ?
http://www.curridmotors.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1567770&r=

bazz26

Seems a bit cheap given the low mileage. Get the old UK reg and do a history check to verify the mileage, etc.