Diesels are good ideas generally - when my husband was training to be a mechanic his college tutor told him a diesel engine would last for a million miles if maintained properly!
Out of the two, I would go for Peugeot Diesel engines every time. They have led the field for Diesel engines for reliability for many years, and that's why many other car manufacturers use a peugeot diesel engine in their cars. Mondeo parts are likely to be cheaper - but then they need to be in a Ford because their quality means that trim, door handles etc etc are not of the same quality as Peugeot.
My points apply only to older model cars. If you were going to buy one new then there may not be much difference. My personal choice (having had a peugeot a renault and a zantia diesel would be go for a renault laguna! They seem to be able to tow pretty hefty weights and the diesel engines are superb.
Laguna's are very light for their size, ranging from 1350kg for the 1.9dci saloon to 1525kg for the 2.2 auto tourer, so be carefull if you choose one. The Mondeo quality surpasses any Peugeot, read the reviews here it runs rings round the Pug's and Renault's. There is no doubting the engines are good but they lack quality and it is well documented.
"Quality & reliability Laguna owners reported a depressing number of engine gremlins, misbehaving air-con systems and problems with the interior in the 2004 JD Power Customer Satisfaction Index. This, added to poor reports of dealer service, placed the Laguna 110th out of 127 cars surveyed."
"Quality & reliability The benchmark was the VW Passat and Ford has come close to matching it. The trim textures, panel fit and damped action of many of the Mondeo's features show Ford's determination to match the best. It's unlikely the trim rattles of the old car will be repeated with the new one. A three-year warranty promotes confidence in mechanical reliability, too. "
I have a Mondeo Estate 2 ltr diesel and love it. Before that I have the five door version of the same car.
The first one (year 2002) I have to admit the paintwork and coachwork left something to be desired but it towed like a dream.
I changed the car last year for the estate and rang my dealer to check the towing capability. We Have a Swift Charima Celeste, the fixed bed one. I personally do not tow often, but my husband says it is even better that the last one.
AND they seem to have got the message and the paintwork and inside is fantastic.
I know it is always the luck of the draw and you can always get a rough car but I will go Mondeo again in another 3 years.
Hi, tow a 1200kg van with a 2 litre 1999 mondeo ghia estate. It tows brilliantly and still manages about 29 to the gallon. The car is a useful tool and a pleasure to drive. Servicing is cheap and all in all the car is reliable, considering it has done 116000 miles. I do know that the Mk1 and 2 diesels are a bit rough and underpowered so in all honesty I would avoid them. During normal running about I get 35.5 to the gallon, not bad for a large car.
According to my friend who is an AA patrol man the pug and renault suffer from all sorts of expensive snags as they get older, so personally I would avoid them.
You should be able to pick up a really good mondeo for 1500 so good luck
we tow with a 2lt petrol Mondeo hatch back 1999 reg tows adream and very good solo £1500 should get you a very tidy car ours only had 55000 on the clock with FSH for not a lot more than you want to pay http://honestjohn.co.uk for impartial reports on the cars your thinking of
I agree with sweetrunninggir Peugot are the leeders in diesel engines. Any car with this engine in it will last a long time if maintained correctly!! I would consider non turbo though. I have seen Taxis with 400k on them and they look and go as good as any other car with 100k on them.
If your buying second hand the beauty about Mondeo's is their depreciation. I went looking for a 2L TDCi with high mileage. There were two types out there: The ones that were ex-lease cars - wouldn't touch them due to the probably hundreds of previous drivers all driving in different styles, some thraping the engine etc. The other was ex-fleet, 1 previous owner - the company, and fair to say that 1 to 5 drivers have used them. So it ended up being an ex-fleet with 106k on the clock, FSH, 02 reg and £3500. I got the clutch replaced after buying it and it pulls the caravan like a dream, you really couldn't tell the difference if it was brand new. They are powerful, robust cars and because there are so many around the servicing and spare parts are dirt cheap. You could argue that 100k miles on a diesel car is just starting to wake it up!
Today I bought a 02 2litre deisel estate mondeo TDCi 114000 mls for £3700. I chose this after lots of noseing about the info on here and other places. More than I wanted to pay, but had great problems finding one. It is like new and one owner and pulls like there is no tomorrow. very pleased with it. Wish you luck finding a good one.
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Topic: comments on Mondeo estate for towing plea
