Look on various motoring forums and speak to mechanics and they will tell you the the TDCI engine is anything but reliable! The old Endura engines in the Mk1s and Mk2 were very reliable but now with the TDCI, Ford seem to have created an engine which even Ford garages don't seem to know how to fix.
I have a Mondeo Estate 05 TDCI myself and although it's a lovely car to drive and got bags of room, getting it was a big mistake. Firstly you have a dual mass flywheel which WILL break at some point, and when that goes it fills your starter motor with swarf and wrecks that. Also, you will need another clutch if you have the DMF redone; the total bill for me was around £900 and considered a cheap price for the job.
If you do get one, I recommend having the cam chain and sprockets changed even though they are supposed to last the life time of the car. Mine seized due to a loose bolt which appeared from nowhere and cost £1400 to fix.
I don't find the fuel economy particularly impressive for a diesel car, going on a perfectly flat road at around 50 - 60 will yield fuel economy reading of 50 mpg +, however the slightest, gentleist acceleration or tinyest incline will send the the fuel economy plummeting and never seems to go above 50 (motorway).
The rear exhaust fell off while I was driving and I had a diesel leak. Also had to have the radiator fan replaced. It would have been £350 from Ford but luckily my dad was a able to source some replacement brushes and rebuild the motor, not something everyone would know how to do.
If I was religious I would pray everytime I got into that car. Mondeos are reknowned for injector problems and I suspect that might be part of my fuel economy problems. If I end up needing new injectors, that'll be another £600.
I bought this car to replace an old MK2 petrol so I could have a nicer car and eventually make a saving on fuel. This car has not saved me a penny, all it has done is cost me money. Do yourself a favour and get an old Volvo or Passat rather than a newer Mondeo. A petrol Volvo will probably cost you less to own than a Mondeo.
Maybe I've just been particularly unlucky but I used to love Mondeo's for the low cost reliablility they once provided. Now I just think they are false economy.
As someone said earlier reliable or not is very subjective
We have a 2008 Mondeo Estate which replaced a 2004 Mondeo Estate. Both TDCi engines (2.0). Both (the current one so far) were/have been totally rliable.
Good to drive, cavernous boot, good at towing. We have a load net fitted between the rear seats and the boot so we can safely load the boot to the roof without fear of the contents flying forwards. This net fits easily and quickly.
Its a big car and the model we have with the extras and wide tyres can still return 50+mpg easily on motorway runs. Not record breaking but for the size of the car I consider it fine. Towing a trailer to Cornwll last year with the car loaded to the gills it returned 56mpg.
I disagree slightly with morgz84 in that plenty of people I know with the Ford TDCi engine find it reliable as do various mechanics I know. Forums tend to highlight problems as people post about problems and how to fix them, they don't post about when things are going like a dream - just my opinion.
We hav found both versions to be a great camping car.
I have an 03 TDCi Ghia, and I love it. It was bought with high mileage and I've had 2 huge bills, one for the DMF and one for new injectors.
It's a joy to drive though, very quick and with astonishingly good handling. It's quiet, comfortable and gives me over 50mpg.
I only have two gripes with it really. It's so big that I often have to drive past spaces I could easily park OH's Audi A4 in, and the seat bit of the back seat doesn't split. In my old Passat, it did and meant we could take a friend camping and still fit in all the gear and dog cages. It holds an awesome amount of gear though.
Great car for camping, but they are a large car if you also need it for town and supermarket car park work.
I've had an X type estate and whilst it was good for camping it wasn't as good as my current mercedes B class which is shorter than the original Focus, the extra height of a MPV type vehicle is more useful than the extra length of an estate. The X type was also unreliable.
I had a Mondeo mk IV as a hire car for a week which has a PSA diesel and compared to the X type with the Ford diesel it was a rough old beast. Very rattly and very noisy in the cabin. Ford skimp on soundproofing to reduce the manufacturing costs.
I have a Mondeo on a 10 plate, bought it 6mths old from Ford Direct, yes it is a big car to reverse into parking spaces ( I've had reversing sensors fitted) but it is a fantastic car to drive with a huge amount of room inside and it cruises the French motorways with ease.
Brill camping car we've got 1 so has my brother in law they have a big boot. And are very nice to drive mine is the st but my brother in laws is a lx and the comfy to drive as well
We have a Ford Galaxy no problem with camping gear. Remove all back seats all kit goes in no problem. Even put two adult bikes on a rack on the back. As a matter of interest does a "Camp" car not have to be pink and made by "Bona" Automotive. All you oldies out there who remember ""Around The Horne" will know what I mean.
------------- Pitdiver
Welsue's other half and also a ,Camper, Sailor and a nearly Outdoor Person.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: mondeo estate as camp car
