I’d have the Passat of those two. The 1.9TDI’s were generally bombproof, which is more than can be said of the 2.0 that’s followed (and somehow the early TDI 140’s were rougher than the engine they replaced!). The ‘high-miler’ thread on here a week or so back should give you an idea of just how tough they are.
HOWEVER – I’d get a Mondeo. The boot is heaps bigger (and more useable) than the pair you’re considering. 3 XC bikes with wheels out + a weekend’s light luggage goes in even badly packed. My wife and I had previously mostly had German premium cars but we now have 2 Mondeos 04 and 05, both high milers (the wife’s petrol hatch bought with 99k on, my diesel estate was bought at 4 years old with 40k and has been chomping up the miles since). Both have been brilliant ownership experiences and both are still ‘tight’ to drive.
When we bought mine we had 2 large dogs (now sadly passed on) and we could get them and most of a weekend’s luggage in the boot. We now have two young kids and can get a weekend’s worth of stuff (including a monster pram) in the boot under the load cover with space to spare.
Mine has only given me one scarey bill and that was when the DMF went a few months back. The car’s good enough that it took me about 30 seconds to decide to have it done and keep the car (instead of trading it for something new/nearly new, which was my other option).
The 130 TDCI is a rough idler but once up to 30mph it’s smooth, the power delivery is even and it stays that way to continental motorway pounding speed. Mine’s currently turning in 46mpg (mostly motorway use at 70 and with ‘measured’ use of the throttle).
OH and it has a chain driven cam too!
Sorry if that sounds rather evangelical (deranged even) but after four and a bit years of ownership it is the only car I have owned that I have not felt like I really want to get rid of at any point not because it is the best car ever but because it is reliable and an excellent compromise of size/luggage capacity/comfort/performance for a family load lugger. It’s a barge round town though.
If you’re going for a manual have a careful listen when you drop the clutch while stationary with the engine running. Any ADDITIONAL sustained clanking could be an early sign of DMF/release bearing death. Also if there’s a rhythmic vibration (sound and sensation through your seat) at a steady 70mph. These were the first symptoms when mine went along with a kind of scraping noise when easing the clutch out in traffic. Lots of smoke and a poor economy reading also common indicators (this is any modern diesel not just Mondeos)
If it is it’s walk away time….