[Closed] Vectra Estate OR Mondeo Estate

mondeo - dull but works
vectra - dull but shit

Ford, mondeo, at least theyre still working,

Where a vauxhall are looking for a bailout, but gordons spent all the spare cash.

Skoda Octaia Estate 😉

Another for Skoda Octavia

I've had an 04 plate Vectra DTi estate for 3 years & it is dull but takes my bike with the front wheel removed or 3 bikes & 3 people with ease, never let me down in over 40k miles & did over 60 mpg on a recent trip to Cwmcarn.

the skoda is smaller though.

I have a Vectra hatch. Two peeps, two bikes wheels on, two lots of kit with the back seats down no problem.

Dull to drive but reliable.

Neither.
Volkswagen Passat Estate. A bit more money but a whole lot better.

Well,
I am considering Vectra and Mondeo because of their transportation capabilities. I need to be able to fit my DH bike, tools, gear etc and still be able to have flat space to sleep in the car, or, have all the gear needed for two to ride DH bikes for two days and still have space for all the camping equipment.

We have vectras at work. Nice big barges excellent vfm. And I have an 05 passat estate to compare it to.

I have a 54 Vectra hatch. The rear seats don't fold flat so it may be problem if you want to sleep in the back. I don't know if this is the same in the estate, but you need to check.

I like it in a dull sort of way. I'd have another.

I'm on my second vectra estate, latest is an 04 plate. Loads of room with the rear seats down. Dull it might be but it gets the job done. Repairs have been fair wear and tear apart from a front coil spring breaking the other week.

Rear seats in an 04 reg estate do fold dead flat.

snaps - Member
Rear seats in an 04 reg estate do fold dead flat.

Octavia is smaller than an mondeo true, but still fits 3 people, 3 lots of kit and 3 bikes (front wheels off) with no problems

i've a vectra estate and as i'm tall i find the seats very uncomfotable and the layout of the dash and stereo is rubbish. If i could swap to a ford i would!

My Mondeo estate takes a fully inflated double airbed easily.....Fords are great, cheap to run, cheap parts and run forever..

[i] jam bo - Member

mondeo - dull but works
vectra - dull but shit[/i]

To be fair, thats it in a nutshell. Also the Mondeo steers/drives a hellovalot better.

Having just upgraded to a bigger car, Mondeos and Vectras (hatch's though) were two of the main candidates.

Vectra - looks ok but the interior is totally dreadful. Just grey plastic as far as the eye can see.

Mondeo - looks better (I've got the ST so it actually looks ace IMHO) and the interior is a million times better. Decent Sony stereo etc.

Its a no brainer - Mondeo. Contrary to popular belief, they're brilliant cars.

There is some unbelievable bullsh*t on here regarding cars. I doubt that the Mondeo could be bettered for 'normal duties'. I've had two and believe me, on normal A and b roads, a competent driver can keep up with anything. The handling is fantastic for a FWD car and almost as good in the real world as any german RWD. Considerably better than Passats, Golfs and Octavias. why is it that you never see these 'must have' german cars being driven enthusiastically? Could it be that people are more interested in the badge than anything else? Get a Mondeo (130 TDCI if you can)and you won't be disappointed. A poor rant, i know, but this 'must have a BMW / Merc / Audi/ VW (last resort)' really pi**es me off.

Another vote for the mondeo - vauxhalls all look cheap inside, and a mondeo is better value IMO

Completely agree with failedengineer.

IMO the build quality in Fords is now better than VW

I've had a load of vectra and mondeos as hire cars. The Mondeo estates i've had were nicer to drive than the vectras.
The Vectras (turbo-diesels), torque steered like it's going out of fashion & it just got annoying. Plus I found I preferred the smoother power delivery of the mondeo rather than the boot-up-the-backside & then nothing, from the vectra.

Also, the indicators on the vectras are ****in annoying with their "nudge to do just a few for a lane change" - seem to have really over sensitive pressure switches.

I like my Accord diesel Tourer which is another huge car. No-one seems to mention them as an option. I can fit 2 large bikes in the back with the wheels off and the boot cover in place without dropping the seats. Plus you get the remote open/close boot lid for when you are feeling truly lazy. Very reliable too.

Another vote for the Mondeo from me.

[i]My Mondeo estate takes a fully inflated double airbed easily.....Fords are great, cheap to run, cheap parts and run forever.. [/i]

I had a whole double (well actually just a 4 foot wide one) bed dismantled with a matress in the boot on Wednesday.

Is this a biking forum or a Mondeo owners club? All my recent posts have been about Mondeos. God I'm boring!

Craggyjim - just before we bought the Mondeo we put a deposit down on an Accord estate but then we decided we wanted a car, not a bus.

Is suicide an option??

Vectra owner here. The estate is really just a cavernous barge. At the time we bought I was interested in an S-Max and the (currently) new shape Mondeo. Couldn't get as much of a discount off them so went with the Vectra. As others have said, it's not a bad car. It drives reasonably well, cruises well on the motorway and I generally find it quite comfortable. I could never undertsand what all the fuss was over the last shape Mondeo as I drove a couple and they were, underwhelming. I preferred the Vectra. The new shape Mondeo though is something quite different and looks and drives very nicely. Bodywork still feels a bit thin and cheap to me compared to the Vectra but it is a nicer car to drive. Personally I think in the 04-06 date range the Vectra is the better car.

Drive them both and see which one you prefer. 🙂

Another thing that put me off the Mondeo was the fact that most of the local taxi drivers who drive them were always moaning about the cost of parts (they nearly all needed big money spent on the diesel pump/injectors) & the Vectra drivers weren't.

When I was buying I was looking for a Mazda 6 estate but there weren't many around. I ended up getting the Accord and have even got used to the "bus" looks. I think it's a marmite thing and I don't mind the styling of it but it is better from the front. Still when your in it and it drives well does it matter how it looks?

One suprisingly useful thing about it is the way the seats fold flat. Pull one lever and the seat base flips up, the back folds down and the headrests tuck away in a single action.

Oh aye, the Accord we looked at wasn't a bad car but it was the 2.4 petrol Type-S so would have been a tad thirsty and my missus would have been driving it mostly and she wanted something a touch smaller.

It was good though - electric boot close etc was a cool little toy.

[i]Vectra owner here. The estate is really just a cavernous barge[/i]
Aye. Slow, ponderous, should be in a canal for best results.

Craggyjim - Member

I like my Accord diesel Tourer which is another huge car. No-one seems to mention them as an option. I can fit 2 large bikes in the back with the wheels off and the boot cover in place without dropping the seats. Plus you get the remote open/close boot lid for when you are feeling truly lazy. Very reliable too.

Which year is your Accord?

54 plate diesel

as a load lugger the mazda 6 estate is worth a look. I have the old generation one- it swallows a bike under the load cover with wheels off and imagine they can be got fairly cheaply in these uncertain economic times!

Nowt wrong with the ford though.

I had a rare sports Mondeo with different gearbox and lowered suspension from the factory.

Except it looked pretty much the same to anyone except the 205mm wide tyrs.

It flew on the motorway and fine for city driving.

The pick up and overtaking, 50-90mph in 5th was awesome cruised at 130.

All being off road of course ahem.

As it got older it became the workhorse and still is-shopping and scooping the bike to Wales. Looks battered now though.

It is a little bit off topic but what estate would be the cheapest to insure (i.e. the lowest insurance group) amongst "big" estate cars?

ive got a n reg mondeo estate still goin strong and drives nice paint is tatty but nice inside and aircon still works 🙂 i dont see many vauxhalls of that age about. I also have a zafira which is very good for bike carting duties

Had a Vectra Estate, 2L petrol and really liked it.
Big, took loads of kit and would continually get 42mpg on runs even if totally stuffed with kids and kit. My normal hilly lanework resulted in ~ 35mpg.
My workmate was running a Modeo of similar vintage and I couldn't belive his consumption hardly getting 25mpg in town. Reviews etc. seem to focus on Mondeo's being good to drive, but I always used to look at consumption, and Vectra's always won. Not really a petrol head, but if i had to go for a petrol engine, the Vauxhalls seem good and economical.
In the end changed it for a Passat PD 130 diesel engined estate. Absolutely love it, normal driving lanes 48-52mpg, more on runs up the motorway.
cheers
Q

Mondeo's for me. I'm on my second(hatchback) and like my first one, swallows my bike and associated gear. I had a couple of vauxhalls before that, but wouldn't even consider buying a Vauxhall anymore.

The Mazda 6's are based on Mondeos.

If I were to buy something for its Germanic qualites, then it would be the Skoda, which is a realistically priced Volkswagen.

I have a 54 plate Mondeo TDCi (130) and can't fault it.

122,000 miles on it now and its hardly put a foot wrong.

Did drive a few Vectra's too and they were absolutely pants to drive. No feedback at all from the steering, although it did handle well but that was when you built up confidence in it rather then it inspiring you with confidence, like the fords do. Think Vectra, think Vague.

Pay a bit more and get the Mondeo.

Germanic qualities,or perceived qualities? I have no brand loyalty.The Mondeo takes a lot of beating,economical diesels,decent to drive,relatively cheap parts.
The Honda Accord Tourer(estate) is a fine,cavernous,deadly reliable motor,but more expensive than Ford/vauxhalls.
Having said all that,you have to be unlucky to drop on a bad motor by any manufacturer these days.

Mondeo ST220 estate, end of thread 🙂

Mondeo or poss even a Focus estate.

I have a large black hearse/vectra with a vauxhall badge on the front and would love to swap it for something with the steering wheel attached to the wheels and more than 2 asthmatic donkeys under the bonnet!

Having said that it has been pretty reliable over 70,000 miles with just alternator replaced (ouch!) and normal wear and tear. It is pretty comfy and will swallow loads of rubbish.

Craggyjim - Member

I like my Accord diesel Tourer which is another huge car. No-one seems to mention them as an option. I can fit 2 large bikes in the back with the wheels off and the boot cover in place without dropping the seats. Plus you get the remote open/close boot lid for when you are feeling truly lazy. Very reliable too.

Do you have any pics of the booth with the rear seats folded by any chance?