[Closed] What diesel estate..!

Ford Focus estate TDCI .......... ave around 49mpg

49mpg? Is that all? Christ that's crap.
I imagine that's your trip computer figure, and that's only 6-7mpg more then our petrol Focus computer figure.

Mondeo here. got a 2.2 TDCI ST Estate had it 3 years my wife puts 20k a year on it and only wear and tear parts.

We have also got a 11 plate TDCI Focus average over 340000 miles 54mpg could be better and prob get 60-70 mpg on a run.

I prefer the mondeo as it is a bigger car has all the toys, loads of boot space great car for the money.

2.2 Mondeo too, no problems and echo what Northwind and Wolvesdug have said. I've looked at changing cars a few times just for something newer/better brand but nothing has come close to it other than a 5 series and the running costs of them are much more than the Mondeo. I'll stick with what I have until it dies which is going to be long way off.

Go drive a few, while your at it try a Merc, you might be supprised what you can get for your money.

PeterPoddy - Member

49mpg? Is that all? Christ that's crap.

If you both drive the same roads in the same way, then I'm sure your comparison is very useful. Oh you don't? Ah well.

what about a Skoda fabia or octavia estate? seem pretty good to me, and cheaper than VW or Audi?

Yeah Octavia seems the no brainer option to me (can't see you getting a Superb for that money but a mark 2 Octavia should be within budget with decent mileage).

Fabia's a nice small estate. Octavia makes pretty bad use of its space, and has an irritatingly raised boot sill. I looked at them for a while and everything else was right about them but that put me off- a trial loading with a couple of bikes showed it up as being less capable than a Focus despite being bigger.

That was Mk1s, mind, haven't been in the boot of a Mk2 but it looks similiar.

Avensis estate?

Dull as ditchwater, but mine (bought with relability in mind rather than anything else) is growing on me, it's far better than I was expecting, being quiet, comfortable, suprisingly quick etc - it's just no B road hero.

I was after a second hand tdi Passat, when I walked past a mk4 tdi Golf estate, £2k cheaper and had all the toys on 6cd,a/c,comp,cruise,130bhp)
with only 40k on the clock going for less than £5k!

Now 4 years on its done 100k, swapped it from long service intivals to std and not had a single problem with it yet!

Feels like it could do another 100k

Its avg mpg over the 60k has been 49mpg! not bad for mostly b roads and town driving.

On the motorway, it will hit 65mpg and can get 700 miles out of a tank.

Only neg. point is it rolls like a boat in the bends 😉

surely to get nr a tdi on economy, a petrol engine has to be driven like a complete pussy - thats the true benefit of diesel, lowish revs, torque, progress with economy. current car is my first diesel and it is massively better than any petrol ive ever owned bar a 1.0l polo, but that was slow and had no torque for hill/loads etc...diesel is simply much nicer.

It's no good to listen to e-net stories, as all cars do break at some point. Recently I was in the same position as OP and my choice was Octavia, Mondeo titX, Passat.
Octavia was sensible but costing same monies as passat and boot smaller ruled it out for me. Ford titX estate was huge and well specced but quality of interior wasn't to my liking. Ended up with 58 passat cr TDI.
Oh and honestjohn.co.uk did clear up picture on reliability as well as lurking model specific forums.

pimpmaster- Initially was after an A4 s-line but after several weeks looking i am resigned to lowering my sights hence the Passat but even they are hard to find with good mileage etc so open to whatever i suppose...

Only ask because there's larger boots in similar size cars in the VAG group (such as the Octy or Golf, both based on the A3 floorplan). However I think most I'd suggest have been covered since my previous post... 😉

Other, slightly leftfield, options: Skoda Yeti or Roomster?

I have a C class estate, getting another one next year too. Best tool i've ever bought!

Octavia makes pretty bad use of its space, and has an irritatingly raised boot sill. I looked at them for a while and everything else was right about them but that put me off- a trial loading with a couple of bikes showed it up as being less capable than a Focus despite being bigger.

Unfortunately true. Replaced my Focus with one. TBH IMHO the Focus was a better designed and finished car, but the Octy has had fewer minor niggling problems (touch wood). However I would argue that the Focus is marginally bigger.

The mk.2 Octy has got an annoyingly curved boot which loses valuable space above the window-line, but there is a 'lip free' version out there - the Scout IIRC - where the spare tyre sits in the well behind the boot lip.

I keep returning to Mondeos. As an everyman, image-neutral car they are good to drive (and can be hustled along quite effectively by an enthusiastic driver for the size of the thing), comfortable and good value second-hand. Resale value doesn't concern me too much. I just keep cars for a few years, drive them anywhere and everywhere, keep them well-maintained and use decent tyres, but wash tem every 6 months or so and don't worry too much if they get scratched/dented/scuffed.

I've never had any major problems with mine, other than my battered Mk1 2.0 that received and tolerated a lot of abuse.

I'm quite interested in a Roomster to replace our Fabia.

+1 for an avensis from the practicality stakes.

Mines a petrol 2.0 and even snapping the cam belt couldnt kill the bloody thing, £200 and 1 day later it was back on the road.

I think the whole car was actually milled from one piece of metal or something 😀

EDIT: drifting a FWD diesel estate? dont mind if i do

Love that video!

My Passat TDi cost me 3k about 18 months ago and has been good since then (ok, part from a clutch and a flywheel), has returned 50mpg over the course of that time (motorway and commute) and is comfy enough on long journeys. It's also got a huge boot.

If I had to go for a similar type of car, I'd look at the newer 2.0 TDi Passat with the six speed box or a post 57 Mondeo TDCi. They are huge inside and generally well specced, but possibly outside your price bracket.

A4s and Focii seem to be a bit on the small side for estates, but the Focus estate seems a nice solid car with good economy. Just a bit... bland. You can get a V70 for that sort of money though nd they are cavernous.

ok, part from a clutch and a flywheel

Just had a quick google on the V70 and get good reports except for fuel economy. Any V70 owners out there?

PeterPoddy - aren't you the one that drives at 55mph on the motorway?

Don't listen to anyone suggesting an Avensis - they are truly horrible, soul-less cars.

Got a 04 mondy 130 estate with 95k on it. Great car no dpf filter no cam belt. Fords own diesel engine. The later 2.0 tdci's 05 onwards are euro 4 compliant. They are Peugeot Citroen units with a dpf and belt driven camshaft
Great tourer handles well for a big barge, great cruiser and good economy. My mates Passat has been nothing but trouble. The mondeo will leave a passat standing, but the passat has a very nice interior. My next car will probably be a focus estate the new one, they look fantastic but to many pennies at the moment. Incidently the Germans own reliabilty studies TUV tests have shown that Fords perform a lot better in the reliability stakes than VW/Audi. That badge has a strong hold over people, very clever marketing. 😉

Inbred456
Oh bugger, I really didn't want another Mondeo (because that's all I've had for 15 years), but it's a no brainer, which I kind of knew anyway. My last Mondeo Estate (I didn't want another one then!) was bough purely because it scored top marks for everything except depreciation and it hasn't let me down, again (currently on 180K miles and still going strong). I've got some spare cash, I really want a change, but now torn between sensible and silly. 😀

Hyundai Terracan.

Just bought one; cheap, huge, bombproof part time four wheel drive.

Getting 30mpg too! Happy days 🙂

Forget the post 2006 Passat with the silly handbrake. Much happier with my Mazda 6. Not as economical and fewer gadgets but MUCH better to drive.

B A Nana I felt exactly the same. It just ticks all the boxes. I was toying with a Mercedes c class estate diesel auto. Mercs make great auto's, and with the torque of the 220 I think it would be an interesting drive, something a bit different. Have you ever driven a good auto, they are so relaxing and no dual mass flywheel!

Most modern diesel cars have clutch with dmf, so it will wear out and needs to be replaced. It's consumable. Mondies clutch kit isn't any cheaper than any of the other makes. But that jobbie is asspensive, person who paid quoted £3800 for clutch change needs to look in the mirror and spot a clown. Cool e-net story bro.

Apologies didn't read it proper, my mistake and hat off to mattabout. But good grabbing headlines nevertheless.

I've got a '04 Peugeot 307 SW, 2.0HDI with 125k on the clock.

Keep considering a change,but it runs well, returns 52/55 mpg, & then I remember that there's no DMF or DPF on the car so less to worry about/go wrong. Think i'll keep it for a while longer yet.

Well..ive gone and done it. Clearly there are pros and cons to every vehicle mentioned so far. However i have gone with the Passat, rightly or wrongly only time will tell. I managed to find a nice TDI sport estate on a 55 plate with FSH etc etc and picked her up yesterday. Had a 2hr drive back home after purchase and the usual commute today and i am very pleased. This particular car has the 6 CD in the glove box but i cannot load a CD into, and yes i do know they go in the slot, but there is either something in there stuck or im doing someyhing wrong. Its not lit up in anyway (not sure if it does)and i have pressed evry button trying to get something to happen. Im hoping it isn't bust and that it just something im not doing. has anyone got one and can you help me out !!

My CD changer had the tiniest of buttons on the edge of the magazine slot. So small it looked like part of the casing.

Ignore the CD. Get a Bluetooth kit wired in and play all the music from your phone. Plus you can listen to books using Audible - really helps keep attention on long drives.

Was it the VW one? Cant find a user guide online but im guessing iut should light up when the car lights are on, mine doesn't so guessing there is some power supply issue unles its turned on independantly to the main stereo..

It was an after market one. There were no lights on it.

If that's the Sony changer with a VW badge then you slide the lid open and press the grey button on the lower lip. There is also a box behind the radio (need to take radio out) that powers the changer and converts the signal; it's prone to blowing (there is an inline fuse too).

I've got a metallic black Mondeo ST estate (2.2 tdci) 3 years on it's been faultless. The ST's have stiffer and lowered suspension (with auto ride hight) look nice and are entertaining to drive. Not many around either (compare with a 3 series : common as muck...)
Like this one : [url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-Ford-Mondeo-2-2-TDCI-155-ST-Turbo-Diesel-Estate-Car-ST-MODEL-NICE-MILES-/160896223396?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D3428427693218908250%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D190723806855%26 ]heres one[/url]
Plus remapped and bits it goes well in a straight line too. And returns 45 mpg on a 95mph long distance cruise controlled run!
The newer mondeo is even better though a bit bigger and heavier.
People who say 'its a Ford' are twerps.
GT40, Cosworth, Escort rally cars, BDA, the list goes on.

Passat estate is indeed excellent but this is what happens to the rear tyres at 40,000 miles:

[img] [/img]

It's caused by the slight camber of the rear wheels and inaccurate tracking alignment of the "axles" at the factory. This was on my B6 Passat, I have only done 12,000 miles in the new B7 so don't know if it will happen again of if VW have sorted it. I had a massive battle with VW UK over it and they ended up paying for an alignment.