Need some help making a decision. Short story is my current golf has decided it hates it’s gearbox so ate all it’s contents and I have the opportunity to get a car through work at a heavily discounted price, it’s a 3 year hire purchase with everything included, insurance,tax, servicing etc. So the choice is either a Mondeo estate or a Citreon Berlingo.

The car will be my main drive and using it for commuting as well as, hopefully, for weekends away biking, walking, camping etc. it will also be our car for the next 3 years and hoping to have a dog and our first child so the car needss to be suitable for all the associated stuff with these.

Both cars would be new with all boxes ticked, Mondeo would have extra toys such as sat nav etc where as Berlingo would be more basic.

So what would people choose?

Mondeo or a Berlingo… 🙂
Errm…

I’m assuming the Mondeo is a lot more pricey…

Mondeo comes back as £250 a month, not got a quote back for a Berlingo yet but expecting it to be lower but not sure how much yet.

Mondeo all the way, as long as its not the same 1.6 Diesel engine as the Berlingo, if it is remember to get it serviced regularly as very prone to turbo failure

Mondeo.

Mondingo?

Great thing about camping in the Mondeo estate? No need for a tent provided you’re 6′ or under.

Got a 60 plate berlingo recently and loving it, bike fits in the back, loads of room for the kids etc

Buuut for me my insurance was about double for the Mondeo so the cost difference was significant enough to make the decision for me to go berlingo rather than Mondeo or similar estate

Mondeo’s drive very nicely. Never had a Berlingo.

Which engine/spec level for the Mondeo? Makes quite a big difference. And also, do you actually like driving, or is it just transport?

Berlingos are a great shape, If your deal covers mechanicals i’d go for that. Otherwise get the mondeo.

Had an 04 berlingo for around 4 years it was a perfect biking motor.. Went all over in it swallowed 3 bikes/gear with room to spare and took my 3 kids and all the family stuff easily too ..

Easily wiped down in the rear and I even moved lots of household stuff during ownership .. Fridge/chairs/cooker/etc ..

Drove really well for what was essentially a van with seats/windows in back sure the new one would be even better 🙂

Is the ber lingo a van based chassis? If so, it will have different speed restrictions on it than a car, 50 in a 60 for instance.

Apparently.

Anyway, even if it was car based, I’d still get the Mondeo.

If you get the 1.6HDi Berlingo, blank the EGR from new, and get the uprated oil-feed pick-up pipe and filter fitted too. That should prevent any turbo surprises in the future, assuming regular servicing etc.

No coolhandluke that is wrong.

Speedlimits as per car. Its a car based chassis- the vans still have the car footwells under the load bed.

If you want convienant for bike go for the blingo youll wonder how you lived without it. Had my partner for 4 years now and thinking about replacing it with a new one because its been such a good car to us – driven it to the alps without any issue from aberdeen – my escort and my hyundai i had previously i struggled to drive to manchester without being crippled.

If you want fastish family transport for occasional bike hauling go for the mundano

Blingo bits are cheap as chips and easy to work on , if you look after the turbo propperly.

So what would people choose?

A second hand car that would cost a fraction.

Sorry! 😳

I literally don’t know why any other cars exist in the world aside from Berlingos….
They are brilliant.

Berlingo was designed to be a van, it’s therefore a pig ugly car. Might be practical but its van, if you want a car then Mondeo is the best option

You don’t mention any criteria around price etc so I’d say Mondeo all day everyday

Northwind – Member
Which engine/spec level for the Mondeo? Makes quite a big difference. And also, do you actually like driving, or is it just transport?

Looking at the 2.0 TDCi in Titanium spec. The deal covers everything so no need to worry about mechanicals or servicing as I would just give it back to let them sort out, also being new I doubt the Berlingo turbo issues would really matter much, and if they did it would go back to be sorted.

Chl – you are wrong. It has a car based chassis. The van has the cars rear foot wells still under the load bed
thus normal speedlimits apply.

If your a family with kids and/or bikes the blingo wins hands down, sliding doors for getting the kids in without smashing other cars , bikes in no issue , minimal interior thats easy to clean and the ability to pick up that new emergency appliance / a.n.other large item that would defeat a car without waiting for the delivery folk

berlingo was designed to be a van

Makes a handsome car in a chunky kind of way, but then I like quirky vehicles probably why I have a Kangoo van.

I like my Bling: it’s right for the things I want to do. Rear seats come out, though that’s really a two person job for the larger one. Bike goes in back upright and intact. Sliding back doors are easy in car parks. Huge space in back, I think I could sleep in there. The downside is the big boxy shape is inefficient at speeds and into headwinds, and it slows on motorway hills. Sidewinds haven’t bothered it yet. It overtakes ok, but I haven’t had it fully loaded yet.

The pic above is a high-spec model with the executive-ugly front.

If it helps I’ve gone for a Fiat Qubo over having another Skoda Octavia estate. Believe it or not there is more litres if space in a Qubo over a Octavia. I luv it’s sounding doors, removable seats and great design. Was a fair bit cheaper. As you’re going for new, the build quality less of an issue. Go for Berlingo!

Oh, and when my son looked at it his first words were ‘Is it available for Ikea trips?’

The car will be my main drive and using it for commuting as well as, hopefully, for weekends away biking, walking, camping etc. it will also be our car for the next 3 years and hoping to have a dog and our first child so the car needss to be suitable for all the associated stuff with these.

I pretty much have the same car criteria as yourself and need to be able to transport 2 dogs and a bike.

I would say go for a Berlingo, especially if you throw a dog into the equation. Consider how you are going to transport the dog, if you’re going to use a travel cage; it’s pretty much impossible to get a cage, bike and luggage into an estate car.

Even the largest estate car is very limited in height compared to the likes of a Berlingo and you should be able to get a dog cage and multiple bikes in whilst only needing to remove the front wheel. An estate car will probably need you to dismantle the bike.

After having the same needs myself, I ended up with a Peugeot Expert Tepee. I actually went to go an buy a Berlingo, but they had a huge discount on a pre-reg Expert; so ended up with that.

The Mondeo will obviously be a much nicer drive than the Berlingo, but there is no point paying out for a car if it doesn’t do what you need it to; no matter how nice it is.

2L mondeo everytime.

From your post you “hope” for weekends away camping/cycling etc and for the rest of your time it’s main drive.

The mondeo estate is massive inside and you get the 60:40 rear split seat, you can easily get the baby seat on the 40 and drop the 60 for the dog cage and have the bike and luggage in the boot. For real lazy packing get a roof box for the pram and associated gubbins and still go better than a cdv.

On the motorway you will waft along, it’s like a comfy sofa and I have to keep telling myself to set the cruise control to 120 otherwise I’m well over the limit. Regular town driving is good and as you can see the corners of the car so well parking is a lot easier than you think.

I’ve owned a lot of vans and used them as the main car (everything up to a commercial expert) and yes you can throw things in the back without a thought and sliding doors are handy but the drive is so compromised (2-3 hours are a noticable pain in the arse, used to do manchester/holyhead and the difference between a car and a van). Plus as a HP car you’ll be paying for any damage on the berlingo so the extra tough interior isn’t really a selling point as you’ll be charged for damage.

Berliner +1

If you aren’t already, be aware that to some people a berlingo says cheapskate looser like little else (not saying that is fair, but its true).
Even if you are 0% image conscious I would go for the mondeo as it’s a far superior vehicle in almost every way.

If it helps I’ve gone for a Fiat Qubo over having another Skoda Octavia estate. Believe it or not there is more litres if space in a Qubo over a Octavia. I luv it’s sounding doors, removable seats and great design. Was a fair bit cheaper. As you’re going for new, the build quality less of an issue. Go for Berlingo

Another Qubo owner here. After owning it for 2 years I honestly can’t understand why people buy estates anymore, a van based car is just so much more flexible. Plus sliding doors are cool.

If you aren’t already, be aware that to some people a berlingo says cheapskate looser like little else (not saying that is fair, but its true).

Mine says something like – I chose this. For the first time in my life I could pick a vehicle based purely on what I want to do with it, without having to consider anyone else. It has the good points that I want, and some less good things I’m willing go put up with. It’s a practical car, not a fashion accessory.

Some people would say it says this…

Mine says something like – My wife chose this. For the first time in her life she could pick a vehicle based purely on what she wanted me to do with it, without having to consider anyone else. It has the good points that she wants, and some less good things I’m willing go put up with. It’s a practical car, not a fashion accessory.

…just saying, like.

I would say consider the best car for your commute. Apart from cost, the Berlingo seems to not offer anything the Mondeo doesn’t and, though I’ve not driven a Betlingo, I really can’t imagine it being as nice a drive as the Mondy, which is actually genuinely a nice drive, as good a drive as its German equivalent. Given you’ll spend most of your time commuting in it, you’ll want the better commuting car. I guess take them for a test drive and see which has the nicest cockpit.

You’re still going to have to transport bikes externally with the Berlingo, and although there appears to be more height to the Berlingo’s boot, what real world use is that going to provide? The Mondy estate has a cavernous boot and at a convenient shape. Also you can get the 2.0 ltr turbo diesel with the DSG power shift box, which would make a nice combo.

I have a Berlingo van (Bingo) and have just sold a 2.0 TDCI Mondeo. If it had to choose just one (Bingo is a cheap bike van) it’d be the Mondeo every day of the week,

The boots are cavernous and they drive really well. Bingo is slow and unrefined.

Swapped the Mondeo for a Focus as the Mondeo was too big and I didn’t need a diesel anymore.

I can fit my bike easily inside my berlingo with all the wheels on.
The height of the boot allows this, also means a lot of other things fit without having to fold the back seats.

Just clarifying this from someone who has one… Not saying it’s the best car ever but it’s height and practicality are certainly a great feature.

you hit a nerve there neil, you didn’t mean to but you did.

Sorry 😉

Sorry to resurrect this, but I’m also potentially in the same market, seeing as my Skoda is eating components on a monthly basis. However, I probably have a lower budget (the Skoda was £700…) but suggestions welcome. I’m probably falling into the Berlingo camp at the moment (though I have owned a smiley face Mondeo, which was huge and great…) though other things like Fiat Doblos are on the list. I do like the look of the Peugeot Expert Teepee though!

I’ve been really impressed with my Expert Tepee.

I paid £15k for a pre-reg 130bhp Expert Leisure from Howards Peugeot in Yoevil which I thought was a pretty good deal. It only had 10 miles on the clock.

IMG_0138 by Ample Brew, on Flickr

IMG_0121 by Ample Brew, on Flickr

IMG_0116 by Ample Brew, on Flickr

Looks like a smaller version of the Transit we’ve had in on test… A pity it’s about 8K out of my price range, but it looks pretty ideal for 90% of the stuff I do.

It’s not particularly cool or sexy, especially in that metallic khaki colour; but it does everything I need.

There is certainly nothing I’d want to change, I even like the colour as it nearly match’s my Dekerf 8)