Thinking of buying a mondeo(2.3) over an altima (2.5)...thoughts?

fhpawaskar · September 28th, 2009, 6:36 AM

I had posted this in another thread but i need feedback fast... so please help! images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

http://puregreencars.com/files/2009-Ford-Mondeo.jpg

Went to the dealer for a scheduled test drive. As usual... test car was unavailable... so the sales person decided to let me have a go with his own year old mondeo. With 60000 kms or so on the clock, and a nice big dent on the hood ( I'm guessin a mini dinosaur had sat on it ), I thought the sales guy was doing a mistake. But he really was'nt.

The 16" wheels had turned grey from all the brake dust deposited on them... yet the brakes were smooth and with good feel. When I put it in in manual mode... the gearbox even let me do a little engine breaking without missing a beat on the shifts. The engine barely made any noise at 4500 rpm. The acceleration is not the quickest for a saloon but it was not slow either. Im guessing this car would be a pleasure to drive for long distances.

The car seems to be nicely equipped even when not fully loaded. The wheels could be bigger, but they do fine in terms of grip and braking. Nice design too. The all important Aux input and cruise control are retained in all trims. Ford is really trying to impress with this car... and it shows overall. Also the fact that the car i drove was a dusty, dented, daily driver the guy used to get his kids to school in. So reliability may be something I do not need to worry about, especially since I'm being offered 3 yrs Free service upto 55000 kms. Thats comes to around 1750 kms per month. Reasonable for me. Oh and free insurance for the first year. What you guys think? Should I buy it?

Spec Sheet : M219 column : http://www.altayer-motors.com/index....d=19&Itemid=82

Engine : 2.3 L Duratec
6 speed auto

thedguy · September 28th, 2009, 7:36 AM

I can only say this, based off of what I've seen of the cars (pictures/reviews of the Mondeo) if I were in the market for either I'd go for the Mondeo.

MadCow809 · September 28th, 2009, 7:43 AM

Mondeo > Altima

narf · September 28th, 2009, 7:46 AM

Indeed, TG car of the year 2007 for a reason images/smilies/smile.gif

McRae · September 28th, 2009, 9:11 AM

2.3 liter engine with an automatic gearbox sounds soooo boring.

My choice would be the 2.5T Volvo-engine coupled with a manual 6-speed gearbox. But perhaps that isn't impossible where you live?

NooDle · September 28th, 2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadCow809

Mondeo > Altima

this. with any engine

public · September 28th, 2009, 10:58 AM

In which market are they competing cars?

camelfarmer · September 28th, 2009, 11:08 AM

Save up more money and buy something that's really interesting.

AiR · September 28th, 2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by public

In which market are they competing cars?

I wonder that too. I'd take the Mondeo. Of course, I should add I know nothing about the (Nissan right?) Altima as they don't sell it here. Also, that sales guy is awesome.

public · September 28th, 2009, 12:05 PM

Ah, the Middle East?

fhpawaskar · September 28th, 2009, 2:57 PM

yeh... the Middle East... Dubai in fact. This is actually more for my friend's info... but he doesnt have an account. Over here they are around the same price range (69000 - 78000 dhs.... where 1 $ US = 3.66 Dhs),

Thanks for the feedback.

Vette Boss · September 28th, 2009, 4:48 PM

Mondeo, every time. There's a good reason it's one of the top family cars in Europe. images/smilies/smile.gif

Der Stig · September 28th, 2009, 5:03 PM

For that kind of money, you could get a 320 or 325i what with the economy the way it is now. If he wants a cruiser, E-Klasse's should be everywhere too. Hell, I'm sure he could get an S320 or a Yota Landcruiser/Nissan Patrol for that kind of money. He's got lots of negotiating power right now. Dealerships are cutting prices and asking 2/3 what they used to.

fhpawaskar · September 28th, 2009, 9:06 PM

@der Stig: dealers here do not negotiate...they will sell you at a price determined by the company, especially the jap car dealers. At least I have never seen someone in this country do it successfully...yet. If anything... they will try to swindle as much money from as they can...no matter what the situation. The only reason mondeos arent sold in huge numbers here is coz of the ridiculous depreciation value (almost as bad as a kia).

Altimas dont have that issue. But id still go for the mondeo... if it was my decision.

Der Stig · September 30th, 2009, 1:26 PM

I realize that dealers there don't negotiate- my folks bought two cars in AD. I'd just figure what with all of the abandoned cars and poor economy, they might be more willing to make a deal. That said, the Mondeo is probably the best choice, although why no Lumina S(or an SS)?

Honestly though, for 78k, you should be able to pick an E46 (sans M3 and convertibles) or a lower powered E90. No reason you can't get an W211 E200 Kompressor for around that much.

fhpawaskar · October 2nd, 2009, 11:11 AM

those cars are are not easy to keep in good condition... And i aint buyin a merc till i see the reliability go up. My relative bought a spanking brand new merc C 200 kompressor ... only to find a huge crack in the dashboard... taped up by the dealer in the same color!!! bloody hell!

since he had some clout with the dealer... he got it replaced... but i got completely turned off by this.

lws1984 · October 3rd, 2009, 10:20 PM

Mondeo: Definately win.

Anyone who lives in a market where the Mondeo is sold is much luckier than an American. Our fords, although selling well, are kinda lame.

McRae · October 4th, 2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lws1984

Anyone who lives in a market where the Mondeo is sold is much luckier than an American.

Your cars aren's as expensive, on the other hand. The 2.5T Mondeo costs roughly 80.000 USD here anyway, so most people can't afford one.

DanRoM · October 4th, 2009, 10:19 AM

€55,000 for a Mondeo? Granted, with the big engine, but... woah. Oh, I forgot - Scandinavia and their extra taxes on cars.

McRae · October 4th, 2009, 10:36 AM

Yes, which is why many of us move to Schleswig (or Sweden).

September 28th, 2009, 6:36 AM	#1
fhpawaskar Joined: Aug 15th, 2007 Last Online: January 11th, 2010 Posts: 40 Rep Power: 11	Thinking of buying a mondeo(2.3) over an altima (2.5)...thoughts? I had posted this in another thread but i need feedback fast... so please help! Went to the dealer for a scheduled test drive. As usual... test car was unavailable... so the sales person decided to let me have a go with his own year old mondeo. With 60000 kms or so on the clock, and a nice big dent on the hood ( I'm guessin a mini dinosaur had sat on it ), I thought the sales guy was doing a mistake. But he really was'nt. The 16" wheels had turned grey from all the brake dust deposited on them... yet the brakes were smooth and with good feel. When I put it in in manual mode... the gearbox even let me do a little engine breaking without missing a beat on the shifts. The engine barely made any noise at 4500 rpm. The acceleration is not the quickest for a saloon but it was not slow either. Im guessing this car would be a pleasure to drive for long distances. The car seems to be nicely equipped even when not fully loaded. The wheels could be bigger, but they do fine in terms of grip and braking. Nice design too. The all important Aux input and cruise control are retained in all trims. Ford is really trying to impress with this car... and it shows overall. Also the fact that the car i drove was a dusty, dented, daily driver the guy used to get his kids to school in. So reliability may be something I do not need to worry about, especially since I'm being offered 3 yrs Free service upto 55000 kms. Thats comes to around 1750 kms per month. Reasonable for me. Oh and free insurance for the first year. What you guys think? Should I buy it? Spec Sheet : M219 column : http://www.altayer-motors.com/index....d=19&Itemid=82 Engine : 2.3 L Duratec 6 speed auto __________________

September 28th, 2009, 7:43 AM	#3
MadCow809 Joined: Feb 23rd, 2006 Last Online: 2:20 AM Location: Durban, South Africa & Los Angeles, CA Age: 24 Posts: 5,597 Car: 2007 E87 BMW 130i & 2008 VW MKV GTI 2.0T DSG LFS Status: Rep Power: 109	Mondeo > Altima __________________ Supporting : Kimi Räikkönen \| Jenson Button \| Michael Schumacher \| Robert Kubica \| Sebastian Vettel \| Petter Solberg \| Mikko Hirvonen \| Andy Priaulx \| Jason Plato \| Mat Jackson Nokia N95 8Gb Nokia N97 32Gb RM-505 Unlocked v11.0.21 -> v12.0.024 -> v20.0.019 -> v21.0.045 09 VW MKV Golf GTI 2.0T DSG \| APR Stage 1 \| LHD FOR SALE 08 Honda Civic Coupé \| LHD 06 BMW 130i \| RHD ~~05 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS \| RHD~~ 05 Ford Bantam 1.3i \| RHD ~~95 Mercedes Benz E320 Sportline \| RHD~~

September 28th, 2009, 9:11 AM	#5
McRae Joined: Jan 2nd, 2009 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Denmark Age: 20 Posts: 109 Rep Power: 11	2.3 liter engine with an automatic gearbox sounds soooo boring. My choice would be the 2.5T Volvo-engine coupled with a manual 6-speed gearbox. But perhaps that isn't impossible where you live? __________________ "I'm struggling to think of a single reason why anyone would buy a Peugeot 307 over a Focus or Golf and the only thing I can come up with, is senility" Last edited by McRae; September 28th, 2009 at 9:20 AM.

September 28th, 2009, 10:58 AM	#7
public Imaginative Username++ Joined: Nov 26th, 2007 Last Online: 12:07 AM Location: Finland Age: 25 Posts: 3,401 Car: 1991 Mazda 323F Rep Power: 323	In which market are they competing cars? __________________

September 28th, 2009, 12:05 PM	#10
public Imaginative Username++ Joined: Nov 26th, 2007 Last Online: 12:07 AM Location: Finland Age: 25 Posts: 3,401 Car: 1991 Mazda 323F Rep Power: 323	Ah, the Middle East? __________________

September 28th, 2009, 7:36 AM	#2
thedguy ^ will bore you to death Joined: Jun 18th, 2004 Last Online: 3:48 AM Location: Southern Schwartzennegger land Posts: 7,752 Car: 1990 Mazda MX-5 & 91 318i. Rep Power: 192	I can only say this, based off of what I've seen of the cars (pictures/reviews of the Mondeo) if I were in the market for either I'd go for the Mondeo.

September 28th, 2009, 7:46 AM	#4
narf Joined: Feb 1st, 2008 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Kiel, Germany - currently in Gütersloh, Germany Age: 23 Posts: 1,283 Car: VW Fox, Opel Astra Caravan, Skoda Octavia Combi Rep Power: 107	Indeed, TG car of the year 2007 for a reason

September 28th, 2009, 11:08 AM	#8
camelfarmer Banned Joined: Feb 1st, 2007 Last Online: December 6th, 2009 Location: Bristol Posts: 405 Car: Ford focus Rep Power: 0	Save up more money and buy something that's really interesting.

September 28th, 2009, 2:57 PM	#11
fhpawaskar Joined: Aug 15th, 2007 Last Online: January 11th, 2010 Posts: 40 Rep Power: 11	yeh... the Middle East... Dubai in fact. This is actually more for my friend's info... but he doesnt have an account. Over here they are around the same price range (69000 - 78000 dhs.... where 1 $ US = 3.66 Dhs), Thanks for the feedback. __________________

September 28th, 2009, 4:48 PM	#12
Vette Boss Joined: Nov 14th, 2004 Last Online: 2:32 AM Location: United States, Britain, in time Age: 24 Posts: 3,807 Car: 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T Rep Power: 82	Mondeo, every time. There's a good reason it's one of the top family cars in Europe. __________________ 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T. Das Auto

September 28th, 2009, 5:03 PM	#13
Der Stig Joined: Dec 19th, 2008 Last Online: 1:01 AM Location: College Station/The Woodlands, Texas Age: 20 Posts: 1,111 Car: 2004 BMW 330i Rep Power: 38	For that kind of money, you could get a 320 or 325i what with the economy the way it is now. If he wants a cruiser, E-Klasse's should be everywhere too. Hell, I'm sure he could get an S320 or a Yota Landcruiser/Nissan Patrol for that kind of money. He's got lots of negotiating power right now. Dealerships are cutting prices and asking 2/3 what they used to. __________________ Vehicles: 2004 E46 BMW 330i 6-speed Looking for W116, W123, W126, R107, Range Rover Classic, S1 Disco...~~cheapo~~ project

September 28th, 2009, 9:06 PM	#14
fhpawaskar Joined: Aug 15th, 2007 Last Online: January 11th, 2010 Posts: 40 Rep Power: 11	@der Stig: dealers here do not negotiate...they will sell you at a price determined by the company, especially the jap car dealers. At least I have never seen someone in this country do it successfully...yet. If anything... they will try to swindle as much money from as they can...no matter what the situation. The only reason mondeos arent sold in huge numbers here is coz of the ridiculous depreciation value (almost as bad as a kia). Altimas dont have that issue. But id still go for the mondeo... if it was my decision. __________________

September 30th, 2009, 1:26 PM	#15
Der Stig Joined: Dec 19th, 2008 Last Online: 1:01 AM Location: College Station/The Woodlands, Texas Age: 20 Posts: 1,111 Car: 2004 BMW 330i Rep Power: 38	I realize that dealers there don't negotiate- my folks bought two cars in AD. I'd just figure what with all of the abandoned cars and poor economy, they might be more willing to make a deal. That said, the Mondeo is probably the best choice, although why no Lumina S(or an SS)? Honestly though, for 78k, you should be able to pick an E46 (sans M3 and convertibles) or a lower powered E90. No reason you can't get an W211 E200 Kompressor for around that much. __________________ Vehicles: 2004 E46 BMW 330i 6-speed Looking for W116, W123, W126, R107, Range Rover Classic, S1 Disco...~~cheapo~~ project

October 2nd, 2009, 11:11 AM	#16
fhpawaskar Joined: Aug 15th, 2007 Last Online: January 11th, 2010 Posts: 40 Rep Power: 11	those cars are are not easy to keep in good condition... And i aint buyin a merc till i see the reliability go up. My relative bought a spanking brand new merc C 200 kompressor ... only to find a huge crack in the dashboard... taped up by the dealer in the same color!!! bloody hell! since he had some clout with the dealer... he got it replaced... but i got completely turned off by this. __________________

October 3rd, 2009, 10:20 PM	#17
lws1984 Joined: Jul 29th, 2008 Last Online: March 18th, 2010 Location: North Kingstown, RI Posts: 76 Car: none yet :/ Rep Power: 10	Mondeo: Definately win. Anyone who lives in a market where the Mondeo is sold is much luckier than an American. Our fords, although selling well, are kinda lame.

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October 4th, 2009, 10:19 AM	#19
DanRoM Joined: Feb 27th, 2009 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Ruhr Area, Germany Posts: 1,184 Car: Focus Mk. II Rep Power: 59	€55,000 for a Mondeo? Granted, with the big engine, but... woah. Oh, I forgot - Scandinavia and their extra taxes on cars.

October 4th, 2009, 10:36 AM	#20
McRae Joined: Jan 2nd, 2009 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Denmark Age: 20 Posts: 109 Rep Power: 11	Yes, which is why many of us move to Schleswig (or Sweden). __________________ "I'm struggling to think of a single reason why anyone would buy a Peugeot 307 over a Focus or Golf and the only thing I can come up with, is senility"

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