Might buy a (nearly) new car...

[Lord Nibbo]

...so it was you who designed the Anglia! :lol: - Rob

Or Popular, Prefect, Zodiac, Zephyr, Consul Or maybe even Model T :lol:

 

[RobertMP]

Robert, when did the children learn to drive, any connection?

My child is 24 and I'm still waiting for her to take lessons. getting a bit fed up now with being her taxi to work

 

[woodbloke]

...so it was you who designed the Anglia! :lol: - Rob

Or Popular, Prefect, Zodiac, Zephyr, Consul Or maybe even Model T :lol:

Yebut your Lordship, none of that lot were quite as hideous as the Anglbox - Rob

 

[RogerM]

I looked at the Mazda 6 last June when I retired. However, whilst it was great on paper I couldn't come to terms with the plasticky interior so bought a Skoda Octavia 2.0 Tdi elegance hatchback with all the bells and whistles, inc heated leather seats, instead. 3 years old, 22,000 miles on the clock for just over £9k. Does 56 mpg and 0-60 in under 10 secs. Never looked back!

 

[Vormulac]

they are not designed to be taken apart anymore. Cheap plastices, difficult access, parts breaking down. Another step closer to the throw away society IMHO. :wink:

Absolutely completely correct - they aren't built with the same nod to serviceability as cars used to be, so much of it is sealed/computer controlled that the days of spending Sunday afternoon tinkering with the car are pretty much gone. Doesn't make them worse though. I remember when they ran the feasibility on making the sparkplugs no longer a service item as they were reckoned to be able to outlive the car! That particular study was using 150,000 miles as the estimated life of a family car. The plastics may be cheaper and they may not have carburetters any more, but a lot more modern Mondeos and Focuses will make it through the 150,000 mark than Zephyrs or Anglias!

...so it was you who designed the Anglia! :lol: - Rob

Cheeky git! I'm not that old!!

(I just look it)

:lol:

 

[matt]

I looked at the Mazda 6 last June when I retired. However, whilst it was great on paper I couldn't come to terms with the plasticky interior so bought a Skoda Octavia 2.0 Tdi elegance hatchback with all the bells and whistles, inc heated leather seats, instead. 3 years old, 22,000 miles on the clock for just over £9k. Does 56 mpg and 0-60 in under 10 secs. Never looked back!

The Octavia is another car on a list to look at. Thanks for the info.

(Talking of plasticky interiors... I was in a high end Corsa today (2007 model). Drove well but I thought the interior was awful).

 

[yo_chuci]

ford do part own mazda... its mazda engines that they are after, most of the engines are mazda designed and made... always were good cars just the design was off. they are getting it right now tho...
dad's mate has a 6, loves it and he had a tdci mondeo before it, mazda miles better he reackons.

 

[Vormulac]

The engines in Fords are Ford designed and built, I worked with a number of the design teams.

 

[Sawdust]

The engines in Fords are Ford designed and built, I worked with a number of the design teams.

I don't suppose you know why the new Mondeo 2.0 diesel engines are so thirsty do you?

 

[devonwoody]

The engines in Fords are Ford designed and built, I worked with a number of the design teams.

I don't suppose you know why the new Mondeo 2.0 diesel engines are so thirsty do you?

Could be your brakes are binding, clutch slipping, someone is syphoning your fuel, you have put on weight or going faster?

 

[woodbloke]

...so it was you who designed the Anglia! :lol: - Rob

Cheeky git! I'm not that old!!

(I just look it)

:lol:[/quote]

:lol: :lol: - Rob

 

[Vormulac]

The engines in Fords are Ford designed and built, I worked with a number of the design teams.

I don't suppose you know why the new Mondeo 2.0 diesel engines are so thirsty do you?

I'm afraid not, I worked on the 1.8 and 2.0 turbo (and intercooled) diesel blocks about 10 years ago, not sure what the current diesels are set up like. I'm surprised that it's especially thirsty though - that doesn't sound right to me.

ETA - not that I'm doubting you, I meant it sounds like there is indeed something wrong!

 

[woodbloke]

The engines in Fords are Ford designed and built, I worked with a number of the design teams.

I don't suppose you know why the new Mondeo 2.0 diesel engines are so thirsty do you?

I'm afraid not, I worked on the 1.8 and 2.0 turbo (and intercooled) diesel blocks about 10 years ago, not sure what the current diesels are set up like. I'm surprised that it's especially thirsty though - that doesn't sound right to me.

ETA - not that I'm doubting you, I meant it sounds like there is indeed something wrong!

...you want to see how thirsty a 2.5L diesel Landy is :shock: that's why I hate filling stations :evil: - Rob

 

[Jenx]

Sawdust -- Don't know if it helps you .....
I had a new mondeo 2.0 Turbo diesel ( from new ) for about 6 months, until changing jobs ...
There's a good few variants, at each engine capacity...
there's one somewhere around 112 BHP,
one at 130 BHP and one at 140BHP ( all in the 2.0 ltr diesel engine ) -

I had the 140BHP one, ( estate.. 'Edge' Variant. )...

The figures on fuel in the Mag's were claiming from about 47mpg to low 50's mpg ...
The car's own computer which displays an Average MPG, was constantly around 41 / 42 Mpg, from day one, till the day I handed it back 6 months later, having done 14000 miles in it, in that time.


I've since bought a Focus, with the same 2.0Ltr Turbo Diesel engine, same 140 Brake Horse mill in it ... ( Hatchback Ghia Variant )... figs are very similar ... 43 MPG on the computer, 13500 miles on it now.
-- The magazines claimed similar claims as they did for the mondeo... I can't get it up to those claimed figures, but at 43MPG, i don't feel its too bad, fuel consumption-wise.

The Mondy would be a heavier vehicle than the Focus, especially being the estate... I didn't think that 41 / 42 MPG was too far out of line from what I expected it to do...
My driving is a mix of 'country back roads ' & main 'A' Road / Dual Carriageway longer distance cruising ( eg. - Aberdeen to Glasgow )

Is your one returning figures wildly adrift of those I quote above ?

 

[Sawdust]

Sawdust -- Don't know if it helps you .....
I had a new mondeo 2.0 Turbo diesel ( from new ) for about 6 months, until changing jobs ...
There's a good few variants, at each engine capacity...
there's one somewhere around 112 BHP,
one at 130 BHP and one at 140BHP ( all in the 2.0 ltr diesel engine ) -

I had the 140BHP one, ( estate.. 'Edge' Variant. )...

The figures on fuel in the Mag's were claiming from about 47mpg to low 50's mpg ...
The car's own computer which displays an Average MPG, was constantly around 41 / 42 Mpg, from day one, till the day I handed it back 6 months later, having done 14000 miles in it, in that time.


I've since bought a Focus, with the same 2.0Ltr Turbo Diesel engine, same 140 Brake Horse mill in it ... ( Hatchback Ghia Variant )... figs are very similar ... 43 MPG on the computer, 13500 miles on it now.
-- The magazines claimed similar claims as they did for the mondeo... I can't get it up to those claimed figures, but at 43MPG, i don't feel its too bad, fuel consumption-wise.

The Mondy would be a heavier vehicle than the Focus, especially being the estate... I didn't think that 41 / 42 MPG was too far out of line from what I expected it to do...
My driving is a mix of 'country back roads ' & main 'A' Road / Dual Carriageway longer distance cruising ( eg. - Aberdeen to Glasgow )

Is your one returning figures wildly adrift of those I quote above ?

Mine is the 140BP TDCi Titanium variant and my economy is pretty similar to yours and by the sound of it my driving is much the same.

Fair point about the size of the car but I still think it's poor. Loads of people on the Ford forums are also complaining. It's a shame because it lets down an otherwise good car.

My mate has a Audi A3 (similar size to the focus) and it turns in 54 to the gallon even though he thrashes it all the time. Another friend has an Audi A4 and he does drive gently but gets 60mpg on a good run.

I've heard that the Ford problems are due to the diesel particulate filter but I don't think anything can be done about it.

Cheers
Mike

 

[Vormulac]

...you want to see how thirsty a 2.5L diesel Landy is :shock: that's why I hate filling stations :evil: - Rob

I drive a 3.0L Subaru - believe me Rob, there are few who wince quite as hard when pulling into a petrol station as me! :lol:

 

[Jenx]

Sawdust -- Don't know if it helps you .....
I had a new mondeo 2.0 Turbo diesel ( from new ) for about 6 months, until changing jobs ...
There's a good few variants, at each engine capacity...
there's one somewhere around 112 BHP,
one at 130 BHP and one at 140BHP ( all in the 2.0 ltr diesel engine ) -

I had the 140BHP one, ( estate.. 'Edge' Variant. )...

The figures on fuel in the Mag's were claiming from about 47mpg to low 50's mpg ...
The car's own computer which displays an Average MPG, was constantly around 41 / 42 Mpg, from day one, till the day I handed it back 6 months later, having done 14000 miles in it, in that time.


I've since bought a Focus, with the same 2.0Ltr Turbo Diesel engine, same 140 Brake Horse mill in it ... ( Hatchback Ghia Variant )... figs are very similar ... 43 MPG on the computer, 13500 miles on it now.
-- The magazines claimed similar claims as they did for the mondeo... I can't get it up to those claimed figures, but at 43MPG, i don't feel its too bad, fuel consumption-wise.

The Mondy would be a heavier vehicle than the Focus, especially being the estate... I didn't think that 41 / 42 MPG was too far out of line from what I expected it to do...
My driving is a mix of 'country back roads ' & main 'A' Road / Dual Carriageway longer distance cruising ( eg. - Aberdeen to Glasgow )

Is your one returning figures wildly adrift of those I quote above ?

Mine is the 140BP TDCi Titanium variant and my economy is pretty similar to yours and by the sound of it my driving is much the same.

Fair point about the size of the car but I still think it's poor. Loads of people on the Ford forums are also complaining. It's a shame because it lets down an otherwise good car.

My mate has a Audi A3 (similar size to the focus) and it turns in 54 to the gallon even though he thrashes it all the time. Another friend has an Audi A4 and he does drive gently but gets 60mpg on a good run.

I've heard that the Ford problems are due to the diesel particulate filter but I don't think anything can be done about it.

Cheers
Mike

I agree with you totally about the 'otherwise a good car' ... I was very resistance to it initially, as it was 'foisted upon me', and I had no choice in it at all... so i wanted to hate it ... I picked it up in Southend, drove it back to Ellon in Aberdeenshire ( approx 600 miles ), and got out, fresh as a daisy at the 'home' end of the run... and in spite of myself, grew to really like that car. I should have bought one instead of the Focus, when I changed job, because I don't particularly like the focus... its impossible to get comfy in it, it has no rest for the left foot, unlike the mondeo... The thing almost paralyses me every time I drive it... to the point where I am seriously thinking of trying to swap it for something else, and I have only had it since july.

I'm not shocked to hear your figures regarding the A3 ... couple of years back, I had ( copmany motor again... ) a Seat Leon Cupra deisel, which is effectively the same as an A3.. that Seat was a superb vehicle... a wee bit too small for what would have been ideal, but a fantastic car none the less. Always returned great fuel economy figures too..
Far better car than the A3 IMHO, I find that A3's are similar to the focus in so much as they are hideously uncomfortable. Not the same 'kudos' as owning an Audi perhaps.. but that bit, I didn't worry about..

Worst deisel car I've had ( and I've had a lot of them )... Vectra.
Awful, woeful, dreadful car. -- I may have had a 'Friday afternoon' one, but it blew headlamps and tail-lights every 6 weeks, and burned a litre of oil every 1000 miles... and Vauxhall said it was 'designed' to do this... ( did it from new. ),
Scubbed tyres regardless of how it was set up, ate brake discs, would lose power and run in 'safe mode' ( i.e. without the turbo ) for no reason..
a really god-awful vehicle. I was tempted to 'assist its departure' on many occasions, but backed out of it, as the boss at the time knew I hated it and would have known I was 'up to something' if it met with an untoward and untimely demise.

very interesting to read 'why' the Fords are a bit less frugal in your post there. 8)

 

[Grinding One]

I think car companys have interest in oil companys....

 

[devonwoody]

Matt, hold fire before purchase of a new car.

New car around £1300.

You could easily have anew one every year.

Honest True.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7911749.stm

 

[Gavin-T]

My old man has got the latest mondeo estate, the 140bhp tdci with a auto gearbox. Its a real good car and its just been for its 36k service (its on about 38k now and its a 57 reg!). He has had no problems with it and goes like a rocket for the size of the thing!
Fuel economy is not as the older shape mondeo which he had before (that did about 44mpg), he is getting about 38/39 mpg but this is with a boot full of tools all the time and it spends 85% of its time at 90mph on the motorway. Considering this and the fact its a auto i think its pretty good!

Oh yeah the 140bhp engine is a peugeot engine.

Gavin.