Once I have my Octavia fixed early next week I am going to sell it as it is time to get something newer. Truth be told after many happy years driving 3 different Felicia's my two years with an Octavia have not been a happy experience with just too many of the electrical/electronic parts giving trouble. So for the first time in many a long year I am looking at other makes. The trouble the Octavia has given is not the only reason, also other makes actually seem to be better value at the 3 year old stage that I usually buy. I have just test drove two cars which I am trying to decide between.

The first (and the reason I visited the dealer) is a 2002 Mondeo 2.0 TDi LX. This car is on sale for

I went through a similar dilemma back in June where I was looking at a replacement family car. I looked at the Octy 1, a top of the range Renault Laguna 1.9DCi, Primera 2.2DCi and Ford Mondeo TDCI (130 bhp). The Mondeo was leaps ahead of the competition in terms of kit, build quality and feeling solid. It also had the best engine too with plenty of effortless power, decent fuel economy, and sports car handling (despite not being a sporty model)....

I paid

Thanks for the reply Scooby. I must admit to not fully understanding the Ford terminology for their diesels. The car I looked at is labeled TDi (as was a Focus I once had hired). The engine pulls well but sounds a bit too tractor like for my liking. I had a look on the Ford web site and they no long seem to have a 2.0 TDi and instaed mention as you have TDCI and TDDI. They all seem to be in the smae sizes and bhps, so what is the difference?

Of the two cars the Laguna was higher speced, but in fairness I think the LX is the Mondeo's basic spec and still seems quite generous compared with the 'Classic' trim in Skoda.

TDDI is a direct injection diesel (old skool). The TDCI is a common rail diesel (more refined and more powerful). I think the TDDI was dropped when the 115bhp TDCI replaced it.

I looked at the Laguna, but ruled it out because of the number of horror stories I found about their reliability on the web and the fact over 50% of people wouldn't buy them again. It was a nice car with a lot of kit on it, but at 60k, the one I drove was quite squeaky and rattly and the ride felt quite soggy

Of course, you may have different criteria for choosing a car to me, but I found www.parkers.co.uk very useful for reviews (owner and magazine) and specs

Chris

No reliability is important to me, and indeed it was reading some reviews on the web that made me ask the question. Based on the test drive, and spec the laguna would win hands down. the other thing that stopped me dropping the idea of the laguna after reading the reviews was the safety rating for the Laguna (5*) which beats both the Mondeo and even the new model Octavia. This is an important consideration as the reason I now drive a family sized car (Octavia) rather than the supermini (Felicia) that I used to drive is that I now have a 3 year old with another on the way.

Here's a couple of links with more details about the crash tests

Laguna

Mondeo

Chris

Again you are a font of very useful information. As you have a Mondeo diesel, what can you say about the mpg you get. A mate who used to own a diesel focus (1.8L I think) said he only got 40 something mpg (similar to what I got in my old 1.3mpi petrol Felicia), while everything I have read about the VAG 1.9TDi or SDi quote figure in the mid 50 mpg to 60 odd mpg. Considering derv is anything upto 5p a litre dearer than unleaded at the moment this is very important (I get 30-35mpg from the 1.6 (75bhp) petrol Octavia).

If I concentrate on a motorway run and stick to 70/80mph I can see 50+mpg, but more typically with my mix of town driving and A/B road blasts I get 40-45mpg from a tank, which is about 5mpg less than my Fabia over the same routes...... I don't tend to drive for economy though, so I'm probably the wrong person to ask

Chris

I've had an Octy 1, a Renault and a few Fords although I now own a Superb Tdi. The Diesel rattle is something new for me to get used to and I am no big fan of the overall noise of a diesel but from what I understand, the common rail diesel is a bit more refined. All the Fords I have owned have quite simply been boring, although this is completely personal. The Renault I owned and every Renault that friends have owned have been poorly built and unreliable - and parts cost a fortune! The trim levels are excellent but it's just more to go wrong and on french cars it usually does. I think it's down to poor quality control because they can make great cars, it's just that usually they don't! I hired the new Mondeo TDCi once and it was excellent I have to admit. There are tons around which is bad if you want exclusivity but great if you want a bargain and spare parts. The only Skoda that can really match it is the new Octy and they are too expensive at present I would think. I have read loads of reviews on both cars as they were both on my shortlist and the Mondeo slams the Laguna hands down if the reviews are to be believed. The new Mondeo is also bigger than you think and for me would be the best buy. It will certainly be a hell of a lot easier to sell or trade in when the time comes.

Thanks Sam. Exclusivity does not worry me. If the Mondeo is a good car I don't car if everyone else has one. The Mondeo is big but the harshness of the engine and fuel economy does worry me. My father who is a retired Ford mechanic has always told me to steer clear of Fords because their fuel economy 'always sucks' to use his phrase. And I have to say that 40 something mpg as both my friend with his Focus and ScoobyChris report for Ford diesels would tend to back my fathers opinion up. With diesel being so much more expensive a diesel car really needs to have a considerable fuel economy advantage over petrol to make sense. I have to say that the reports of Octavia Tdi economy does attract me to saty with skoda despite my unhappy time with the Petrol Octavia. I do like the Superb, but over here in Northern Ireland finding a 3 or 4 year old Superb seems to be an impossibility. i think i have seen one advertised and it had horrendous mileage. Guess just not enough of them have sold to make them easy to find used.

Have you considered the Vectra. Not sure if the new shape are at a reasonable price yet but they got a slagging originally that it now seems they didn't quite deserve. Maybe some bargains to be had? If you have had enough of breakdowns, go for a Honda!

Just checked out the child safety for both of these: Octavia

Vectra

Chris

Have you considered a VW Passat TDI 130????

Build quality, residuals ( which may mean older/higher mileage, depending on your budget than Mondeo/Laguna ),

performance. Means that in all the Passat is a good choice...

I ran a 99 year 110TDI Saloon.. It was the most reliable car I've ever driven..

cheers

Dazz

I had a Nissan Primera 2.2 dCi SVE and you can't beat it for standard kit (colour sat nav, reversing camera, climate control, upgraded hi fi with sub, 17" alloys etc.)

But the Renault influence shines through as I had major problems with reliability and build quality is questionable at best. Had a Laguna II for 4 weeks and most bits fell off and the stereo kept overheating.

I have to agree with ecklad and the Passat suggestion.

Sorry chris but the Mondeo TDCi sounds too much like a Transit for my taste but thats only a concern if you are shallow like me the rest of the car is rather good though.

I notice a lot of Laguna driver's drive around as if thier sh.it dont stink?

New generation of BMW drivers perhaps?

They spend alot of time looking in the rear view mirror to see what bits have fallen off.

The last person that ripped the pi$$ out of my Skoda was in fact a lasagne driver

Sorry chris but the Mondeo TDCi sounds too much like a Transit for my taste but thats only a concern if you are shallow like me the rest of the car is rather good though.

It sounds like any other diesel (the Transit uses the same engine ) when it's cold but when warm it's very quiet and refined, especially compared to my old PD engined Fabia...

Chris

Once I have my Octavia fixed early next week I am going to sell it as it is time to get something newer. Truth be told after many happy years driving 3 different Felicia's my two years with an Octavia have not been a happy experience with just too many of the electrical/electronic parts giving trouble. So for the first time in many a long year I am looking at other makes. The trouble the Octavia has given is not the only reason, also other makes actually seem to be better value at the 3 year old stage that I usually buy. I have just test drove two cars which I am trying to decide between.

The first (and the reason I visited the dealer) is a 2002 Mondeo 2.0 TDi LX. This car is on sale for

I was aware that the Mondeo engine is shared by the Transit which goes to prove it must be damned reliable

Does the Volvo V50 thingy use it too?

And don't forget the X-type too.

I was aware that the Mondeo engine is shared by the Transit which goes to prove it must be damned reliable

Does the Volvo V50 thingy use it too?

And don't forget the X-type too.

Not only that, the Mondeo gearbox is based on the transit box too so you get syncromesh in reverse like I had on my Freelander. Oh, how I miss it.

Mate of mine has just bought a volvo S60 with the D5 engine, now that's a nice diesel - if there is such a thing!