Octavia vs Mondeo vs peugeot

[harrylime]

I'm thinking about changing my mk 2 octavia for a nearly new car and have been looking at the mondeo, the new octavia and the peugeot 508. Has anyone had any experience of the mondeo or peugeot, and if so, how do they compare with the new octy?  I like the new octavia (not driven one yet, I plan to drive all 3 on the same day if possible). One of my concerns is the reported excessive road noise, as refinement is one of my main priorities. I'd appreciate any feedback

[Juego]

I read about excessive road noise on the octavia and I can't find an issue. Mine is a taxi and I've already covered a fair whack of miles and still love it! Mines is the 1.6tdi and before I bought it I was worried about the engine economy and coping with the weight, but after a test driv I was surprised it was absolutely fine, I average about 44mpg about town and had it close to 70mpg on the motorway at 70 with cruise control on.

New Mondeo is nice but haven't driven one, Peugeot 508 I considered before the octavia. I prefer my skodas over other manufacturers and chose the octavia because it offered the most spec for the money, mine is an elegance on a 15 plate.

[WayTooTall]

When I was looking for my replacement car, I drove one of the previous model Mondeos. It was a Titanium X, but I really hated the ride. Really felt everything. Far more than I do in my VRS. I also hated the dash layout.

 

I suspect the ride will be model dependant, so do try different models.

[Rodge]

The Octavia should be much cheaper than a Mondeo or 508 as it's mainly intended to compete in the next class down. Skoda's equivalent to those cars would be the Superb. However I haven't driven current versions of any of those cars or read up on them, so I can't be more helpful.

[wlange]

My best advise would be - don't go with Peugeot...regardles how positive your first impression may be!

I had 508, bought a new one (ex-demo with almost no mileage on it) in Allure version, with LED, big navi, camera, etc. full-option. That was after having 2x Skoda Superb Mk2 and I was in for more shock therapy than I could imagine.

I could give you a long list of oddities, idiotic solutions, completely wrong ergonomics, ridiculous design quirks, engineering fails, shortcomings that one would not expect in a car from this century (my personal favorite was occasional electrical noise interference from engine in a 2k€ audio), but one thing that I truly couldn't accept was handling. Not that you feel it at first (e.g. test drive), but over time you see how inaccurate it is, that steering spins by itself at low speed on any bump, that it's no where near as steady and predictable as Skoda, all speeds considered. I've checked it in 3 workshops, including TUV and was informed that Peugeot is like that.

Suffice to say, that despite obvious, hefty money loss after few days I started selling this car. Took me at the another 6 months to get rid of it without loosing "too much" money. Bitter pill anyway.

Then I got Octavia L&K and it's technically miles away from P 508. Only advantage of the Peugeot was slightly softer/comfy suspension (I have 18" rims now on Octy which could also be the reason).

I've already spilled some of my grief before ;P

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/398496-octavia-iii-dsg-vs-manual/?p=4613219

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/399738-2016-mkiii-xenonssomewhat-underwhelmed/?p=4621952

 

As for Ford - never had one, my parents had 3 (mondeo + 2x fusion) and were pleased. Personally I find them always a bit plasticky and I do not like the overall "feeling" of the car, but that's purely personal thing - more of a feeling.

All in all my advise would be - Skoda (Octy / Sup - Mk2?). If not - Ford in case you like it. Peugeot - in case you like problems and want to keep asking yourself "why the did I pay all that money for that piece of crp.

Edited 28 July, 2016 by wlange

[Gabbo]

I agree with Rodge.

If refinement is your main concern The Mondeo is much better than the Octavia. (It is a class above Octavia = Focus, Superb = Mondeo).

Plus the Skoda is the cheaper version of VW so the Octy is another level away from that.

I have owned a Peugeot once, had lots of problems, so would never buy again. However, I hear recent model have improved a lot.

 

 

For me, the Octy is great on the nice Swiss roads but when you hit concrete highway or rough tarmac the road noise is much more present.

It is perfectly acceptable for me given the price of the car but I can understand why some don't like it.

 

I looked at the Mondeo (new) when buying but chose the Octavia because there was a 20k CHF price difference for a similar spec & options.

For the price the Octy it is amazing value for money, great engines, good technology & seems very good in terms of reliability.

It a lot of ways its punching above its price tag/market position.

 

However, you will notice where money has been saved once the car has a few miles on it.

I have several interior ratlles & the limited sound proofing is obvious on bad roads.

 

Don't get me wrong, the Octavia is a very very good car, I am really happy with it & Skoda will be given first dibs when I come to change again but the Mondeo is (on paper) a much more expensive car (like for like).

 

 

As you suggest the best thing to do is test drive them as close together as possible to give a good comparison.

Edited 28 July, 2016 by Gabbo

[Gabbo]

There's also the difference in used price to consider as I imagine a e.g. Mondeo 2l TDI Titanium would cost much more than a 2l Elegance Octy in the uk?

[M12MKD]

Look at the JD or other survey reports to where each manufacture are placed.......that should answer your question about one them.

 

I wouldn't say the Octavia is amazing value for money, not like previous models. It's not bad and as new cars go a more value option. What about the large Kia? 7 year warranty etc.

 

Out of the 3, it would be between the Octavia and Mondeo. I've had Peugeots in the past, and ones made after 2001 are terrible!

[anthmcm]

Your best bet is to get a good old test drive in all of them and decide which works for you - just try to get some motorway time in them as well.

 

Lots of people comment on the noise in the octy - maybe i am deaf but i just don't find it a problem at all it seems just as refined as any of the others cars i have owned - the last one being a 3 series BMW. 

 

I like the look of the new Peugeot 508 but never driven one. I did own a Mondeo a few years back and swore I would never have one again, I may have just had a lemon but it was the most unreliable car I have ever owned - mechanically it was generally ok with the exception of the rear wheel bearings that seemed to fail every 6 to 8 months but electronics were appalling.

[FlyingGecko]

Where are you, harrylime? UK or Vienna?

 

The current Mondeo in Europe, launched in 2014, built in Spain, is a slightly revised version of the US model, from 2012. So not as young as the Octavia.

 

These days the big makes don't vary their cars much from country to country, very much a "one size fits all" (and none perfectly) approach, regardless of what they say in public.

 

The 508 is older - from 2011.

 

You'll find there's just as much room in the Skada s the other two. But as anthmcm says, try them all and see what you think. In my view Peugeot have lost their way in the past decade - used to be best riding cars on the road. And for no rational reason, I'll never have a Ford, though the gearbox in my father's Mk1 Escort was the sweetest gearchange I've ever known.

[Gerrycan]

The only Peugeot I would be interested in is the 308 and preferably a wagon.

Whoops, I meant estate.

Edited 28 July, 2016 by Gerrycan

[DaryllH]

I drove a nearly new manual 308 last week. In terms of the build quality, it seemed pretty good.... until I used the clutch. Stiff as hell and squeaked like a mouse caught in a trap. Handling was pretty average too. I've had a 206 diesel and a 407 diesel in the past and both had pretty expensive problems at relatively low mileage and for that reason I said I'd never own one again. Actually, we had a 2008 Mini John Cooper Works for a while which have a Peugeot made engine and that needed £5k worth of warranty work in a year...

 

Ford I'm a fan of, but I went with the Octavia 1) for value reasons and 2) I'm a huge fan of the diesel/DSG combo but couldn't afford a new GTD.

[Gerrycan]

Interesting! The 308 gets very complimentary reviews here in Australia.

[Gabbo]

I'm sure the car from new would actually be quite good.

Even a Dacia is fairly pleasant to drive mechanically these days.

My problem with Peugeot is like Daryl, how much will it cost you after the 2-year (maybe 3-year in the UK ?) warrenty runs out.

 

There are so many manufacturers making good cars to choose from these days its difficult to go back to one where you've had a bad experience.

[davitc]

Wouldn't touch Peugoet don't rate the seat comfort at all.

[dsj20v]

Wouldn't touch Peugoet don't rate the seat comfort at all.

I had a 308 last week and thought it was poor, the touchscreen has a delay that seems about 10mins, fair few squeaks, mine was the hdi and gearing seemed all wrong I'm used to hitting 50 and into 6th this thing I twice stalled coming up to junction in 3rd and it either juddered/cut out/or so sluggish, I know a week or so I would've adjusted but jesus also wasn't too keen on handling so I'd try the mondeo and octavia, I've had similar tried a vrs 230 combo against focus st-3 estate pros and cons for both

[Greetty]

I had a previous model mondeo (titanium X sport) and I was looking at the new mondeos before I got the Octavia VRS. Main reason I didn't go with mondeo was because they had dropped the sporty diesel offering.

The Octavia vrs has plenty of advantages over the mondeo - performance, costs etc. Overall I would say the ride firmness was similar in both but the mondeo was definitely quieter and more refined. The only other thing I didn't like in the Octy was the audio quality (Bolero) so would strongly advise higher level audio in Octy if that is important to you. So if refinement is top priority I would go Mondeo.

[davitc]

I had a 308 last week and thought it was poor, the touchscreen has a delay that seems about 10mins, fair few squeaks, mine was the hdi and gearing seemed all wrong I'm used to hitting 50 and into 6th this thing I twice stalled coming up to junction in 3rd and it either juddered/cut out/or so sluggish, I know a week or so I would've adjusted but jesus also wasn't too keen on handling so I'd try the mondeo and octavia, I've had similar tried a vrs 230 combo against focus st-3 estate pros and cons for both

 

Funny you say that, 2 years ago I had a 308 HDI hire car and the same issue i.e. don't bother trying 4th unless your doing over 45MPH. The year later I had a brand new Skoda Fabia petrol DSG and what a difference, there wasn't much between the fuel consumption either.

 

In my vRS TDI I can go into 4th at about 26MPH on flat and slight inclines at 28MPH.

 

Back to the thread, I used to like the Mondeo in early versions but not sure now, I'd go Octavia or Superb or Passat if you've dependinding on funds. I do like my vRS but it's not the quietest wind/road noise.

Edited 28 July, 2016 by davitc

[glosrich]

Peugeot ha ha.

 

They are cheap for a reason...

 

They made some good cars up until 2000 and then went downhill, where as Skoda have got better since then!

 

Peugeots - overly complicated, flimsy and expensive to repair. 

[wlange]

Since some people have still hope for P-company, let me share few more "observations and experiences" I had with it (again, talking about a new car, top version of 508 + extras):

- windshield washer tubing disconnected 3x in 6 months; the pump died too....and Peugeot refused to repair it within warranty, claiming that fluid froze and damagded the pump...wtf? not only i had nati-freeze there, but even if I wouldn't have, how come that water system in a car does not resist icing?

- parking sensors and camera - long story short rather useless and totally unreliable; I use them successfully and fully trust them in VAG cars

- electrical adjustment in driver seat - half of it died...simply

- interior mirror dips...on it's own with time...needs re-adjustment daily. It also goes in a nice tango to the diesel music (vibrates / creates distorted reflection)

- rear glass washer - does not spray but spits huge amount of fluid on maybe 10% of wiper area (more like a toilet flush)

- noises...everywhere: buzzing, squeaking, etc, with 100% permanent hiss of electronics on top of it (quiet ~18kHz noise all the time)...thing was really driving me crazy

- mixed controls on steering wheel - part of audio on left, part on right, same for cruise control. In general - idiotic audio control from wheel (no way to ff/rew music/book, one can only skip entire track)

- music often (20%) unable to resume the song...yeah that's one hell of a challenge for programmers.

- as mentioned earlier - occasional interference from engine: a buzzing from speakers fluctuating with engine revs. Thing that every amateur electronic tinkerer would avoid, but not the big PSA concern. Hilarious...if not for the money I paid extra for the audio.

- no way to switch off the infotainment (you can only dim the lcd down) ???

- a nice case from quirks department - consider a scenario: radio is off, no music, just silence > then someone calls > you pick up the call > have a chat > you end the call > radio goes on & shouts by itself...wtf?
- infotainment screen poorly seated in dashboard: few bottom lines of lcd are already covered with plastic trim...I guess you get the picture.

- cup holders just under navi lcd and angled toward it - try to put a bigger cup (>200ml) there and with 1st breaking attempt 'voila - your coffee is washing your $$$ infotainment.

- another test to take - try the sheet metal on door; metal is paper-thin and collects dents much faster than anything else; i guess there is no softer car on the market

- Navi - ABCD keyboard only (yes - no qwerty, no qwertz or anything else...ABCD - welcome to the kindergarten)

 

Now few things I could have seen before buying:
- no place for small things...don't bother looking for a spot for bigger stuff:

   - good luck finding a spot to put away your glasses.

   - Nice compartment next to driver's leg? Nope - it's just a decoy with buttons for HUD or blanks should you have no HUD.

   - painfully impractical "glove box" (shaped in a way that you cannot even put your service book there) and door storages - accesses requires an extra elbow or open door

   - umph...maybe then that small compartment with rollo next to shifter could save the day? Just open it and see - its 10mm deep - really! lol

- overall "cheap feeling" when first impression is off and one starts to look at details

- LED headlights - in short crap: weaker than HID, no cornering, distracting violet "halo" effect on the beam edge

- smaller trunk than Skoda (even comparing 508 estate with Octy limo)

- less space in rear compared to Octy (don't even try comparing with Sup)

 

... list could be even longer but it's long and boring enough already ;P

Edited 29 July, 2016 by wlange

[Sec8200]

wlange, show the guy few pics of your L&K in and outside, no need to explain further

I was very close to get one brown bronze but last minute I was not able thus downgraded little but still sometimes thinking of it ...

[OscarTheGrouch]

wlange, show the guy few pics of your L&K in and outside, no need to explain further

I was very close to get one brown bronze but last minute I was not able thus downgraded little but still sometimes thinking of it ...

You missed out (a little bit), mine is sweeeet!

[OscarTheGrouch]

I'm thinking about changing my mk 2 octavia for a nearly new car and have been looking at the mondeo, the new octavia and the peugeot 508. Has anyone had any experience of the mondeo or peugeot, and if so, how do they compare with the new octy?  I like the new octavia (not driven one yet, I plan to drive all 3 on the same day if possible). One of my concerns is the reported excessive road noise, as refinement is one of my main priorities. I'd appreciate any feedback

I have owned all the previous generations of the mondeo and driven them to about 150k. My opinion is that it lives in the same segment as the Superb as it is bigger, quieter, and handles better than the current Octavia. I would say it's road holding was it's best point.

As my budget grew and they got electrically more complicated then the reliability fell off a cliff and the comically cheap components were extortionately expensive to replace. I finally had enough when it took my, reliable, mechanic over a month to trace down and fix a loose wiring loom fault.

Comparing it to the Octavia L&K, I now own, the cabin is larger in every dimension in the mondeo and it is quieter to drive on the motorway. As mentioned the mondeo also handles better. On every other aspect of ownership the Octavia knocks it out of the park, the build quality is light years better. The ergonomic design is brilliant and my next purchase will almost certainly be the Superb (for the bigger cabin).

In a nutshell don't buy a Mondeo, ultimately she will break your heart.

[harrylime]

Where are you, harrylime? UK or Vienna?

 

The current Mondeo in Europe, launched in 2014, built in Spain, is a slightly revised version of the US model, from 2012. So not as young as the Octavia.

 

These days the big makes don't vary their cars much from country to country, very much a "one size fits all" (and none perfectly) approach, regardless of what they say in public.

 

The 508 is older - from 2011.

 

You'll find there's just as much room in the Skada s the other two. But as anthmcm says, try them all and see what you think. In my view Peugeot have lost their way in the past decade - used to be best riding cars on the road. And for no rational reason, I'll never have a Ford, though the gearbox in my father's Mk1 Escort was the sweetest gearchange I've ever known.

I once had a mk 1 escort and taught someone to drive in a mk 2.Sublime gearchanges and I can't understand why makers can't replicate that now

[harrylime]

Thank you for those well informed responses.I'm aware that the Mondeo matches the Superb rather than the Octavia. I am considering a Superb, but the Octavia is such a handy size. I recently drove a Mk 2 Superb 140 and was distinctly underwhelmed. I wasn't expecting VRS levels of handling, but bloody hell, going around a large roundabout felt like tacking my Tideway dinghy around an island. I may try a Mk 3 to see if I prefer the handling, but they're still a bit pricey. I think Skoda are losing the value for money aspect. I like the look of the new Mondeo, but would notbbe optimistic about residuals. (although I like the cheaper Ford servicing for 3+ year old models). I have been looking at the Audi A4, which again is a handy size, and which price wise is not that much more than the new Superb. The engineering in the Audi can't be faulted, and the extra you pay is put to good use with extra sound insulation, acoustic windscreen etc. As I say, refinement is a big thing for me, although I am a big Skoda fan. They do very well in JD Power surveys etc