As far as Ive reading in reviews, the new mondeo doesnt drive as well the older generations.

I had a 2004 mondeo before the octy I have now, and the only thing the Mondeo did better was hauling long and big objects. It was a tight fit getting a 185cm tall fridge in the Octy.

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

'Sublime' just about sums the Escort Mk 1/2 gearchange, ridiculously good for the period and price category.

The throw was so light and precise (I remember pushing it around with one finger) but I guess having the gearbox only inches from your hand helped too. Probably no coincidence the MX5 is similarly praised for its gearchange.

 

Ford still do a good manual box, I thought the Focus I drove in the UK last year much smoother than my mk3 1.4tsi but was not so happy with the Focus's clutch with its vague bite point.

The Octavia mk2 5 speed on the 1.9pd had a very nice feel, far less notchy than the mk3 Octavia 6 speed, especially 1st to 2nd, but the rest are ok though

I've not sat in the new Mondeo but it does look a bigger car than the Octavia on the road.

What confuses me though is that most posts above referring to the Mondeo talk about how much larger it is inside than the Octavia but when I look at the figures quoted for boot space and rear seat flat the Octavia trounces it.

 

The Australian motoring press seem to have fallen for a cunning (and slightly dishonest) marketing ploy by Ford where the boot space for the Mondeo estate is frequently quoted at 700 litres.

I could not believe this and looking closely at the Aus brochure there is an asterisk beside it and small print further down saying the 700 litre measurement is to the roofline. British brochures are more honest with figures a little over 500 litres for the more usual measurement to the window/seat back height.

'Sublime' just about sums the Escort Mk 1/2 gearchange, ridiculously good for the period and price category.

The throw was so light and precise (I remember pushing it around with one finger) but I guess having the gearbox only inches from your hand helped too. Probably no coincidence the MX5 is similarly praised for its gearchange.

 

Exactly. My father's was basic trim - rubber mats, no ciggy lighter. No rustproofing either, cos the front struts came through the turret tops.

 

Best pal's OH has a new MX5 - done 400 miles in three months...

I've not sat in the new Mondeo but it does look a bigger car than the Octavia on the road.

...

 

The Australian motoring press seem to have fallen for a cunning (and slightly dishonest) marketing ploy by Ford where the boot space for the Mondeo estate is frequently quoted at 700 litres.

...

 

 

Rear threequarters look really heavy, adds to impression of bulk.

 

...

 

That'll be 700 litres in liquid form.

I now have had 12 Skodas 9 are octavias  would anyone want to go for inferior cars I now drive a L&K Octavia 2016

DSG What a car. I am now 79 years old and am as pleased as I was when I bought  my first Skoda. Which was a

Favoret. Be sensible and keep with Skoda

I've not sat in the new Mondeo but it does look a bigger car than the Octavia on the road.

What confuses me though is that most posts above referring to the Mondeo talk about how much larger it is inside than the Octavia but when I look at the figures quoted for boot space and rear seat flat the Octavia trounces it.

My old Mondeo was close to 20cm longer than the Octy. But the Octy is roomier. The boot is shorter, but not much.

A friend of mine just bought an a6 allroad, a much bigger car. But its any bigger in the boot or backseats. Its the bonnet that makes the difference.

... a6 allroad, a much bigger car. But its any bigger in the boot or backseats. Its the bonnet that makes the difference.

 

 

Should that read "it's NOT any bigger"...   ?

Edited 30 July, 20169 yr by FlyingGecko

I noticed when I parked next to my boss's 5 series estate that they look remarkably similar when viewed from the side, with the exception that the BMW's bonnet is about twice as long.

Should that read "it's NOT any bigger"... ?

You are correct. I sometimes think faster than I type :p

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

Didn't get this, if you have L&K please share some pics to see it

I now have had 12 Skodas 9 are octavias would anyone want to go for inferior cars I now drive a L&K Octavia 2016

DSG What a car. I am now 79 years old and am as pleased as I was when I bought my first Skoda. Which was a

Favoret. Be sensible and keep with Skoda

Respect, you are the biggest Skoda fan I know about.

How is the L&K? Can you share some pics or links where it's shown

Respect, you are the biggest Skoda fan I know about.

How is the L&K? Can you share some pics or links where it's shown

Thanks for the remarks I just love the L&K. Everything I want is on it.

The 2.o litre engine is fine around town I get approx. 42 per Gallon

Sorry no pics as I  at my age was not brought up with technology

and wouldn't know the first thing about putting pics on the net

Just a great cars are Skoda

Thanks for the remarks I just love the L&K. Everything I want is on it.

The 2.o litre engine is fine around town I get approx. 42 per Gallon

Sorry no pics as I at my age was not brought up with technology

and wouldn't know the first thing about putting pics on the net

Just a great cars are Skoda

Wish you health to have many more Skodas after this beauty

I've not sat in the new Mondeo but it does look a bigger car than the Octavia on the road.

What confuses me though is that most posts above referring to the Mondeo talk about how much larger it is inside than the Octavia but when I look at the figures quoted for boot space and rear seat flat the Octavia trounces it.

 

The Australian motoring press seem to have fallen for a cunning (and slightly dishonest) marketing ploy by Ford where the boot space for the Mondeo estate is frequently quoted at 700 litres.

I could not believe this and looking closely at the Aus brochure there is an asterisk beside it and small print further down saying the 700 litre measurement is to the roofline. British brochures are more honest with figures a little over 500 litres for the more usual measurement to the window/seat back height.

 

You have it correct, some manufacturers are more honest than others.

 

I think the problem for us is that no two manufacturers use the same methods for measuring internal dimensions, so quite often when taking numbers from Ford and comparing them with those from Skoda often means you are comparing apples with oranges.

 

I've never sat in a new Mondeo but externally they look much bigger than the Octavia.

I've just spent seven weeks in a New Mondeo Titanium TDCi 180 hatch (a courtesy car while mine was being straightened after an accident). Would I buy one? On balance, no.

It's not a direct rival to my Octy (mine is a 1.4 TSi SE DSG hatch), but it struggles to punch its weight outside fleet circles and seems to me like it's caught between two stools. It is a better drive without doubt - much more supple ride and more agile handling - and the interior has more of a flourish to it. Similarly, the seats seem slightly bigger and a tiny bit more comfy. I obviously liked all the Titanium toys - speed limit sign recognition visible in the speedo, a nice virtual cockpit display, standard sat nav, keyless start etc. And it does have more presence than an Octy.

But that was it. It has no more room than an Octy, the interior flourish is compromised by awful hard plastics on the centre console, and it isn't as well made - the trim fit was pretty average and a plastic panel under the dash kept dropping down. It felt just like a Mondeo I had in the past - likely to look shabby within three years. I was sorry to lose the toys when I handed the car back, but not sorry to lose the Mondeo. My Octy is better made, better value and its limitations (cheap back axle, plain interior styling) aren't deal-breakers.

Stick with Skoda.

My mrs has had two peugeots, a reasonably ancient 106 and a more recent 206. The 106's driver's side window fell out one day. No apparent cause. It just fell out. Then one day I was operating the fan control and the entire plastic surround on the centre console fell off. It was like one of those cars that clowns have in the circus.

 

The 206 was purchased at two years old with about 12k on the clock. It kept cutting out at roundabouts, the interior heater and lights kept conking out, the steering rack appeared to be connected to the wheels in a purely advisory sense only, and changing gear was like trying to force a condom full of topsoil through a letterbox.

 

This was the best part of 10 years ago and I realise that they are different cars now - and the 508 will be vastly different anyway - but it has put me off Peugeot for life. Having said all that, I've noticed a lot of big Peugeot taxis knocking around recently, so in reality they are probably not as horrifically bad in the reliability stakes as my personal experiences would lead me to believe.

 

I test drove a previous version mondeo before buying the octavia. It's a very nice motor but the combination of go-kart steering in a car the width of the QE2 (personal preference I know) and the relative expense (especially factoring in the 0% APR on the Skoda at the time) were the things that put me off.

 

My two penneth: stick with Skoda.