OK It may seem a daft comparison at first.

On paper these 2 cars are very different. Different size, huge difference in list price and different driving characteristics. I'm looking for a car to use everyday and the mondeo actually looks very good value for money. A quick comparison below.

1. Space? An easy mondeo win.

2. Power? Both produce 130 bhp

3. Torque? 229 lbs.ft for the VRS ve 243 lbs.ft for the mondeo.

4. Weight? Fabia is approx. 200 kg's lighter.

5. Performance? Not a lot in it up to 60 mhp (around 0.3 of a second according to published figures). Above 60 mph, who knows but I would imagine there isn't

much in it.

6. Equipment? Mondeo win. Comes with everything I would ever need in Zetec trim including the excellent quick clear windscreen.

7. Gearbox? Both have 6 speed boxes.

8. Economy? A win for the Fabia.

9. Wheels and tyres? Both use 16" alloys with 205 section tyres.

10. Handling? Tricky one this. Ford products generally handle really well. I havn't driven a vrs to can't comment? What do you think? The zetec mondeo's come with sports suspension although I'm not sure how this differs from the no sports suspension.

11. Brakes? Bid disks all round on both cars. Again, anyone care to comment on either how good the brakes are on either car?

12. Quality? Not sure. Ford are a lot better these days but VAG have a very good reputation for quality.

13. Depreciation? A win for the Fabia.

14. Running and repair costs? Very little difference in fuel and servicing costs. Certainly not enough to influence the decision.

15. Image? A win for the Fabia. Mondeo's still have a repmobile image although not sure this really bothers me.

And finally Price? A VRS with metallic can be bought for 11500 (approx) on the road from 'drive the deal'. Official lits price for the mondeo with metallic paint is 19000 (approx), however my local ford dealer said he could do 12700 on the road. My local Motorpoint car supermarket is advertising new cars at 12299.

What do you think?

All the best.

Martin.

I'm sure "ScoobyChris" will be along shortly to give his opinion He went from an Impreza to a Fabia to a Mondeo.

Mondeo =good big family car

Fabia = good small family car

Depends what you need.Image doesn't come in to either of these cars.

On paper the performance looks similar. On the road the fabia pulls away. Personaly I dont like the mondeo think it might be down to the stupidly close ratio gearbox. Never change gear so much. Its good car but no. The one I drove had a bit of roll but it was adjustabe round cornors.

But its 2 totaly differnent cars.

10. Handling? Tricky one this. Ford products generally handle really well. I havn't driven a vrs to can't comment? What do you think? The zetec mondeo's come with sports suspension although I'm not sure how this differs from the no sports suspension.

Mondeo easily. Independent suspension all round plus front and rear anti-roll bars

11. Brakes? Bid disks all round on both cars. Again, anyone care to comment on either how good the brakes are on either car?

The Mondeo has bigger 303mm brakes up front (as it's a bigger car!) and they seem less over-servoed comapred to the Fabia. I'd say this is probably quite a personal thing though - both cars can be stopped adequately with standard brakes

12. Quality? Not sure. Ford are a lot better these days but VAG have a very good reputation for quality.

Mondeo is leaps ahead (IMHO). The Fabia was rattling, sensors failing and bits wearing out within a few months of me picking the car up (with 53k miles on). My Mondeo has similar mileage and is still rattle free. May be an unfair comparison though as the Fabia should really be compared with other cars of its size and price....

14. Running and repair costs? Very little difference in fuel and servicing costs. Certainly not enough to influence the decision.

Servicing costs pittance compared to the Fabia - take it to RapidFit (who the Ford dealers pass their cars to anyway) and it's

I'm sure "ScoobyChris" will be along shortly to give his opinion He went from an Impreza to a Fabia to a Mondeo.

You forgot the Disco

Chris

Thanks for the replies. I forgot to mention that 'tunability' isn't an issue as I have no intention of having either car remapped.

Martin.

Also I found the PD130 lump to have less turbo lag.

Ford are cheap to maintain. Service cost of a fabia is £160+vat every 10K. I avergae 45mpg.

Also I found the PD130 lump to have less turbo lag.

That's strange as mine pulls strongly from about 1200rpm - much more like an N/A car than the Fabia which didn't really get going til about 1800/2000rpm and was much easier to catch off boost. May be different with the 6-speed box as I have the 5-speed one.....

Chris

That's strange as mine pulls strongly from about 1200rpm - much more like an N/A car than the Fabia which didn't really get going til about 1800/2000rpm and was much easier to catch off boost. May be different with the 6-speed box as I have the 5-speed one.....

Chris

One I drove was back in 2004. Just before I got my Fabia (it was on order). Dont know what spec it was.

the only thing that i found with the mondeo is the turbo lag in 1st gear, nothing nothing nothing then warp 7....