Looking at similar models from say 2002 on a 52 plate, the Mondeo 2.0TDCI 130bhp and the Superb 1.9TDI PD 130bhp. They are both available with a decent specification for between

I'm pretty certain the Superb is bigger, and having been in both, the Superb is better built (well, at least feels that way) and is more solid.

Mondeo handles better

I believe the 130 2.0 TDCI engine is a peugot sourced engine, and they make great diesels (or certainly did) so no worries regarding the old ford jokes for diesels.

Superb is a lot bigger inside........

might sound daft but Imo a Superb is more upmarket and less reppy

less comman too, and the reliability on french engines are pritty poor - well so i've herd pug taxis are always in for repair pipes going wrong etc etc. and the mondeo isnt anything people will be impressed by at least with the skoda people will give you nice comments about your skoda:thumbup:

less comman too, and the reliability on french engines are pritty poor - well so i've herd pug taxis are always in for repair pipes going wrong etc etc. and the mondeo isnt anything people will be impressed by at least with the skoda people will give you nice comments about your skoda:thumbup:

Erm while french cars might not be bolted together as well as the german onesl I had an XUD engine go on for 250k miles without any major work and another for 160k before the car was written off in an accident.

Thats why rover and peugot and citroen and BMW to mention just a few all used the XUD engines. I can't comment on french petrol engines or renaults, but the PSA diesel engines are very reliable in my experience.

Certainly my BX and 306's diesel engines had less problems than our neighbours VW passat of a much newer vintage. The pipes you mentioned sounds more like a citroen Hydraulic pipe which used to break a fair bit on the old BX and Xantia as they were too exposed to debris on the road.

As for the image comments, well people used to say the same about Skodas. Personally I would have a drive of both (Even at a dealers) and see which you like, if you like them both then see which one you can get the better deal on and will hold it's value if you wish to resell it.

I'm pretty sure the TDCI 130bhp lump is not French - the 136bhp one in the Focus C-MAX is though. I looked at both Superb and Mondeo and decided that the Mondeo was the better car for me - much more of a driver's car with excellent handling, much smoother and more refined engine and power delivery, plus it felt like it had a bigger boot (and a hatch!). I'm also very pleasantly surprised by how cheap it is to run and service too thanks to Ford parts being so readily available

Build quality is easily on a par with the Superb, and cabin space feels about the same from the driver's seat

At the end of the day, drive both and see which suits you best. I've now covered 16k fault free miles in mine since last June

Chris

and the mondeo isnt anything people will be impressed by at least with the skoda people will give you nice comments about your skoda:thumbup:

Why would you buy a car to impress other people? :confused:

Chris

confused about the superb boot space myself. My swmbo's grandad went from an octavia to a superb, but started to complain the he could get more in the octavia. Since then he has swapped back to an octy due to boot space issues and not being able to get everything he wants to in it. He doesnt have the estate by the way.

Having owned a TDCi Zetec S 130 (tuned to the state of 170 bhp) I can honestly say it was one of the best cars I ever owned. Ride comfort is excellent, handling is simply superb for a large car and would leave most other cars in the same braket in their wake. If you get the Zetec S it has a nice fat bodykit on it and after the revision in 2003 (53 plate) it has a much plusher interior and has a very good spec for the £££ especially in the higher end models.

I must point out though that this isn't really a fair debate as it's really the Octavia which is in the same class as the Mondeo. The Superb is almost in a braket of it's own as it is as large as a A6, BMW 5 series, E Class merc etc but costs a lot less, I can't think of the top off my head any other car which offers this kind of space and refinement at this price nearly new.

The Superb is almost in a braket of it's own as it is as large as a A6, BMW 5 series, E Class merc etc but costs a lot less, I can't think of the top off my head any other car which offers this kind of space and refinement at this price nearly new.

Park a Mondeo next to a Superb - you may be surprised how little difference there is in size (Superb is a fraction longer, Mondeo is a fraction wider) ... I know I was!

Chris

superb doesn't have a folding rear seat until late 04 - which explains the boot comment. the superb's boot's *cavernous* - you could fit a fabia in there! but seats don't fold which is a little annoying.

i love mine, especially after a jabba remap.

the superb's boot's *cavernous*

Although it's still smaller than the Mondeo's (with the seats up)

Chris

2.0TDCI is a Ford unit my brother in law is in the development team for it. Octavia is a Focus rival like a Golf it is on the A5 platform.

Ford better in the short term Skoda for the long haul i'd say.

JON

Just buy the Superb.

a few who have posted in this thread say that the Ford engine is OK , it probably was/is in the cars that they have/had but having worked on this engine i would say that the fuel system is cr#p TDI or TDCI, any sort of high mileage (60K+) on it and you're gonna need injectors on the TDCI , £200 each , or they require recalibrating every other month .TDI had fuel pump problems where the rollers inside the pump broke up wrecking everything in the fuel system , on the engine front , DMF problems on almost every car ,early ones out of warranty now so expensive to repair (£500+) EGR valves seize , oil leaks ,depreciation , sorry i'm going on but i hate them , so please get a Superb

Mondeo can be a hatchback and thats very useful - thats why I went for an octy not a superb. I looked at a mondeo- my mate had one and said it was the best car he ever owned.

I agree with ric04VRS above, but am I right in saying the Superb needs a cambelt which will set you back £300 incl labour whereas the mondeo has a timing chain....... I could be wrong

am I right in saying the Superb needs a cambelt which will set you back

the superb's boot's *cavernous* - you could fit a fabia in there!

Why would you want to put something uncool in your boot :confused:

Park a Mondeo next to a Superb - you may be surprised how little difference there is in size (Superb is a fraction longer' date=' Mondeo is a fraction wider) ... I know I was!

Chris[/quote']

The Mondeo looks smaller than it is, quite deceiving.

Ok, I own quite a few Superbs and Mondeo's on my taxi fleet, The superb IS a lot bigger than the Mondeo, particularly noticeable in the rear seats, and the Superbs boot is actually f'ing huge, the problem is that it's the wrong shape, not being a hatch means it's too shallow and therefore makes getting stuff in and out very difficult.

On the build quality front however the ford is miles ahead of the Skoda, interior trim is far superior to that of the Skoda and lasts a lot longer before it needs replacing too, also the Ford handles much better than the Skoda but the Skoda rides better.

So in summary, if you want ride quality, interior space and are not too worried about filling the boot with suitcases the go for the Superb.

If you want good build quality, versatile boot space, good handling but aren't too worried about interior space (particularly in the rear) then go for the Mondeo.