Avensis Or Mondeo?

[toyboater]

Interested if anyone has a view on this. Choosing a new company car and narrowed it down to Avensis Tourer T4 2.0 D4D or Ford Mondeo Estate 2.0TDCi 163ps Titanium X. Both have good spec but what about performance and quality? Have Avensis 2.2 D4D at present and generally happy despite uninspiring drive. Any thoughts welcome.

[acetip]

Interested if anyone has a view on this. Choosing a new company car and narrowed it down to Avensis Tourer T4 2.0 D4D or Ford Mondeo Estate 2.0TDCi 163ps Titanium X. Both have good spec but what about performance and quality? Have Avensis 2.2 D4D at present and generally happy despite uninspiring drive. Any thoughts welcome.

hi toyboater

never had a avensis but have a auris,have owned two mondeos,2.0 ghia tdci,and 2.2 st tdci.

if the the avensis build quality is anthing like the auris also the trim in the inside then go for the mondeo.

seat covers are half as thick on the toyotas.

mondeo handling and road holding is a bench mark others try to match.

many on ths forum wil not agree,but i am not a traitor just telling how it is.

but the avensis maybe superior in the faults ive mentioned.

at least being a company car you will not be affected by the rip off prices that toyota charge.

ford servicing is every 12500 miles not 10000 miles.

if the titanium is on low profile tyres go for the ghia its a higher spec anyway and ride much smoother.

my mondes were 2007 not he latest models.so road tests are the way to go.

good luck with your choice.

[dervdave]

Yeah I`ve got to agree if the company is paying Mondeo but if its your money Toyota

[toyboater]

Interesting. Must admit it was the Mondeo build quality and reliability I was worried about. Never had any problems with my own Avensis. Going to test drive both, but expecting the Mondeo to be miles ahead there.

[Stuman]

Toyboater,

I moved to a new Avensis T4 2.0 D4D (saloon) company car in June and had an Avensis T Spirit 2.2 D4D Hatchback before that. Never tried a Mondeo though. Fine with the power and handling on mine (maybe not the most agile in road testers terms, but very smooth and secure and much better than the previous model) - though you will need to test drive both to compare, of course.

I can only say that I am very happy with the car - relaxing to drive and averaging 57-58mpg! I've got the 2009 year model, but I believe the 2010 model comes with even more goodies, including full colour map sat nav, premium hard drive sound system and rear reversing camera (all were extra cost options on the 2009 model).

And of course the electric steering wheel adjustment, which moves the wheel to the farthest position from the driver when turning the engine off. Just another gadget, I suppose, but it adds to that feelgood factor!

[headhurts]

i have the avensis tourer t4 2010 model which is now 6 weeks old, been to france in it and very happy..

excellent build quality superb sound system and lots of toys.

the mondeo is generally reviewed as the better drivers car but i do not screech away from lights and hurtle round corners prefering a supple ride and quiet interior which this gives me.

I also tested the Insignia and mazda 6 but preferred the avensis but unlike magazine reviewers we live in the real world and require a car that suits our particular driving behaviour and day to day needs.

there are oh so many mondeos on the road but you do not at the moment see too many avensis cars.

the servicing on evensis is every 2 years with an oil change every year, unless i have misunderstood the servicing book.

any questions you need answering please contace me.

[AvensiSpain04]

I'm by no means an expert compared to most of the guys on here, but if it was my choice I'd take the Mondeo as the ride/handling/performance will be superior and the build quality on the new Mondeo was a huge step up according to my friend who used to work for Ford.

The Avensis would be tempting to me as I like to be a little different, but with the Mondeo you could have what is basically the best car in class.

[acetip]

I'm by no means an expert compared to most of the guys on here, but if it was my choice I'd take the Mondeo as the ride/handling/performance will be superior and the build quality on the new Mondeo was a huge step up according to my friend who used to work for Ford.

The Avensis would be tempting to me as I like to be a little different, but with the Mondeo you could have what is basically the best car in class.

hi

when i had my mondeo i used to have the diesel car magazine delivered.in one section of it listed all available diesel cars,this covered spec/performance/cosumption etc almost anything you wanted to know.

plus the magazines own views on the cars.

on the latest mondeo they considered it a better a buy than the equivalent series 3 BMW.

i know when i brought my first mondeo 2.0 ltr tdci ghia i was amazed at the build quality.

and full standered eguipment that was extras on other makes.

the layout of controls / buttons and other things were positioned with far more thought than the equivelent one in my auris.

if you want adjust your fuel consumption/miles travelled/fuel remaining you have grope behind the steering wheel to get at adjusting it on the auris,where om the mondeo the buttn for it on the end of the indicator stalk.

so much more use friendly as are many more others things are on it.

my auris ia a petrol model,but my son has a diesel lexus which i beleave has a simular engine that are used in the toyotas and his engine is no where as quiet as the those i had in my mondeos.

i am not trying to knock toyotas but they are not the car they used to be.

others will think differently.

[SF695]

I'm curious. I suppose what you mean by build quality, is cabin enterior quality. That aside, on what areas is the Mondeo so much better than the Avensis, as you claim it to be? Some claims that it handles better, but could you be more specific?

[acetip]

I'm curious. I suppose what you mean by build quality, is cabin enterior quality. That aside, on what areas is the Mondeo so much better than the Avensis, as you claim it to be? Some claims that it handles better, but could you be more specific?

hi

build quality

how well the car is put together.panel and door fits not rattling when driven over small bumbs etc.

the quality of materials used, not held together by use once plastic clips.forexample.

handling

should have thought this self explanetry.car steers, corners handles well under all conditions, you dont have body roll under hard cornering.little understeer or over steer.

steering gives feedback not vague as some cars are.

if you dont know what feedback or body roll or underster/oversteer is then please dont ask.as ignorence is bliss and you dont have to worry your self about them.

[SF695]

I didn't ask what handling, bodyroll, cornering or feedback was. I asked in which of them the Mondeo was as good as some of you claim. BTW, you forgot highspeed stability. And build quality can be a lot of things. Some, myself included would way that build quality is judged by reliability and strength of the chassis, which doesn't really have anything to do with the material used in the cabin.

Forgive my scepticism, but i'm trying to understand how a company, that not too long ago couldn't make a decent car, now suddently is supposed to be a benchmark. Ok, they may have learned a few things from their relationship with Mazda and Volvo.

[acetip]

I didn't ask what handling, bodyroll, cornering or feedback was. I asked in which of them the Mondeo was as good as some of you claim. BTW, you forgot highspeed stability. And build quality can be a lot of things. Some, myself included would way that build quality is judged by reliability and strength of the chassis, which doesn't really have anything to do with the material used in the cabin.

Forgive my scepticism, but i'm trying to understand how a company, that not too long ago couldn't make a decent car, now suddently is supposed to be a benchmark. Ok, they may have learned a few things from their relationship with Mazda and Volvo.

ford have been making cars long before these company were ever thought of.suppling engines that won more F1 races

than anyone else,their rallying must not be forgotten.

ford gave the first cross flow engines the first crossflow radiators,won awards with their through venterlation

fords are not going to replace jags but the disels engines are shared.

also some of their engines have built on a joint ventre wiyh mazda.

i fail to understand that a company that was second to non for quality and reliabikity has been reduced producing cara that are no longer value for their price and using materials that are not fit for purpose as toyota has.

it is not i who make the claim of the mondeos ride and handling but the motoring press,they are better qualified to judge than i, and even you.

[SF695]

What Ford was sometime in the 40's tells nothing about what they were in the in the last 30 years. After having a couple of Fords in the family, i promised myself never to buy one. The previous version of the Mondeo only comfirmed my opinion.

It is however no secret, that Ford has used technology from both Mazda and Volvo and the platform for the present Mondeo was developed in collaboration with Volvo. They also use some Volvo engines i their cars, most notably the turbocharged I5, as well as Volvo have adopted some of Fords engines. Nothing wrong with that. If a company can improve their product by adopting technology from others, that the same company happens to be the owner off, i salute that. Personally, i would rather wait for the Volvo S60 to hit the dealers, than buy a Mondeo.

If Toyota's quality isn't as good today as it used to be, it's not really that difficult to figure out why. Increasing volumes and especially fast increasing volumes rarely go hand in hand with quality. The previous Toyota management had one main objective, to beat GM and be number one in volumes, sacrificing the quality that used to be Toyota's trademark. Some of that management has been replaced. I only hope they will all be replaced and Toyota will find it's roots again.

[SF695]

Regarding the motoring press, there may be a couple that actually know what they are talking about, but personally i never took the majority of them too serious.

[Myko]

I was in two minds buying my Avensis, it was between Mondeo or Mazda 5 but I personally prefer the Avensis, I like the seats and I think if you sit in one ford you've sat in them all and as I drive ford cars in work I wanted something different. I have to say the zetec engine is a great, reliable diesel engine!

[acetip]

Regarding the motoring press, there may be a couple that actually know what they are talking about, but personally i never took the majority of them too serious.

hi agree about the press, as i suspect that some of their opinions are based own choices and preferances also prejudices wich i suppose we make before buying.

we must be gratefull thast we have a choice,it would be a poorer world if we all drove the same vehicle.

though it may be be cheaper by the volume produced.

[SF695]

Regarding the motoring press, there may be a couple that actually know what they are talking about, but personally i never took the majority of them too serious.

hi agree about the press, as i suspect that some of their opinions are based own choices and preferances also prejudices wich i suppose we make before buying.

we must be gratefull thast we have a choice,it would be a poorer world if we all drove the same vehicle.

though it may be be cheaper by the volume produced.

Indeed. The world would be a boring place if we all drove Avensis's or Mondeo's or S60's.

Funny, one of the previous posters said, that he bought the Avensis because there were so many Mondeo's on the road. Here, it is the other way around. My aunts husband bought a Mondeo because there were so many Avensis's on the road, even though he liked the Avensis better. Another reason was that Ford had reduced their prices to increase their sale and also offered low interest loans.

[Pat2u]

Just to add my point on this mondeo/avensis subject , i was always a ford man from escorts to the working man van includingthe mondeo until i started useing toyota dealership which i will say toyota wins it hands up on vehicle and mainly on customer care, ford takes your money at the sale point of purchase and leave you high and dry in the service/repair bays.

[acetip]

Just to add my point on this mondeo/avensis subject , i was always a ford man from escorts to the working man van includingthe mondeo until i started useing toyota dealership which i will say toyota wins it hands up on vehicle and mainly on customer care, ford takes your money at the sale point of purchase and leave you high and dry in the service/repair bays.

there is a ford main agent in norwich thats just won some customer satisfaction competion.

used to work with a lad who worked there,he told me if some one took their car in for annual service when he worked there, and it had done less than 50000 miles, they would not change the oil or filter.

this was not company policy just lazy staff.

when i had my mondeos and they were still under warranty i used a ford agent at wymondem here in norfolk

they were terrific, nothing was to much trouble,and treated you like a valued custoner,i have heard not one complaint about the service there.

it possible because there are so many ford dealers they have many complaints,ive seen complainst against toyota workshops on these frums but they are the exeptions,mind you they not cheap, and the servicss are at 10000 miles

most other makers are at larger miliage.

[SF695]

If memory serves me correct and it usually does, their services weren't that great here either.

As you probably guessed, the Mondeo isn't on my short list, or for that matter on my long list. However, the Avensis lacks a performance model. Yes i know, i've said so numerous times in the hope that someone from TMC would read it and take it into consideration, but offering a 177 hp diesel as the fastest version, just isn't good enough. Even the Carina E GTI had 173 hp back in the 90s and the Japanese market Caldina, which shared platform with the MK1 Avensis, even had a 260 hp version. 3S-GTE.

[antred]

The latest Which magazine has the Avensis above the Mondeo for reliability, owner satisfaction etc

[AvensiSpain04]

The latest Which magazine has the Avensis above the Mondeo for reliability, owner satisfaction etc

I know though I may have enjoyed it more, I would have been far more nervous driving a Mondeo from Durham to Malaga in Spain than my Avensis as I did.

Got here with no problems at all on the way and in total comfort. Very comfortable car over long distances. The fact it did 2000 + miles without even stopping long enough to let the engine cool and it took it in it's stride pleased me no end. Barely used a drop of oil too and I got down here on just a few full tanks; amazing really for a petrol car that size.

Make no mistake, even though Toyota aren't possibly what they used to be, it is still a reliable car to own. And a very comfy one at that.

[headhurts]

I did drive the Mondeo before buying the Toyota and they are totally different cars, to my mind the Toyota was more comfortable for me but for some it would be the other way round.

The new Toyota is very well put together and has a huge spec compared in comparison to the Mondeo, Insignia and Mazda 6 I was interested in.

As previously mentioned Which magazine puts the Avensis ahead of Mondeo giving the Toyota averall Which verdict of 72% compared with 64% for Mondeo.

The Mondeo was indeed a benchmark car when first produced and is still highly rated but other makers have not stood still since then all of them improving their cars as this sector of the market is probably the most competative.

Read the reviews then go test the cars and select the one that suits you, I love the look of the Tourer but others do not.

One more point is the residuals are better for Toyota cars this may be a consideration for some.

Regards, Robin

[acetip]

If memory serves me correct and it usually does, their services weren't that great here either.

As you probably guessed, the Mondeo isn't on my short list, or for that matter on my long list. However, the Avensis lacks a performance model. Yes i know, i've said so numerous times in the hope that someone from TMC would read it and take it into consideration, but offering a 177 hp diesel as the fastest version, just isn't good enough. Even the Carina E GTI had 173 hp back in the 90s and the Japanese market Caldina, which shared platform with the MK1 Avensis, even had a 260 hp version. 3S-GTE.

called at my local super market this morning and parked next to elderly ladys yaris. we got talking about toyota.

i purchased my auris in bury st edmunds,ive posted before about that dealer telling me that the car had on 1 other owner but it had two plus i was assured it had been given a 20000 mile service book stamped etc but after a thorough exam know i it had not.

any way my local toyota dealer has a very good name,though ive had no reason to use him yet for servicing

or anything else.ive had a couple chats with their workshop staff just seaking advice and they have been very helpful and polite telling me to call anytime if i wanted any further advice.

you couldnt wish for more.

this lady was of a different opinion of garage all together.

she purchased the yaris drove it home 1/2 mile parked in front of he house then took a taxi to nofolk & norwich hospital for a hip replacement,never drove car again for 3 weeks.she noticed one day water in one of headlights, as she put it, took car back and complained about. they refused at first to accept responsabilty,but after heated argument and her teling them she hsd only driven it 1 mile.

they opologised and said they would replace the headlamp as it was cracked free of charge.

and as a good will gesture give her a free major service.why this was not done before she took delivery i dont know.

some time later a son of hers came for a visit.he owns a garage in scotland and he examined the car and came to the concluion it had not had a service after all.she said he had used a feather in his exam of the car,why i dont know.he was adamant that the car had not been touched.

this lady told me she would not use them again if they were the last garage in the world.

hi again

further to te above post

i dont blame the workshop in anyway in the above over phantom services.

if a sales dept has any work done on a vehicle (not a customer) then they have to pay that workshop for that work.its a seperate part of a business.

for example rectify some fault before putting for sale on their forecourt.

if there is an obvious defect then will need fixing as this would put a customer off considering purchasing that vehicle.

if they have to pay for a service then this cuts into their profit margin.

they can pick up a company stamp anywhere on the premises stamp the the service book fill in miliage add a date,tick the box, and no one is the wiser.

the only problems is, like i did the buyer ask to the sevice sheets for the service.then all you get, just like i got,we seem to have mislaid them sir,which

made me hear alarm bells.but i had already paid £1000 deposit,with the understanding that it would have the 20000 mile service.

i found pollen filter full of leafs and other debri screen wash almost empty

the oil filter case covered in road grime.as it had only coverd 30 mile since it supposed sevice, then i should have expected a nice shiny canister.tyres were also low on pressure.the space saver spare wheel should be at 60 psi it was at 40 psi.

i am pretty sure the company does not condones this, nor aware its going on,just the salesmen trying to up their sales fiquires.

[SF695]

Well, i don't know. Never been in an Auris, but heard the interior is not first class. My mother tried out a Yaris and fell absolutely in love with it, but ended up buying a VW Polo, that she got very cheap. You can't just ignore figures like less than half of the price and lower mileage. Yet the Yaris was her dreamcar.