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My 2010 Mondeo is about to go to car heaven. I need to replace it. I'm looking for a car the same size for mostly motorway journeys but big enough to throw my bike in the back.
My initial thoughts was another Mondeo but I've seen a few horror stories about the EcoBoost engines.
So what large comfy motorway cruiser for £10-12k?
I think petrol engine this time as I only do 7-8k miles per year nowadays
This being STW, the answer should be Octavia or Superb
There’s a reason why most taxis are skoda superbs.
It’s not because they are expensive to run or unreliable.
And the rear cabin space is truly enormous.
I used to have a 2013 Octavia company car and I found the driving position a bit cramped for my long legs
V70? E class Merc? Passat?
ElShalimo
Full Member
My 2010 Mondeo is about to go to car heaven. I need to replace it. I’m looking for a car the same size for mostly motorway journeys but big enough to throw my bike in the back.My initial thoughts was another Mondeo but I’ve seen a few horror stories about the EcoBoost engines.
That only applies to the wetbelt version of the 1.0 as far as I know. If you look on AT, most (all?) of the new shape ones are the 2.0 petrol/diesel lumps in various forms.
There’s a reason why most taxis are skoda superbs.
They're either Superb's or Toyota Corolla's round here. Not sure the latter is quite as big as the Mondeo, but they'll certainly last.
Volvo V60 or Mazda 6, but personally I'd stick with a Mondeo
There’s a reason why most taxis are skoda superbs.
They’re either Superb’s or Toyota Corolla’s round here. Not sure the latter is quite as big as the Mondeo, but they’ll certainly last.
Octavias or Priuses here - with the odd Superb.
How about a Toyota Avensis though OP?
I'd run a mile from a Mazda, they still haven't got Skyactive right by all accounts.
Would stick with a Mondeo or Focus estate.
Skyactive is fine in petrol, it's the diesel one that is best avoided.
Currently have a Mondeo estate (diesel) and keep my eyes open for a replacement for it as we are now up to 120,000 miles in it. However, newer ones currently appear to be as rare as hen's teeth plus we know that the supply isn't going to be getting too plentiful as the Mondeo is going to be killed pretty soon anyway. Given I don't know how long we will be sticking with this one we had the timing chain changed at its last service earlier this summer. If I had the cash I would be tempted by either the Merc C class estate or the E class estate. Maybe that's just an unfounded soft spot I have for them. I would also consider another Passat but they too seem to be fairly rare. And a bit more costly than a Mondeo. Same with the Audi A6 - if we are going to hit all of the STW stereotypes. 😉
Just last week my 2014 Mondeo Estate 2.0 tdci went to the auction, part exchanged it for an Octavia 1.4tsi. The Mondeo was on 160K miles, and had a long expensive list of work needing doing, shame as I loved that car. It's been brilliant to me.
I couldn't find a decent, well priced Octavia estate (they are popular), and time was running out, so I have a Octavia Hatchback. So far really enjoying it, and getting 55mpg on my commute, which is great for a petrol. It'll take bikes in the back, it's pretty big. But I'm going to get a towbar on it, and will carry the bikes on a towbar rack.
I would have had another Mondeo Estate, but the MK5 isn't as good apparently. And MK4s were not in plentiful supply.
Would stick with a Mondeo or Focus estate.
IMO the Focus is not half the car the Mondeo is. I also thought the Octavia was much smaller inside than a Mondeo.
OP - I know you say budget of £10-£12k, but thats not far off Tesla money for a fairly new model 3
FunkyDuncFree Member
Would stick with a Mondeo or Focus estate.
IMO the Focus is not half the car the Mondeo is. I also thought the Octavia was much smaller inside than a Mondeo.OP – I know you say budget of £10-£12k, but thats not far off Tesla money for a fairly new model 3
It's interesting they've depreciated that much now, good car for that money, but the OP asked for a car you can 'throw a bike in the back of'. Unfortunately the boot on the model 3 has a really small opening.
I'll chuck in my two penneth worth.
I had a mk4 Mondeo (titanium X sport estate) for 5 years/75k miles, was comfy, solid, mine was a little noisy (odd tyre size on the pre facelift x sport meant that the only option were sticky tyres). Had a brief sojourn into an insignia estate (hateful thing, tiny inside compared to the mondeo and the seat/driving position combination was awful) while I waited for my Corolla estate (touring sports!) to be built/delivered (switched to company car). I've had the Corolla for 4 years/65k now, the seat is one of the most comfortable I've had (2013 Audi A4 was the worst incidentally) tech is pretty good, I've averaged 50mpg over the time I've had the car (1.8 hybrid - but I have a lead foot) and have had no issues with it at all other than consumables. But, it's not the most refined car out there, road noise is intrusive at motorway speed and it is significantly smaller inside than the mondeo was, my gravel bike will go in wheels on (back seats folded flat - there are levers in the boot to fold the seats) but the mtb (XL 29er) has to have the front wheel off.
Used Skoda wagons aren't cheap as they're a very popular used option. You can buy all sorts of much more expensive German options of a similar age and mileage for the same money but most of them have smaller boots.
We drove a couple of Superb's and they were supremely quiet and comfortable but unnecessarily massive in the back. We went with an Octavia VRS DSG in the end. Swallows all my bikes and a pile of kiddy stuff no problem and drives like a dream.
So what large comfy motorway cruiser for £10-12k?
I think petrol engine this time as I only do 7-8k miles per year nowadays
Diesels aren't a poor choice for low mileage, they're a poor choice for short trip distances. If you genuinely want a "motorway cruiser" I'd be looking at another Mondy in a 2L diesel flavour. There must be loads out there.
Ive literally just sold the perfect car for you (in my eyes anyway 🙂 )
VW Passat Estate 2.0 TDI bluemotion. Compared to my previous Octavia's the fit and finish is slightly better but feels more refined.
In the spirit of recommending what you have - 2018 era or newer petrol Superb Estate. Huge boot. I'm 6ft3 and can easily sleep in the back with the seats down. Around 50mph for my 1.4Tsi cruising at 65-70. 6 years old. No issues at 60k miles.
Note - I go my cambelt changed last year. This year I think Skoda changed the requirement to every 100k.
I had an Octavia before and drove the Octavia Scout at work. The Superb is a bit more refined. A few little touches the Octavia doesn't have. Boonet goes up on a gas strut. Rear boot light is on a magnet. Take it off it's a torch.
I set out to buy an Octavia estate a while ago and ended up with a Focus estate instead. Better spec for the money and plenty big enough. Just drove Borders to Aberdeen and back and car is showing 57mpg for the trip. I'm happy with my decision.
IMO the Focus is not half the car the Mondeo is
I have both, Mk4 estate and hatch respectively. TBH there's not much in it but I'd imagine a Mk5 Mondeo would be a slightly nicer place to be.
I was in the same situation. My old Mondeo had 125k on the clock and needed a lot of work to get it through its MOT. I tried a few Ford dealers and none of them could supply a Mondeo estate, unless you were prepared to order a brand new one. I don’t understand, as this thread shows they were great cars! Cheap to run and buy. I would agree the Focus is nowhere near as good as the Mondeo ( I changed from a Focus to a Mondeo).
In the end it was between a Subaru Outback and superb estate for me. Neither have the boot capacity of the Mondeo.
Come on Ford bring back a decent sized estate car. The Kuga is now near as good!
Thanks so far
I prefer a hatchback so Passat and Avensis are off the list. The estates are pricey.
I'm not giving Musk a penny. I'd rather drive a Dacia Logan bag of crap for eternity
Mondeo's were always company/fleet cars with not many private buyers.
Companies have moved on to Mercs, BMWs and Audi's and now to electric cars with far better tax breaks.
Without the bulk orders Mondeo's no longer make sense to produce. You can't buy a new Vauxhall Insignia either.
Fashion plays a part also.
Ford canned the Mondeo because everyone wants a mini-SUV. We have a Seat Arona, if instead we'd wanted an Ibiza - essentially the same car - or a Leon the lead time was pushing a year. They're just not making them because no-one wants them.
We moved from a 1l eco boost focus estate under mileage with 75k on the clock to a nearly new Octavia estate.
So far it's been comfier and quieter with a bigger boot than the focus. We'll probably trade up to the superb when the boys are bigger.
My wife didn't want an SUV and I didn't want to have to get out a step ladder to put the bikes on the roof
Replaced my MK3.5 with a v60. It's a much, much nicer placer to be.
I do need to take the front wheel off to get the LLS bike in the back.
Currently on 238k miles too.
With the front wheel off we could get out tandem in the back of out Mondeo hatch, they're great cars, sad to see the massive SUVs that appear to be taking their place.
A Volvo, the ex and i did Kiel to Perpignan in a day in a V70 (1600 km), then down to Mallorca for a fortnight of training, then on the way back we did Barcelona to Malmo in one session (2000+ km) with a couple of longer stops and co driver sleeping in the car. Then the last 350 km home before 11 am the day after. Still fresh enough to get shopping, do the laundry, unpack the car (burn the shoes i'd been wearing for 2 days straight).
2.4D 163bhp. About 1200km/tank at euro M-way speeds (130kph).
You can get 4 medium ish sized road bikes in the boot or two decent sized (not LLS) FS bikes in there too.
Currently have a V60 SPA1 (my second) and have done 800km in a day on my own with no issues. (And 600+ towing a caravan). Only ones i've had in the last 15 years that i wouldn't want to drive really long distances in were the C30 and the V40.
The rest are all comfy and easy to drive long distances in.
Still fresh enough to
It's not relevant to the OP, but I've been driving for ~35 years and the only car I've ever owned that I've stepped out of after doing serious mileage feeling as fresh as when I got into it was a Ford Scorpio. It had a face only a mother could love and it oversteered like a bastard, but comfort-wise it was like driving a sofa.
If you prioritise something that works, will continue to work for a long time and cost as little as possible then a Toyota Avensis. Working backwards from there, stay as Japanese mainstream as possible until you get something you are willing to be seen driving.
I would buy another Avensis estate in a heartbeat. There are very many better ways to spend the extra money that owning anything else would cost.
Are the people comparing Focus' looking at Mk4 or the older ones?
I'd certainly agree the older ones are spartan but new ones aren't that far off.
I was in my cousin's almost new Focus estate recently. Like many modern cars it's big on the outside but quite cramped up front. Quite nice cabin though
You get a lot of insignia for the money
I would buy another Avensis estate in a heartbeat.
I think it's been the Corolla estate since 2019(?) we had some as fleet cars and they were good for motorway miles in terms of fuel efficiency and comfort, only seems to come in hybrid/auto config, I'd happily have one TBH.
Not sexy of course but, very much a discerning 'Dad car'... IMO of course.
Car prices have gone crazy. Closest I can find to my car is this Superb at £15k. I paid £18.3k brand new more than 6 years ago. £600 a year depreciation.
at the price they seem to be selling for the Suprb doesn't look good value compared to other options.
I paid £10.5k in 2022 for our 2015 Passat estate which had 106,000mi on it but was top spec. I think it was overpriced but had little choice at the time as my car had been written off in an accident and it was the height of price inflation.
I’ve put 20,000 more miles on it since and it’s been alright with no major dramas, just a few annoyances which I’ve had fixed. That being said I can’t say I’m particular fond of it in general for a few reasons like the seating position being all sorts of wrong for me, and the stupid 19 inch alloys which you feel every pebble on the road through.
Interestingly I've just been comparing a Golf estate and a Golf SV )on paper)
The SV has similar numbers and is obviously on the same basic platform, only it's supposed to be the MPV version but it's apparently only 100mm shorter and boot capacity is only 15L less (the key criteria for me looking at estates).
That minor pretty difference has me adding the Golf SV to my searches now. There must be a couple of other hatchback platform derived MPVs that cover very similar bases to the estate flavoured ones out there right?
I used to have a 2013 Octavia company car and I found the driving position a bit cramped for my long legs
I don't think anyone tall has weighed in yet? But as a fellow tall person I feel you. When I was looking I tried a bunch of Octavias and some are ok and some aren't. The different seat options make a huge difference if you're tall, combined with the roof type (pan roof/sunroof etc). So some seats/trims are ok and some aren't - sadly I forget which.
To give my answer, I ended up in a 5 series touring. Great for a tall person, I'm 6'4" and it's possible to put the front seats too far back, which is amazing. Every other car I've been in it's a case of seat slammed right down and right back to fit.
Interestingly I’ve just been comparing a Golf estate and a Golf SV )on paper)
I looked at both of these, the SV is taller hence the capacity. The boot seems a lot worse than the estate for carrying bulky stuff, like a bike.
As a left field suggestion, nobody’s mentioned Hyundai i40 that I can see.
I had an i40 for while. It was alright, I wouldn't run out and buy another but equally there was little to recommend against it either. Being a saloon rather than a hatchback was more of an arseache than I'd anticipated.
Oh, it was also the i40 where halfway up the M66 the glass "moon roof" spontaneously exploded. That focused the mind somewhat, it was one hell of a bang. I genuinely thought at first that someone had dropped a paving stone off a bridge. Design flaw apparently, there's another Hyundai model outside the UK with the same issue.
I looked at both of these, the SV is taller hence the capacity. The boot seems a lot worse than the estate for carrying bulky stuff, like a bike.
Dunno, you're either going to have to remove wheels and/or fold seat in either version right.
The main uses for our cars boot is luggage and shopping. 4" shorter and a wee bit taller might actually work ok. Transporting My bikes is a secondary consideration, and as ever a towbar mounted rack is ultimately the bestest solution anyway.
Ah I mean folding seats in an SV would be both wheels off vs one wheel in an estate for me though.
I don’t think anyone tall has weighed in yet? But as a fellow tall person I feel you. When I was looking I tried a bunch of Octavias and some are ok and some aren’t.
6'2" in an Octavia VRS here. I'm not cramped and the seat is not all the way back.
I've a 2010 Mondeo on 170K, it's a great car for cruising the motorway with all the family kit. I was thinking a Volvo V90 when it finally gets to the point it can't be fixed economically. You'd be looking at one over 100K for your budget.
What's wrong with the Mondeo? Are you sure it can't be fixed? If you can find a local Ford indy garage there are lots of scrap parts on eBay to fix most common problems.
6’2″ in an Octavia VRS here. I’m not cramped and the seat is not all the way back.
I was looking at the VRS and whatever the posh one is called (Laurin and Klement or something), advice still stands on these, it's the combo of seats and roof.
I will say though that extra 2" is often what makes the difference. I've often wished I was slightly shorter so as to be just within the range of normal height rather than just outside it. Lots of stuff you don't expect just doesn't fit, not just clothes and cars (e.g. recently following an op the NHS couldn't give me a walking stick long enough to reach the ground when holding it).
Agree with sgn23, spending 10-12k on an unknown entity to avoid spending 2-3k on a good motor always strikes me as a weird way of going about things.
My dpf set itself on fire. Melted a lot of exhaust but thankfully did not go into cabin
Fix could be £1200-£1500. Waiting for final quote
Car is only worth £1500ish
I don't know about really new ones, but back when I had an Octavia the vRS models had a restricted bootspace due to, uh, vRSsy stuff encroaching into it. Uprated suspension or some such I suppose.
My tame petrolhead (and cofounder of the briskoda website) bought a 4x4 estate over the vRS, he had it remapped or something and it used to chew up vRSes for breakfast. It was well known to those who knew it well as "the ambulance."
I had a mk3 mondeo, it wasn't perfect but it was honestly absolutely brilliant at being a mondeo. When I wanted a replacement, nothing else ticked all the boxes quite the same way- lots had less good boots, lots weren't as nice to drive, lots were way more expensive to buy or run. Other than maybe the mazda 6 I didn't think anything really could fight it on its own ground. Even the mk4! They just did a really bloody good job of that mk3.
So in the end I went from seeing it as compromising, to seeking out unmondeo things that other things did well that mondeos don't do so well. Otherwise I'd have definitely bought another mondeo. And tbf a bunch of cars still didn't compare well,
In the end I went for a subaru legacy which is a wee bit smaller but still big, a bit more expensive (much more expensive to run), but much more fun to drive, and I love it. Like, I'd have never taken the mondeo on track frinstance. But if there is still such a thing as an unrusty mk3 2.2 I could have another of those and be very happy.
Saggy arse and all.
Mk3 had better features than Mk4 except that stupid clock.
I had a mk3 mondeo
I drove a mk3 Mondeo a few months into owning a mk4 of a similar spec (mine was probably in for a service or something, I don't recall). It felt tired and sluggish on the motorway, it just wasn't picking up for some reason. Then I looked down and was horrified to discover I was doing 110mph and wondering why it was slow.
Passat?
Looking to change our current Octavia estate, it's our second, so we've had them for 19 years. Looking for something 1-2 years old, petrol or diesel.
Loved the Golf estate we test drove, but budget means we'd have to go another year older than we wanted.
On advice from here, we test drove a Kia Ceed estate yesterday. Really nice to drive, great value for money, but the boot opening not quite as big as the Octavia when we parked it next to ours, and we want an estate to put stuff in the boot.
So we're looking at our third Octavia estate. Dammit.
Not as large as a Mondeo, but when I replaced my car in 2020 my shortlist was:
Merc C-Class estate - nice, but would have to get an older one or high mileage one to stay in budget. Older ones didn't have Android Auto which I wanted & I found the features/options on the cars hard to fathom.
Audi A4 estate - it was nicer inside than an Octavia or Leon, but not 'that' much nicer for the price premium. Same problem as the Merc in terms of older or higher mileage to fit into budget. Spent a long time looking at them & like I say, didn't really think the price hike was worth it over something a bit less fancy.
Kia Ceed estate. Almost went for one of these, but boot space seemed smaller (although I don't think it actually is) & not a great range of engines. I wanted diesel and think this was limited to a 1.6 TDi which was OK, but wanted something with a bit more poke.
Octavia estate - nice, but boring to look at and second hand ones seemed to have a bit of a premium over Seat Leons.
Seat Leon estate - ended up with one of these. Bit less space than an Octavia, but not massively so. Good value. Decent kit & facelift version with Android Auto well within budget. Managed to find one in a red/burgundy colour which you don't see many of about. I would have preferred the 180bhp engine over the 150 & in hindsight I should have kept looking for one with a DSG box. But, happy overall. No problems (touch wood) in 4 years.
Had a brief sojourn into an insignia estate (hateful thing, tiny inside compared to the mondeo and the seat/driving position combination was awful)
I guess that'd be the old Insignia then.
The newer 2017+ one is a Mondeo-sized comfort barge - I know, I have one. I was actually looking for a Mondeo to begin with.
The level of complaint I have against it are "could use another cubby hole near the driver" and "no sunglasses holder by the rear view" - there isn't a lot wrong with it as far as I can tell. I'm 2 years into ownership. The estate boot easily swallows a full grown bike without complaint. Most comfortable car I've driven any amount. Most controls have actual factual buttons and are not hidden behind an insufferable touchscreen.
Other half has a Passat - also really good as practically every STW poster will tell you, but, Insignia better value.
Petrol and diesel are both meant to be reliable.
ElShalimo
@stumpy01 – is the 150 okay when fully loaded?
@elshalimo - Yeah, it's fine. I've stuffed it full of camping gear & it does blunt it a bit, but not a great deal.
Currently getting 70mpg out of it on my commute too, which is not to be sniffed at.
All the short journeys pull it down to ~65mpg for the tank.
Bike-wise - I've only got small bikes so not terribly representative. I always take the front wheel off & they all fit in with room to spare. It's a good flat floor and the levers in the back to drop the seats are handy.
Thanks
ElShalimoFull Member
My dpf set itself on fire. Melted a lot of exhaust but thankfully did not go into cabinFix could be £1200-£1500. Waiting for final quote
Car is only worth £1500ish
When my Mondeo's DPF died it was £700ish for a pattern replacement which worked absolutely fine.
When the exhaust finally gave up the Ford and pattern options were stupidly expensive. So the local exhaust guy just shoved a straight (ie not silencers) stainless pipe on it for £300 - it was great and will likely outlive the car. Wouldn't have known it has lost it's silencers apart from a slight rumble when doing a regen.
The 2010 car I've got does not have a regen light, it just does it as you drive without any notification.
So if in my case it wasn't working very well the there was no warning until the DPF set itself on fire. I mean proper fire, like orange/red molten metal dripping on the tarmac and plumes of grey smoke going up the road. The fire brigade were called out to hose the underside of the vehicle kind of fire. So not a small DPF issue
That’s quite impressive to be honest. There can’t be much in there to burn, perhaps it was also covered in or full of engine oil from another issue?
The 2010 car I’ve got does not have a regen light, it just does it as you drive without any notification
Yeah mine was a 2013 so I'd never even noticed a regen happening before. Luckily never found out in the way you did
We have a 2012 Mondeo Estate and a 2016 Superb estate. I prefer the Mondeo, even though its older and less powerful (1.6 vs 2lt). There's more room around my left foot, and the boot door keeps me dry when trying to get my boots on (the hinge on the skoda is set further back so it only covers the boot), plus the boot is flat to the door, not sunk like the skoda.
I'm hoping to keep the ford another 5 years/150k mileage (currently 95k) as hopefully there will be lots of WV ID7 going cheap second hand by then.
raleighimpact
Full Memberplus the boot is flat to the door, not sunk like the skoda.
IMO if the boot isn't flat, it's not really an estate, it's just a funny shaped hatchback 😉 It makes such a difference to usability. We had the bright idea of putting an old fridge into my brother's octavia, went in brilliant, coming out,not so brilliant. And if nothing else sitting on the back is so much better.
It's annoying, it's not brain surgery and it makes such a difference. I assume there's some engineering downsides since a flush edged hole will be less strong but it's obviously not insurmountaible.
Likewise, **** you car manufacturers, don't box in those unsightly spaces around wheel arches, that might be exactly where the bars want to go. Make the boot as big as possible, make the carpet touch the skin, being nice and regular shaped isn't a real benefit.
Anyone drive a Kia Optima estate?
I've seen one for sale near me and it looks in good condition. Will try to test drive over the weekend
The answer to my original question was a facelift 1st gen Volvo XC60
I don't do many miles so it should last many years.
Nice motor, but someone has felt-tipped all over your number plate.
Bit of a niche choice (as it always has been) but Saab make the best petrol estates ever. They're huge inside, for luggage and passengers, fun to drive long distances, and surprisingly economical. If I didn't need seven seats I'd still have one. And there are lots of independent garages around the country that will look after you. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410014699157?sort=relevance&twcs=true&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&fuel-type=Petrol&make=Saab&maximum-mileage=80000&min-engine-power=150&postcode=dt12df&price-to=12000&year-from=2008&year-to=2024&fromsra
Or another more mainstream Swede: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402106446807?sort=relevance&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&fuel-type=Petrol&make=Volvo&maximum-mileage=80000&min-engine-power=150&model=V70&postcode=dt12df&price-to=12000&year-from=2008&year-to=2024&fromsra
XC60 – They are a nice car, but they have the turning circle of an oil tanker and have a very weird steering ratio. When I had mine, I nearly crashed it more than once before I got used to it.
It's going to spend most of it life doing motorway or A road trips so it should be okay
Fair enough - not trying to diss it - I’ve just never experienced such a weird steering experience. Other than that, they are a lovely car.
If you prioritise something that works, will continue to work for a long time and cost as little as possible then a Toyota Avensis.
Bit late to add now but Toyota will reinstate and extend a manufacturer's warranty if you do the annual service with them. It doesn't need to have been in warranty before and you don't need to have it from new. Service prices are very reasonable, and if you do the last service at 9 years and 11 months, you can stretch the warranty up to 10 years and 11 months from new.
I inherited my bosses Granada Scorpio 4x4 2.9 Sportback about 30 yrs ago (G866 WTY). Best car I've ever had. Gave it to my dad after about 12yrs and he siliconed the sunroof closed 'cos he couldn't fix the leak.