It's gone, and I am now officially 'Mondeo Man'

[FarmerPug]

that interior is absolutley CLASS real metal is nice, the new shape vw passat if anyone buys one of these over a mondeo they are clinically insane, even the 3 series has a sh*t interior (its so bad, bad talk needs to be used). A question though does many people like the new c5

[neildavies]

I sat in the C5 a year ago, and I liked it. I can't remember now what it was like to compare with the Mondeo. The only thing I didn't like about the 407 and C5 is the company refuse to do a hatchback, and I didn't really need a saloon. Just a decent sized hatch.

[FarmerPug]

yip i recall the day when the saloon configuration showed itself up, i bought my gran a wardrobe, and drove to get it, not thinking at all would it fit, parked the car up, dropped the seats and carried it out to the car, slid it in a bit and that was it, 30% in the car the rest unable to fit due to the uselessness of the saloon design (why are they so popular with sales reps), and it would be a more pronounced issue on the c5 with its convex rear window, the old model is actually a hatchback but then again the old model is actually fantastically terrible. That leaves the new c5 estate which doesnt suit all though it does drop the back end to let the dog get into it easier. Im not saying its better than the mondeo i just have a strange loyalty to french cars which all started from a 305 estate.
By the way like the footwell lights.

[trem1]

I sat in the C5 a year ago, and I liked it. I can't remember now what it was like to compare with the Mondeo. The only thing I didn't like about the 407 and C5 is the company refuse to do a hatchback, and I didn't really need a saloon. Just a decent sized hatch.

yep i never understood why no hatchback either. its gotta be most versatile option

[FarmerPug]

why does saloons sell so well when they are so restrictive at loading, it wouldnt be too hard to make a saloon looking car into a hatchback skodas done it on the superb (stupid name for a passat clone) but anyhow wouldnt it just be a case of cutting the sides of the back window and hinging it into place, and welidng the bootlid to sit in place hey presto the 406 is a hatchback, then i suppose the parcel shelf doesnt move, theres plenty of technical obstacles i know but it isnt impossible.

[sirwiggum]

Hatchbacks actually sell better in the UK, that's why Ford dropped the Mondeo and Focus saloons, you can't get an Astra saloon and when was the last time you saw a Vectra saloon?

Ireland however still love their saloons, in fact Nissan sell a small saloon there - the Tiida - because the rest of their range seem to be 4x4 hatchbacks.

My old Xantia was a handy design for lifting a cooker in and out of, and looked slightly saloonish.

The 406 is a good excuse for not buying much in ikea ;)

[gRoberts]

I'm loving the MK4, although my MK3, albeit it has it's faults, it still makes me smile.

I've got the 2.0 TDCI Zetec (6 speed) and overtaking in 5th/6th gear is a dream.

Hope you enjoy the car mate ;)

[waue1978]

It is actually quite strange when you first go to Ireland & see all the saloon versions of cars that you either rarely see here or don't even have. That Nissan Tilda is a prime example - basically a Micra saloon! They also do an Almera saloon.
Over here about 80% of Mondeos & Astras etc are hatchbacks & the saloons sell for rubbish money secondhand, but go to Ireland & it's the other way round. The other thing is the small engines. Sister in law was looking for a new car last year & there were loads of 1.6 Vectras & Mondeos. Over here they dropped engines that small in that size of car, but in Ireland they sell great because of the engine capacity based car tax. Always wondered why they thought I was loaded when I had my old 520 BMW, but found out when I saw a 5 series for sale over there with a tax disc priced at about 1200 Euros!
The 2 year MOTs (NCT) are a bit strange too. Like the idea of having insurance on display though.

[sirwiggum]

Once heard a rumour that Ireland (South and North) was the only market where the base 316i was sold recently (318i everywhere else).

The Japanese cars are very popular, lots of Avensis saloons, Tiida saloons, imports from Japan too, it is not uncommon to see a Nissan March instead of a Micra.

Always thought the Astra saloon was strangely elegant http://www.opel.ie/vehicles/opel_range/ ... index.html

On the windscreen in the South you can have your tax, insurance and NCT - 3 discs you have to display on the windscreen.
In the North it's just tax and MOT discs.


Mondeo is cracking by the way!

[waue1978]

I thought the Tilda was the Micra saloon. Is the Tilda the Almera saloon then?

[sirwiggum]

I thought the Tilda was the Micra saloon. Is the Tilda the Almera saloon then?

It's bigger than a Micra, and there is no more Almera - that was replaced by the hateful Qashqow

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Tiida

Says its related to the Micra, but not of Micra...

Also says Arnold Clark sells them. I've seen a few on NI plates, maybe Charles Wurst sells them too?

[Bailes1992]

Aw lads, I'm overwhelmed at the niceness and warmth here.

At a coupe forum I use, it was a different tone altogether. The general attitude was "oh, you've got a Mondeo have you. Never mind, someone's got to buy 'em. Shut the door on your way out".

At the end of the day the 306 is getting on a little now. And people on here realise that. The 406 is a bloody good car in it's own right, but it's getting old. Theres better options out ther, everyone moves on. of course the 407 is the next logical step but the Mondeo is a much better car all round

[steve_earwig]

I'm sorry but, from previous experience, the chances of me buying anything with the blue oval badge on it again are less than zero. That's not to say I'd buy a 407 though, I like an estate car with some actual, you know, room in the back. Maybe a C5, the latest incarnation is looking very nice to me, but I'll probably end up getting whatever comes along in the way of a large estate. I've played the "I want this car" game here and there's just not enough 2nd hand cars for sensible money to do that (oh dear, nothing at all from Germany for me then).

[sirwiggum]

I'm hoping my next car is a comfortable big saloon / coupe diesel with an automatic gearbox, and not German.

Not to be fussy

[FarmerPug]

407 v6 hdi coupe?