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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:Cars in the UK
Notice:Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:COMICS::SHELLEYELD
Created:Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2584
Total number of notes:63384

2191.0. "Mondeo Clipper/estate comparison to..." by VARDAF::CHURCH (Dave Church@VBE (DTN 828-6125)) Mon Dec 13 1993 23:13

    I'm looking at replacing the family car and we are sort of knocking
    around a few ideas, at the moment the short list is (in rough priority
    order and all are "estate" versions): 

	1 Mondeo Clipper 1.8 GLX
	2 Renault Nevada RT 1.7 (5 seats)

	3 Astra GLS 1.6i
	 =Astra 1.8XE 16v
	 =Peugeot 405 GR
	 =Rover 2.0 GTD (is there a petrol version?)

    Whatever we buy we are looking at having air conditioning, power
    steering, fog lamps and an alarm (I'm going to transfer the
    radio/cassette over from the current car), I know that some come with
    the "extras"...

    Besides the normal local running around we normally end up doing a
    couple of longish trips (eg. 2500kms round trip) a year

    I've had a scan through the conference and I didn't see anything on the
    Mondeo Clipper/Estate as this is currently at the top of our list I'm
    interested in how it compares, primarily with the Renault Nevada as the
    others are a distant 3rd at this point in time. 

    Any comments, what should we avoid, have I missed any other possible
    cars that fit the sort of dimensions and price bracket...?
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2191.1EICMFG::FARRELLTue Dec 14 1993 13:1418
>    I'm looking at replacing the family car and we are sort of knocking
>    around a few ideas, at the moment the short list is (in rough priority
>    order and all are "estate" versions): 
...
>    Any comments, what should we avoid, have I missed any other possible
>    cars that fit the sort of dimensions and price bracket...?

I believe there are some new models out soon (March) which might be interesting
if you can wait that long - VW Golf Estate and Rover 400 series Estate.
I saw a new shape VW Passat Estate advertised in Germany, I don't know if that
is available yet in UK. Nissan have something in their range too, Carina(?)
Estate. The Astra has some good safety features as standard which is an 
encouraging trend from Vauxhall. I don't know anything about the Mondeo, 
except it looks good.

I'm thinking of getting an Astra myself, and welcome any comments.

--Chris
2191.2Another one to consider in the future?CMOTEC::POWELLNostalgia isn't what it used to be, is it?Tue Dec 14 1993 16:2516
Reading/hearing the Top Gear review of the Golf Estate, if I remember correctly,
they weren't exactly flattering about it.

I hear that a Xantia Estate is due sometime next year, earlier rather than later.
That should be very well worth waiting for it, if it is anything like the Xantia
hatch.  I still haven't done a long journey in it but impressions are very 
favourable so far in the VSX 1.9 TD.  I'll tell you next June about long
journies (sp?) when I come back from Gibraltar (2,800 mile round trip).

Apparently, the official figures show that the Xantia Diesel is quieter inside
than the Mondeo petrol engined cars - and that is not a knock at the Ford either!

If you want to get away from Japanese "Blob" styling eg. Ford/Vauxhall, you may
wish to consider the Xantia.

				Malcolm.
2191.3ZX not Xantia?TOMMII::RDAVIESAmateur ExpertTue Dec 14 1993 16:384
I believe your mistaken about a Xantia estate. There's a ZX estate due early 
spring, but I don't believe they decided whether to do a Xanta estate yet.

Richard
2191.4COMICS::PARRYTrevor ParryTue Dec 14 1993 16:465
    From a marketing point of view, I don't believe they'd market both the
    Peugeot 405 Estate and the Xantia Estate. (They being the company that
    owns both Peugeot and Citroen).  A ZX estate is coming out though.
    
    tp
2191.5Maybe I got a bit carried away with what I heard.CMOTEC::POWELLNostalgia isn't what it used to be, is it?Tue Dec 14 1993 16:4914
Richard,  I had a quite non-reliable source of information on this - someone who
would be interested in the Xantia Estate, but the time scale is too long for him.

I haven't heard anything myself because I'm not asking questions, having only 
just taken delivery of my Xantia hatch.  I am quite willing to agree that there 
is a  ZX Estate coming out very soon, but, I'm not sure if the BX Estate 
continues in production/sale pending the availability of the ZX Estate or the 
Xantia Estate.  It is just that the Xantia is so much better than the 3 BX
Diesels that I've had - which I liked very much more than the Sierras and
Cavaliers that I've driven.

				Malcolm.

PS. 2CV, now there's a real car!  Only for small families though. 8^)
2191.6Xantia Estate it's on the cardsVARDAF::CHURCHDave Church@VBE (DTN 828-6125)Tue Dec 14 1993 19:416
    When at the Citroen garage in Antibes a week or so ago the guy there
    said that an Xantia Estate will most certainly happen but they hadn't
    decided when. 
    
    If the Xantia does turn out to be a comparable price to the Mondeo then
    it could be interesting to wait a little longer...
2191.7CHEFS::TOWNSENDSSTEWART TOWNSEND @REOFri Dec 17 1993 12:547
I read a short piece recently on the Rover 400-based estate (including photos).
Lokks nice. It's debut will be at the Geneva Motor Show.  This report compared 
its standard of fit-out and finish on the pre-production model favourably with 
the BMW Tourer estate.  A version of the XUD Turbo Diesel unit will be amongst 
the engine options although the report suggested that Rover have been 
negotiating with BMW  to use their Diesel package in the replacement 800 range 
and the 600.  Maybe they might use it in the estate too.   
2191.8Oh what the heck - Mondeo 2.0L Ghia estate (clipper)VARDAF::CHURCHDave Church@VBE (DTN 828-6125)Wed Dec 29 1993 11:4421
    In the end we got a deal on a Mondeo 2.0L Ghia estate (clipper) 
    basically it was a showroom model and we got FF15000 off the price.
    Plus he left in the 4 speakers and as we asked about the roof rack he
    said it would be thrown in as well (Xmas present) - mind you when we
    got him to confirm this yesterday, signing the papers, he then found
    out how much they cost (FF1500) and was hesitant - we held him to his
    promise! 
    
    What with the FF15000 (straight Argus/book price) back from our old car
    it worked out pretty well - now we just have to pay for it over the
    next few years!
    
    At the end of the day it worked out a difference of under FF7000 with
    us buying the 2.0L Ghia compared to the 1.8 GLX (which was our original
    first choice with the necessary extras). In addition, if we had gone
    for the GLX I would have also wanted front fog lamps (besides the ABS
    and met. paint) but this would have required a different front bumper
    as it doesn't have the necessary slots! So all in all it may have been
    around FF5000 difference between the 2 cars. 
    
    Roll on Friday morning.
2191.9Have airbag - car will travel!VARDAF::CHURCHDave Church@VBE (DTN 828-6125)Mon Feb 21 1994 11:2442
    Number of forwards been removed...
    
    Is this true? Perhaps I'll go down to the local Ford garage and ask
    for a demonstration - glad I had an alarm fitted though!
    
    
From:	UUCP%"cmn@tri-flow.ftp.com" 18-FEB-1994 10:52:52.14
<forwards removed>
WhiteBoard News for February 14, 1994 
This item comes from Dennis Willingham:

London, England:

A British Ford dealer set out to impress potential purchasers with the 
burglar-proof features of the new Ford Mondeo by staging a break-in
in his showroom.

As a room full of potential customers watched, the hired thief walked 
up to the front of the car and gave it a swift kick in the bumper, near 
the airbag sensor.  The bag inflated, AND the central locking system 
disengaged.  The thief then opened the door, quickly broke the steering 
column lock, hot-wired the ignition and started the car.

News spread quickly, and copycat incidents have followed.

Autoweek says "Sales of The Club should increase."

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2191.10Mondeo ABS grinding noise when moving offVARDAF::CHURCHDave Church@VBE (DTN 828-6125)Mon Oct 23 1995 13:1519
2191.11Mondeo, but no grinding42619::GRAHAMGraham Smith, Solution Support GroupMon Oct 23 1995 13:238
    I've got a Mondeo 1.8 GLX with ABS factory fit option.
    
    It does not make a grinding noise after 5-10 meters (or at all, unless
    the ABS gets "used").
    
    Does that help ?
    
    Graham