Wheels Magazine: Passat vs Mondeo vs Superb vs Latitude

[Buzy_Robot]

Hey Guys, anyone noticed the latest issue of Wheels did a comparo and the Passat 118TSI was just pipped by the Mondeo? They were very close, but Wheels leaned towards the Mondeo because they consider it "more of a drivers's car".... subjective or what?!

Lots of brownie points for the Passat and very pleasing to read the 1.8lt engine and 7-speed DSG make for a lively driving experience.

Superb did quite well, but the Latitude didn't seem to impress them much.

I'd actually like to see our journos compare the 125TDI against the new Peugeot 508.

[jetfuel]

I found the Ford Mondeo really very bland and ugly inside

[goodfella]

I recently had a new Mondy Titanium TDCI with the 6spd AT for the weekend and I'd say its far from a drivers car... Theres more safety tech in it than an F18 which can really be intrusive.

The lag is massive, the auto was slow to shift in D mode and when pushed, the chassis felt under dampened.

But who am I to provide a proper review ? I would have picked the Passat before driving any

[maxim]

...the auto was slow to shift in D mode and when pushed, the chassis felt under dampened.

yes, and on second point. They're chalk and cheese in this regard IMHO, otherwise I would have bought one. For me, it's what made the vw stand out above them all. Sensational ride without sacrificing handling and control.

[Buzy_Robot]

I must admit, I just don't see the attraction of the Mondeo. Interior is quite dated and looks like it's made to a strict budget. Rear visibility is a shocker! Sure it handles and drives well enough, but it certainly doesn't rock my boat, so to speak. The reason my previous car was a Mazda6 is because it blitzed the Mondeo on many levels and the Passat excels in many of the areas in which the Mondeo flounders.

[VAG newbie]

Always take those "expert reviews" with a grain of salt.

At the end of the day, it's not the reviewer that will be driving my car, it's me. As long as I like it, then it's the best car for me.

I chose the Superb at the end as I like it's quality feel and the spaciousness. Most importantly it's the only car that comes with full beige interior, which makes me feel good whenever I sit in the car.

I'll never sit in the Mondeo, not only it comes in pale grey interior only, the cheap looking audio console just look like one of those no brand name radio cassette that you get in Kmart or **** Smith. Can't believe it costs as much as all the others.

[brad]

My wife has a Mondeo Titanium TDCI as a company drive. nb: we haven't put our hard-earned into it & therefore I don't feel the need to justify the purchase.....

From her point of view, she thinks it's a good car except for:
the lag off standstill which has scared the ***** out of her several times (she came from an ~200kw Calais).
hates the turning circle, which at 12m is 500mm bigger than the lower models. I assume because of the 18x8 rims.
Finds the "driver interaction display" quite intrusive & overshadows the analogue instruments.

From my point of view,
the lag is a worry but you can preload it if you left foot brake.
I can live with the turning circle - I've owned/driven worse.
The car feels over-tyred & the suspension is softened to compensate for the low sidewalls. Also, the 15mm drop of the sports suspension & the body kit both reduce ground clearance in the worst possible places.
I also don't like the Adaptive cruise control & the driver display thing is distracting (eg: big sign that comes up telling you you're going to rear end the car infront when maybe you should be trying to avoid the car rather than looking at warning signs on the dash.)

Most of the issues we have with the car would be reduced if my wife had picked the Zetec model rather than simply asking for "whatever the top of the range is".

Apart from that, it's a better car than a Falcon wagon ever was & has truckloads more cargo space than a Commodore sportwagon. There isn't much choice out there if you work in a government department. They won't buy VWs or Skodas or most vehicles that we'd classify as "European". I realise the Mondeo is made in Belgium but the Ford badge & the 30% fleet discount makes it as Aussie as Barry McKenzie. Most Gov't fleet buyers even baulk at Mazdas!

I found the Ford Mondeo really very bland and ugly inside

Really? Black leather & alacantra sports seats don't do it for you?

The lag is massive, the auto was slow to shift in D mode and when pushed, the chassis felt under dampened.

lag is only bad off a dead stop.
I don't have any issues with D mode. S seems to hold on a bit too long. +/- mode is fine.
Agree about the chassis - more over-tyred though.

Interior is quite dated and looks like it's made to a strict budget. Rear visibility is a shocker!

Interior on ours is really nice. Haven't looked at the lower spec ones though.
No issues with rear visibility for me.

not only it comes in pale grey interior only, the cheap looking audio console just look like one of those no brand name radio cassette

Ours is black & gunmetal. A very nice place to be.
The sound system is Sony branded & is better than the Calais or anything else she has owned (and she's had plenty of Fords, Holdens, Toyotas & Mitsubishis). Not sure where the cassette is. It's a single CD/radio with Aux-in, USB & full ipod connectivity (once you buy a $9 cable from dealextreme). Are you sure you were sitting in a current model Mondeo?

I don't think Passat & Superb buyers are Mondeos target market. Mondeo is after the fleet sales & they are getting plenty. From date of order to delivery, my wife's car took 9 months....... 9 months for a bloody Ford??!!!

[wai]

You need to take a lot of what you see in magazines with a grain of salt.

Many years ago I worked in the Operations and Policy units of the then NSW Department of Motor Transport. One of the things we got was all the press releases and media kits from the various car makers. One of my duties was also to read EVERY motoring magazine sold in Australia (you can only take so much of that, even for a rev head from way back - actually around 6). The thing that used to amuse us was the amount of material from the press releases and media kits that ended up block for block in the magazine articles.

I am not saying that motoring journalists did not provide their own input, just that for them to be invited to the next media day, they had to use large parts of the material the car makers had generously prepared for them. Too adverse or scathing, and next time around you don't get an invite.

All ways look at reviews from multiple sources and this way you will get to see what is provided to them, and what is provided in the media kits.

In all honesty, user reviews tell you much more than reviews in magazines.