Mondeo ST220 Vs Vectra GSi

But given the choice, the Passat has to be the one to have. 4.0 W8, that noise and AWD with every toy under the sun. Yup, that'd do me just fine thanks :p

Reply to
DanTXD
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Sod that, £10k buys a tidy Turbo R.

Reply to
SteveH

I'd have the W8 over a Turbo R on any day where the road is likely to be anything other than absolutely bone dry.

Douglas

Reply to
Douglas Payne

Makes the Passat look sensible - good choice!

Reply to
Tim S Kemp

I'd have the Passat, the Bentley is a big barge of thing that i wouldn't be able to afford to run :D

Reply to
DanTXD

I get the feeling that a Turbo R wouldn't cost *that* much more to run than a Passat, unless you caned it everywhere.

Alternatively, get an LPG conversion for the Turbo R and you have something comparatively cheap to run ;-)

Reply to
SteveH

I've never driven the Vectra but I've owned an ST220 for 6 months now. Things I like:

1) Very refined but it sounds superb under load. 2) Revs very freely at high rpm and pulls like a train over 4000 rpm up to about 6700 rpm. But will amble along quite happily and accelerate in high gears from 1200 rpm. 3) Steering is well weighted and very direct 4) Handles well and has loads of grip 5) Gearing is well spaced (6 speed) 6) Brakes are quite good and are easy to modulate. ESP and ABS are not intrusive. 7) Comfortable interior; Sony 6CD changer is pretty good. 8) Mondeo practicality and build quality. Totally reliable.

Things I don't like so much:

1) Engine noise is too quiet 2) Gearchange lacks precision, is too heavily weighted and isn't very slick, particularly 4th to 5th and engaging reverse. 3) Brake pedal feel is wooden and brakes lack initial bite (you get used to it) 4) Seats aren't the most comfortable on long journeys 5) Feels a bit slow off the mark; the power delivery is almost too smooth and being a non-turbo the torque builds higher up the rev range.

Overall though I'd definitely recommend it. You can generally keep up with the traffic without difficulty. Biggest downside (for some) would be the badge on the front.

It's not particularly economical - over 8000 miles I've averaged 27mpg, and that includes a lot of motorway. Typically you'll get low 20s if you're having fun. Range on the motorway is anything up to about 340 miles.

Hope this helps. By the way, now I've experienced the noise, I never want to own a 4 pot ever again!

Hofman

Reply to
rxhofman

Unlike the Passat, which is a smaller barge you wouldn't be able to afford to run.

Reply to
Tim S Kemp

I've had sixes, fives and fours - nicely tuned fours with good induction systems sound awesome - the spacewagon at full chat was a big agressive "rrrrrraaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAA". Both my sixes were quite refined although the XR4x4 sounded better for a panel filter change (K&N) and a switch from a silly pipe to an OE one. The Rover KV6 was great for its top end (7200 rpm... I know, redline was 6000...) howl and the 5 in the Volvo was never quite silent, making unique noises all the way through the rev range...

The run of the mill fours though were eminently forgettable, and as for the diesels - ugh - I have earplugs....

Reply to
Tim S Kemp

Until you need a part for it.

Fraser

Reply to
Fraser Johnston

That's the big advantage of the new Bentley - give it ten to twenty years and your nearest VW breaker will be full of spares.

Reply to
Tim S Kemp

Not a problem.

They rarely need parts and specialist RR breakers do exist.

You can offset parts against zero depreciation anyway.

Reply to
SteveH

I'm not trying to be funny, but I do know someone with a ~1990 Turbo R and it breaks frighteningly expensively and with depressing regularity.

Inside its a bit like a pillar boxed sized 1940s gentleman's club without the brandy. I prefer more modern interiors. Its got f*ck all headroom and no cupholders.

I've never driven it, but I've seen how it handles in the wet and quite frankly you've got to have big balls to drive well over 2 tonnes of Bentley at speed in the wet. It also uses a *lot* of petrol.

Personally, the only reason I can see to buy one is to show off. In the W8 Passat, nobody can tell you from the next middle class Johnny as you potter about your business. In a bender, everybody knows you're trying to give the impression you've got too much money.

People who really have got too much money don't drive Bentleys.

Douglas

Reply to
Douglas Payne

he may be unlucky

but it's "plush", just what you want for sitting intheback of while the lowly oik in front drivers you to your destination

if you buy a 6.75L turbo'd car you should really have thought about the consumption before you signed the paperwork (or your friend should have)

thats a bit too much of a generalitasion me thinks the W8 is designed to look just like the cooking 1.8 tdi passat if they wanted everyone to know it was a ebast of a motor they would have made it look different

Reply to
dojj

Although the operation where they graft the owner's penis onto his forehead can be painful and has embarassing side effects.

Reply to
Steve Firth

I thought the 1500kg car on the end of their nob would be more inconvenient, though.....

Reply to
SteveH

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