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Very good tow cars. You can get quite a lot for your money, I picked up a six month old Tdci zetec 130 for less than 10k from a car supermarket. Generally seem to get about mid thirties mpg towing.

Only possible downside is the clutch (see the other current thread). I don't know if Mondeos are any worse than Passats or Vectra, C5s etc, but I had heard of quite a few problems. Not cheap to fix either.

Good luck.

Quote: Originally posted by chrtas01 on 06/5/2007

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We have a mondeo zetec tdci with the 6 speed 130bhp engine,seems

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I too had one of these in estate guise on a 2002 plate. I have an X-Trail now and I would still say that the Mondeo was better at towing.

Hope this helps

Quote: Originally posted by buzzahole on 09/5/2007

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Quote: Originally posted by chrtas01 on 06/5/2007

I too had one of these in estate guise on a 2002 plate. I have an X-Trail now and I would still say that the Mondeo was better at towing.

Hope this helps

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Hi,

Interesting, I test drove the X Trail and was drawn to the better ride height, "soft roading" options and style, but stuck with the Mondeo 130ps.

The New Mondeo may be even better...seems a heavier vehicle. I will probably switch to one later in the year, or the S-Max. Not too sure yet.

Mr Ulti-Mate

If you can find a Zetec-S , (hen's teeth) up to 2005 , then you will get the sports suspension pack, which is even better for towing.

I agree with the others make sure its TDCI 130bhp, then you can chip it up to about 170 BHP. Post chipping = far better mpg, 62 in fact at high speed on the Autobahn. unbelieveable. And the power difference is Ooooooooh so nice!!!!

Don't touch the 115bhp, it's a horrible rough noisey sluggish engine. Old tec. and the motor trade don't like them as PX. Bad for resale.

The car was brilliant before the mods, (diy) but  now it's unbelieveable !

Or buy an ST 2.2litre TDCI , sports suspension also and 155bhp as standard , chipped =195 bhp.

Forgot to mention , get K&N Induction Kit = let's the car breathe as much air as it wants.

Want to know any more give me a shout.

And before anyone even suggests it , I don't work for FORD, K&N nor the folk who supply the tuning box (Chip). This chip is adjustable for economy, power with economy, and outright power. Mine was on the outright power setting when I got 62mpg  aroung 90mph steady.

I'll stick with the Mondeo Zetec-s untill somebody builds a better car.

BigDawg

Hi,

How do insurance companies view chipping? Are they OK with it?

Mr U-M

Hi , personally , I haven't bothered to tell them. You can notify them , but it's a great money spinner for them. Even if you fit a spoiler to the boot lid they charge extra. I know a guy was quoted £200 just for changing the factory fit alloy wheels .

The unit is so easy and quick to remove, and it's only in the event of an accident fatality ( fingers crossed it will never happen) that the car is examined. Unless they are in the know, they won't even know it's there.

You unplug the sensor on the left side of the top of the engine , it's the common rail , looks a bit like a black metal shaft / pipe, with a male and a female connection on the drivers side, looking head on with the bonnet up.. The wiring harness comes with it, one side goes to the male and the other to the female. The box of tricks is about 2.5"x1.5" connects to the harness, and sends it's signals to the processor, instead of the ford std. eprom.

It has a combination of 27 settings , which means you can  fine tune to suit your particular style, solo or towing. These settings are all set by 3 jumpers in a combination of 2 banks  of pins. Same as the pin jumpers on a PC Motherboard.

It's not all about power, the engine runs a lot sweeter , the torque increase, was important to me as I've just puchased a new Compass Omega Caravan, (delivered next week) which is heavier than the last one,and the extra torque will be nice for hills etc. 

Keep in touch I'll let you know when I tow it home.

 I towed a large Hobby Caravan before and it was effortless to the car with no chip fitted.Also the  mpg increase I quoted is genuine. I tested  it over 5500miles mainly in Germany.  On the Autobahn's the chip came into it's own.

Any more info required, just shout.

And by the way I'm in no way affiliated to the guys that supply them in the UK.

The unit itself is German made, and the programs are German produced after a serious amount of road testing.

BigDawg

Quote: Originally posted by BigDawg on 17/5/2007

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 Don't touch the 115bhp, it's a horrible rough noisey sluggish engine. Old tec. and the motor trade don't like them as PX. Bad for resale.

 

Post last edited on 17/05/2007 11:34:29

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Quote: Originally posted by BigDawg on 18/5/2007

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Hi , personally , I haven't bothered to tell them. You can notify them , but it's a great money spinner for them. Even if you fit a spoiler to the boot lid they charge extra. I know a guy was quoted £200 just for changing the factory fit alloy wheels .

The unit is so easy and quick to remove, and it's only in the event of an accident fatality ( fingers crossed it will never happen) that the car is examined. Unless they are in the know, they won't even know it's there.

 

Hi,

I believe this modification will invalidate your insurance, (please tell me I am wrong).

Also, if the mod was so good, why don't Ford equip their vehicles with it as standard?

Mr Ulti-Mate

 

Don't touch the 115bhp, it's a horrible rough noisey sluggish engine. Old tec. and the motor trade don't like them as PX. Bad for resale.

mmm, it also doesnt eat fuel injectors / pumps or go into limp home mode,cut out in the 3rd lane of the motorway for no apparent reason or need hooking up to Fords diagnostic jobby 4 times a year at a cost of £80 a time when it keeps cutting out.also adding a tuning box might give you more power when towing your `large Hobby` but wont add to the kerbweight which means you are surely running at or near 100%??

rather you than me