Hi there does anyone on here tow with a 163 ps Mondeo 2.0 TDCi?
As a current 10 plate Mondeo owner, I know that for stability it will be fine, I was just wondering if anyone tows with this specific engine & if so what weight van do they tow?
Hi Zafiral just read on another post that you've ordered a new 12 reg car, my god you move quick, I'm not sure how many changes the facelift model has but it is a very good car,
My tip is use a memory stick in the usb port rather than an ipod, its far easier to navigate from the steering wheel than the ipod, i use a 16gb stick for around £10
i can only would presume being more powerful than the 140 engine will only add to the driving experience
No doubt Bob will be along soon with his skoda advice
Part of the reason for sticking with a Mondeo hatch is that my towbar, winter wheels, roofrack, dog guard & load liner will still fit. That is nearly £2000 worth of bits.
As most of my music is iTunes purchased stuff I am restricted to using an iPod or iPhone.
My final decision was between two 12 plate Mondeos unfortunately both in Micastone. But for a saving of nearly £1000 compared to other similar cars I was willing to put up with it.
Car 1 a 140ps Titanium with optional Nav, reverse camera & parking sensors. This car had about 8000 miles on it.
Car 2 is a 163ps Titanium X with full leather & the standard stereo. This car is less than 2 months old & has 70 miles on the clock. It is also a 2012.75 model year so has 129 g/km emissions so lower road tax & allegedly better economy. This car was £2000 more.
As one of the reasons for change is the fact that mine has 45000 miles on it already & I do 25000 a year getting the pre reg seemed the better idea.
I get the Titanium X on Friday!!!
Re the changes on the mk 4.5 the refinement is improved & the dash & general quality is better. The clutch is lighter. It just feels like a more grown up car.
I tow with a 163 mondeo estate titanium x. It is an excellent tow car. I have towed a 1360 and a 1440 maximum permitted weight vans without any issues. I rarely use sixth, but find that 2000 rpm in fifth gives me 60 mph and a smooth progression.
Simon
Thanks for that Simon.
Does the car struggle in 6th at 60mph or is it just that it is more responsive in 5th? In my current car (a early mk4 140ps 2.0) I can use 6th if the road is flat, but any hills necessitate a change down to 5th.
60 mph in 6th is about 1500 rpm.
I feel that the engine is not happy towing with these revs and as soon as you hit the slightest incline, or wish to accelerate slightly, you need to drop down to 5th.
I have checked the MPG using the dash readout and there is nothing to be gained in labouring, in my opinion, the engine in 6th as opposed to 5th. (accepting that the dash readout is not that accurate)
The only time I would put the car in 6th whilst towing is when on a long downward incline.
You might feel different when you tow.
As my van is a bit heavier than yours (also mine is quite straight fronted), I guess I'll be using 5th more. No real issues there. What mpg do you get towing? My 1st trip with the new car will be beginning of November.
Fair point, it sounds like a case of try it and see.
Grampian, with your relatively light weight van you would be fine in 6th or do you not tow at 60mph on the motorway?
Simon those figures are similar to what I get from my mk 4 TDCi so no gain from the lower emissions then!! As the forums state that the torque curve is higher up the rev range on the 163 so you will have to use a lower gear if you need any performance & the loaded car & van together will weigh in excess of 3600kg.
Zafiral this summer i got 35 mpg going to cornwall and 32 mpg coming back thats towing 1500kg & fully loaded car (no bikes on the roof) i dont know how that compares with your mondeo now ??
Would the reduction in the emisions make any difference ??
Technically the reduction in emissions should increase the fuel economy as the combined economy for the 129g/km car is 57.7 mpg the 139 g/km car is 53.3 mpg and the pre facelift car is 47.9 mpg.
On my commute I get about 47 mpg so it will be interesting to see how much I get in the new one.
When towing I may not get much difference as the main economy improvement between the mk 4 & the mk 4.5 is an active radiator grille that closes when the engine is cool & the official economy test takes place with a cold engine. Any gains in aerodynamics may be negated by the caravan on the back!!!!
BTW Bessie how many of the petals do you have lit up on your economy gauge?
wow i cant believe you asked that question because mine is dreadful
Gear change 2
anticipation all 5
Speed none.
I drive 18 miles to work and am pretty much sat in standing traffic all the way (take 60-90 mins) coming home is a different story 30 % is real busy then it clears so foot down and off hence the bad speed. this hasnt been reset in a long time so its stuck with my work journeys.
I've not got mine yet I pick it up on my way home tonight, but when I had a Fiesta Econetic as a service loan car, even though it only had 5 miles on it when I picked it up, I got 68 mpg on my run to work & 5 anticipation flowers 4 speed & 3 gear change. That was doing 65 mph on the motorway so I can confirm my Mondeo will not get as many!!!!!
Well zafiral youve had your car a week now, what do you think ?? is it a big difference from your last one and are you getting better fuel economy from it ?
I've now done just over 1000 miles in 10 days & so far all positive. First tow is not until beginning of next month so I will write a definitive review then. I am still running on the factory springs currently as according to Ford Etis they are firmer than the ones on my previous car.
The ride is better, probably helped by the 17" wheels with 50 profile tyres after the 18" wheels & 40 profile tyres on the last one.
Refinement is significantly improved & the clutch is much lighter than before making progress more relaxed.
The car will pull from lower revs, but there is not the kick at 1800 revs the old one had. It is stronger in the mid range & doesn't run out of go so early either.
Fuel economy on the computer is about 10% better too.
As you may guess overall I am very happy!!!