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Between Mazda 6 and Ford Mondeo...

Suhaimiebrahim

By Suhaimiebrahim,
in General Car Discussion

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Tyongchi

Tyongchi

1st Gear

I've been driving the Mondeo MK IV Ecoboost for four years. Mileage close to 100,000 km. So far so good. Had a water pump leaking at 90,000 km and was promptly replaced by Regent foc (under warranty).

 

If you want to cut cost for the mandatory servicing by Regent, you can purchase the Engine Oil and Spark Plugs from Amazon.

 

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teomingern

teomingern

6th Gear

Buddy, just noticed this statement when MQX quoted.

 

Would like to say that you should not call them "just LEDs"... these are way smarter than any bi-xenon system - the Mondeo has Ford Dynamic LED, which have adaptive features such as; beam patterning dependent on speed, (longer beam for expressway speeds, shorter but wider in slow speeds, a "manuevering beam" for reversing), angling (turns with your steering wheel), as well as automatic high beam.

(I also believe they are able to detect cars ahead and dim a portion of the beam, but I don't have a confirmation on this.)

 

Lastly but not least is the sequential indicator feature where the signal lights stream outward.

 

And compared to bi-xenon, they illuminate at full brightness instantly and are almost as bright as bi-xenons if not brighter! They also have long lifetimes and aren't vulnerable to failure from "short-striking".

 

Wow! Didn't know this... this is serious tech man... thanks!

seach for Ford here: http://www.autoparts.com.sg/members.asp

 

Halogen < HID/Xenon < LED < Laser

 

Thanks for the link... I stand corrected on the headlamp tech... was not aware of what 7hm pointed out. :)

I've been driving the Mondeo MK IV Ecoboost for four years. Mileage close to 100,000 km. So far so good. Had a water pump leaking at 90,000 km and was promptly replaced by Regent foc (under warranty).

 

If you want to cut cost for the mandatory servicing by Regent, you can purchase the Engine Oil and Spark Plugs from Amazon.

 

Sounds really good and positive yeah! Could you elaborate a bit more about the engine oil and spark plugs?

 

Does Ford use a very special engine oil? Honestly I just use the cheapest synthetic engine oil - Carlube from Giant Hypermarket. It's really cheap and good. I service my Impreza every 10K KM or so and on more than a few occasions, about 15 K KM... the oil that came out still is gold and viscous, not brown or black and watery and smelling burnt. So it's good stuff... does not breakdown easily... would it be suitable for the Mondeo? And would Regent Motors accept your own oil that you bring?

 

What about spark plugs? Are these special ones? I don't keep track but back then when I first started driving, iridium spark plugs were the rage and they cost $40 each or something like that... are these Ford spark plugs of a special variety with a special temperature rating and unique spark gap or pin shape?

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7hm

7hm

Turbocharged

Wow! Didn't know this... this is serious tech man... thanks!

 

Thanks for the link... I stand corrected on the headlamp tech... was not aware of what 7hm pointed out. :)

 

Sounds really good and positive yeah! Could you elaborate a bit more about the engine oil and spark plugs?

 

Does Ford use a very special engine oil? Honestly I just use the cheapest synthetic engine oil - Carlube from Giant Hypermarket. It's really cheap and good. I service my Impreza every 10K KM or so and on more than a few occasions, about 15 K KM... the oil that came out still is gold and viscous, not brown or black and watery and smelling burnt. So it's good stuff... does not breakdown easily... would it be suitable for the Mondeo? And would Regent Motors accept your own oil that you bring?

 

What about spark plugs? Are these special ones? I don't keep track but back then when I first started driving, iridium spark plugs were the rage and they cost $40 each or something like that... are these Ford spark plugs of a special variety with a special temperature rating and unique spark gap or pin shape?

 

The cap on my engine oil receptacle says 5W30 if i recall. During Ford owner night they stated they use Shell Helix Ultra, but you are allowed to bring your own oil.

 

As for spark plugs, to my understanding the car's original spark plugs are of the platinum or iridium variety, i.e. extremely long last plugs. I recall reading somewhere that Regent charges like a hundred over for a set of plugs, and I believe it is much cheaper to buy them yourself. As for where's good to get them, I'm not sure.

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teomingern

teomingern

6th Gear
(edited)

The cap on my engine oil receptacle says 5W30 if i recall. During Ford owner night they stated they use Shell Helix Ultra, but you are allowed to bring your own oil.

 

As for spark plugs, to my understanding the car's original spark plugs are of the platinum or iridium variety, i.e. extremely long last plugs. I recall reading somewhere that Regent charges like a hundred over for a set of plugs, and I believe it is much cheaper to buy them yourself. As for where's good to get them, I'm not sure.

 

If it's 5W30, then Carlube type should suffice. If the spark plugs are iridium or platinum type then only need to change every 100,000 km...

 

Edit: Realised the Carlube fully synthetic is 5W40... wonder if it is ok...

Edited by teomingern
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Tyongchi

Tyongchi

1st Gear

The car manual specifies 0W30 and requires 6 Quartz. So any synthetic oil with 30 behind should be good.

 

Regent charges $150 for the spark plugs (and they are normal plugs which require replacement every 20,000 km). The price they charge I consider exorbitant. For this I use equivalent Denso Iridium plugs which cost about S$60 and can last as long as 100,000 km but I plan to replace them every 40,000 km.

 

You can get the above items from MX Trading locally. Or you can get them cheaper too via Amazon (via free international shipping for USD125 above purchase). Usually, I buy 12 Quartz and a set of plugs per shipment.

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Mkl22

Mkl22

Supersonic

Buy the iridium tough series where the tips are a little bigger will easily last 120k km.

You can buy oil from lynlex as well. $60 for 6qt of mobil1 0w30 AFE.

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7hm

7hm

Turbocharged
(edited)

The car manual specifies 0W30 and requires 6 Quartz. So any synthetic oil with 30 behind should be good.

 

Regent charges $150 for the spark plugs (and they are normal plugs which require replacement every 20,000 km). The price they charge I consider exorbitant. For this I use equivalent Denso Iridium plugs which cost about S$60 and can last as long as 100,000 km but I plan to replace them every 40,000 km.

 

You can get the above items from MX Trading locally. Or you can get them cheaper too via Amazon (via free international shipping for USD125 above purchase). Usually, I buy 12 Quartz and a set of plugs per shipment.

 

Interesting. I recall reading somewhere that the service schedules included platinum spark plugs at 60k km. Surprised Regent isn't using the Motorcraft finewire platinum sort.

It might be because the service schedule I checked out was for American market Fusions.

 

I'll keep this in mind.

 

 

edit: I checked my engine oil cap again, and yes, it states SAE 5W-30. I'll have to review my manual hard copy, but my soft-copy specifies 5W-20 or 5W-30. I cannot find any specification relating to the 2.0L EcoBoost for 0W-30. The same oils are specified for the 1.5L.

I would recommend checking with the Regent technicians, as the manual is global rather than specifically for our tropical climate.

 

By the way, the 1.5L's engine oil capacity is 3.8L.

 

I believe though that if long term running cost is a concern, the Mazda6 might be cheaper to run overall despite the higher road tax. Its parts will certainly be more common, and the fuel consumption (provided you don't whack it) might be slightly better. Most SkyActiv Mazda3 owners are reporting good consumption.

As for the Subaru Legacy 2.5, I hear from Subaru owners that the 2.0L FXT does worse than the Legacy, which implies the Legacy is getting around at least 10~11km/l +.

imho Camry is definitely a poor choice for its price. I'd rather take the Legacy or Mazda6 for sure. Honda Accord is way off the prices of these as well. Not sure what BM is up to.

Just to confirm though @teomingern, you are specifically looking for mid-size sedan? (i.e. these large family cars class.)

Edited by 7hm
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teomingern

teomingern

6th Gear

The car manual specifies 0W30 and requires 6 Quartz. So any synthetic oil with 30 behind should be good.

 

Regent charges $150 for the spark plugs (and they are normal plugs which require replacement every 20,000 km). The price they charge I consider exorbitant. For this I use equivalent Denso Iridium plugs which cost about S$60 and can last as long as 100,000 km but I plan to replace them every 40,000 km.

 

You can get the above items from MX Trading locally. Or you can get them cheaper too via Amazon (via free international shipping for USD125 above purchase). Usually, I buy 12 Quartz and a set of plugs per shipment.

 

Does this make the purchase cheaper than what you get in Singapore? I assume you get Ford oil right?

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teomingern

teomingern

6th Gear

Interesting. I recall reading somewhere that the service schedules included platinum spark plugs at 60k km. Surprised Regent isn't using the Motorcraft finewire platinum sort.

It might be because the service schedule I checked out was for American market Fusions.

 

I'll keep this in mind.

 

 

edit: I checked my engine oil cap again, and yes, it states SAE 5W-30. I'll have to review my manual hard copy, but my soft-copy specifies 5W-20 or 5W-30. I cannot find any specification relating to the 2.0L EcoBoost for 0W-30. The same oils are specified for the 1.5L.

I would recommend checking with the Regent technicians, as the manual is global rather than specifically for our tropical climate.

 

By the way, the 1.5L's engine oil capacity is 3.8L.

 

I believe though that if long term running cost is a concern, the Mazda6 might be cheaper to run overall despite the higher road tax. Its parts will certainly be more common, and the fuel consumption (provided you don't whack it) might be slightly better. Most SkyActiv Mazda3 owners are reporting good consumption.

As for the Subaru Legacy 2.5, I hear from Subaru owners that the 2.0L FXT does worse than the Legacy, which implies the Legacy is getting around at least 10~11km/l +.

imho Camry is definitely a poor choice for its price. I'd rather take the Legacy or Mazda6 for sure. Honda Accord is way off the prices of these as well. Not sure what BM is up to.

Just to confirm though @teomingern, you are specifically looking for mid-size sedan? (i.e. these large family cars class.)

 

Yup, I'm definitely looking at the mid-sized sedans... or what we usually bracket as the 2.0 L category... Accord is way off... and it's really ugly... hahaha... Legacy's engine is too large and fuel consumption is not good cos of the AWD (which I am experiencing right now). That leaves basically the Mazda 6, Mondeo, Sonata & Optima. I liked the previous Optima (a tad too firm suspension) - reports say the suspension tuning is better, more pliant now. I haven't tested the 6, which I hope to although my schedule is getting really packed... I don't quite like the Sonata ride when I tested it... too soft I think... nothing else on the market is very attractive... don't like the German marques (anyway out of my league), not the French (reliability issues)... 

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Tyongchi

Tyongchi

1st Gear

Does this make the purchase cheaper than what you get in Singapore? I assume you get Ford oil right?

 

I used to get the Castrol 5W30 when the free shipping is available (currently not available). Cost around USD50 per 6 quartz. 

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teomingern

teomingern

6th Gear

I used to get the Castrol 5W30 when the free shipping is available (currently not available). Cost around USD50 per 6 quartz. 

 

I see... that's pretty expensive no?

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Cybersurf

Cybersurf

1st Gear

The road tax is not a problem as it is offset by the cost of the car. But fuel consumption will be a big issue with the large 2.5 L engine. I drive at least 50 km a day... so one month clock about 1000 km, and that's only for work. I use the car for another three trips a week that clock about another 150 km. So in all one month, I clock about 1600 km... so the 2.5 L will be thirsty... no doubt the price of the Legacy is very attractive.

 

What do you mean by existing stock and very common parts? I have a roving mechanic who can fix any car, even Mercedes and BMW... so I guess getting a Ford won't be a problem. Anyway, the salesperson at Regent Motors said that for the 5 year factory warranty, die die must service at Regent Motors, so that solves the parts problem if any for the first 5 years lar... after that I'll go to my mechanic, and he'll probably be able to source for the parts that he needs.

To the bros who have been driving this current Mondeo (either 2.0 or 1.5 L), could you weigh in on the parts issue? Or the reliability issues? I haven't heard any bad reliability issues so far, but then the number of Mondeos are so few on the road that maybe I don't hear many... I have a colleague's husband who drives the previous Mondeo, just the model before this one and I would ask him too when I see but I wonder if it's any good? So far his car I think no issues at all cos never hear my colleague complain, they have two babies... :)

 

Bro, can post the stockists' shop names? Is it easy to get parts from them? What's the usual waiting time for any part? If anyone has experience, can post? For minor and major parts?

 

Pop by http://www.fordclubsg.com/ to get more Ford-related "help".

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