Test Drive Ford Mondeo Sedan 2005 - 2007 Sedan

feel the difference

One of them is one and a half times more powerful than the other, but three times more. And the one that is less, is also much more comfortable. But the dear faster passes turns. Do you feel the difference?
Machines not just different sometimes appears the feeling that they represent different branches of automotive evolution. So we tried to understand what differences the difference in price of 70 thousand dollars expresses.
 
220 against 344.
These numbers are the power of two rivals: Audi S4 is almost one and a half times more powerful. They cost the yellow-blue flag of the adjacent state and the views of hungry predators estimate each other. ST 220 is Ford Mondeo. After light facelifting of the basic model, it became frankly better, the rear lights with stripes were especially successful. To convert a normal sedan to an unusual, an aero shot, which includes a low bumper, skirt, rear spoiler, 18-inch wheel drives with 16 spokes and two exhaust system nozzles. Do not forget about the special paint for the body, which is called Neon-Blue Metallic and is intended only for the version of ST 220. The car climbed into such armor looks more and solid the basic version even in the richest configuration.
Audi is not enough that the universal is also an aggressive wagon. Arch expanders, an evil grille of the radiator, again 18-inch discs and integer four exhaust pipes. A4 Avant Universal Small, Edaki Dear and Elegant Shopping Bag from the famous Couturier. In the case of S4, a small wagon turned almost into the fighter, and his yellow sides alone attract the attention of others.
 
Do you have any seats Recaro, dear ST 220? At the blue sedan there are two of them, and they naturally, the front. For sports chairs, they are too soft, but equipped with numerous support and electrically regulatory. Salon sports Ford big changes has not undergone. Instruments with white dials, pedal overlays, steering wheel with a symbols of the model and a leather handle of a 6-speed gearbox. So here is a simple way a simple car turns into a budget sports car. It turns out very cute, without unhealthy thrust to blue light bulbs and other robberies. The rear passengers of a quick business sedan have at their disposal heated seats, individual lighting plaffers on the ceiling and in the floor and as a pleasant bonus armrest with cupcakes. The salon is covered with dense skin, only on the door panels, for some reason, it is combined with a dilated textile material. The musical accompaniment is responsible for the Sony audio system with changer on six disks and remote control on the steering wheel.
 
In the Audi cabin, everything is divided into zones for each passenger. Each receives its personal seat Recaro and its own cocoon. These cocoons are formed due to a low landing and a high and wide central tunnel. Audi Salon is a luxury, erected into the highest degree. Tree, suede, leather, aluminum. At night, even the smallest key exudes the aggressive red glow. In Ingolstadt, they decided that the backlit can even be equipped with a cup holder. In Cologne, they were accepted differently, placing a hole for a glass on the central tunnel.
 
The Audi driver holds a three-spoke steering wheel in his hands and, like a child, cannot play with numerous electrically regulators and buttons. Ford in this regard is much more modest: buttons and regulators are less. Here they are, differences. Ford restrained luxury for little money, Audi Shooting luxury for huge.
What else? Even these cars have a trunk, and each of them can transport long items. Audi can be turned into a micro-shirt if desired, and a pair of snow-borders can be immersed in Ford. That's just annoying that Ford does not have any knob to close the trunk. The indicators of the useful volume of salons of these athletes do not so worry, such as, for example, power, overclocking time, etc.
V6 against V8.
With both cars engaged inheritance. Ford received V6 from the Maverick SUV, and S4 from senior models. Ford Motor initially had a power of 200 hp, but in the Special Vehicle Engineering department made a number of changes that allowed to increase its power to 220 hp. The front-wheel drive Mondeo comes with a 6-speed mechanic.
 
In Quattro GmbH, they decided otherwise and did not touch the motor at all. Horses there for not the hardest machine itself and so abound 344. Naturally, the drive has a complete car, and the transformation of the traction is headed by a 6-range rapid Tiptronic machine. Do you feel the difference?
 
St 220 Torque is 285 nm against the breathtaking 410 nm at S4, and up to hundreds of Audi accelerates for 5.9 s, while Mondeo is required for this 7.6 s. But the maximum speed of them is the same 250 km / h. The advantage of S4 seems undeniable. However, there is one small but, it consists in appetite Audi. A small wagon with a huge motor consumes more than 20 l AI-98 per 100 km in the city, as reported by the on-board computer. His opponent is much more modest: he has enough 14.5 liters of gasoline per hundred, and AI-95. The times of insane money passed, and today buyers expensive cars are more attentive to the cost of operation, and then the scales bowl is inclined towards Ford. ST 220 can celebrate the first little victory in our duel.
 
Well, it's time to go. The mighty V8 Audi grokely growls even at idle, and liters of fuel consumption are lit on the multicolor screen. You need to do only three movements: Press the brake pedal, translate the KP selector to the Drive position and press gas. Somewhere in the depths of the aluminum compact eight, the power will be wagon, and the car will not think that there is a break from the scene. Then the machine will begin to fold the transmission, and the road will turn into a dark gray needle.
The wagon sticks to the asphalt grokely growls to other cars, and those shakes from him as damn from Ladan. Nobody wants to get under the millstone of 18-inch wheels. Driving a burden on this machine simply because it is enough for two such cars and a couple of dozen Zhiguli. True, the automaton in at times accelerations flows into the state of thoughtfulness. Medicine from this manual mode and gear shift ears on the steering column.
 
Mondeo motor at idle does not hear at all, V6 does not annoy the passengers and others and not so frankly provokes the driver. Eh, he would have a clutch pedal shorter! It hurts the move great, and the informativeness of her, right, say, civilian. But it is worth touching the KP lever, and the face illuminates the smile of a good cat with the naval surname. Transmission Cancelness Canceled, Minimal moves. Serve the Fordo motor starts after 4500 rpm and willingly spin up to 6500 rpm. ST 220 accelerates intelligently, but quickly, the shapes almost in two seconds received from Audi, it seems and do not notice, everything happens the same, but adrenaline is less. But calmly. Well, you can confuse III transmission C vi, as if says ST 220, I only revealed a second, but I will help make overtaking. It's really so! And this motor has a good traction reserve, and the gas pedal at ST 220 is less wadded than S4.
 
Steering responds to the slightest movement of the hands, the change of course is going fast and clear. Handling is another Audi trump card in general and S4 in particular. After passing at the entrance to the turn at the speed, you can count not only for luck, but also on the suspension and electronic systems. The breeding sports car with a short steering rail licks the turns no worse than a cup car, and the driver performs a minimum driving movement. True, enter the underground multi-tiered garage with its intricate immersion route is still difficult. But on the track the car is wonderful. Obgon these are two movements: gas in the floor, the steering wheel left. The power is enough for a small plane, so there is only one Audi S4 on the oncoming lane. At this time, the arrow of the fuel pointer treacherously slides to zero, and another thousand-building bill appears from the pocket. We must temper the dust, otherwise you have to put my teeth on the shelf. The S4 refueling costs an average of 1,500 rubles, and drive to 70 liters, which are placed in the tank, can be 350 km away.
 
What is Ford? His steering wheel, of course, is not so sharp, but there is no synthetiona layer too. It is slightly less aggressive, a little more comfortable and prone to compromise. ST 220 Below the basic modification by 15 mm, its suspension is more rigid, and this is best affected by the controllability, which is different in the usual Mondeo predictability. Yes, ST is not so aggressive can pass the devices, it expands the trajectory, crackles the brakes and doubles the tires. He is far from smoke from under the wheels and other street racers, but it is easier to find a common language with him, because Audi constantly provokes the driver. Ford is ready to compromise: you are not trying to depict Alexey Dudukalo, and the car will not flip you nerves on trifles. Quietly carry a mother-in-law in the country and do not get distracted by smart words about turning. Plus, feel yourself the master of the situation, paying your very fast Ford on the same amount as any Volga, and be sure that you will drive at one refueling at least.
 
Brakes on both cars work accurately and without delays. And this is despite the fact that on Mondeo brake discs are the same as on the basic version 1.8. They just made them with a reserve, and it was sufficient for the combat ST 220.
The final
Still, they live in different worlds. S4 is already in the database more expensive than ST 220 almost three times 100 thousand dollars against 39 thousand. But they are not on different steps of automotive evolution, they are both good by themselves, both in excellent physical form. Of course, Audi car is rather an imaging, status, but also ST 220 complies with the status criteria. How many owners of ordinary Mondeo during the test showed us a thumb! Now in fashion, universalism, especially in Europe, and also save there. Dear, high-quality S4 cannot but feel like not only Bavarian neighbors, but also a special Mondeo. And it's not even money. In ST 220, it shakes less on irregularities, it is cheaper in operation, and driving pleasure gives no less. Audi car hard in all respects, in the city he frankly nothing to do, he needs a track or even a closed track.
Who is better? Better one who meets the needs and desires of their owner. But the Ford trunk more
Specifications
Ford Mondeo ST 220 Audi S4 Avant
Dimensions, mm 4730x1810x1460 4585x1770x1430
Base, mm 2757 2650
Pitch, mm 1520/1535 1520/1520
Diameter of reversal, m 11.1 11.1
Engine type gasoline V6 gasoline V8
Working volume, cube. CM 2967 4136.
Max. power,
l.S. / rpm 226/6150 344/7000
Max. moment,
Nm / rpm 285/4900 410/3500
Transmission mechanical automatic
6-speed 6-range
Tires 225/40 R18 235/40 R18
Max. Speed, km / h 250 250
Overclocking time
0100 km / h, from 7.6 5.9
Fuel consumption (EU),
l / 100 km 8.0 / 10.6 / 14,5 9.1 / 12.3 / 17.9
Tank volume, l 58 70
Maxim Rakitin
Photo by Leonid Klimanovich
 
 
 
 
 

A source: Magazine "Autopanoram"