Ford Mondeo dangerously overweight

[Wretched]

MONDEO

The new Ford Mondeo is a great car, which Teknikens Värld’s test shows, but there is one problem – the weight. Mondeo weighs 279 kg more than Ford claims. With big load (ie family plus luggage) the car therefore becomes illegal to drive.

The last car test that Teknikens Värld performed in 2014 included three highly interesting cars: the new Ford Mondeo Estate (Turnier in Germany), new Volkswagen Passat Estate (Variant in Germany) and Volvo V70. All three cars performed well except for one thing, the weight of the Ford Mondeo.

According to Ford’s official figures, aka the vehicle’s registration certification, the Mondeo Titanium Estate 2.0 TDCi 150 bhp S6 MPS has a curb weight of 1 601 kg (3 530 lbs). When we put the car on a crested scale, it turns out that the Mondeo weighs 1 880 kg (4 145 lbs). In other words, 279 kg (615 lbs) more than Ford claims. The curb weight is 17.4 % more than indicated.

If you load the car to the max, in the belief that it is okay, you actually commit a crime because the car’s total gross weight is exceeded. Even worse, it can also be dangerous which our moose test shows. In an evasive maneuver the new Ford Mondeo Estate can not handle 279 kg (615 lbs) of overweight (an overweight that is not an overweight according to the car’s registration certificate). Not even when driving straight ahead the Mondeo Estate handles the overweight in a good manner. The rear wheels scrape the wheel arches.
It should be mentioned that the new Mondeo Estate performs a good result in the moose test when the load is only 100 kg (220 lbs) above the actual maximum load limit. That is 179 kg (395 lbs) less than the vehicle registration allows you to load.

A month ago we discovered the same problem with the new Mercedes C 220 BlueTEC Estate (T-Modell in Germany). It weighs 245 kg (540 lbs) more than the car’s registration certificate says. Mercedes-Benz in Sweden realized the problem and says they are now going to change the practice of weights. You can read more about this in the latest issue of Teknikens Värld, available in stores now and also available for online order.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URI6RC81GOM

These guys do some serious testing. They don't mess around.
The Merc C220 also has the same issue but the article is in Swedish.

[XR Martin]

Seems to be a Euro thing.
The Jag F-Type is way heavier than claimed too

Ford Oz's website states the new Mondeo TD wagon is 1759kg

[simon varley]

if you load a car to the max, any car, you should weigh it. The onus is on the driver not the manufacturer.

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by simon varley

if you load a car to the max, any car, you should weigh it. The onus is on the driver not the manufacturer.

Once, while picking up some bricks at a brickworks, we found in the carpark a customer loading the boot of her Corolla (or similar) small sedan with her large purchase of bricks. Her boot was about a quarter full when we came across her and the wheelarches were already just about resting on the tyres. She seemed to have the viewpoint that if the boot was that size then it was OK to fill it right up! We had to give her a quick Physics 101 lesson.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by simon varley

if you load a car to the max, any car, you should weigh it. The onus is on the driver not the manufacturer.

I don't really agree with that. The manufacturer built and developed the car, if they say it is rated for something it should be capable.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

I don't really agree with that. The manufacturer built and developed the car, if they say it is rated for something it should be capable.

Exactly, damn straight OEM need to spec weights.

Its the onus of the owner to know what they are adding and do the maths from there.

[Vesper Martini]

A quick look at Fords website give the Falcon V8 (heaviest) at 1861. lighter?

and correct me if I'm wrong it doesn't have the new Mondeo to compare.

[Vesper Martini]

sorry found them
http://www.ford.com.au/cars/new-mond...s/spec-options
specs are only 1677 for the wagon

[pigglesworth]

Completely unreasonable to expect the driver to be able to asses the gross weight of a vehicle when loaded if the manufacturers tare eight information is wrong. Most people wouldn't even know where a weighbridge can be found!?

[GCRXR6]

Originally Posted by pigglesworth

Completely unreasonable to expect the driver to be able to asses the gross weight of a vehicle when loaded if the manufacturers tare eight information is wrong. Most people wouldn't even know where a weighbridge can be found!?

Good point. Also, if you did know the location of the weighbridge, would you not have technically committed an offence, if you found the vehicle to be overweight? You drove an over loaded vehicle ... to the weighbridge.

[simon varley]

the max weight of the car is rarely the sum of all the max weights. If you want to load the boot to the max, you can't normally (for instance) load 5 people in the cabin.

also the brochure states that the 1601kg kerb weight for that model is the lightest weight. It will be for a base model with no options, not a fully specced Titanium. I can easily see 200kg or more of options and features - full size spare? panorama roof? tow bar?

[johnydep]

Originally Posted by simon varley

the max weight of the car is rarely the sum of all the max weights. If you want to load the boot to the max, you can't normally (for instance) load 5 people in the cabin.

....

Say's who? Is that clearly indicated to the buyer?

I know a few sales reps that have the Mondeo as their company car, for work & pleasure. They leave gear in the back & use the car on weekends with the family.

[GasoLane]

Ok, hands up everyone that weighs their car (with wife, kids, dog and luggage) before leaving on holiday.

[Vesper Martini]

How many are aware of their Gross vehicle Limit to actually know how much weight they can carry

[mik]

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

I don't really agree with that. The manufacturer built and developed the car, if they say it is rated for something it should be capable.

i agree mate, it should be like lifting slings and be safe rated to x amount..... but have a built in safety breaking strain of xx.

[XR Martin]

Steel bullbar on most dual cabs with two average blokes in the front seat will put you over the max front axle load.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

sorry found them
http://www.ford.com.au/cars/new-mond...s/spec-options
specs are only 1677 for the wagon

Diesel Titanium is 1759kg

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Diesel Titanium is 1759kg

So it is, you have to check the Titanium box on the website.

your good at finding things where's the max Gross Weight.

Do you think it would it be fair if a cop fined a driver if they were over that gross weight?

[XR Martin]

GVM is listed on the UK Ford site at 2330kg for the 2L TD wagon

[simon varley]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Do you think it would it be fair if a cop fined a driver if they were over that gross weight?

yes. harsh but fair. It is the drivers' responsibility as much as knowing what the speed limit is on any stretch of the road. I doubt anyone would check though unless it is obviously down on the bump stops, or you've already failed the attitude test...

[Nikked]

The official Ford Figures are only for the base car, the article doesn't state exactly what the car was equipped with, only that its titanium. Things like a full size spare wheel are optional too, so while that article makes a big statement about the weight of the car, they don't thoroughly point out the specifics of the car.

Mondeo has an healthy options list...park assist, power tailgate, spare wheel...all heavy things not accounted for on the Curb Weight...

[mik]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Ok, hands up everyone that weighs their car (with wife, kids, dog and luggage) before leaving on holiday.

i actually weighed my AU at work, not long after i got it , it was 1550 with half a tank and the truck weigh bridge scales are accurate to plus or minus 20 kg .

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Ok, hands up everyone that weighs their car (with wife, kids, dog and luggage) before leaving on holiday.

or would have the courage to tell their better half, "sorry love, we're over our legal weight limit and you're going to have to get out and go standby until the next car comes past"

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Diesel Titanium is 1759kg

Makes be laugh at all the people who point at my 1970 Plymouth Fury and call it a big, heavy Yank Tank .. the Sport Fury GT version with cast iron 440 V8 only weighs around 1780kg.

[EB#]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

....Ford Oz's website states the new Mondeo TD wagon is 1759kg

That's still 121kg shy of the Teknikens Värld figure?

[2011G6E]

I've read some four wheel drive magazines that say people have to be wary of what accessories they fit to their fourbie...put on a big show-off heavy duty steel bar (you know the ones...massive over-sized thick posts, huge double bars along the sides of the guards, maybe a couple of hundred kilo's all up), a rear bar, a tow bar, extended range fuel tank, roof rack, drawers, stuff like that, and you could easily be well over the allowed weight simply by putting four adults in it with a bit of luggage.

No big problem I suppose...until you have an accident and the authorities and insurance companies become involved...


And jeez...a diesel Titanium weighs that much??? Bloody hell...it's surprising they get the fuel economy they do...it's a little like guys who used to put Alloytec Holden V6's in things like EH's and HR's...they didn't do anything to the engine at all but it would go like the clappers because the old car weighed half a tonne less than the Commodore. You could probably get the same or better result with a modern twin cam Ford six in an old XY or XC or something...

[mik]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

I've read some four wheel drive magazines that say people have to be wary of what accessories they fit to their fourbie...put on a big show-off heavy duty steel bar (you know the ones...massive over-sized thick posts, huge double bars along the sides of the guards, maybe a couple of hundred kilo's all up), a rear bar, a tow bar, extended range fuel tank, roof rack, drawers, stuff like that, and you could easily be well over the allowed weight simply by putting four adults in it with a bit of luggage.

No big problem I suppose...until you have an accident and the authorities and insurance companies become involved...


And jeez...a diesel Titanium weighs that much??? Bloody hell...it's surprising they get the fuel economy they do...it's a little like guys who used to put Alloytec Holden V6's in things like EH's and HR's...they didn't do anything to the engine at all but it would go like the clappers because the old car weighed half a tonne less than the Commodore. You could probably get the same or better result with a modern twin cam Ford six in an old XY or XC or something...

Yes add on a winch to the bullbar as well........ I used to have a Thomas winch years ago..... damn heavy old bugger .... worm drive (awesome winch though)..... smooths the undulations right out ;) probably adds 50 kg to the bar not counting the extra truck battery..

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by Nikked

The official Ford Figures are only for the base car, the article doesn't state exactly what the car was equipped with, only that its titanium. Things like a full size spare wheel are optional too, so while that article makes a big statement about the weight of the car, they don't thoroughly point out the specifics of the car.

Mondeo has an healthy options list...park assist, power tailgate, spare wheel...all heavy things not accounted for on the Curb Weight...

I thought this would be pretty obvious too. And adding passengers is loading up the car.....same as putting bricks in the back. If you want to push the limits of your car.....your responsible for checking its weight first so you can then add weight accordingly. Unless of course, your driving a dead stock model out of your dealership straight to the brickyard. Then it would be fair to assume the weight readings are correct.....or should be!

[richardxr8]

7 Seat territory owners manual covers this sort of thing (loading/weights) - basically you cant have 7 adults, luggage space and roof rack all fully loaded at the same time....

[BradEL]

Heaps of big family's drive there clapped out 1990s Toyota Estima's and Honda Oddyseys with leaking shocks and worn suspension around south Auckland fully loaded up with the family and what not, I don't see them crashing into many moose, so what's the problem with this brand new car