MC ground clearance.

[seagoon]

These is some great reading in this forum, thanks all!

I've been looking for a medium car, preferably diesel, to replace our seemingly indestructable but very tired Magna sedan. Today I drove a 2013 Zetec TDCi wagon and it certainly met the expectations I had from reading reviews. Great to drive!

I'd be completely sold on it, but the ground clearance has me stunned. Only 112mm. The Magna is 165mm!

We have occasionally gone on some fairly rough dirt roads (almost tracks a couple of times) on the way less travelled, and in the Magna it has never been an issue. The sump still has all its paint.

In the MC I'm pretty sure this wouln't be the case. And there is exhaust gas sensor (?) wiring half way down the pipe that is hardly protected as well.

Can anybody relate their experiences on a bit of rough road? What happens when you bottom out in a dip, apart from putting a hole in that thin plastic body fairing that is under the sump?

Guess I'd have to remember those much lower profile tyres too!

Has anybody heard of the outcome of putting some of these in:
http://www.spaccer.com/en_NZ/makes-a...ondeo-iii.html


Cheers,

[NZ XR6]

I have a MB diesel as a work vehicle and regularly drive it in a quarry. It does really well, but I do have to watch the ground clearance at the front. A couple of times I've had to reverse to get around the lack of clearance! The traction control and ABS work well.

The undertray isn't plastic, it's quite a tough fibrous material. It has a few scrapes on it now, but has kept its shape well.

TBH, you'd be better off with something like an Outback if you regularly drive on rough roads. But I think you'd be surprised at how the Mondeo would cope.

[Binny]

Welcome to our forum.
Yes it's pretty low but probably not as bad as you think.

I've never had trouble with steep driveways or anything. I did bottom the centre section out once at a highway rest area. There was a very abrupt lip to get over when you drove back onto the highway and I caught the edge of a heat shield under the back seat and bent it down. We were fully loaded up with the family and luggage for a 2 week holiday though.

If you are going to drive on rough dirt roads though perhaps its not the best choice. In addition to road clearance, being a euro car they also have firm suspension and low profile tyres. Even my povvo pack LX has 55 series tyres. I love the Mondeos flat handling and taught ride but a corrugated dirt road can be very rough. Our AU wagon was better for that sort of thing. For everything else (ie how we drive every day) I prefer the Mondeo.

[Deo]

Given how /enormous/ the wheel wells are, you can fit larger tyres and crib a little bit of ride height & compliance. I did this and got a 19mm increase.


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