I prefer them personally.

The Pump Deuse engine is more reliable in my experience than 99% of the common rail stuff plus dial into the equation that most garages know how they work and can fix them without a degree in electronics.

I'm not talking about the experience of having just one, we've had loads of skodas, audis, vws etc with the different variations of the 1.9 engine in. Currently even using a Bora 130 as a hack car [and have 2x 53 plate Mondy TDCi's in stock as well if you still want one Ones a Zetec in State Blue and the others a Graphite in well... graphite both around 80k miles ] The Bora is the 6 speed one with all the GTi bits out of the golf. Ugly as sin but goes well and touch wood, has been pretty reliable for about 10k miles. I rag the fuck out of it whenever I drive it and it'll still bring back 40+ mpg. well into the 50s when you're being sensible.

Pound for pound I would prefer a passat to a mondeo although as said above the mondys are great to drive now and the build quality is exceptional on the later models - for Ford

Only major difference is you should factor in a cam belt change on the Piss Hat [obviously the mondys are all chains now] for your own peace of mind. iirc the book time for changing one on a passat is a bit longer than most due to the positioning/mounting of the engine.