Educate me on Mondeo's please

[fordfarm]

I have been lurking around for a while, impressed by this forum. I finally joined to ask about Mondeo's, mainly the 6spd auto in the MA versus the MB or MC Powershift 6speed. I am looking for a commuter driving 100km/day half hills driving, half city. We have tried 9 cars already and narrowed it down to TDCi, either focus or Mondeo maybe powershift.

We test drove a 2010 MC LX TDCi Powershift today. It didn't go well.
We pulled out of the dealership onto a busy road, with the wipers on, accelerated and then it wouldn't change up and sputtered to a complete stop. Fortunately it was in roadworks and I put the hazards on and tried to start and it would just sputter and die. The roadworkers pushed me to a side street laughing as they told everyone we were on a test drive!

I got the sales guy down and then it started and we drove it into the servo and put $10 diesel in and then it went fine. The caryards driveway was steepish down hill and the fuel gauge was reading low, maybe it is incorrect? The thought is still there that it may not be low fuel but another more serious issue? Is that why it was priced so well? We drove it for over half an hour and it was floorless. Still unsure about that car, although it drove really well and I like the powershift. It reminds me of the powershift on our New Holland tractors and honda Quad, both awesome to use.

What type of 6 speed auto trans is in an MA? Is it like a traditional torque converter auto or something else? Should we stretch the budget and aim for a MB or MC? Looking at the kW and economy and todays drive it looks like the way to go.

Any other tips or things we should consider?

Thanks in advance.