FORD MONDEO ESTATE REVIEW

My car

Have driven several Mondeo Estates as a company car for some years now. The 2.0 TDCi 163 replaces a 2.2 TDCi. Only 11bhp difference, but 2.2 had 295 lb/ft pulling power, compared to 251 for the 2.0 and it certainly shows in the flexibility of the engine and the gearing.

Perhaps an unfair comparison, given the 2.2 clearly has more power, but pick up in the 2.0 can be ponderous at times (I even checked the VIN online to see if I had received the 163ps and not the 140ps version) and you certainly have to make more gear down changes. This then has an impact on fuel economy - the 2.2 only returned 32mpg round the houses, but not getting that much more from the 2.0, despite my being more conscious of my driving style. On the motorway, the 2.0 delivers slightly better mpg than the 2.2, but not enough to make any sort of significant saving at the pump.

Maybe fuel economy will improve as I do more miles. but my experience from previous cars is that this tends not to be the case.

Enough of the negative points, the Mondeo remains a very comfortable car to sit in, with a far more pleasing on the eye dashboard layout than most - sorry, I yawn when I sit in a BMW 3 series or a Passat, build quality may be good, but such boring dash designs. Drive quality is very good, but can't say that I notice too much difference between this and the previous 2.2, which had sports suspension.

Value for money is excellent, though, you certainly get a lot of car for the money.

My car

Instrument cluster failure. 3 weeks so far non-functioning. 1 week at the Ford Dealership to be replaced under warrantee. Ford Warrantee is not the same as a Mazda warrantee for example. Ford are delaying to save money. Last time I buy a Ford again. Great car, but not great when I can't use it for 3 weeks,

My car

Wonderful car, but... My 58, soon to be out of warrantee has had th following problems: DVD Nav memory failed = 3 trips to dealer to be rectified by a new unit eventually. Ford Badge peeled away = replaced. Most concerning the Speedometer, Rev Counter, Fuel Gauge and Engine Temp Gauge all stopped working one day. The latter problem I know another owner (who I recommended the Mondeo to) expereinced too. So, i think it has dodgy electrics. Also, Ford dealer service is poor compared to what i was used to at Mazda. For the dials to be looked at I was told i had to wait a week (it is illegal to drive with faulty speedometer unless you are driving to a grage for repair!), then when I mentioned warrantee I was told to wait 2 weeks as non-warrentee work gets priority. This is really poor and the reason I will not buy a Ford again, despite this car being a wonderful drivers car and best in class in my opinion. However I am wishing I had followed my head and chosen the Mazda 6 now. Lesson learned. Just hope the electrics behave once it is out of warrentee.

My car

I wanted the Titanium model as it had the specification I was after, and after testing the 1.8 and 2.0 litre diesels, I opted for the 1.8 with it's great low down torque. It is magnificent to drive, has a great chasis and with the sport pack suspension, it gives a superb ride, whether it's cruising on a motorway or navigating pot holed B roads. I can't speak highly enough of the comfort and practicality either. Excellent seats meant that after a 2,300 mile road trip to southern France and back, I was fresh as a daisy. A truly superb car. The dealer experience however, is another issue. 4, 5 and 6 visits to get small problems corrected is normal procedure for them. E mails go unanswered and promised calls are not returned. The work done is of a poor standard and often requires further visits to correct existing or new problems following their "attention". I am in awe of the car itself - but Ford need to get their dealer network sorted before I buy another.