USED Ford Mondeo Hatchback (00 - 07)

My car

I have owned this car from new, now 4 years old and having covered 84,000 miles and about to be traded in.

Overall, I have been very pleased with this car. It exceeded my expectations in most areas and I think did a lot to shed the Ford image of cheap and cheerful.

Only a couple of minor niggles: The car suffered from wind noise which for a long time we thought was a faulty door seal. The dealership (Lifestyle Ford in Horsham) were extremely helpful in trying to resolve the problem in unison with the Ford Technical Department but were unable to do so. In fact, the car was used to try out some remedies at the request of Ford. The problem was never resolved but I came to a suitable agreement with Ford.

Lifestyle Ford treated me extremely well throughout the period of owning this car and I think that having a good dealership enhances your view of the badge (or can diminish it if you chose a poor one). Tyres were more expensive than anticipated. When the car was new, the only other vehicle with the same size of tyres was a Porsche! However, you can get the tyres at a much more reasonable price now if you shop around.

Servicing costs have been reasonable except for Ford's strange policy of changing most of the brake components after two years. I had to have a new battery when the car was only a week old but this was just unlucky. It has lots of extras: leather, esr, cruise, as standard. I would give mine 4 and a half out of 5.

My car

Good all round level of production comfort and ride. Just doesn't make the heart beat faster!