I'm a MONDEO MAN, now !!!

[Andy]

Nice man! Is that just A/C or is it Climate control too?

For an LX that's pretty well spec'd. You've got the two things that most people would want on the higher cars but on the base.

Suspicious stain on the drivers seat...






Been 'looking' at a maroon Ford today....

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Andy

Is that just A/C or is it Climate control too?

Basic A/C - I hate Climate Control anyway.  Always thinks it's cleverer than it is !!

[Fieldy]

Quoting: philoldsmobile

but a very dull car

2.0 Zetec-S.... Not dull, at all

[Andy]

Quoting: Fieldy

2.0 Zetec-S.... Not dull, at all

The 1.8 is pretty lively too!

Just out of curiosity, what tyres have you got fitted on yours Fieldy? Mines got Avons all round and the front end is a little lively in the wet. Starting to suspect the tyres are shite.

[Fieldy]

Ha Ha, seriously no idea.
I fitted a set of cheap 15" wheels from Gumtree with tyres for £50.
I fitted one budget tyre from the scrap yard.

Lets put it this way, I was driving on the M4 today, 75MPH (Roughly, my speedo is about 15mph out at that speed), floor was damp and my traction control started working.....

[Andy]

Haha, wish I had traction control...

Theres a back road round here, where there's a slight hump back bridge on a bend, nothing tragic. Went over that a bit enthusiastically and the near side lost grip and the right side dragged the steering round. This is making me want to put the Bridgestones I have on the diesel on and do away with the Avons.

I have a damp floor... inside

[HardRockCamaro]

The Mondeo, Focus and Fiesta have always sold well as they're damn good cars.

Dependable, and while sometimes uninspiring to look at, a very good drive indeed, always winning group tests against the competition for the driving experience.  Suspension and steering are spot on, nice gearbox and driving position etc.  And the latest models are generating reviews tat say the build quality is no longer just behind the Germans, it's actually equal or even better...

Ford have sold millions of these things for good reason.

The R&D budget for the suspension tuning division is probably greater than an entire vehicle development budget for some of their competitors...

I remember when the first Mondeo came out, Ford spent over 4 *billion* developing it.  And that's back in the v early 90s when 4 billion was a f*** ton of money...

[philoldsmobile]

that market sector is so critical, ford had to get the mondeo right. the vectra is just not on the same game, but how many 05 modeos do you see against 05 vectras! ford were outselling the vectra significantly.

the focus I felt (and i have heard others say the same) was always over rated, the 2009 LX I drove last year was falling apart, and in non wearing places too, such as trims on the dash board (itself a very nasty hard cheap plastic) and the trims around the door handles being loose, because they were about 3mm smaller than the opening they 'fitted' into. the 1.8 TDCi was horrible and laggy and the gear ratios poorly chosen. not at all nice.

The tables have turned in the slightly smaller focus sector, and THE car to buy is the Kia C'eed, as good or superior in every way to the focus, with a far better warranty, and cheaper.

the Germans have always managed to sell on badge, but the 3 series is again a relatively decent car, until you see the price. the Merc C class looks superb, but apparently the build quality isn't great. cirtainly the older once i've been in were not as good as you'd like.

Really the only alternative you can really pick against the mondeo is the Volvo V40 / S40 or the Saab 9-3

[philoldsmobile]

Quoting: HardRockCamaro

the latest models are generating reviews tat say the build quality is no longer just behind the Germans, it's actually equal or even better...

to be fair, they are saying that about the Citroen C5 too....

[Cunning Plan]

Good to see it has roof rails and a towey

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Roadkill

Add to that that it coasts along at 1700 rpm @ 70mph in Sixth gear

The economy is going to blow your mind if you have been used to 20mpg and under!

You should get into the 50mpgs with that.

I want one

[HardRockCamaro]

The Kia Cee'd is a good car by all accounts, looks like a Toyota to me.
It drives pretty well too, but it's not on par with a Focus.

But considering it's a Kia it's amazing how far they've come, and in such a short time...

As an everyday runaround, given the cost of a new focus these days (near 20k for a 1.8TDCI Zetec, sod off) I'd give the Kia serious consideration.

Then again Vauxhall offer a good warranty now, although the Astra I rented was nicer to look at than the current Focus (on it's way out and an all new one due any minute, which is truly excellent from what I've read) both inside as well as out, and it was quiet and smooth, however it was not as nice to drive.  The gearbox was awful and the steering lifeless.

With improved looks, quality and a great driving experience, the new Focus should be good.  It better be for what they want for one...

[philoldsmobile]

the 09 focus I drove tail end of last year was absolutely awful (dad hated it too), buy comparison his Pug 307 was light years nicer when we got home, smoother, quieter better built and a FAR bigger boot). A guy at work also had a 1.8 TDCI focus from new as a company car (now changed for a BMW118d) and he hated it too, for all the same reasons - nasty engine cheap plastics and very poor build.

its substantially worse than the MK1 focus, the cost cutters had obviously been at work.

the mondeo is much nicer.

[Andy]

Bet the Focus electricals will be working in 10 years time though...

Wouldn't say the same for the Pug.

[Cunning Plan]

[Roadkill]

Plus the Pug is ugly as hell whereas the Mondeo is simply a little dull - but not offensive.

[art b]

Quoting: Roadkill

   # Posted: 2 Mar 2011 13:56:02
Quote

Plus the Pug is ugly as hell whereas  philo is simply a little dull - but not offensive

[Incursus]

Quoting: philoldsmobile

the 09 focus I drove tail end of last year was absolutely awful

The steering wheel module is awesome though!

The 11MY will be even cheaper better!  

[Roadkill]

Some stats for you Merry Mondeo Men . . . .

First full tank (mainly short runs but some longer trips)

Tank = 513.3 miles / 55.19 litre (12.14 gal) = 42.3MPG

Second full tank (pretty much half and half)

Tank = 590.7 miles / 56.56 litre (12.44 gal) = 47.5MPG

Just at the end of my third tank and I'm hoping to get to 50MPG.

[Andy]

Where you'll see the real advantage is motorway cruising with the 6th gear, 70 with probably a little over 2.5k rpm, happy days!

I am missing my old diesel mondeo and the mpg I got out of it. It was never amazing but at least I wasnt getting to know the petrol attendants name.

[Cunning Plan]

Change at 1500, keep off the boost, you should get well over 50mpg

Sure, you can hit 60 or 70 when the road allows, but just don't be the first on the road to do it, gradually increase speed - makes a huuuggeee difference. It may feel like you are driving too slowly, but you soon catch all the people up who tank past you away from round-a-bouts at full-throttle, the next slow bit of traffic you can just glide past them.

My 1.8 petrol is doing 40-42mpg (A roads, 40-60mph - so admittedly the best situation to get high MPG with the engine), but still, '97 petrol estate

Also, tyres at 33psi (massive difference as you know).

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Andy

Where you'll see the real advantage is motorway cruising with the 6th gear, 70 with probably a little over 2.5k

Try about 1900 RPM @ 70MPH

[Andy]

Damn that's good! And as CP says you'll be off the boost.

In which case, I expect better!! Lol

[HardRockCamaro]

My dad drives everywhere at 60 and accelerates gently and plans ahead.
He gets 64mpg at the *lowest* out of his Focus TDCi and gets up to 72mpg with a tailwind and on a longer run...  

He just went for a test drive in the new shape Focus 1.6TDCi which has a 6 speed box compared to his 5 speed 06 model.  Problem is they want £17k for an entry level poverty spec model, and £19.7k for the Titanium...  

It's supposed to be as well made as the German executive cars (I'm not sure that is a compliment) and as refined.  But if you buy the top model and add the toys (self parking etc) it comes in at a german executive saloon price of 29k...    

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: HardRockCamaro

He gets 64mpg at the *lowest* out of his Focus TDCi and gets up to 72mpg with a tailwind and on a longer run...

Impressive

Quoting: HardRockCamaro

Titanium...

mmm Titanium