Ford Mondeo Hatchback (1993 - 2000) 1.8 LX TD 5d (AC) (2000/W) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

It's a Mondeo. Does anyone even notice it?

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

See above. Friends like the comfort of the rear seats when we use it on day trips etc.

Would you buy this car again and why?

I would, but not with the TD engine. A 2.0 petrol would be my choice, but my annual mileage dictates diesel, so my next car won't be a Mondeo. To be fair, we need an MPV these days.

What are you likely to buy next?

We're about to change it for a Renault Grand Scenic dCi which offers another level of practicality and safety for our growing family. Its latest generation common rail diesel is whisper quiet in comparison, and shows just how out of date the Mondeo's engine is. As a car, the Renault can't get close to the Mondeo dynamically though.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£2,400

When did you buy the car?

April 2005

Did you get a good deal and why?

I thought it was a cheap car. Just under 5 yrs old when bought, 97k on the clock and in very good nick for just £2400. Service history wasn't as comprehensive as the dealer implied though, but I went with my instincts and bought it anyway. I don't regret it.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Was looking for a cheap, reliable commuter to double as family transport at the weekends. Because of the unpopularity of the Ford diesel engine, this Mondeo was cracking value for money.

What was the dealer like?

Hopeless, and no longer in business thankfully. Lied about the service history, the jobs we agreed as a condition of sale either weren't done (non functioning radio, cut a spare key) or done badly (timing belt). Stopped returning calls after a week.

What's it like to drive?

The Ford TD engine isn't the best. It's rough, noisy and suffers from yawning turbo lag. That said, you quickly learn to drive around it, and once you get the hang of it, performance is quite acceptable. The Mondeo's chassis, steering and brakes are quite simply superb, and I've driven various newer cars including an Audi A4, Peugeot 407 and VW Passat that all feel very average in comparison. Seats are great, driving position natural, and the feel through the steering is superb.

What's it like to park?

Bulbous rear bumper makes it easy to accidentally "knock" other cars or in one famous case, a fence. You sit quite low with quite a high dash and window line, so shorter drivers can struggle. My wife hates the car for this reason alone.

Have you had any problems with the car?

I've put 40,000 miles on the car in just under 2 years, and it's been fabulous. The car has never failed to start or left me stranded. I traced a slight coolant loss to a weeping water pump seal and noticed the timing belt had become contaminated with coolant. When I took the covers off, the old tensioners had been re-used by the dealer and were badly worn, and the belt had been seriously overtightened. I estimate the engine was only a few hundred miles off a cambelt failure, so the failing water pump actually did me a favour. Other than that it's needed new front pads, a new engine mount, and a pair of CV joints. Parts cost peanuts on these cars, and most jobs are easy to do on a DIY basis. The timing belt / water pump took me an afternoon, including stops for coffee etc. With nearly

What's most practical about your car?

It's a superb family car with a vast boot, plenty of rear legroom and generous standard equipment. Even the LX has air-con, remote locking, CD player, ABS and heated windscreen. My only grizzle is that the seatbelts are too short making fitting child seats quite difficult. It's a bad oversight on what is supposed to be a family car. Despite struggling with the car's weight, the old school diesel engine returns 47 mpg average on my commute, although this can dip below 40 mpg if used exclusively around town.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The Quickclear heated screen.