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See right hand column - Thurs, 11th Nov entry - for public's perception of Mondeos.
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But pretty much every make appears over there at a big discount some time. Doesn't it just mean a dealer got a good deal or misjudged his stock level? Or is your point that fleet sales mean big depreciation?
A friend of mine is very happy with his estate version.
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Correction - look at the considerable numbers of Mondeos on the road for a fair reflection of the public's perception of Mondeos. The fact that dealers are willing to do discounts is just the icing on the cake.
Splodgeface
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Quantity does not equal quality. The gross over-representation on the road of Mondeos is more to do with the perverse company car situation in this country and the discounts obtainable by fleets. France/Germany/Italy/Spain don't seem to see such an apparent overwhelming advantage to Mondeos.
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Hello.
I have owned two mondeos.
They never let me down once. a friend over the road has two a Y plate and a 54.
--
(iam not a mechanic)
Martin Winters
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I own two abeit both older models (see my {P}) They both have been paragons of reliability and I've no plans to replace at this time as very happy with them and the way they drive so I guess i'm a fan too. When we do eventually replace them the chances are almost 100% it will be a 2001+ Mondeo.
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Exactly my view my 1997 P reg TD which i have owned for the last 5 years apart from routine servicing has had nothing major go wrong. To date i,ve replaced front discs and pads( 1 set),glow plugs ( complete set yesterday),windscreen washer pump( blocked and blown),and heater adjuster rotary switch ( siezed). Routine servicing has been done by myself, however i left the cambelt and tensioner to a local dealer as it was mid Feb at the time.Not bad for a car thats about to clock through 94 K and still gives me 45 MPG on a run.Having owned 5 different Fords before this has been a paragon of reliability.
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Fair enough... but France, Italy, Germany and Spain do have a tradition of buying respectively, French, Italian, prestige cars and small cars, none of which the Mondeo is. Just because it doesn't fit the buying public's preference in another country doesn't mean it's not a good value piece of engineering.
Anyway, we're talking about a used one here so if it's cheap enough, big discounts and big depreciation are good news. So, as a member of the general public who is very knowledgeable about Mondeos and what we should think of them, what would you suggest as an alternative for space, driving pleasure, low running costs and about £5,500 at about three years old?
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>>what would you suggest as an alternative for space, driving pleasure, lowrunning costs and about £5,500 at about three years old?
Well actually I really can't think of any other car with this criterea apart from the Mondeo. Especially the driving pleasure.
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Early Mondeos did not sell particularly well in Germany, but the 2000-on model is quite popular over there.
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As I have said before, Fords will always sell well in this country whether they are good or not, as there is an inbuilt bias towards them in the UK that doesn't exist in the rest of Europe. It goes back to the early post war years and into the 60s and 70s, when Ford had a big manufacturing base here, and the Fords that were manufactured here were perceived as British cars. Many people still consider the current range to be an inherently British product, for some reason.
In addtion, as has been said above, sales of the likes of the Mondeo and Focus receive a massive boost from fleet purchases.
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I'm thinking of a Mondeo Estate for the wifey at the moment, so I LOVE the fact that car snobs hate them. The more they continue paying for their badge engineering, the less I will have to pay for a great piece of engineering. We had a road test at the weekend. Fantastic.
At work, all the BMW drivers deride my Omega. I LOVE that. Makes them cheaper for the discerning drivers amongst us who can see past a badge and see a well-engineered car that does the job (hundreds of motorway miles) better than theirs.
Keep up the Ford/Vauxhall hatred - all the more discount on a secondhand one for me.
Finally, something from my last visit to auction. I wonder exactly what was making people nearly bid twice as much for same age/mileage Golfs (or is it Golves?) against the Mondeo equivalent?
Each to their own, but until you've driven one, don't knock Mondeos.
V
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I got a 11 month old 130BHP 6-speed Ghia Diesel in June. I got a stonking motor with all the bells & whistles for less than £12K. It goes like stink and has more room than the QEII. Yow cor beatit - as they say in Dudley.
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Keep up the Ford/Vauxhall hatred - all the more discount on a secondhand one for me. Finally, something from my last visit to auction. I wonder exactly what was making people nearly bid twice as much for same age/mileage Golfs (or is it Golves?) against the Mondeo equivalent? Each to their own, but until you've driven one, don't knock Mondeos. V
Where did I say anything about hatred? I was just giving my understanding of the reason why Ford cars are much more popular in the UK than in the rest of Europe. Not all of their products have been great over the years but they have always been top sellers in the UK.
Would you happen to be one of the legions of people in this forum that knock French cars, for example? And Alfas and Fiats?
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"Where did I say anything about hatred? "
Not directed at you at all, Machika - just a general comment on the badge loyalty endemic in the UK.
"Would you happen to be one of the legions of people in this forum that knock French cars, for example? And Alfas and Fiats?"
No. Never. Not once. I ran a Fiat for a while; very fast, very chic, very unreliable.
I don't dislike any car...I just benefit financially from other people's snobbery. The more opprobrium unknowing people heap on Mondeo's, for instance, the fewer people will choose them and the cheaper they will be.
V
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I don't dislike any car...I just benefit financially from other people's snobbery. The more opprobrium unknowing people heap on Mondeo's, for instance, the fewer people will choose them and the cheaper they will be. V
I hadn't noticed that Ford were having a problem selling their cars in the in the UK.
I have to say that I have noticed a great deal of sensitivity to any criticism of Fords in this forum. Any critical comment at all is usually met with a swift riposte, to the effect that the critic can't possibley know what they are talking about.
However, if one happens to drive a Citroen, for example, like I do, I am constantly reminded by all and sundry in this forum, that I should never rely upon it to complete any journey.
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"I hadn't noticed that Ford were having a problem selling their cars in the in the UK."
Really? I wonder why they are available at 30% off list, then? I wonder why two year old Mondeos that were £16,465 new are selling for £4175? As the Economist put it recently, worldwide there are five cars being built for every four that are actually needed. Ford aren't immune to that.
I'm not sensitive to criticicm of Fords; the only point I'm making is that the blind faith in German engineering that car snobs exhibit benefits people able to see past it and spot good engineering at the right price. That's why Citroens are good value for money, because they are out of fashion.
I'm agreeing with you, Machika.
V
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I have to say that I have noticed a great deal of sensitivity to any criticism of Fords in this forum. Any critical comment at all is usually met with a swift riposte, to the effect that the critic can't possibley know what they are talking about.
I think people are entitled to their opinions and any sensitivity I have to criticism of the Mk3 Mondeo is a direct result of my satisfaction with it. However, I also think Ford owners generally get fed up with the old criticism - that Cortinas and Sierras never deserved their status as a best seller (often deserved) - being applied to the latest Mondeo which actually merits every accolade.
Splodgeface
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making people nearly bid twice as much for same age/mileage Golfs (or is it Golves?) against the Mondeo equivalent?>>
A Golf is in the Escort class, not the Mondeo's upper medium saloon/hatchback.
Something about the level of VW engineering may have a part to play - my mate's 1.8 LX Mondeo only weighs 15kg more than my VW Bora.....
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Something about the level of VW engineering may have a part to play - my mate's 1.8 LX Mondeo only weighs 15kg more than my VW Bora.....
More weight is not the same thing as better engineering.
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>>More weight is not the same thing as better engineering.>>
Well, in the long run, I know which I prefer - but I still maintain that the Mondeo is a class act as a all round driver's car and family vehicle; even better value as a nearly new buy.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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"More weight is not the same thing as better engineering."
As suggested by the classic engineering quote:
"Any fool can build a bridge that stands up; it takes an engineer to build one that JUST stands up"
V
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