|
I just wanted to mention, that I found the quality to be outstanding with this car.I can't wait to drive it. It must be a 2.0 diesel 140 bhp. I like the light silvery blue colour.
|
Maybe I saw a bad one....
As an ex-Mondeo owner I was really looking forward to seeing the new one. The mags raved about the quality, so all very promising. But when I sat in one (a Titanium X) at the local dealer I thought the interior felt very cheap, some of the plastics were a bit naff and anything that moved (glovebox, storage covers etc) was really poor. It was genuinely surprising how cheap these bits felt after my Toyota (or a Honda, VW etc), and this was for a £23k car!
As I say, maybe it was a bad example, because everything else I see or hear seems to say the interior is top notch.
|
My best mate has had one or more of all the Mondeos since the MkII model and about a fortnight ago took delivery of a new two-litre diesel Ghia.
There's no doubt it's a classy car, well built and equipped and with remarkable rear leg room.
However, his other half and I both have similar complaints. The main one is the very low top window line of the front doors (we both took time to stop banging our heads getting into the car), the reduced view out and the extremely narrow windscreen, which offers a view similar to looking through a narrow letter box.
I went with him on the original test drive two months ago (delivery was estimated to take THREE months) in a Titanium X diesel model as mentioned by bristolmotorspeedway {P}.
I have to confess the same views about the quality of the interior plastics (hard and very cheep looking) and the overall impression given by this model, although it proved most enjoyable to drivel.
The Ghia is superior but, frankly, I would be very disappointed if I owned an upper medium car that made me feel I was suffering from claustrophobia compared to my VW Bora.
|
I must say that the bits you see & touch are done in nice materials, but the bits you don't see everyday are quite cheap.
The interior is definitely built to a price, my old 2003 Passat had higher quality throughout. To balance that, the new Passat's interior isn't as nice as the old one either.
|
|
Lots of cars seem to have cheaper interiors now. My late father's 1995 Polo had excellent quality interior including excellent durable seat materials and very strong plastics.You don't find that in normal cars nowadays ( of course real luxury cars are different).
|
I wonder if the very supportive seats in the new mondeo are connected to Ford owning Volvo.
Seat comfort is always a very personal thing. I remember reading that Volvo seats are particularly supportive. Good supportive seats and a nice absorbent ride ( not hard and sporty) is very important in my case. I do quite a bit of long distance driving.
|
I still honestly think that the new Ford Mondeo is an excellent car at a very good price, particularly the diesel ones with manual gearbox and the 2.0 litre 140bhp engine.
|
Although I deliberately never drove it (or I thought I'd talk myself into a Titanium X TDCi!) when I sat in a few I thought they are very good cars. Just a little big for around here ;-)
Don't be disappointed that it's a 140PS diesel engine though so only 138bhp :-)
|
|
|
|
|
Have it chipped. It works wonders. MD
|
Looks nice, but will it be a good buy for those of us who keep our cars for 6 or 7 years?
Hopefully the premature rust problems in earlier models, often mentioned on this forum, will have been resolved.
I wouldn?t mind one, so fingers crossed !
Clk Sec
|
Coincidentally I've been looking at a replacement for my (just over year old!) 320d M Sport Touring, and having heard so much about the new Mondeo being of BMW quality, I endeavoured to have a test drive Friday. However, this being a Ford dealer the sales bloke didn't phone me back re what was available and when I turned up when I said I would he was in a meeting. (Tells me something.) They had no Mondeos I could look at - all been sold in readiness for 1/03/08 apparently - but I'd thought before when I sat in one (on two occasions) that it was all tastefully fitted out and quality looked pretty good.
While I was there I checked out a revised Focus and and an S-Max and was pretty impressed, though the interior design isn't as classy (IMO) as on a BM. I looked specifically at quality of plastics, and when I went over the road to the Merc dealer to check out the new C, I wasn't sure that there was a lot of difference. I think I was most impressed by the way the tailgates shut on the Fords - v solid and classy.
Maybe the biggest disincentive for the Mondeo is that it's so big (apparently), though it looks compact on the road. Could I bring meyself to buy a Ford? All that depreciation (from new anyway)? I'm not sure Mrs MM would let me. It'll have to be a C class then.
|
Getting a test drive in a new Mondeo has been a problem virtually since they came out.
My best mate had to try three different dealers before one eventually consented to the possibility (the two others virtually laughed at his request); it took about four days to arrange.
Never thought this sort of experience would ever have related to a blue oval badge dealer...:-)
It's a good car; in fact the Mondeo has always been an excellent driver's car, but as I've mentioned elsewhere it's somewhat claustrophobic interior with the shallow window lines.
|
|
Shallow windows seems to be a common trait of cars now, but it is very noticable in the Mondeo. I also thought it was HUGE - far, far too large for my use
|
|
It is certainly bigger dimensionally than my last 5 Series - it feels big in a way that the BMW managed not to. As I said in another post the Octavia is far nearer the size this class of car should be, in fact the Octavia reminds me very much of the E39 I once had - dainty I feel the right word is.
|
The big problem is it's too big, too big to fit in most garages and not the easiest of cars to park in a public car park.
I got hold of one as soon as it arrived at the main Ford dealer what seems like yonks ago now. My first response was it looks like a Volvo at the rear end - oopps. The high sides offer good crash protection but not so good for occupants inside due to limitations of view. It feels large from the inside and this translates on to the road but you soon get use to the size as you do with any motor after a while. There is a lot I like about this car and I was gobsmacked the first time I saw one in Colorado Red on the road, pity Ford have missed a trick by not including a smart Metallic Blue as a colour choice.
Would I buy one ? No thanks, it's too big for my our and overall economics is becoming more and more of a major consideration with fuel & running costs going up and up. I prefer the Focus for everyday driving, plus the economy is a lot better and with the ECOnetic models about to hit the roads it easily wins against the Mondeo.
|
|
Looks as though they copied my 10yr old Audi A6. The Mondeo is slightly longer, wider and heavier - a good example of how cars seem to 'grow' with each new model!
|
John F.
Very interesting fact about your Audi! I think the new Polo is actually larger than the orrigional VW Golf. I have actually read that fact.
As regards to Fords, I really think it would be great if they brought back a retro model of the old Angia with the funny sloping back window. That used to look quite cute. I know Ford don't have the money; but they are now certainly doing well with the new Mondeo sales and particularly smaller Fords.
|
|
Pugugly.
I always feel that the latest 5 series BMW is a fabulous looking car particularly in shiny black ( I know it is a terrible colour to keep clean and all scratches show up). Even though the 525 D has a much better engine for it, the 520 D is very popular here in Dublin because of taxes.They told me that black is the favourite colour for that car here. I notice that the 520D is an incredibly economical engine. It automatically cuts out when the traffic comes to a halt and they also do a saving when the brakes are applied. I only hope that by cutting out continually and then starting continually in heavy traffic, that it doesn't drastically shorten the life of the engine. They had a Golf that did that some years ago. For years my brother has owned mainly 5 seriesBMWs, he swears by them. He got his last one just before Chris Bangle brought in the new shapein 2003. I think they did some clever changes to the looks of the 5 series very recently.
|
Its just too big for me, I park my everyday car on the patio behind the house, there's barely enough room to squeeze a mkIII mondeo in there, an extra three inches of width and the extra length would make it almost impossible. If I get it perfect its already a three point turn but usually a five and occasionally a seven point turn. The extra size means that I'll never have a mk IV.
|
I was impressed by the new Mondeo but didn't get a test drive in the end for these reasons (no particular order):
- I did not like the Ghia fake wood and the Titanium was not available before I had to order my new car
- There was a big difference each month (company car) for the Mondeo Ghia 2.0 TDCi vs. Mazda6 Sport diesel but the Mondeo was new and the Mazda an outgoing model
- I often park in some Manchester multi-story car parks and the previous model Mondeo which I had was big enough
- Previous model Mondeo got lots of "dings" to doors from other peoples doors opening, e.g. at the gym. Add the extra width and you have a big problem
- I drove the Mazda and both I and my wife really liked it ;-)
Of course from when I ordered the Mazda my allowance went up about £30pm, the Mondeo came down, and with lower emissions closed the gap. But still too big!
And when I think about it the trend for displays between the dials to control everything from the steering wheel is too complicated - what's wrong with some buttons ;-) Have an accident and you'll be done for careless driving.
|
|
Have to say I'm a bit worried about parking dings with mine -- no rubbing strips on the doors. Even though it's quite slab-sided, it's only a matter of time before someone bangs their door against it.
|
|
I can't believe that some people use as a criterion when considering which new car to buy the likelihood of the doors being dented in a supermarket car park. For goodness sake, be real.
|
It's probably just me (and I am a Ford fan) but I notice a pattern with the descendents of the venerable Cortina.
The new model always looks a bit disappointing for a while until you get used to it and then gradually they grow on you. I can remember thinking the Sierra was horrible at first until the shape sort of became normal for the time. The early Mondeos looked a bit boring but then did the same trick. The Mk3 seemed positively boring initially but now is fine. The latest model does nothing for me yet but I suspect my view will mellow in time.
|
I'm the other way around with this one. I really liked the Mondeo, esp the estate, when it was first launched. Now the more I see it in the flesh, the more it looks like a really nice design that melted when it was left in the oven for too long..
But like you say, it's all subjective - anybody remember the reaction to the Ka when it first came out?
|
Gordon M.
I find that this new Mondeo has really grown on me. When I first saw it in either dirty black or dirty dark grey I hated the look of the tail lights. I am now well used to it and polished up in a nice colour it actially is pretty modern and good looking. It has dawned on me that a few other competing makes of car are actually also pretty big. I didn't realise that the new Citroen C5 which has superb looks is actually a pretty big car.
I eye it when a company is desperate and very hungry to please and to genuinely take back market share which they lost. Well Ford is like that. The Mondeo has to be a great success,I think it is. They give you more extras and you get a very good spacious car at a very good price. It's insurance group is low. My Seat Toledo TdiSE which I bought towards the end of 1999 is an example. It was made in Belgium in the same factory at that time as the VW Bora. The Bora was nearly 1,000 pounds dearer with the same engine(they changed the Bora engine shortly after to a PD engine). My Toledo had quantities of exrtras and was I thought a better looking car.
At the time Seat was desperately trying to push the Toledo more upmarket in it's segment.
Get a company when it is trying extremely hard!!!!
|
Get a company when it is trying extremely hard!!!!>>
The Mondeo has been around, in various guises, since 1993...:-)
It's always been a superb driver's car and, over the years, the build quality has been gradually raised (as with other Ford models) to a level that is very commendable.
An alternative is the new Mazda 6 (pretty much the same car for all intents and purposes).
Edited by Stuartli on 03/03/2008 at 23:48
|
For goodness sake be real.
You sound like one of those people who fling their doors open and not worry what damage you'll do to other people's cars. Please tell me that I am wrong.
You may not worry about car park dings, but there are plenty of people that do.
|
Dynamic Dave.
You are totally right about car park dings. So avoidable, but people are so sloppy and selfish.I always try to park a distance away at supermarkets; but then you get people deliberately parking close to make a point.
So many new cars don't have a propper rubber strip that is useful. My late father's old 1995 Polo had a thick strip down the sides. That car was amazingly solidly built with excellent interior quality( plastcs really lasted).
I looked the other day at a friend's BMW, it had dings all down the side. Wretched people!! I'm not having a go at anyone on this thread. I greatly appreciate all the informative intelligent comments.Big rubber strips probably don't look sexy,so makers go easy on them.
This morning I saw a new Mondeo in the sunlight and it was a slightly off silver colour ( a very light goldy brown metallic),it looked lovely. The other day I saw a brand new shiny black one with a blond business woman driving it. It really looked swish. Just near my home immediately afterwards I saw a filthy black new Mondeo, it looked terrible from the back. Black has to always look polished!!! My present car is a lovely dark indigo blue, terrible to keep clean! I actually fancy the very light sky blue metalic.
|
Dave
I am particularly careful about opening my door in car parks and I respect other people's cars as much as I do my own.
My point was that using the likelihood of being a victim of careless drivers seems to be a strange yardstick when considering a new car purchase. Careless (selfish?) drivers are just as likely to ping a Ka as a Mondeo.
For what it's worth I think that the new Mondeo is a superb car (as was its predecessor, the Mk 111).
|
|
scouseford, in which case I was wrong, and apologise.
|
But the reason the Mondeo could get dented so easily is the width of the car vs the width of spaces. My previous model Mondeo fitted in spaces but three inches wider and there a chance it just won't fit in some spaces. Especially with people parking badly, i.e. not in the middle of the bay. You could come back and find you cannot get back in even!
I'm not saying there isn't a place for a car as big as the Mondeo and all the others that have gotten bigger. But they are now even bigger than say en E Class Merc or BMW 5 Series. So I can only assume the next E Class and 5 Series will be even bigger which in turn means bigger S Class and 7 Series. Oh goody.
|
|
Recently the part for disk parking on the side of a road in Dublin ( not too narrow a road ) was so tight, that my 1999 Seat Toledo actually had to have the tyres against the pavement and then it barely fitted in. I never normally touch pavements I am truly fanatical about it, but this time I had no choice. I would get a fine if it is outside the line. They need to make spaces wider. Like in America apparently!!
|
|
Just seen one today in solid white - very smart.
|
|
I agree with pugugly, I was impressed with the solid white white, so much that I got one, a 1.8 125bhp diesel estate. But it is big, very big. Externally far bigger than my previous mk3 estate, but the load space is not significantly bigger. Reversing it is an art form, and forget tight car parks ! I would recommend the parking sensors. Having owned it for 4 months, it has unfortunately been in the garage for two of those awaiting new wiring looms - apparently a common problem. Once fitted a new ECU was required to get the alarms working. A good drivers car, and with the IVD suspension really comfortable on motorways, and holds the road like glue in the sports setting.
|
What really impresses me are the lovely comfortable seats and lovely ride also everybody raves about the drivability. It has wonderful space in the back seat for three large adults!! Also a massive boot in the saloon. I wonder if the sporty set up versions have just mildly harder rides, or are they choppy on bad roads. I would go for the soft ride and go a bit slower on twisty roads. I personally think Ford have achieved a lot with this car.
|
|
Strange, I haven't seen one in white. Again today I was behind one which had not been washed. It was filthy so it doesn't help it's rear view with those lights. It must be a shiny as possible. I really must get a decent drive in one. It looks great in light silvery blue.
|
I know this car is a case of make or break for Ford. Personally I think they have done a very good job. A few teething problems have been mentioned both on this and another thread. They must always be taken seriously. If Ford iron out any problems quickly, then it will have been what many other manufacturers also come up against. They have to be efficient and show good customer service.
|
|
|
|
|
