You're right. It's all lights on the dashboard and return to the dealer nowadays.

'Triggers Broom' springs to mind.

Indeed. My Mk3 Mondeo was feeling very tired at 7yrs/72k (almost all town driving). I'd already replaced most of the suspension, clutch, driveshafts, wheel bearings, brakes, about £2k worth of repairs in the 2 years I had it.

Clutch was making signs of going again and the brake lines were corroded so needed done for MOT, so I got rid, I refused to spend any more on it.

Bought a 5 year old Astra with 66k on it, and it's in far better mechanical condition than the Mondeo was at 5 years old with 52k on it. Interior and bodywork is 200% better, too.

"....so Vauxhall is better."

Channel Z didn't actually say that, and was just reporting what he has found.

I tend to agree about cars on average being more durable in the 1990's. By the MK3 Mondeo durability in my humble opinion was not as strong as the MK1 or MK2 which were essentially the same package. The MK1 and MK2 Mondeo's are a solid car the Zetec-E petrol engines and noisy TD were all built to do very high miles when serviced as per schedule. My own MK2 has done 260k and still drives like a newish car.

Would you pay full price for taxi and end up riding in what is in reality an old banger,Is there not an age regulation on taxis and hire cabs in the UK,

No there's not an age limit. Some companies have their own but if the vehicle meets all the requirement it can be granted a licence, irrespective of how old it is. There's plenty of 51 plate 406 diesels still being used where I am, this Mondeo isn't much older in truth.

Only in this country do we think anything over five years old is 'an old banger' and only in the UK are people stupid enough to think an 11 plate Vauxhall diesel is something 'half decent.'

Maybe they're not so stupid up north where he is and people would rather go in his car than walk.

I would not mind getting in a 15 year old plus taxi, rather than getting in a nearly new vehicle which likely means a space saver or no spare wheel, and in the event of a breakdown nothing can be fixed at the roadside which means recovery is needed. Why are new cars not judged on having a drivetrain that is proven for 200k plus? Rather than nice looking lights on the dashboard and lovely glossy literature that means it is the best thing since sliced bread.