Faults:

Audio system sometimes fails to load (only for radio etc).

Stop and start not working. According to manual it can be due to low external temperature, engine cold, weak battery etc etc.

General Comments:

Comfortable car, plenty of power for everyday driving. Lots of room for driver, passengers and your things, this being an estate body style. Extremely practical. Looks great in front, not so great from the back. LED lights are GREAT.

It has a superb driving feel, very direct and agile, and you feel the size of the car only when parking. Parking sensors do not inspire confidence, as they sometimes feel too sensitive and sometimes they don't sound until you are very close to something.

It feels most at home on the autobahn. You can achieve amazing consumption figures if you don't mind keeping to the right lane below 120 km/h, but even driving 140 - 150 km/h will not "break the bank". I don't care for higher speeds.

Built in navigation is very good, but I have to find a way to update maps. Android auto works nicely with this media system (Sync 3). Pairing my Huawei P Smart was not a problem at all. Sound is also nice, not really sure about the number of speakers and brand. It sounds powerful and well defined.

Manual transmission feels solid and precise, a pleasure to use it. There's no unnecessary movement or wobbling in the lever.

Seats are firm but never uncomfortable. It would be nice if there were thigh extensions. I'm 200 cm tall and have long legs, I would love 3cm more of seat travel to the back, but it is OK as it is.

Faults:

After purchase, had to replace reverse light switch.

Had a rattle at idle; went away with clutch action. Replaced clutch/flywheel, clutch was fine, but flywheel was in bad shape at around 190k km.

Coolant hose leak around 193k.

Front stabilizer link bad around 196k.

Rust starting to form on all doors.

Hood/bonnet would not open at 199k.

General Comments:

This is in my opinion is a very comfortable car.

I have the Ghia edition, and the seats are very comfortable, and clean up easy.

Unlike some of its class competitors with the same mileage, it burns no oil and has no leaks.

I drive on the autobahn for 100km every day, regularly average between 5,7l/100km and 6,2l/100km as long as you don't have a heavy foot. It has a 55 liter tank, and I regularly get 850-1000km per tank.

Definitely not the best handling, but very secure. Do not feel a lot of roll, and the steering is not too light, not too heavy.

The backseat is very roomy with plenty of knee and head room.

Trunk/boot area is very big, and the seats fold down almost all the way flat, so it gets big in a hurry.

The above mentioned repair issues I consider to be nothing more than wear and tear. The service records were last updated with 67k more than 4 years ago with the first owner, so what was fixed until I bought it is a mystery. Underneath it is very solid, easy to work on, and parts can be found easily for reasonable prices. No joke, at least in this area of Germany, mk3 Mondeos are rare in junkyards.

Faults:

Dead battery - it was 8 years old, so not a fault of a car.

General Comments:

I got the car as a fine bargain in October 2004. After my Ford Ka it was feeling 1000 times better, much more comfortable and consuming only a very little bit more. The 1.6 engine was enough for cruising, but 90 hp was sometimes too little for a comfortable acceleration. The seats were reasonably comfortable, but in summer I was desperately missing the air conditioner. On the highway, speeds up to 160 kmh were OK, over 160 the vibrations were getting not too comfortable. Anyways, it was a very good car, affordable, comfortable and with reasonable performance. It was in top condition, without any rust or scratches.. I would have driven it for a few years longer, but a few weeks ago I have crashed it due to very icy road downhill. Repair cost proposal was higher then the price I have paid to buy the car, so I am selling it, and getting either the same Mondeo with air conditioner or a Scorpio.

The Ford service was just great, making me absolutely satisfied, its one of main reasons for me to stay with Ford.

Faults:

All of my problems started happening around 145,000 KM.

Exhaust rusted at 135,000 KM and needed replacing.

Leather seats cracking (since I have had the car).

Stereo died (155,000 KM).

Windows are VERY slow rolling up (135,000 KM).

Brakes and tires wear out extremely quickly (of course, that may partially be my fault :) ).

General Comments:

The car was lowered by the previous owner. For a heavy car, it handles very well -- superb on the autobahn.

On the autobahn, I cruise at around 180 KPH (108 MPH) without a problem.

Passing ability is great.