Faults:

Air-con didn't work when I bought the car, Ford fixed this for free. The car has also had various thumps and bangs from the rear, none of which Ford can fix. Apart from that, it's been very good, much better than the Toyota I previously had.

General Comments:

Really good car to drive, performance is good for an auto and I really like the way you can wipe the smile off of hot hatches in a normal looking Mondeo. I will be sad to see it go, but I have a new company car turning up soon (Ford Racing Puma). I don't think the car can be beat for second hand value.

Faults:

Absolutely everything since the car was bought back in 1995 from our local Ford dealer - Ward of Kettering.

Service very unfriendly and too lengthy a period to service and mend when it went wrong, which was quite often.

Dealers only too pleased to take your hard earned pennies. If only they would be so keen to mend it and service it.

General Comments:

I definitely wouldn't buy another Ford. It is simply not worth it. It is my seventh car, the predecessors being a beautiful Rover 416SLi and before that a 216S - both reliable and the dealers were very helpful and courteous. I didn't buy another because the estate version of the 400 wasn't big enough to fit my wheelchair in, unfortunately.

Faults:

Most unexpected thing was that the heater matrix needed replacing. Also, suspension bushes had to be replaced (common, apparently). Nothing much else apart from service items - just don't use a main dealer if you can help it, they don't have a clue and they couldn't care less.

General Comments:

Don't believe everything motoring journalists tell you about diesels! I'm reliably informed that diesels get through far fewer exhausts and batteries, so that should offset the extra servicing frequency. Very good car, but poor demister and not much rear legroom for its size.

Faults:

So far just the air-con has refused to work, although the engine runs badly if you try and turn it on. Strange clonking from the rear, but I'll wait until they fix the air-con until I moan about that.

General Comments:

Bloody good car, does everything very well, including drink petrol (20-24mpg). Ford personnel are the worst people in the world. A half dead dog would inspire more confidence.

Faults:

Nothing really. Just standard services and parts replacements.

General Comments:

First car over 2.0 litres and it was really fun to drive. Using the automatic gearbox means that you have to "learn" how to accelerate to its maximum capability. "Bucket" type seats were VERY uncomfortable on long journeys and just tended to fold my shoulders in rather than provide support in cornering etc. Really good for annoying XR3i drivers and other hot hatches at the lights.

Faults:

While driving in Belgium all three catalysts suffered meltdown, and the car dropped to what seemed like about 30bhp. Ford there thought there was nothing wrong with the car so I nursed it back to the UK. Here the dealers took ages to diagnose the problem and initially wanted 1,300 pounds to fix it. Eventually they fixed it for free but I'm still out of pocket for the best part of two months car rental.

Other than it's just been niggling little things.

General Comments:

Nice engine and gearbox, great handling but shocking build and reliabilty for a car of this price. My immediate previous cars had been Japanese and German and Ford's efforts don't bear comparison in the areas of build, reliability and dealer service.