Faults:

Hasn't really let me down once in 7 years.

Front wishbones most persistent problem, replacements last 30,000 or so.

Left driveshaft went at 180,000.

Right front wheel bearing at 210,000.

Most other problems cost around £50 max.

General Comments:

Engine, clutch and gearbox untouched at 220,000.

Oil changed every 7,000 miles or so, burns maybe 1 litre in that time.

Plugs last at least 30,000, current set on 50,000.

Cat changed once, timing belt changed at 80,000 and 150,000.

Shocks, alternator, starter motor, steering etc original.

Suspension a bit rattly, but not that dear to fix.

Pads and discs wear well (30,000?), rear shoes last 2 or three times that. Cables and some pipes replaced.

Ongoing problem with front tyre wear on inside, but buy cheap tyres at less than £30. This may be related to wishbone problems, and lucky to get 10,000 from them. But even cheapos last forever at the back.

Interior feels flimsy, but still in good condition.

Paintwork very good for 10-year-old red car, but a couple of rust spots appearing.

Roomy and comfortable, drives well and performance adequate if unspectacular.

Does around 30 mpg urban, 40 mpg on motorway runs.

Avoid main dealer - for example, they diagnosed steering rack leak 70,000 miles ago, but fluid untouched since.

Faults:

Automatic Left Hand Steering (the car pulled to the left at speeds between 5 and 40mph).

Power steering pump failed.

General Comments:

I owned a Mercedes 190E 2.0l when I had a crash, I needed a cheap car until the insurance was sorting out my 190 so I went out and buy a Ford Mondeo. This was the biggest mistake of my life so far.

The car was doing 0 to 60 in about 20 seconds, and the 100 mph was never reachibile.

The road noise was was too loud in the cabin.

The boot lead (rear door) was rattling way too much.

The ride quality was the worst I ever experienced, in the corners could not go faster than 10 mph as the car feels that was breaking apart.

Finally I am happy that I own another 190E and got rid of it.

Hope this review is not too hash for others Mondeo Aspen owners, and of course not all Mondeo's are the same.

Faults:

The only thing to have gone wrong so far is the alternator. This has posed a bigger problem than first thought as this model of mondeo is very fickle about alternators. It has had two new ones and broken them both.

General Comments:

This car is amazing for the £800 I paid.

I had a mondeo 1.8 before the escort and thought that was good, but the acceleration and handling of the 2.5 is much much better. Yes the suspension does feel a little hard, but it needs it when going a little too fast into a bend.

It's really comfortable, with semi bucket seats that really hug.

Mpg isn't brilliant, but who buys a V6 for economy? Not me.

The automatic box isn't the best, but it is livable. The sports mode switch is good fun though.