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:

Rapid front tyre wear to o/s edges of tyres. Geometry checked and all OK. Tyre pressures checked every two weeks, no fault found, but wear persists.

Slight hesitation on the over-run during engine brakeing through the 4100 rpm mark.

Front pad wear warning light nearly always illuminated. Brakes checked and only have approx 20% wear.

Gear lever not positive when trying to find a gear at standstill.

Traction control over eager as is the ABS.

A lot of over-steer especially in the wet for a front wheel drive car. (not that I'm complaining!)

Noise from engine, sounds like a ticking and only happens under load. Exhaust checked and OK. May be EGRV (exhaust gas recirculation valve?)

General Comments:

An all round good car, not brilliant.

Performance from rest is initially sluggish. Engine quite unrefined.

Handles well, but driver aids are too keen.

Steering on full lock at very low speed produces massive amounts of under-steer.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

Well what can I say, I've had the Mondeo a couple of months now, and it has blown me away.

Having had a Fourtrack (Daihatsu) for a number of years, going from farmer's friend to out and out luxury is a real treat. It has a heated screen, factory fit alarm and immobiliser, electric everything, with when I bought it, a year's MoT, 3 months tax, FSH stamped at Ford, no holes or tears in the upholstery, no holes in the dash, every switch works, and it's still got the emergency torch (fully charged), all for £450 on a P plate!

It's a mk1, no rust, a minor ding on the rear bumper (£60 sorted that out), and sooooo quiet it just purrs. Superb A+.

Faults:

Front suspension bushes have split.

Bald steering wheel (due to mileage).

Front passenger side door central locking solenoid failed blowing the fuse after 3 days of owning it.

Blown door speaker.

General Comments:

Being my first car the insurance is steep (£1800!!).

The car is comfy and reliable besides some of the electrics.

The mondeo has a good turn of speed (127mph on the clock) and handles well regardless of load you put in it.

Faults:

Up until now I have had no trouble up until the last week or so when it started to overheat for no reason. I have had various tests done and the compression s tests OK. The problem is that the water does not seem to be circulating and have been told that the system could be air-locked. If anyone can help please get in touch.

General Comments:

This model was and is without the best buy I have ever made and will stay with ford mondeo`s as long as they keep making model`s as good as the 1996 2.0 Ghia x 4x4.