24th Sep 2006, 12:51
Strange you cite lack of availability of alternatives in what remains one of the biggest selling classes of car on the roads. Forecourts are awash with Vectras, Passats, Accords and all manner of alternatives.
Obviously I can't speak of any ownership experience beyond my own, but as a drivers car, the Mondeo knocked spots off anything else you could buy at the time, and arguably a few you can still buy now. Drive a B5 Passat or Vectra alongside a Mondeo and in dynamic terms they feel 10 years older.
I guess that's what's meant by engineering.
26th Sep 2006, 13:48
Well the wife has a Mazda 626 and it is by far more comfortable and more reliable than the Mondeo. Better still it cost almost half the price used. It has been cheaper to own and needs servicing every 18000 miles. It is a petrol, but returns almost as good MPG as the Ford.
Get a grip there is life beyond Dagenham. Read the other reviews, just because you have had luck doesn't mean a Mondeo can't be a lemon.
12th Oct 2006, 13:03
I find the review most entertaining to read especially since the comment on the Mondeo not being as good as the Mazda (have you bothered to do your home work, Mazda is owned by ford which means they're one the same car. OMG these folk have no idea what they're talking about on this site!!!
13th Oct 2006, 14:49
Actually, the Mondeo and Mazda 6 are not the same car. They will share some components, but their chassis are different.
It's the Focus and the Mazda 3 that share the same chassis.
14th Oct 2006, 13:38
The review mentioned a Mazda 626, not a Mazda 6. The 626 is a much older design which has no relationship whatsoever to the Mondeo.
The 6 shares a floorpan, engines and suspension with the current (mk3) Mondeo, but is a completely different car to the 626.
27th Jan 2007, 12:04
Dear Sirs.
I have a Ford Mondeo TDCI and I am full satisfied for it. It is an excellent car and great stability. I am based in Romania and for it is very resistant in any conditions. Anyone who thinks that it is not suitable I suggest thinking twice before say something.
Sure, the tastes are different from person to person and each person has the right to have his own opinion.
Myself I like my car!
Best Regards.
30th Jan 2007, 05:22
Reliability wise you will fare badly with the mondeo compared to more expensive rivals. A ford is a ford, you have to expect a lot of problems. We have had 3 mondeo patrol cars and have found them all to be excellent in terms of handling and speed. However the lack of flexibility has let us down a few times. We have replaced track rods, gearboxes, clutches, steering racks, and tyres (far too often) in all of them. We have AC idling issues and bad starter trouble. A neighbouring district has 2 Toyota Camry patrol cars, the 3.0 V6, they're twice as fast and haven't given much cause for trouble. As you can imagine, we've ditched the mondeos and applied for Toyota as the new supplier.
Son't get me wrong, Mondeos are great cars, but they're so fragile! Some people drive them easier, and get better distance our of them, but we have had 3, each for about 180,000 miles and they've been obscenely expensive to keep, and downright dangerous at times. The shoddy build quality is insane.
4th Mar 2007, 04:58
What is with the attacks on the reviewer? His review seems fair enough he had a car with problems. He stated he didn't like the car, big deal.
What a shame people feel the need to attack somebody because they don't share the same opinion of a car.
How sad on a usually very helpful car survey site.
As for the reply about Ford owning Mazda. The only part of a Mazda 626 which is supplied by Ford is the automatic gearbox. The most failed part on a US 626 is an automatic box. Says alot doesn't it.
5th Mar 2007, 04:41
Looks like the Ford owners club patrols this site.
I personally agree with some of what the reviewer says. My father has a TDCi and it certainly isn't anything special. But the way I have heard people banging on about them you would have thought the car had been re-invented.
It's a diesel saloon car, nothing to get excited about in my opinion. If the reviewer or others are looking for thrills they need to think again about their choice of vehicle.
5th Mar 2007, 06:00
He doesn't like the looks of the car... so why did he buy it in the first place?
Reliability, build quality & economy are things you find out about during ownership. But looks, performance & things like the feel of gearbox, are things you should really find out about on a test drive, BEFORE YOU BUY IT.
7th Mar 2007, 05:36
Help, I was about to pick up a 03 zetec tdci for £3,800.00. After reading this I am not so sure.
11th Mar 2007, 13:06
Just bought a 2000 TDDI zetec mondeo with 90,000 on the clock, from the car sales for £2,100 full service history 1 owner,very clean car. Does anybody know when the timing belts should be changed?
29th Nov 2007, 03:17
I think the timing belt is actually chain, and therefore doesn`t need changing. But don't take that as gospel; ring a good mechanic, and ask to make certain.
9th Sep 2008, 10:17
I also have the rear breaks sticking problem... Apart from that (it's a 1.8 Lx...110ps) I love it.
4th Sep 2010, 19:03
Had my '05 2.0 TDCI for about a month now. Best £2500 I've ever spent! Very quiet engine, although the wind noise gets up at high speed. Speaking of high speed, it does 120mph with the greatest of ease, and is remarkably well sprung, giving you confidence all the while. I've never driven any really expensive cars, but I imagine when you put them on the motorway, they go something like this.
9th Nov 2010, 12:12
Bought a 2002 TDCI Ghia with 278.000 km on it.
I have had the Mondeo Mk1 and wasn't so pleased with the reliability. On this one I have done 24.000 km and in that time I have replaced all 4 wheel bearings. I absolutely love the car. I am an old Toyota fan and I have had 3 of them.
My other car is a Hyundai Matrix and I didn't fancy anymore grey plastic with grey seats so I went for the Mondeo.
I expected it to be less reliable than a Mazda or Toyota but it is very spacious, fast, quiet, drives very well and has great mileage.
22nd Sep 2006, 11:21
I bought the car through lack of availability of alternatives. It was around at the right price and age at the time of buying. The reviews made it out to be a milestone of engineering. Guess what it isn't. It's and average 4 door saloon, nothing more, nothing less.