The Tardis (Ford Mondeo (2000 on) in general)

Member Name: ianisme

Product:	Ford Mondeo (2000 on) in general
Date:	21/05/01 (686 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: All round abilities

Disadvantages: Not many

I have just had one of these cars for a couple of days while my SAAB was being fixed (again!). The actual model was the 1.8iLX and had just over 5000 on the clock.

First impressions of the exterior was that it is quite a smart looking car. Following in the new Ford family style as introduced with (I think) the Focus. From the outside at least it appears no larger than everything else in it's class.

The biggest surprise I had was that the interior was obviously sharing several seperate space/time continuums! It is, or appears to be, huge compared to the likes of a Vectra, 406 or even my 9-3. Plenty of little cubby holes plus one huge great thing by the driver's left elbow. These central storage areas/arm rests seem to be all the rage at the moment but personally I find they get in the way when using the handbrake.

The controls are usual Ford stuff and none the worse for that. My only complaint on that front would be the remote controls for the radio are badly placed and too far away for people with small hands. The instruments are quite old fashioned looking round clocks. Old maybe, but quick and easy to read at a glance.

Seats are firm and I personally found them to be comfortable and fairly supportive. I did 500 miles in just over a day and have no complaints. Steering wheel is adjustable for rake and reach.

The interior generally looks like a clone of an Audi. All black plastic in several different textures and brushed aluminium. If that is the look you prefer then Ford have done a reasonable job of it. Not really my cup of tea but no worse than the competition.

On the move the 1.8 is pretty swift although perhaps feels slower than it is. I had to keep checking the speedo as I found my speed regularly increasing to license losing velocities. A good case for getting a model with cruise control I think. Helping this easy speed limit breaking is a quiet cockpit.

Personally I find no pleasure in
driving cars in a straight line so prefer to hit the twisties for my thrills. This car is a revelation round the back roads. It grips the road so hard you start to wonder just where it's limits are. Considering also this is the base model, with normal steel wheels, I think Ford have come up with something pretty special here. It also seems to sacrifice little in the way of ride quality to achieve this sure-footed nimbleness. Steering is pretty positive, brakes are powerful and don't fade too quickly either, and all in all it feels like a real driver's car. I don't mind saying it made my considerably more expensive SAAB feel like a bit of a tank afterwards. I would even rate it higher than the A4 Sport I tested recently which I found to be unforgiving at the limit (something I have encountered on all A4's I have driven).

So what didn't I like about it? Well, I'm not keen on these heated windscreens. I know they are great on a frosty morning but I was never unaware of all those little wires in front of my eyes. I also felt it optically distorted the whole screen and felt quite disconcerting. I also thought the drinks holder was a bit naff. There seems to be some unannounced competition between designers to produce the sexiest drinks holder. The Mondeo one looks rubbish and fails to hold heavier bottles well. The best I think is on the new 9-5. It is vertical when pushed in place and does a lovely rotation in slow motion when deployed. Am I sad or what!

After this brief acquaintance I have to say the other manufacturers must be very worried. This kind of ability backed up by Ford's marketing clout must be a severe test for them.

Summary: