The famous 'Why We Don't all Drive Mondeo's' thread...

[J4MES]

1. Because they're not great cars
2. Because they're too big for some
3. Because they're simply not 'desirable' - that's why they're cheap
4. Because 'I drive a Mondeo' says 'I don't care too much for cars'



5. Because not so long ago both my parents had one...

When I bought my VW Golf TDi, I didn't think 'what am I doing? For the same £4k I could have a bigger, longer, newer Ford' ... I thought 'I quite like VW Golfs, they're well made, the Mk3 I had was reliable, I think I can afford a car which is the size I need, with solid build quality, good residuals, the missis will like it...' etc. etc.

Granted, the Mondeo does exactly what it says on the tin. They make a lot of sense for a lot of people, because they're not a bad car. But everytime someone asks 'what do people think of 'xxx' for my next car, EVERY thread becomes a debate about why the Mondeo, - being cheaper AND bigger, would make a better buy. Well guess what - poeple are prepared to spend more AND get less, if it involves buying the cars they want, not Mondeos. Shocking.

[Moby-Dick]

I got one but only as a runabout and I treat it with the contempt it deserves

[5lab]

haha

being a mondie owner myself, i maybe a little bias, but they are pretty good as cars go - best in class most of the time for the last 10 years or so.. or if not right up there with the best. the one thing i'd say is that i'd never spend more than a couple of k on one because they shed value like its going out of fashion.. my 6 year old example cost me under a grand, and thats for the diesel estate (a combintion which, on most cars, keeps their value a little better than the rest of the range). for a 6 year old car that cost £16k to start witih - thats 94% depreciation in less than 6 years - astonishing.

i dont personally see the problem with them being big, in fact for a while i was looking at bigger cars (scorpios and omegas) but the economy on them was shocking. i think the one thing that people dont get is the fasination for golfs.. yeah they're good cars, but to be fair the build quality, reliability and so on aren't much better than the competition.. its just a badge.. its also wierd how skodas seem to be going the same way (its made by vw, as if that gives it magic powers) but seat *isnt* - seats dont seem any more desirable than the rest of the cars on the market..

anyways.. i disagree on point 4.. i love cars, but i needed one that could fit 4 bikes, 4 people in, and was cheap to run. no other car ticked the boxes as well as that.. and besides, the mondie (mk2, not the mk1) was regarded as the best handling car in its class for eons.. better than the 406, vectra etc. personally, i'd say if you have a mk4 golf it says 'i dont care much for cars', because they're heavy bloated rep-mobiles, rather than anything that actually handles nicely (not a personal attack, just there are better cars - focus, 306 - in the class/age)..

so there ya go. i fully understand why people dont want a mondeo, i just dont get why they all want a golf (given the damn costs of them)

[Funkstar]

My dad had one of the first mondeos as a company car back-in-the-day. Only of the only cars to ever make me feel car sick. never forgiven them for that

(just like i don't drink sprite or go to a Little Chief because me, my brother and my dad all got food poisoning from that combination. Oh yes i can hold a grudge )

[Knoxville]

Fairly Inoffensive cars in my experience, I just have no great desire to own one.

[schmunk]

Originally Posted by Knoxville

Fairly Inoffensive cars in my experience, I just have no great desire to own one.

I agree, although my choice of car is now largely based on what's currently cheap on the leasing scheme...

[J4MES]

Originally Posted by 5lab

i'd say if you have a mk4 golf it says 'i dont care much for cars'

hehe

Fair one - didn't see that coming... and a refreshingly objective view on Mondeo ownership if I do say so myself...

I did persuade my parents to have them, to be fair, so I do know why they are popluar... but I'll keep the Golf mind...

[[GSV]Trig]

My old mans got one, the seats are crap, theres no "feel" from the car and with it being an estate when u brake the backend fishes around...

[hitman67]

Why I don't drive a Mondeo:

1. the fact every Rep and his dog has one
2. They don't do a nice, big, gusty Diesel
3. They don't do a Cabrio
4. I like my Audis.
5. I'm not keen on the Ford badge

tbh I did go and test drive a New Mondy based on someone on heres recommendation, but didn't like it. The gearbox wasn't as slick as the Audi's and the power delivery was a lot worse, but it wasn't too bad a car. Plus I'm not a Ford lover.

To summerise, each to their own. I don't think everyone should drive the same, if you like the Mondy, it's your choice and you can buy one. I like Audis, my choice and I buy them. There more expensive than a Ford, but In my opinon they are worth all the extra and you get a very sweet car from it.

[Moby-Dick]

I dont base my opinion on carso nthe brand ,but on the car. The mondeo does 2 jobs very well

- It gets me to work on a lot less than the £50 a week petrol the 200 would cost
- It makes me *really* appreciate the 200

[5lab]

Originally Posted by hitman67

Why I don't drive a Mondeo:

1. the fact every Rep and his dog has one

granted, although the 3 series (sic) now outsells the mondeo, so it wont be that way for long..

Originally Posted by hitman67

2. They don't do a nice, big, gusty Diesel

st tdi? 114 kW
(155 PS) at 3500 min-1 (rpm) 360 / 400* Nm at 1800 min-1 (rpm) - not sure how it is to drive but thats pretty pokey for a derv

Originally Posted by hitman67

3. They don't do a Cabrio

yeah. true. no-one would buy it because..

4. I like my Audis.
5. I'm not keen on the Ford badge

dont think ford will ever win that battle.

i've not found any of the 'problems' that others have - back end snaking about and so on... but i've not had the car long.. but it should be noted that this car to me is.. a car.. its not an object of desire.. if i wanted a *nice* big estate i'd have bought a v70, but for the same age you're looking at 3 times the cost, and i didnt want to pay that much. i couldnt get passionate about the mondeo, but its a very efficient tool.. i challenge anyone to find a more compitent load lugger for a grand - only the slaguna has a bigger boot (in class) and they arent the best for reliability..

[headbrace]

Originally Posted by hitman67

To summerise

That'll be why you have hte cabrio then....

People get cars that they think will fulfill there needs as much as possible, in order of preference. For some, this means ultimately they want something nice looking with the "right" badge on, with money coming further down the scale of things. For others, it's load space, economy and value for money above all else. But ultimately, everyone works on a differing scale to yours.

This is why my dad always has to get a car big enough for big trips for B&Q and the dump, despite the fact that mum's car can always take more stuff than his. Still I think we're weaning him off that. It's also why my car is cold, not very comfy, rattles, takes a fair effort to start in the morning and drinks petrol.

All about relative priorities.

[hitman67]

Originally Posted by 5lab

(155 PS) at 3500 min-1 (rpm) 360 / 400* Nm at 1800 min-1 (rpm) - not sure how it is to drive but thats pretty pokey for a derv

Nice engine but the gearbox is terrible, feels like your sturring porridge. Compared to the VAG Slick shift it's awful.

[herbert_goon]

Because people can afford to be choosy.

It is funny when people with <whatever car it is> say it's the best car ever just because they have one. This does seem to happen a lot with mondeo's - possibly because they offer good value for money?

Personally, I would avoid one if I could because i would always be loosing it in carparks amongst all the others...

Before my latest sensible car I had a 96 Alfa 146ti which I loved. I knew it was far from the best car ever, but I loved it :-)

[Konan555]

Originally Posted by hitman67

Nice engine but the gearbox is terrible, feels like your sturring porridge. Compared to the VAG Slick shift it's awful.

It is true to say the remote linkage on the MT75/MTX75 isn't great, although a lot can be done to improve it for very little money once you've dropped the box for something like a clutch change.

They've also got a horrid drop between 1st 2nd and 3rd if you like spirited driving.

The flip side.... On both our Polo and Skoda I found that, whilst the stick had cluncked forward (or back) to the right place, the gear hadn't been engaged. Was forever grinding 1st gear. The stupid thing is, push the clutch back in, tap it with one finger and it worked fine

[kalniel]

Relative values it is. Mondeo's good value for money, but others rate desirability over value. I'd consider one, but they're bigger than I need and the mpg wasn't as good as I liked. If I needed a bigger car mondeo would probably be my first choice. But I'm a cheapskate