1999 Ford Mondeo ST24 5dr review from UK and Ireland

Sills crushed by dealer when jacking car for first service and then not repaired correctly.

Otherwise no problems in 20K miles.

Excellent performance. The handling is very positive and secure with the wide tyres and firm suspension. The braking is also excellent - powerful and progressive, and the ABS works well. The traction control can be useful in the winter, for example when climbing steep icy hills that defeat other cars. The acceleration is very rapid between 50 and 70mph, providing plenty of safety margin when overtaking. Fuel economy is no worse than you would expect - similar to that on my previous car, a 2-litre Galaxy.

The comfort is obviously not quite up to the armchair standards of most family saloons because of the firm seats and suspension. I recently drove a Mondeo 2-litre diesel GhiaX courtesy car. The contrast between the two is quite extraordinary - it's not just that the diesel has such a lumbering performance, but the handling is of a completely different order. The ST24 just feels so much more firmly attached to the road.

Like other reviewers, I also appreciate the high quality stereo system with the 6-CD changer. The speakers are the most impressive component. The stereo is additionally enjoyable on account of the quiet ride and absence of engine noise at normal cruising speed.

The A/C is a little annoying in that after you switch over to normal heating there is a tendency for the windows to mist up until the system has dried out, which can take quite a long time.