1993 Ford Mondeo GLX TD

Summary:

An excellent cheap work horse

Faults:

Rear suspension mount corroded.

Starter motor failed 162000 miles.

Brake pipes corroded 160000 miles.

Rear wheel arch rust started to get a hold recently.

General Comments:

Bought this car for £500 put nearly 30K on the clock, sold just recently for £300.

The best value for money car I've ever had the pleasure of driving.

Moved house 3 times with it (being an estate)

Very comfy for distance driving.

Water pump springs a leak regularly - radweld sorted it quick every time.

Highly recommended bar the rusty wheel arches!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th September, 2005

1993 Ford Mondeo GLX 1.6 petrol

Summary:

The best car my family have owned!

Faults:

New starter motor at 110000 miles.

Various suspension bushes and exhausts.

New clutch at 120000 miles.

New cat at 205000 miles.

General Comments:

My son bought the car with full main dealer history in 1996, and I bought it off him some time later. My daughter got it in 2002, and she sold it to her boyfriend a month or so back.

It still runs superbly, and despite a few knocks and dings, is extremely reliable, and really has been an excellent car. The engine is as yet untouched, with the exception of the usual plugs and filters ---- just pure reliability.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th December, 2004

1993 Ford Mondeo Si 2.0

Summary:

A sturdy car with a bit of grunt. MK1 Zetec engines have their problems, though

Faults:

Rear nearside wheel bearing rumbled badly. The replacement part was a ridiculous £80 because it's an ABS equipped model and apparently you have to buy the hub carrier too. And it was a nightmare to fit.

Wasted-spark ignition system failed. Turned out to be a common problem - a plastic clip that holds the 12V feed for the coil snapped, and the feed draped across a hot EGR pipe. Easy to fix, one fuse, some insulaton tape and a cable-tie.

Sticky idle speed control valve gives uneven idling in cold weather (but fine in the warm).

Rear drum brake cylinder started leaking. Easy job and very cheap to replace.

Blower fan switch works intermittently.

Water pump squeaks every rotation when the engine is hot. It has done since I bought the car, yet it doesn't leak a drop. I'm not too bothered as the water pump is on the ancilliary drive belt on the Mondy, not the cam belt, so if it siezes at least it won't break the valves.

Gears are very notchy, and it's difficult to get into 1st and 2nd when the engine is cold. In my experience of Fords this is due to the clutch release bearing sticking to the drive shaft and will ultimately lead to the whole clutch assembly needing replacement. I don't even want to think about how expensive that'll be.

Very rattly engine when cold. On the recommendation of several websites RE sticky values on MK1 Zetec engines, I started using thinner oil (15W5). This stopped the cold rattle.

Power steering has a little "notch" with no power assist when the wheel is centralised. This goes away after the car has run for a bit.

Uneven tire wear on rear. (Probably a result of the previous owner lowering the suspension).

The exhaust rusted through in two places, but was inexpensive to replace.

General Comments:

Having listed all the bad features of this car I do have to praise it's robust construction. It's big, heavy and solid, perfect for transporting the family. The Si also comes equipped with ABS and drivers airbag.

The power steering is rather too heavy and unresponsive for my liking, but the engine produces a reasonable level of grunt (136bhp) which is great for overtaking slow traffic uphill (or overtaking traffic anywhere, for that matter). But don't expect a great 0-60 time; at 1285kg it takes 9.5 seconds to get to 60mph, but the engine has enough power to give reasonable acceleration beyond 70mph if required.

The suspension is also very good on the Si with no body roll around corners and no skittering when bumps are hit while cornering at speed.

The fuel consumption is terrible when driven with a bit of gusto - I got a mere 24mpg. Motorway driving at a constant 70mph takes this up to about 38mpg in my experience.

The bucket seats are comfortable for long drives and the cabin is spacious. I'm quite tall and some cars I've driven leave little clearance between my head and the roof - the Mondeo has lots of room in this respect, and the seat height is electrically adjustable.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th June, 2004

22nd Jun 2004, 13:31

Good review although I'm surprised about your comments regarding the steering. The Mondeo's steering is on the heavy side when moving in order to maximise feel, but it's not usually known for being unresponsive. In fact, after a Vectra or Accord, it responds like a sports car.

You raise an important point about oil - the Zetec engine is very sensitive to it. Ford recommend a 5W/30 and their own "Formula E" brew is available from motor factors for about £12 for 5 litres. I've used this in a Mondeo I service for the past five years and it's now racked up 170,000 miles without so much as a noisy tappet.