2002 Ford Mondeo Ghia TDCi 2.0 TDCi 130 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A better drive than you'd think, but if it pops an injector you'll wish you'd never seen it!

Faults:

Injector no. 2 replaced at 68000 miles at a cost of £387.

Injector no. 1 replaced at 70500 miles at a cost of £354.

Handbrake cable replaced at 71000 miles at a cost of £49.

Button in binnacle for resetting trip computer very 'iffy' - needs to be pushed 'just right' for it to work.

General Comments:

When the car is working it's awesome, the power delivery from the TDCi engine is fantastic, making for easy motorway entry and overtaking on all roads.

It's also quiet and refined so you can talk to your passengers at speed without too much intrusive road or tyre noise, although wind noise around the rear windows at 70mph or above is a bit high.

Round the twisty bits the car handles well, although mine didn't seem too keen on wet roundabouts! Perhaps I was a little overconfident as I was having too much fun! I would have to say that my previous car (2004 Vectra 1.8 Club) did handle better though - it just felt tighter somehow.

The seats are very comfortable and supportive, the cabin quality is good and the 6 CD changer gives excellent sound quality.

Mine blew 2 injectors in 8 weeks. These are extremely expensive parts and only Ford have the necessary software to calibrate them, a license to print money if ever I saw one!

When taken to Ford, the answer was 'it's just failed, it's one of those things'. Where would garages be without 'one of those things'? A catch-all statement to cover anything they can't or won't explain! Try as I might I couldn't get them to give me a reason for the failure.

I'd definitely recommend the driving experience, but I'd never ever buy another Ford diesel without a manufacturer warranty - the risk of injector failure is a gamble too far for me!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 2nd October, 2006

18th Feb 2007, 16:13

Mate the Mondeos are brilliant at handling, whereas the Vectras are dreadful. The chassis on them is one of the worst. If you have watched Top Gear with them on you would know, so no your Vectra is not as good at handling.

17th Oct 2007, 15:11

I'm sorry, but the above comments are not totally true. Yes the Mondeo is a sharper drive,. But the Vectra grips just as well and does without the fords crashy cheap feeling suspension. Its also a lot quieter and feels much more expensive. Just feel the fords light weight doors and look at that cheap headlining. Look in the taxi ranks and see what you find. Yes the early Vectra had is faults. But after 160,000 the Ford's ready for the bin, and the Vectra can do double that!

2002 Ford Mondeo Zetec S 2.0 TDCI trubo diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Great car, but there's just something not cool about Ford

Faults:

Sorry nothing has gone wrong with my car yet...

Fingers X.

General Comments:

Went to England and bought a Zetec S Mondeo; great car, looks good.

Can't help thinking I miss my GT TDI Golf though, even though the Mondeo is a nicer drive and bigger. There is something not cool about owning a Ford. I don't know why?

PS I wish they made high spec cars available in the Irish Republic. Would save myself having to travel to England to get one.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd September, 2006

2002 Ford Mondeo Zetec TDCI diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Don't be fooled, it's an average car, nothing special!

Faults:

Tyres, various engine failures from perished hoses, brakes and poor build quality issues. Heavily corroded alloy wheels after just two years.

General Comments:

The car is a typical Ford. How many times do you read "Ford's best car yet" or "Incredible improvement over previous models". It's a Ford Mondeo which is by far less reliable than it's German and Japanese rivals.

The diesel engine performs well however gives little economical advantage over it's petrol equivalent (36-40mpg). Interior looks awkward and boy racer-ish. Exterior is bland and looks nothing more than the rep-mobile it is.

The car suffers from constant niggles however the dealer often puts them right free of charge. The gearbox feels fragile and I don't have much faith in its long term reliability.

Talk to anyone about your concerns and they just want to blow sunshine off its behind. The UK is still Ford crazy, not sure how or why with this very, very average car!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 14th September, 2006

21st Sep 2006, 03:42

Can't agree with any of this.

Acquired mine as a company car in June 2003. Put 96,000 miles on it in three years during which time it needed nothing apart from routine servicing, tyres and a couple of bulbs. Bought it off the lease company for a very good price and decided to opt out of the scheme. Still using it. Now on 102,000 miles and still running fine.

Why did you buy it if it was so "average"?