Just drove a Mondeo for the first time

Hmm, I driven umpteen Mondeos and never found them to be bad as the original poster says - perhaps that one was knackered :p
But seriously, the Mk1 Ghia 2.0 I have is very responsive (in fact the previous owner had a reconditioned engine, although it was like new, fitted by Ford about 50,000 miles ago - it feels like it's got more than the standard 136bhp anyway), good gearbox and good brakes. Same as the Mk2 P reg Si I got to replace it, also the ST24 I've just got to possibly replace the Si with, but then that's a different motor when it comes to engine, gearbox and brakes I 'spose.
They all seem to me to be decent cars to drive anyway :D
 
PMKeates said:
It was all ruined by the driving controls being so very vague.
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The main reason I like my Mondeos is because of the feedback from the controls - steering and brakes are great IMO. I like a bit of weight to the steering, feedback over bumps and surfaces from the wheel and brakes which are easily modulated (read: need a good stamping on)

However, I have driven three mk1 Mondeos and they were all different - subtly but noticeable. I prefer my 1.8 LX the most. Up until recently I also had an early Si and though the handling & grip was sharper it had less communicative steering, more servo assistance to the brakes, and a horrible featherweight clutch with a five mile travel and tricky biting point.

Close isn't bad, but the inaccurate feeling made it less than enjoyable to operate. The ratios are also far too short for a car of this size.
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As far as I know, the mk2 Si had the same transmission as the other cars, but the mk1 Si's had a shorter final drive ratio which gave rapid acceleration in all gears but was tiring on the motorway - 3500rpm @ 60mph. My 1.8 does 3000 at 60 which is a lot better. Also, the shifters feeling in the Si was quite tight (though I wouldn't call it bad) but on the 1.8 (which has ~280k miles on it) it feels much nicer.

I would say that these variances can make or break a car, and is the reason I decided to keep the rattly old 1.8 and sell the Si.
 
The hydrulic clutch takes awhile to get use to after driving my mondeo for a few days I got use to it and could feel it biting properly. The brakes on mine feel fine and they can certainly stop it rather sharpish and the 2.0L zetec is abit gutless below 3.5k rpm but comes alive after and from 4.5k rpm it pulls very well to the limiter.
 
I had a similar experience with the Mondeo. It's a great car apart from the clutch which is completely devoid of feel and the brakes which feel like they're made of wood rather than metal. Everything else is spot on though, especially for a car at the price they go for.
 
The solution to wooden brakes is simply to stand on them as hard as possible and let the ABS take the strain :D.
 
Scuzi said:
I had a similar experience with the Mondeo. It's a great car apart from the clutch which is completely devoid of feel and the brakes which feel like they're made of wood rather than metal. Everything else is spot on though, especially for a car at the price they go for.
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You drove: Mk3
He drove: Mk2

Only thing both cars really have in common: Badge on back saying 'Mondeo' :)
 
Hmmm as much as I disliked my Mondy, I never really had a problem with the points you've raised, especially with the clutch, brakes, and gearbox. The main gripe I had with the car was it's lack of handling and grip - it was far too understeery for my liking. It was also too slow for my taste. The brakes however were fine, if a little prone to fade when pressing on; the gearbox wasn't the best, but certainly no where near as bad as you mention; the clutch had no issues whatsoever. Is it possible you simply drove a duffer?
 
You must have got a real dud mate, my 160k saggy POS is still a hoot to drive, okj so its a st, but its still a damn good drivers car for its size and it still surprises me after 18 months.

I do agree the brakes are a bit poop, but thats prob because i prefer non abs brakes.

Gotta say im so impressed with the car its taking some serious abuse and still holding out, even the shocks are still fine,the only thing what keeps going on it is the bearing on the passenger side.
 
cant knock my mondeo really.
paid 1200 quid for a 2l 16v 1996 zetec.
bog std and boring.
80k on the clock. tidy bodywork.
racked up 13k on it so far. put some tyres on it, and an exhaust. no problems what so ever really.

the tape player was a nightmare though. had to get that out sharpish.
goes well on the motorway, not bad acceleration.

but it is a boring car.
plenty of space for the drums though.
 
I've been assured that the car I drove was in fine condition, in fact "much nicer than most" :)

Oh well, I definitely won't be getting one now, anyway. It's a real tough decision for me, basically. I either get myself a Rover Coupe Turbo and go off to university in Sept, or get myself an RX-8/MX-5 and continue in the world of employment. The car isn't making the decision, but I need something v.soon, so a Rover is looking tasteful.
 
possible that you drive a complete dog of an example.

i laughed at a taxi i was in the other day. it had 'only' 86kmiles (i swear it was higher) but all four dampers were shot to death. this thing wallowed like a boat, if it went over a dip in the road, the body would not settle until about 3 slow bounces later.

the contrast to my previous cars were unimaginable. a lotta the german cars ive had in the past have had such tight damping that you dont get wallow, you just get jolts.


but like i said above, that taxi was a rough example, and you may have driven a similar nail
 
A couple of cars ago I owned a '96 mk1 1.8LX. I actually thought it was a great car. So much better to drive than the other cars in it's class, ride and handling was streets ahead of the equivalent Vectra. The only thing I can really critisize about the driving experience was the slightly gutless low-down peformance.

It way pretty well equipped for a low-spec model too.

I did however have various electrical gremlins (electric windows failed twice, alternator died, heated windscreen stopped working).
 
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