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2008-04-21

How To Find Ford Mustang Parts Online

How To Find Ford Mustang Parts Online
by ClassicMustangs
If you have a Ford Mustang, it deserves the best care that you can give it, and that includes good maintenance. Although owning a Mustang is a privilege, it can also pose some problems because of the number of changes that have taken place practically every year since that famous day in April, 1964, when it was released to the world.
Forget the demo models that were displayed at the various grand prix circuits from 1962; it was 1964 that can truly be regarded as the birth of the Ford Mustang as we know it. If you own of these original cars, then it is not only worth a fortune, but you will have a few problems finding parts for it. And that should get you thinking: if you are a Mustang owner, how do you get the proper parts for your car, new, used or aftermarket.
Many purists won't even consider aftermarket parts, but they can be just as good as the original, and sometimes even better. They can certainly be cheaper, and usually are, but can also be inferior, and it is always good to know somebody that has found a good source of Mustang aftermarket parts.
It is also good to know a bit about your car, and you can gain a lot by knowing your Mustang and what makes it tick. It makes it much easier to get a good part from a breaker's yard and also to fit it yourself. However, many people prefer to find their parts online, mainly because it is easier to find the part you are looking for your year and model of car, and it also a lot less work!
There is no doubt that the internet has made it much easier to shop for auto parts, and you can find just about every Mustang part you are looking for online. Not only standard parts, but you can also locate add-ons to allow you customize your Mustang and make it personal to you. headlights, floor mats, fenders, transmissions, clutches, and even brake cables: you name it, you can get it online. However, you have to make sure that the site you are visiting is reputable, and are not selling cleaned-up used parts as new. It isn't common, but it does happen.
You also have to be certain exactly what part you have fitted. You will need your model and the year, and there are also other things you might have to know in order to get the right part. Take your transmission, for instance. If you need a new Mustang clutch, you will have to know what type of transmission you have. Check out ID tag on the jam of the driver's door. Look for the letters 'TR' to the bottom right hand side of the tag, and you should see from one to five letters and/or numbers below the TR. The first identification number or letter tells you the type of transmission you have, and you can then order a clutch for that transmission. You can also order a new gear shifter using that information.
For example, the 1996 - 98 Mustang Cobras and 1996 - 2001 GTs were fitted with the TD-45 five speed manual OD transmission which is identified with the number 6, while the more modern Mustang 2005-07 Mustang GTs were fitted with a T-3650, the same as the 2003-05 Mach1 and the 2001 Cobra. The T-3650 transmission is identified by the letter K. It is a great help to sourcing your clutch or gear shift parts if you know your transmission. Any other numbers after the first one relate to the front and rear springs, which might be useful if your springs have gone.
The door might not be original, of course, and to determine that compare the V.I.N. (Vehicle Identification Number) with that under the hood for models up to 1967, or on the dashboard for after that. Once you have the vehicle I.D. you should find it easy to get any standard part for your vehicle online.
All you have to do then is to carry out an internet search using your favorite search engine. You can be specific, by naming the actual part, or simply carry out a general search for Mustang parts. The site you choose will then lead you to the part you want by means of menus. You might be asked simply for the model and year, or for the V.I.N. number or something even more specific, such as the transmission reference as detailed above. Whatever method is used, you should be able to locate and order the part you want.
It is easy to find Ford Mustang parts online, especially if you go to a site that has a good clear navigation system from their landing page. The most important aspects of buying Mustang parts online are that you get the right part for your year and model, and that they are of good quality. Keep that in mind, and you should not go wrong.

Ford, General Motors Execs Optimistic On Sales

Ford, General Motors Execs Optimistic On Sales
by Anthony Fontanelle
Executives at Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. have intimated their confidence last Wednesday that the sales in the United States will pick up in the last half of this year as a federal boost and slashed interest rates improved shoppers' confidence.
"We're beginning to see, after six quarters of declines, the beginnings of some pent-up demand," General Motors North America President Troy Clarke said at the Chicago Auto Show media preview. "You could make a case that the second half of the year could be significantly better."
Many analysts in the industry anticipate for the worst sales in America in a decade, divulged BusinessWeek. But Ford and General Motors said that there are signs of hope.
Clarke said that the majority of mortgages with adjustable rates will change over in the first two quarters of the year, and consumers have been planning for that. Additionally, the government help could stimulate consumers' confidence without drilling a hole in their pocket.
Mark Fields, Ford Americas president, was also bullish. "We do see opportunity in the second half," Fields said, adding that interest rate cuts could also help stimulate sales.
"We're going to keep our dealers competitive, and a lot of it's going to depend on where the competition is," added the exec of the Ford Mustang maker.
Mark LaNeve, General Motors vice president for North American sales and marketing, said that big cuts GM and Ford made to their rental-car sales in 2007 could help stimulate demand in 2008 since rental cars often replace new-car sales when they return to the general market. LaNeve said that the automakers alone have cut 350,000 cars from daily rental fleet sales in the last few years. He added that automakers were also much more disciplined in 2007 about the use of incentives, which tend to artificially pull sales ahead.
According to the auto Web site Edmunds.com, incentives averaged $2,366 per vehicle in the previous year. The figure is down by $42 from 2006.
"We really believe the industry's going to be OK this year," LaNeve said. "We've had a fairly weak car market for the better part of two years. Economic weakness is being experienced in other places right now. We've already been in it."
Clarke said that the Detroit automaker's incentive spending will likely be up in the first half of the year. "I think incentives are a very important tool for us to explore and use. It doesn't mean we fall off our incentive discipline," he concluded.

Used Ford Ka ��" is this the car you dream about?

Used Ford Ka ��" is this the car you dream about?
by Kevin Creese
Aren’t dreams great? Just this week, I’ve scored a hat-trick for Manchester United on my debut, married Holly Willoughby and played guitar with Metallica to 100,000 people. I’d be willing to bet that something amazing has happened to you this week too, (obviously not Holly, you bigamist) ��" we all love dreaming. I must admit however that as I reach the peak of my REM each night, the last thing I dream of is a used Ford Ka. I’ve fallen off pavements lots and buildings for that matter, but I’ve never found myself with both hands behind the wheel of a blue ovalled used Ford Ka.
With Ford priding themselves on making affordable, yet well-built, reliable cars, our car-loving sub-consciousness heads to 0-60 in 0.000005 second land. You see, owning a Ford isn’t dream material, you can actually have one yourself and it’s precisely because of that, we all wish we had something different. To put it another way, your boyfriend or girlfriend may be decent looking and nice company, but Johnny Depp or Cameron Diaz and their like would lead you astray in two seconds. It’s the attraction of wanting something you can’t have that is so appealing. Tell you what though, after Cameron’s been in bathroom for 3 hours putting on layer ten of her make-up, you’ll wish you had your old partner back to cook your dinner. In short, don’t desire what you can’t have, make sure you choose wisely what you can. The end…except I should probably tell you why I think the Ford Ka is better than the Bugatti Veyron I left Holly washing at Old Trafford.
The Ka I drove was, in short fabulous. Despite the design being 12 years old, it still looks very funky, hence the large influx of young females that carry them around in their handbags. The model I drove was a 2004 registration ‘style’ - one up from the bottom of the range and with body-coloured bumpers to distinguish this hierarchal advantage. Inside, my six foot and a bit frame had no trouble fitting in and my legs remained comfortably below my waist, rather than around my ears as first feared.
The dashboard was well laid out and the driving position was versatile enough to cope with my lanky arms. The highlight though, was Ford’s pandering to my neon light fetish, with beautiful green light bathing the white speedometer dials. I was also pleasantly surprised with the engine the car had tucked away in front of me. All Ka’s come with a nippy 1.3 litre engine and when you combine this with the car’s diminutive proportions, 0-60 is achieved in 0.000005 seconds.
On my travels, I encountered all the obstacles and pitfalls you’d expect to find when driving around town: roundabouts, road-works and Reliant Robins. The Ka swiftly dealt with these with well-weighted steering and decent grip from it’s titchy 13 inch wheels. Considering the Ka is essentially a bubble on these little wheels, the lack of body roll was arguably the car’s most impressive achievement as I slipped in and out of boy racer mode. Boot space is atrocious mind. A quick stop at the corner shop will have your passenger holding the milk and groceries, as there is no room in the boot for a flea. Also the gearbox is a tad clunky on occasion, but these are minor issues in what is a truly superb car, that is head and shoulders above the competition. Besides, if you wanted a car with boot space, you’d buy a Volvo estate ��" or a hearse - if they are mutually exclusive.
The reason I drove a used Ford Ka rather than a sparkly new one is simple. If Ford are selling their cars so cheaply, then the build quality must suffer as a result too. By driving a four years old version, I wanted to see if the joints were creaking and a hip operation was required. As the above road test clarifies, Ford seem to have cracked the impossible ��" the ability to cheaply build a reliable car, that is fun to drive. Nothing else in this class comes close to any aspect of the little Ka and that is why they are so popular with so many people ��" owning a good, reasonable car is not the stuff of dreams.
So next time you are lusting after what you can’t have remember this: you can have 333 of these fun cars for the price of my Bugatti and for that you get a cool little car that is so light on your wallet, you needn’t dream of owning one. The boot is larger than the Bugatti’s too.

New Ford Fiesta To Conquer World

New Ford Fiesta To Conquer World
by Anthony Fontanelle
Ford Motor Co. has christened its new subcompact the Fiesta, inspired by one of its famous models. The car will be unleashed with one end in mind and that is to conquer the world. The new Fiesta will be displayed on the fourth of March at the Geneva Motor Show.
Ford Fiesta will hit dealerships in Europe this year. Next year, it will be offered in China and Asia-Pacific. The Fiesta will arrive in North America and the rest of Ford markets around the globe by 2010.
"If we weren't doing this as a global car, we couldn't afford to bring it into North America," said Joe Bakaj, vice-president for product development with Ford of Europe.
The new Fiesta is a test case for the Dearborn-based automaker product development drive spearheaded by CEO Alan Mulally. In Frankfurt, Guangzhou and Detroit, the automaker has showcases the Verve, its pre-production 'concept'.
Martin Smith, executive director of Design for Ford of Europe summarized the offers of the new subcompact: "All the vital elements of 'kinetic design' have been translated into the new Fiesta to create a dynamic spirit of fun and energy. New Fiesta evokes an instant emotional response that says 'I want one' which extends the traditionally practical values of the Fiesta to appeal to a new, style-conscious generation of small car buyers."
Ford will build the new subcompact at its Cologne plant from August and in Valencia from 2009. The maker of iconic cars such as Ford Taurus, Mustang, F-Series, will be modify the Fiesta varied regional markets.
The original Fiesta, which the automaker produced during the first oil crisis, has sold over 12 million units since 1976. Eventually, Ford stopped selling the Fiesta in America in 1980. This is why the automaker disparaged in the past for missing great opportunities.
In Europe, the automaker sells over 400,000 units of the current-generation Fiesta annually. The segment where the car is in is also gaining traction in the United States where escalating gasoline prices and declining economy push shoppers to shift to small fuel-efficient cars.
The chief executive of the automaker is now pushing the company to leverage its global resources more effectively. Ford is in the midst of a restructuring effort aimed at returning its core North American operations to profitability by next year.
Earlier this month, the automaker said that its Turkish-made Transit Connect light van would be sold in North America from the middle of 2009.
Ford's next global car is expected to be a successor to the present generation Focus, its best-selling model worldwide.

The Legendary Ford T-Bird

The Legendary Ford T-Bird
by Ronald Firquain
Ford T-Bird are legendary and the current models are really elegant. Brought back from our glory years, reinterpreted for these modern times, is a timeless classic begging for the open road. As Ford Vice President of Design explained the 1955 to 1957 Ford T-Bird is as symbolic of the times as rock and roll music and bobby socks. Some clubs cater for any model produced by a particular manufacturer while vehicles including Corvettes and Ford T-Bird are served by specialist organizations.
To make sure that the paint color comes out correctly, we suggest that you make sure that your T-Bird is present for the painter to color match color. Your T-Bird is one of the rare vehicles to come full circle from classic roadster to pavement burning muscle sled to punchy sedan, then recently back to its roots. As Motor Trend Detroit editor, wrote Perhaps the most outstanding feature of the new Ford T-Bird is the clever wedding of sports car functionalism with American standards of comfort.
It is also a lasting piece of American culture. The 91 model is an excellent value for a used car. And if your it is equipped with a cold air intake system, the cold air intake filter will perfectly match it. The it is a retro design that has been around a few years now but still manages to stand out from the crowd. Taking you back to the golden age of the American roadster, and is about driving freedom. The sole power train under the hood of the 2004 model is a 3.
1959 T-Bird is a cruiser in every sense of the word. It is a vehicle that has shared the platform with the Lincoln as well and it has sufficient room to accommodate tall drivers as well. The Ford T-Bird is a car manufactured in the USA by the Ford Motor Company. And is big on style and comfort and is still an affordable piece of 'Automobile Americana' that may someday be a classic.
1988 is absolutely gorgeous with its remarkable features that includes platinum spark plugs, 225/60/16 tires, new computer and wiring, custom 2. For this year, it is fully loaded with outstanding features power disc, brakes, air conditioning, cruise and speed control, power door, power locks, tilt steering wheel, power windows, power driver seats, seat belts, AM/FM radio with cassette, power steering, climate control, 6-way power sunroof and custom wheels.
Knowing that the resale and trade in value of your 1993 is $1,480. Millions of vehicles are recalled each year and it is possible that the 2005 is among them. This Ford T-Bird is an 11" long die cast collectible metal car with operable doors, hood & trunk. And it is a big purchase, so take the time to research carefully, make a few phone calls, check with the Better Business Bureau, and your consumer affairs about your Ford T-Bird dealership.
The thoroughly modern interior of the new Ford T-Bird is done up with classic style. The trunk of the Ford T-Bird is spacious enough for a golf bag, and carrying along the soft cover for the stowed top shrinks the available space considerably. This 2005 is subject to prior sale and it may become unavailable without notice. I have a 94 Ford T-Bird is there an easy way to remove the sunroof to replace the screws that came loose. Top speeds were high; my 1967 is capable of better than 140mph and that is not atypical.

Ford Ranger Posts February Sales Gain

Ford Ranger Posts February Sales Gain
by Anthony Fontanelle
Ford Ranger’s days are numbered. But Ranger, exiting production assembly line, is showing some life. It wasn’t that sad at all. Ford February sales report reflects notable sales gain of the Ranger. The gain is driven in part by incentives that keep pickups moving.
With just a year prior to the scheduled closure of the Ranger plant in St. Paul, the truck is seeing signs of a sales rebound. In February, Ranger sales soared 27 percent over the same month last year.
February was the second month in a row the truck has seen sales gain, reported Ford Motor Co. Prior to January, it had been years since the truck had recorded a month-to-month sales gain. Last month, the Dearborn-based automaker sold 7,431 Rangers compared to 5,850 it sold in the same month last year. On the contrary, the F-Series full-size truck saw sales dived five percent last month.
"That little Ranger that could is still doing well," said Jim Farley, Ford's group vice president for marketing and communications. Equipped with quality Ford Ranger parts, the truck is expected to lure more shoppers in its last days.
Ford is offering special incentives on the Ranger in America’s Sun Belt, extending from Florida to Texas and California. In those territories, "the compact truck market continues to be robust," Farley said in a conference call, especially for shoppers buying 4x2 models.
The incentives "are not something we're going to offer every month," he said, but the automaker is happy with how sales have performed recently.
According to watchers in the industry, escalating gasoline prices may also have contributed to the brisk sales of Rangers. Currently, the automaker’s lineup of small cars and crossover utility vehicles are selling better than its full-sized trucks and SUVs.
"We don't have very many (Rangers). We're just sold out," beamed Roger Kamp, new car sales manager at Power Ford in North Scottsdale, Ariz. "I'm waiting for more to come in."
All the Ranger buyers he sees want the larger crew-cab models, Kamp said. Bearing price stickers that start under $20,000, "it's a great price point for all customers, for someone who doesn't want to spend $30,000 for a full-sized (truck)."
Dan Zeller, a manager at Metro Ford in Dallas, said that from his experience, the sales spike was related to commercial orders for Rangers. Several of his large commercial fleet customers took delivery of Rangers in February, following what Zeller thinks was a backlog of orders, TwinCities reported.
Ford extended the life of the St. Paul plant in November, saying it would shut sometime in 2009 instead of later this year.

2008-04-04

Car Enhancement Only with Ford Parts : New Ford New car review 2008

Car Enhancement Only with Ford Parts : New Ford New car review 2008
by Kenny Cone
"The Ford Company purchases a variety of raw materials for use in the production of its vehicles from numerous suppliers around the world. Years have passed, the company represents a leader of corporate strength making it the world's second finest automaker. Often referred to as Ford and at times, called as Ford's or FoMoCo, the automotive behemoth embarked its humble beginnings through the passion and vision of Henry Ford in 1903 inside tha shabby assembly lines in Detroit, Michigan.Although the company had been through rough patches before, Ford Company managed to sell cars and trucks throughout the world. It recovered in the 1950s from the negligence of its founder's later years and struggled in the 1970s and early 1980 to repel the influence of Japanese imports. Shortly, Ford was the producer of almost half of all the cars in the United States. And in 2005, the company sold approximately 6,818,000 vehicles all over the world. They have stretched their long lines of brand names, which also include, Mercury, Lincoln, Volvo, Land Rover, Jaguar and Aston Martin.Ford Motor Company offers a good variety of cars for almost every condition. Every model is manufactured with premium quality materials, leaving approval ratings among other automakers. Only best-in-class parts are fit to these prestigious models. The selection goes from the small and inexpensive ZX2, and goes all the way up to the seven passengers Windstar. Security and strength remains undoubted. And when it comes to fuel economy, one could get full mileage out of these four-wheeled beasts. Standard parts that come with Ford models are made of premium quality materials. Even original, reproduction and restoration parts for antique, classic, street rod, and obsolete Ford models can be purchased to supply the genuine function in which ford parts are intended for. When Ford makes vehicles along with its parts, its main concern is to make every merchandise coming out of its stables well-scrutinized with great care. Ford is a company whose concern lies not only on consumer demands, but constantly provides excellent products and services for the sake of the name it holds, as well.Once the vehicle is made by Ford, it is trusted that it would include everything that one possibly expects for in a vehicle. This should be applied particularly to the parts that come with it. These raw materials include non-ferrous metals, precious metals, ferrous metals and other material resources. Ford Company ultimately offers to the general looks and achievement a Ford model can get making Fords to give out great performances at all times. The company makes plenty of great Ford accessories like Ford car covers, Ford floor mats, and Ford cargo liners. It produces primary parts such as engines, transmissions, exhaust systems, brakes, wheels, hoods, seats, doors, windows and steering wheels that guarantee the vital performance of every Ford vehicles. There are many other parts like air intakes, clutch, door handles, cooling system, fuel injection, drive belts, electrical parts, mirrors, driveshaft, suspensions, hubcaps, radiators, spoilers, window regulators, lights, tailgates, etc. that help the vehicle perform flat out on the road while providing comfort to driver and passengers as well. It provides high-performance parts that will make your Ford function faster and work better.

Luxury and Speed - Ford Wheels Have Them : New Ford New car review 2008

Luxury and Speed - Ford Wheels Have Them : New Ford New car review 2008
by Aaron Young
Wheels contributed greatly in many areas primarily in transportation. The use of wheels increases speed that would make transportation less hectic. Traveling is not an effortless task especially when going to distant or even extremely far destinations. Wheels do not simply serve in transporting you to places you want, these can also add to the appearance of vehicles. The function and drivability of cars are purely affected by wheels from the time it is installed. Hence, wheels require the accurate dimensions and materials to provide safer travel. To every vehicle, the wheels play an important critical role, from the materials, style, function, durability, to maximum performance. The Ford wheels were intended to be engineered and carefully made by skilled people through Ford's automotive technology. These are examined thoroughly for a more satisfying outcome and are made to suit every Ford model that comes in quality with a wide range of styles available. The wheels are one of the parts that should be inspected carefully to provide a great ride for you. Ford attained a good remark in the automotive industry from producing such vehicles that signifies a sense of power on roads. Certainly, General Motors Corporation is more known today for their powerful and trendy personal vehicles like the GMC Sierra, GMC Envoy, GMC Safari, amongst others. All of these can be an urban road warrior in a minute then rapidly transfer into a wildlife explorer. Powerful engines dwell under their hoods, making them very competent for all the tough and complex paths one may venture to. Space is huge even its aesthetics particulars are defined. A sense of sporty force is produced making a GMC truck transcends power and versatility. Wheels act as force on a vehicle. However, there are many things that can cause damage to the wheels, especially when driving on road debris and curbs. Ford wheels are prepared of the highest quality materials and come with a full warranty from the manufacturer. When installing new wheels, it is a must to have the tires professionally mounted and fixed equally so as to ensure that the tires will hold in an even way. Mounting a tire can be a tough process, since the bead that closes the air into the tire must be seated accurately. A large volume of air must be put into the tire to inflate it quickly and the tire must be inflated to its maximum rating very quickly, or else the bead will come loose. Balancing the wheels requires expensive tools, and cannot be done at home. Care must be taken not to over-tighten the lug nuts when bolting the wheels on to the vehicle, because it may cause damage to the wheels. Additional wheel travel and speed produces heat in the shocks. Heat causes the shocks to withdraw and the vehicle happens to bounce and difficult to control. To distribute the load and drive away the heat, duals, triples, and more being are used. Wheels carry the most important function and Ford wheel works simultaneously to get the vehicle to places. It is certain that every Ford model holds wheels in its specifications.

The $13 Million Dollar Ford Motors Case : New Ford New car review 2008

The $13 Million Dollar Ford Motors Case : New Ford New car review 2008
by Ivan Cuxeva Jr
Cases that go on for years tend to be big news once they get fully investigated and a jury arrives to a conclusion based upon all the evidence brought to the court room. The American legal system is one of the best in the world however it is not perfect and when it comes to cases which handles matters of laws things can get pretty complicated and legal battles can extend for years. Lets take a look at a recent case which has grabbed people's attention due to the parties involved and because this case had to be handled by the supreme court of Georgia.It was February of 1999 when Anne M. Gibson was traveling through Clarke County driving her 1985 Mercury Marquis, all of the sudden the owner of a Toyota truck hit the back of her vehicle causing a fire which ultimately killed Anne. Normal death conditions taking in consideration this was a car accident, this is what some people think however the investigation presented by James E. Butler and the plaintiff shed new light as to the reason this accident resulted in a fiery car crash which took the life of Anne.The parties involved in such case were Ford Motors, the co-defendant Draw-Tile (a company which manufactures trailer hitches) and obviously the husband of the victim. The argument presented by the plaintiff's attorney was that the way Anne's car was designed made the gas tank very vulnerable during a rear collision, the co-defendant Draw-Tile was involved because the trailer hitch which was present during the time of the accident had dangerous bolts which may have punctured the tank which ultimately resulted in an intense fire.After a prolonged deliberation the Supreme Court of Georgia upheld the 13 million dollar judgment against this giant automotive company which refused to produce to the plaintiffs lawyers a set of crash test results. This case was decided in March 28, 2008 and shall be referred to as the "Ford Motor Company vs Gibson" case.Georgia Supreme Court Justices had to handle the case due to the number of appeals filed by the plaintiff. This just comes to show that big companies can take a case to the bitter end regardless of human loss, fortunately for Mr. Gibson the Justices agreed with previous court rulings.

A car bore’s guide to a used Ford Mondeo : New Ford Mondeo New car review

A car bore’s guide to a used Ford Mondeo : New Ford Mondeo New car review
by Kevin Creese
Go to any car dealership and you can be certain you’ll come across a used Ford Mondeo - it is a fact as inevitable as the world being round or water being wet. Supplies of Ford cars are plentiful - used Ford especially so - with competitive pricing and popular styling just two features of a car company making arguably the best cars it ever has done.There are two histories the used Ford Mondeo sitting on the forecourt could have in its logbook. The first history would reveal a mid-thirtysomething salesman with many motorway journeys under his belt (and many corporate lunches too no doubt). His suit jacket having been lovingly hung up in the back as it accompanied him on his travels and sales pitter patter. The second life the car could’ve had would be the all purpose, all conquering family pet. Muddy football boots, furniture from Ikea and mountains of glitter from a night out would all have come into contact with the Mondeo.Whether the car comes with life history 1 or history 2, it doesn’t matter. Either way the car would’ve faithfully carried out it’s duties and has only appeared on the forecourt because either: a) salesman didn’t sell enough and was sacked, b) salesman sold lots and was given a new Mondeo, c) family had another child and bought a people carrier. A good buy on all accounts then, but before you decide on which colour to go for, let me fill you in on the birth of the Mondeo and how it made Ford’s accountants’ life expectancies rise dramatically.Replacing an institution is tough. Whether you’re singing Freddie Mercury’s parts for Queen, acting James Bond in the latest film, or playing rugby instead of an injured Johnny Wilkinson for England, you’ll be more closely scrutinised than the original. And so was the case with the Mondeo. Entering the showrooms in 1993, the new car replaced the much-loved granddaddy, the Ford Sierra. Despite its global market, the European arm of Ford was haemorrhaging money and had developed the unenviable reputation of making cars the accountants wanted. This resulted in poorly built vehicles that were as interesting to look at as a Monet in a cardboard box.Things started promisingly (not for the accountants mind) as the Mondeo shared very little in the way of parts or design with its appalling 90’s predecessors the Escort and Orion - resulting in high development costs. Top pub quiz fact: it was the first car to have a drivers’ airbag across the entire range. This forward thinking from Ford meant it topped many safety test standings and appealed to companies not wishing to give their staff death traps and of course families. Sales rocketed and it was named European Car of the Year in 1994.One criticism was that the styling was still more cardboard box than Monet. A facelift in 1996 addressed this to such a degree, that only the doors and roof remained the same as the Mk I model. The corporate Ford oval was incorporated into the front grill giving the car a more curvy and playful look. Still no Monet but the palette was starting to take shape. The facelift was as well-received as Jackie Collins’ and this helped boost sales further although the additional outlay from Ford did mean specification levels dropped, meaning wheel trims were back and alloy wheels were consigned to the optional extras order form.Over the next four years, with Ford’s European fortunes taking a drastic u-turn for the better and as the new space-edge Ka and Focus models were being launched, the Mondeo was suddenly in need of another shot of botox. As the new millennium dawned, so did the Mk III Mondeo ��" the car that more than likely stands before you at the used Ford dealership. Although it was in the same design club as the Ka and Focus, it wasn’t considered part of the ‘New Edge’ Ford design and therefore sat in the corner of the club looking restrained. A more expensive, Volkswagen Passat inspired interior is the stand-out feature, which looks expensive because it is.Combined with further safety enhancements including the excitingly titled ‘Intelligent Protection System’ (IPS) which was a system that basically decided for you which life-saving features to use in the event of a crash. It was the most popular large family car for its entire 2000 ��" 2007 life-cycle. It is too early to comment on the latest Mk IV model, although it did find its way into the latest Bond film ‘Casino Royale’ for a brief scene, before being swiftly replaced by Bond’s orginal Aston Martin DB5 (what did I say about following an institution?)To summarise, the Mondeo may be the most popular vehicle of its class and therefore buying one will result in you being as unique as a Manchester United supporter, but it has sold in it’s droves for a mutlitude of good reasons. The choice as they say, is yours.