A car bore’s guide to a used Ford Mondeo
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.
2008-05-09
The $13 Million Dollar Ford Motors Case : FORD car review
The $13 Million Dollar Ford Motors Case
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.
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.
Used Ford Ka vs Bugatti Veyron - And The Winner Is.... : FORD car review
Used Ford Ka vs Bugatti Veyron - And The Winner Is....
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 (arguably!!!) 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 year 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. The Ka can comfortably compete against the other rivals in it's class and stacks up very favourably - that's 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.
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 (arguably!!!) 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 year 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. The Ka can comfortably compete against the other rivals in it's class and stacks up very favourably - that's 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.
Used Ford - In Focus : FORD car review
Used Ford - In Focus
by Kevin Creese
It's been a cracking week this week. Two big wins for Manchester United, a pretty blonde came to visit and I've found myself being chauffeured to and from pubs allowing the old ale to flow and witty banter to eminent from my clouded stupor. Whether it's been Mr Taxi or Mr Mate who's been doing the driving however, there's been one constant - Mr used Ford Focus.
So why is everyone driving a used Ford? Surely engineering mate, call centre mate and council worker mate are sufficiently different in their genes to crave a different mode of transport than a generic used Ford Focus? Well the answer is quite simple, whilst the wallet size may be different, just as my friends agree that hanging out with myself is a good choice, so the Focus (probably far more reliably) is the best medium sized car that fits all their criteria.
Launched in 1998, the Ford Focus has not only become Britain's best selling car, but was the planet's largest selling car in 2001 and 2002. The popularity of the Focus is unsurprising. The car's looks continued the 'New Edge' design - Ford's drastic design departure first seen on the Ka and Cougar - a design that has seen many manufacturers imitate the angular design cues themselves. The Focus wasn't all show however, coupled with its new looks, the Ford's drivability, reliability and practically all scored highly when reviewed making the Focus not only a good all-rounder, but the best in its class in nearly every facet of owning a car.
I'm not one to go all wiggly over suspension either - I'm far more of a 0-60 seconds performance type writer, but in this instance I'll make an exception. The Focus featured the 'Control Blade' suspension system, which at the risk of writing the least catchy line in my journalistic career was: a highly sophisticated fully independent multi link rear suspension (shall we stick with 'Control Blade?!) Essentially this meant the Focus gained class leading handling, as the production of such advanced suspension was normally reserved for cars not so tightly financially ring-fenced (as was the case with Ford's competitors). Ingenuously though, Ford was able to design and manufacture the system in a cost effective manner and customers reaped the benefits.
To marry deft handling with a strong engine is always the holy grail for any car maker. The Focus strived to meet the needs of its wide demographic and offered a choice of six engines, ranging from a 1.4 petrol, through to a 2 litre version. The car itself was available in either a 3 or 5 door hatchback or 4 door saloon. All featured a completely new interior design that polarised many with its sweeping curves and dials. Personally I think it's a triumph, although the indicator tick is slightly overpowering - now I am clutching at straws.
Production continued until 2004 when the current Mk II model was launched. Built upon the same platform as the Mk I - with 'Control Blade' in place wouldn't you? - the new model is larger than its predecessor but it's also safer, with the Focus achieving the highest NCAP safety scores ever for a car in its class.
The styling isn't as radical compared to the Escort to Focus changeover in 1998, but the more subtle curves give the new Focus a more grown up, mature aura which Ford is only happy to go along with. The interior has also been embraced by all reviewers this time around, with a typically German sense of subtle styling and quality throughout.
Engines remain largely unchanged in principal, although they have been slightly re-designed and are rebadged as 'Duratec'. The biggest talking point has been the introduction of the 225bhp Focus ST, or more to the point, the garish orange paint job that is an option. Featuring the same turbo-charged 2.5 litre engine found in the Volvo T5 aka the police pursuit teams' car of choice; it goes without saying the ST has enticed a further influx of interest from the small number of people who seemingly don't already own a derivative of the Focus.
A slight facelift throughout the Focus range is expected later this year, meaning used Ford prices should be ever more competitive for second hand buyers to grab a bargain. Now that's something an engineer, call centre worker and council worker can agree on - other than taking the michael out of me.
by Kevin Creese
It's been a cracking week this week. Two big wins for Manchester United, a pretty blonde came to visit and I've found myself being chauffeured to and from pubs allowing the old ale to flow and witty banter to eminent from my clouded stupor. Whether it's been Mr Taxi or Mr Mate who's been doing the driving however, there's been one constant - Mr used Ford Focus.
So why is everyone driving a used Ford? Surely engineering mate, call centre mate and council worker mate are sufficiently different in their genes to crave a different mode of transport than a generic used Ford Focus? Well the answer is quite simple, whilst the wallet size may be different, just as my friends agree that hanging out with myself is a good choice, so the Focus (probably far more reliably) is the best medium sized car that fits all their criteria.
Launched in 1998, the Ford Focus has not only become Britain's best selling car, but was the planet's largest selling car in 2001 and 2002. The popularity of the Focus is unsurprising. The car's looks continued the 'New Edge' design - Ford's drastic design departure first seen on the Ka and Cougar - a design that has seen many manufacturers imitate the angular design cues themselves. The Focus wasn't all show however, coupled with its new looks, the Ford's drivability, reliability and practically all scored highly when reviewed making the Focus not only a good all-rounder, but the best in its class in nearly every facet of owning a car.
I'm not one to go all wiggly over suspension either - I'm far more of a 0-60 seconds performance type writer, but in this instance I'll make an exception. The Focus featured the 'Control Blade' suspension system, which at the risk of writing the least catchy line in my journalistic career was: a highly sophisticated fully independent multi link rear suspension (shall we stick with 'Control Blade?!) Essentially this meant the Focus gained class leading handling, as the production of such advanced suspension was normally reserved for cars not so tightly financially ring-fenced (as was the case with Ford's competitors). Ingenuously though, Ford was able to design and manufacture the system in a cost effective manner and customers reaped the benefits.
To marry deft handling with a strong engine is always the holy grail for any car maker. The Focus strived to meet the needs of its wide demographic and offered a choice of six engines, ranging from a 1.4 petrol, through to a 2 litre version. The car itself was available in either a 3 or 5 door hatchback or 4 door saloon. All featured a completely new interior design that polarised many with its sweeping curves and dials. Personally I think it's a triumph, although the indicator tick is slightly overpowering - now I am clutching at straws.
Production continued until 2004 when the current Mk II model was launched. Built upon the same platform as the Mk I - with 'Control Blade' in place wouldn't you? - the new model is larger than its predecessor but it's also safer, with the Focus achieving the highest NCAP safety scores ever for a car in its class.
The styling isn't as radical compared to the Escort to Focus changeover in 1998, but the more subtle curves give the new Focus a more grown up, mature aura which Ford is only happy to go along with. The interior has also been embraced by all reviewers this time around, with a typically German sense of subtle styling and quality throughout.
Engines remain largely unchanged in principal, although they have been slightly re-designed and are rebadged as 'Duratec'. The biggest talking point has been the introduction of the 225bhp Focus ST, or more to the point, the garish orange paint job that is an option. Featuring the same turbo-charged 2.5 litre engine found in the Volvo T5 aka the police pursuit teams' car of choice; it goes without saying the ST has enticed a further influx of interest from the small number of people who seemingly don't already own a derivative of the Focus.
A slight facelift throughout the Focus range is expected later this year, meaning used Ford prices should be ever more competitive for second hand buyers to grab a bargain. Now that's something an engineer, call centre worker and council worker can agree on - other than taking the michael out of me.
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