Michael Shaw <paddock@netgates.co.uk>

Only drove one once, back in 1996 when the hired 1.8D Escort snapped a cam belt.
It was better than the Escort, it could go above 90.

Me personally prefer the Vauxhall, sluggy, bags of lag, but appears to be
slightly faster and more reliable than the Ford.
Heard plenty of cam belt stories from Ford owners.
But there you go F.O.R.D, fix or repair daily

Ta

Michael Shaw

Richard Morgan <Richard.Morgan@datalexuk.com>

I have a Mondeo 1.8 TD LX and it's great, apart from the turbo lag (lack of
power at roundabouts/junctions, etc), and some annoying faults
which have recently cropped up:

the underbody (sump?) shell dropped off and is grossly expensive to replace
the power steering unit seems to suffer after a downpour (which in Yorkshire
is pretty common) - weird !!
changing the heater/glow plugs is a nightmare

Richard Morgan

DervMan <dervman@mondeo.freeserve.co.uk>

That's an honest appraisal of the Mondeo TD . . . but it does sound as though the writer doesn't drive too many TDs!  The Mondeo isn't the quickest of most economical of the current TDs, but it is light years ahead of the Sierra.  And so it should.

Ford engineered the engine / gearbox for motorway work, the suspension for all sorts (decent ride, handles very well) and the interior for the high mileage rep.  It's very economical at a motorway cruise (Norwich -> Scottish Borders at 70 yields 50 mpg).

Regards

The DervMan

Ed: Actually I drive mostly Turbo Diesels and the Ford TD is definitely one of the worst I've tried.

graham59 <graham59@onetel.net.uk>  

Hello,

I bought my M reg TD with 89000 miles.

Now getting up to 200,000 miles, I must get round to changing that cam belt.

Tyres, yes, they don't last too long, 20,000 miles but there again, I only put the budget tyres on, @£21.49 each, I don't care if they only last 20,000 miles.

Well, I clock up far too many miles, 40-50 thou a year.

I will say I would definitely have another one.

They are cheap to buy, and cheap to run.

Graham Ralston

Bill Parker <billparker@hotmail.com>

I have had my Mondeo 1.8 TD for over six years and it is one of the best cars, in its class, that I have had the pleasure of owning. I am a died in the wool diesel head and would definitely buy another. My only complaint is the front " wishbones" these "pop" there rubber bushes every two years or so. That I can do without!!

<ARTurner01@aol.com>

I've just bought this car and am quite impressed with the handling and the
engine.  

Trouble is - the damn thing has what I believe is known in the trade as a "hanging rev" problem insomuch as, when revved to say 4000rpm, that's were it stays despite lifting off the throttle and a noticeable wait is necessary before the revs come down to match the next upward gear change. 

I've spoken to the Ford dealer but it's a bit like the dead parrot sketch as in "No mate, they're all like that".

Anyone else had the same problem?  and - is there a cure, aside from chopping it in for a Vectra.

Simon GREENWOOD <simon@greenwood5056.freeserve.co.uk>

I must agree with the comments, good handling, high load space (estate) and very poor performance, I get 480 miles per tank whether on a run or round town it seems to make no difference. A friend runs an Audi A4 and gets 600 miles easily and he has a lead foot. What I want to know is why the economy is so poor, its not as though the performance is eating the fuel, the car would have difficulty pulling the skin off a rice pudding below 2000 revs, and if you give it some revs to set off the wheels spin, which makes you look like a boy racer.

Dear Mondeo,

I have had 3 Ford Mondeos all as company cars. The first was a 1.8TD 'M' Reg
and this was good even though I was a bit heaving with the right foot but it
still gave a reasonable mpg. The second was a 1.8 'S' reg petrol! I would
never buy another petrol in my life if I can ever help it. I was doing the
same mileage as with the 'M' reg but was using 1/4 of a tank a day and was a
bit lighter on the right foot as well. I now have a 'R' reg diesel estate. It
has currently got 140,000 on the clock and still going fine, the economy is
good I can get 600 miles out of a tank. Simon from above must be red lining
it all the time, maybe you should get a bigger faster diesel.

Richard

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