New Mondeo - anyone got one?

[AmitG]

Any thoughts welcome. I'm being seduced by the hybrid version (which, incidentally, comes as a saloon rather than a hatchback).

I assumed there would be a thread running somewhere here, but I couldn't find it, hence the new topic.

Thanks in advance.

[AmitG]

Fair points btcc123.

On the drivetrain - I'm not really a fan of diesels, and I've owned other hybrids (see car history) so I'm used to the way they drive etc. and actually prefer a Toyota style hybrid setup, it gives you more linear acceleration and a smoother stop-start.

I went to a local Ford dealer to look at one, and size wise - you're right, it's bloody massive. The overall shape is similar to the Jaguar XF, but what surprised me is that the dimensions are about the same as the XF! So size-wise it's up there with the BMW 5-series and Audi A6 as well as the XF.

The exterior is IMHO beautiful - a real triumph. The front and side profiles are really, really nice. The rear is a bit boring though; the tail lights look like they were lifted from the last Mondeo although I am sure they are different. I think they should sort that out on the facelift.

Also, I noticed that the bootlid extends quite far down. I guess this is to increase boot space or something. But it does make the bootlid vulnerable. This is not a car you can bump park.

Inside it's pretty massive. I am 5 foot 6 and if I sat behind myself I could cross my legs in the back. Loads of space up front. I reckon that interior room is on a par with the Skoda Superb, which is high praise indeed. Very nice.

The dashboard is a bit of a mixed bag. It looks quite nice, and is squidgy in nearly all the right places. But some parts of it feel a bit cheap and the centre console definitely feels a bit cheap and dated, even on the higher models. Also, prodding around, there is a fair bit of movement in some of the dash panels, which makes me wonder how long it will stay together. Other manufacturers do better interiors IMHO.

I am debating whether to go for a test drive. On the one hand the interior quality is a bit off putting. On the other, it appears - on the face of it - to be a lot of car for the money.

[AmitG]

Quickmoose said:

I've seen two since their release.... what is happeening sales wise?!

Judging by the discounts which dealers are prepared to offer I suspect the answer is "not very much"

Quickmoose said:

Both of the examples I saw blended into to the background with ease... The best opinion I could offer is, get the biggest wheels you can afford, it's the only way to make the proprotions work. Its a very heavy design, flanks, nose, tail. To combat this the wheel arches are large, you spec the poverty wheel, and it suffers big time.

...which is a problem, because the hybrid only comes on 16 inch wheels, and as you say it just doesn't look right. You cannot spec it with different wheels even as options. You'd have to buy the wheels seperately and swap them over. I'm not doing that.

Quickmoose said:

Aesthetically I'd choose pretty much any of the competition....

Eye of the beholder and all that...I think it looks really good from the outside, from all angles except the rear which is merely boring rather than offensive.

I guess that the days of the Mondeo selling in huge volumes - big enough to define the concept of "Mondeo Man" - have gone. The Germans have the saloon market carved up, and the new Mondeo is destined to be a niche product, sold - ironically - to those who want something a bit different from the norm.

I'll try and go for a test drive. The reviews have been quite good, and I like niche products