SOTW: Ford Mondeo V6 Ghia X

Top-flight repmobilery is the choice for this week's Shed. Now, where's that suit jacket...

Poor old Ford. Its products have always been bought in huge numbers, and if you look back in time, you can understand why. With the possible exception of the E93A and the Mk4 Zephyr, they’ve all answered the need for family transportation while generally being on the right side of decent to drive.

A Rolls among Sheds? Almost. Maybe.

But general antipathy towards the badge (fuelled by a not-altogether-undeserved perception of rubbishness, plus the historic sense of resignation you get when you’re given one as a company car) has always delayed popular appreciation of non-specialist Fords to a point in time long after their disappearance from showroom floors. Check the hyperbole (and the prices) now being routinely attached to ‘classic’ 1.3-litre Escorts and 1.5-litre Cortinas.

Shed’s formative driving years were spent in his Dad’s light blue Escort 1.3. It was an undemanding sort of beast, with a decent gearshift and Ford’s much-vaunted cabin ventilation system, but in all honesty there really wasn’t much else to write home about.

Certainly, the interior looks plush...

Mondeos suffer from this odd Ford-hate phenomenon, but in reverse. Each of the four Mondeo iterations thus far has been praised mightily by the press, both at the time of their respective launches and throughout their lifecycles, and for good reason: they’ve all been brilliantly accomplished cars. Everyone agrees they’re great, but this general approbation hasn’t been enough to staunch the monstrous depreciation of mainstream models.

Hoorah! That means we can buy cars like this very smart 2.5-litre third-genner at Shed money. If the experience of Shed’s local tyre fitter is any guide – he’s just bought a mint, low-mile 2003 ST220 in silver with red leather for £600 – this non-ST example is quite dear at £800. But if we look at the car in isolation, taking in what you’re getting for your money and taking out the brand snobbery, this is an attractive proposition for anyone who might be looking for a heavily-specified, very comfortable and practical five-seater express that’s also an engaging drive.

Big pipes are a tad less gracious, mind

And they are that. Shed recalls being most impressed by the chassis of an early press Mk3 Mondeo 1.8 Zetec in and around the leafy environs of Seville. As noted, this one’s got Ford’s slightly ancient Duratec 2.5-litre V6, first seen in 1994. It’s an engine that somehow always promised rather more than it delivered: sweet enough, but slightly characterless compared to (say) an Alfa six. If you play the Ford’s gearbox rather than its motor, though, you’ll not be disappointed.

Happily, Duratec V6 cams are chain-driven. The big bugbear with this engine was the exploding plastic impeller they used in the original water pump. You’d expect this fully-serviced car to be running a later pump. You’d also expect it to have none of the earlier cars’ difficulties with idling and sticking secondary throttles. For a bit more zizz, the throttle body and inlet manifolds from the ST200 swap in quite straightforwardly.

Olive ash trim makes it unique, though

Owner-fitted interior trim is rarely a good idea, but the ‘olive ash’ Wood(tm) in this one doesn't look too disastrous against the creamy moo. The concept of a six-into-four exhaust might sound a bit peculiar, but any outside help this V6 can get to make itself heard has got to be good news. Apparently, the actual sound is top dollar, and best of all the pipe is made from stainless steel and therefore more or less forgettable from a Shed motoring point of view. Smashing.

Ignoring the usual non-specific failure of things like coil packs, sensors and suspension bushes, the V6 Mondy Mk3 is a pretty safe bet at this money. This one has refurbed alloys, practically new branded tyres, cruise, leather, electric everything, reasonable mileage, only one previous owner, full service history and slightly anti-social fuel consumption. In many ways, then, this is the epitome of Shed motoring.

Final point in the vendor’s favour? He’s got a brilliant first name. Here’s his ad:

For sale is my 2.5 V6 Ghia X Mondeo. All usual refinements including all electric windows, electric tilt/slide sunroof, heated front seats with 8 way electric adjustment on drivers seat, climate control, cruise control, ABS, ESP, traction control, heated front and rear screens.

The car is in superb condition for its year finished in Spruce green metallic paint with full cream leather interior. It has had all 4 alloy wheels fully refurbished and had 4 brand new Uniroyal tyres fitted in February of this year. It has a stainless steel exhaust fitted from the CAT back with quad tail-pipes (sounds beautiful but not too loud). Inside the car I have fitted a wooden (olive ash) centre console and door trims (see photos).

The car has a full Ford service history, it is taxed and MOT'd until the end of August 2013 and has done 114,700 miles.

I have owned this car for 11 years and it has never once let me down or missed a beat, I will be sorry to see it go but really need an estate as I have a growing (teenage girls!!!!!) family. Someone will get a real bargain

Faults:-

There are a couple of small marks on the body work (to be expected for its age) and the drivers seat has a small tear on the back side bolster. Also there is a small chip in the windscreen which has been repaired by Autoglass but it is still slightly visible.

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Maxus

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