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