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