| We've all sat in traffic jams, and | | | | other car maker. So even though we're |
| through the haze of frustration and | | | | only halfway through, let's recap - |
| traffic reports on the radio, have had | | | | great sporting heritage, most customer |
| our eyes wander over the surrounding | | | | satisfaction awards, trendy design, |
| metal stretching back for miles. The | | | | reliable and reasonable. Just in case |
| blue oval of a used Ford, or box fresh | | | | you need more reasons, let's see how a |
| one, invariably stares back at you - and | | | | typical used Ford, in this case a Focus, |
| with good reason. For years Ford has | | | | stacks up against its competitors. |
| outsold its rivals, with a new or used | | | | Featuring more pyramids in its design |
| Ford delivering everything a car buyer | | | | than an Egyptian desert, this family |
| could want, with cutting edge design, | | | | hatchback is Britain's best selling car |
| reliability, practicality and crucially; | | | | since its birth in 1998, overtaking the |
| value for money all included. Take the | | | | Escort, which was, of course also a |
| Ford Ka for instance. This car is more | | | | Ford. You can pick up a newer |
| popular among women than a small dog in | | | | face-lifted 2006 model for less than |
| a sparkly handbag and despite being 12 | | | | £10,000. With that you get a 1.6 litre |
| years old, it remains so futuristic | | | | engine, surrounded by the safest car of |
| looking, an extraterrestrial should be | | | | its class. Not only is it safer, but |
| supplied as standard. | | | | check any critics' opinions and it beats |
| A perusal through a selection of the | | | | all comers as an overall package. Just |
| remaining Ford range has the population | | | | to drop a further statistic in, for the |
| well catered for too. From said Ka, we | | | | same money you could have a Volkswagen |
| have the lovable Fiesta hatchback, the | | | | Golf that is a further two years older, |
| mid-size Focus, the motorway stallion | | | | that'd be coming to the end of its |
| Mondeo and the kid transporter - the | | | | warranty and with a lower specification. |
| Galaxy to name but a few. Throw a few | | | | Probably in beige with a pipe and |
| 'ST' badges onto the Fiesta or Focus and | | | | slippers too. |
| you'll also have enough whiplash | | | | Let's imagine for a moment, you've done |
| inducing acceleration for the | | | | the deed and your used Ford has ousted |
| performance purist. After all, Ford | | | | the dog as the family's most loved pet. |
| know a bit about racing too - they | | | | How far from a dealer are you if all |
| supplied the engines for many Formula | | | | I've said is a big fat lie and your car |
| One cars from the '60's right up to | | | | has a problem? Unless you're based on |
| 2004, many carrying the much worshipped | | | | the outskirts of Mars, you won't be far |
| 'Cosworth' badge. Not only that, they | | | | and for peace of mind it's nice to know |
| power the entire field in the USA's | | | | they're nearby should the unimaginable |
| Champ Car series which includes the | | | | happen. The JD Power awards also cover |
| famous Indianapolis 500 and have scored | | | | servicing and after-sales care so you |
| points in every World Rally meeting | | | | can look forward top notch care when |
| since 2002 (92 consecutive races!) | | | | your car is due for a service. Nice to |
| clinching two championships as a result. | | | | know Ford's customer service has |
| Ford boring then, well not quite... | | | | improved since Henry Ford famously |
| So, enough setting the scene - why buy a | | | | declared you could have the world's |
| used Ford? The best recommendation has | | | | first production car in any colour, as |
| to be commuters. No seriously, because | | | | long as it was black. |
| those that pile on the pounds at | | | | In conclusion, Top Gear named the Ford |
| corporate dinners, also pile on the | | | | Mondeo 'Car of the Year 2007'. |
| motorway miles, relentlessly, year on | | | | Admittedly it was because it was the |
| year with their Fords happily on cruise | | | | only car that at least one of the |
| control. This means simply that | | | | presenters didn't dislike, but this is |
| companies happily add Fords to their | | | | the point I've been trying to drive home |
| annual line-ups due to their near bullet | | | | throughout this article. Name your |
| proof reliability and cost | | | | favourite car design, favourite |
| effectiveness. Ok, so when the cruise | | | | interior, best handling, fastest or most |
| control is switched off whilst sitting | | | | spacious cars and I doubt Ford is going |
| in a 25 mile jam and the motorway looks | | | | to outscore Ferrari, Bentley, Lotus or |
| like the world's largest used Ford | | | | Volvo in these categories (Volvo being |
| showroom, you may want exclusivity. | | | | the most exotic obviously). However |
| However, follow this logic and you'll | | | | name the car that best fits your |
| stick with a walkman rather than an | | | | criteria (not to mention the majority of |
| iPod, an Atari computer rather than a | | | | Britain) and I'd put a sizable amount of |
| Nintendo Wii and a clothes mangle rather | | | | my pauper's income that it'd be Ford. |
| than washing machine. The best | | | | We may all want to be with one half of |
| inventions are always the most popular - | | | | Bradgelina - Brad Pitt and Angelina |
| so what if everyone wants a Ford with an | | | | Jolie to the uninitiated, but in reality |
| iPod adapter? | | | | Sharon from number 25 is the best bet - |
| Ok, time for the science bit. In 2006, | | | | she's got some nice curves, is |
| Ford produced 6.6 million vehicles and | | | | reasonable to run and crucially - she |
| as of 2007, has more quality awards from | | | | won't breakdown and stick a vile of your |
| JD Power (only the biggest customer | | | | blood around her neck. |
| satisfaction survey wizards) than any | | | | |