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