New Ford Mondeo - disappointed.

[ajtrader100]

Just a message to say that although the new Ford Mondeo is a fantastic car to drive, I feel a little let down by the build quality. The paintwork is wafer thin and has so many scratches on already, and I have no idea where they have come from.

I hand wash the car, and polish it properly but there are scartches and chips all over; doors, bonnet (from stone chips), side wings etc.

Also with the rain this morning its leaking through the roof. Just had to take it to the garage with water pouring out from the rear view mirror and all along the inside of the front windscreen.

When cleaning I notice how poorly the upholstery is fitted and the interior panels are clunky and also badly fitted.

I think the build quality is actually quite poor, after seeing my colleagues getting the passats and peugots I feel a little annoyed!

Rant over.:D

[harveybobbles]

Ford being Ford! They get the old run out model totally spot on, then go and replace it with a new one!

[Conor]

I was just going to say that my MK3 is great - even though it's got 110k on the clock.

[vikingaero]

Ford being Ford! They get the old run out model totally spot on, then go and replace it with a new one!


Well the Mk4 should be thoroughly sorted by the time they bring out the Mk5. :D

I recommend buying a new version of any car a couple of years into it's life or at the mid-life facelift, otherwise you end up being the unpaid development driver.

[Shoshannah]

Well the Mk4 should be thoroughly sorted by the time they bring out the Mk5. :D

I recommend buying a new version of any car a couple of years into it's life or at the mid-life facelift, otherwise you end up being the unpaid development driver.

I agree. I would be nervous of buying a new car as there is so much not known about them. My car is 16 years old and I know about pretty much everything that could go wrong with it....ie it rusts to *******! :rotfl:

[reehsetin]

my mum got a new ford a few months ago and ford have been a blumin nightmare, we've had problems with the cd player skipping since day 1 and ford refused to replace it think it was at least 8 months till we got them to! plus it drinks petrol like anything

[balsingh]

omg - has the ford resurgance since the mid 90s finally come to an end???

[thescouselander]

I have driven loads of Mondeos as they are usually the car I get given from work if I have to go away on Business. I have to say I actually thought the previous model was better in many respects.

[big gay kirk]

they should never have discontinued the Cortina.....

[anewman]

Given the choice I'd much rather have the new Skoda Superb than a Ford Mondeo. Both models share the same sort of price range. Also some interesting toys as options like automatic parking. The same as the system included in the VW Tiguan - demonstrated http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fsZGP1SQdY

[AdrianHi]

Your paint problems are common to most new cars now.
Car are now painted with environmentally friendly water based paints on top of panels usually treated with a rust proof coating which is very hard. Softer paint on harder surface = easier to chip.
The clear coat lacquer that goes on top, on some cars, not sure about Fords, is dry powder backed on or a water based lacquer. Which ever way it's done both of these are much more susceptible to picking up swirl marks and micro scratches that older cars.
Use lambs wool wash mits and the "two bucket" wash method (one bucket of fresh water for rinsing the mit before resoaping) and then drying with micro fibre cloths and not chamois leather will reducing the damage washing does. In the end, these marks are unavoidable. My approach is to budget for about £200 every 2 years to get a professional detailer to "de swirl" and polish up the car again.

[ajtrader100]

Its not only that , but lumps seems to be coming off. maybe 1/4" in size, they are like small craters, like the paint is layered. You can't T-cut or polish it out as it so deep, but it doesnt show up too badly as its just another layer of paint.

I cant believe how thin the paint is though.

[Shoshannah]

At least Fords don't rust how they used to.

[Idiophreak]

I recommend buying a new version of any car a couple of years into it's life or at the mid-life facelift, otherwise you end up being the unpaid development driver.


I'd go with this...I got the last of the old shape astras...quite clear they had the design bomb-proof by that point...

(you normally get good deals on the last-of-the-old line, too)