[The Wolf]

Hi guys....This is something I wanted to talk bout since a real long time... Well as the topic says it all...Why didnot the Ford Mondeo do well???? I test drove the muttha when it was newly launched and thought it was a fabulous machine even though its bulky attire was a little ahem ahem to me.... I had no intention to test drive this machine nor did/do have the money to buy one but my inquisitiveness tempted me to check it out in an auto meet in kanteerava stadium some time ago. The Ford guys were just letting anyone interested check it out... There was no room for pulping the machine but I surely creamed it 80+kmph and trust me "The machine is well powered and comfy to the wazoo"...Well it looks something like this:::
***Ford Mondeo: 2.0 Duratec HE is the petrol version of Mondeo. The engine type is 1999cc 4-cylinder 16V DOHC Petrol. One of the best features of this car is its Max power, 143bhp@6000rpm. The Mondeo is a pretty wide car and rides on 16 inch wheels as standard, with optional 17 or even 18 inch rims available. It has a wider track suspension system, which provides a smooth ride. Features like Anti-lock braking systems, safety cell, airbags, air-conditioning, security features, power windows makes it best of its kind.

I didnot get to try out the 2.0l Duratorq, which is a diesel variant and further more Im not intersted in diesel cars...not my style

I have heard that the car does have some fuel pump issues and slippery clutch but I dont really reckon these little things cannot be worked upon at all(By Ford)...But is it really the technical problems, marketing or the price tag???? I loved the car coz its got loads of attitude and refined power. Any updates on this one Experts???


Everything is nothing and nothing is everything.
-Chuck Shuldiner.

[lamborghini]

can you increase the font size
its a bit difficult to read so i got no idea what you are saying
anyway 2 of my relatives own mondeo and they love it.
infact one liked it so much that he got 2 of them ..
waiting for the new one to be launched then if its any good i will convince my dad or some one to get one but it wont be before 2006

[autopsyche]

The main reason for its downfall for the car i would say is the indian public. The end consumer is not really interested in the technology aspect in that price segment, its more about the looks and acceptability there... Although its a good design it was very spartan and sporty and did not have a conventional luxury car appeal to the buyers.. the camry and vectra being obvious options in that price tag. This is would say was the main reason among the casual buyers, however among the well informed set of people i guess they just knew... ford is not synonymous with luxury!

[.anshuman]

mondeo was a great car superbly engineered,had ride,handling and build unmatched till date in its class,but the car had some quality issues and after the new accord was launched mondeo felt outdated and lacked the freshness of the accord,again the honda enjoyed better reputation,so the mondeo was slowly forgotten,so much when yesterday i was reading a thread here on team bhp i was shcoked to see someone mention the mondeo i had forgotten even it existed in indian market,ive heard ford is launching the new mondeo in mid 2005 waiting till then to see if takes the accord and the camry hands on...

[GTO]

A similar topic has been discussed before here : The Indian Car Buyers Psyche

GTO

[bhp]

the expensive spares and maintainence of the car is also a major downfall for the sales of the car ....

[kbk_75]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

I have heard that the car does have some fuel pump issues and slippery clutch but I dont really reckon these little things cannot be worked upon at all(By Ford).

Yes, there are problems with the fuel sensor that Ford has very kindly built into the fuel pump assembly, so every time the fuel sensor packs up (which it has on three occassions with me in three years, invariably after a petrol pump attendant has over-filled the tank) you have to replace the entire fuel pump, which is a PITA, and an expensive PITA at that. Fortunately (kind of perverse, but true) since mine failed twice under warranty, I told Ford where to stick their bill when it failed a third time, out of warranty.

I've not had any issues with my car's clutch whatsoever, but my 6 disc CD changer did swallow a CD and get jammed THREE times in 1 1/2 years and had to be replaced. They finally modified the design, and it's been fine since then.

I've heard that some Mondeo owners have had problems with some of their electricals, like the power seat adjusters, but I haven't faced these gremlins yet.

The rear coil springs on the Mondeos squeak when the car is loaded with people. Mine never is, so I only noticed this when I took my parents out one night. Ford "fixed it" and the problem came back.

Let me sum this up for you...if you're an enthusiastic driver, it's by far the best handling, steering car available under 20 lakhs. It's rides fabulously, has decent performance, is very comfortable and safe. As for Ford, their dealers don't have a clue what they are doing, and talk a lot of crap all the time and insult your intelligence. They just assume you're a moron who knows nothing about cars and when you start asking intelligent questions, they get stumped and run for cover!

[GTO]

so every time the fuel sensor packs up (which it has on three occassions with me in three years, invariably after a petrol pump attendant has over-filled the tank) you have to replace the entire fuel pump, which is a PITA, and an expensive PITA at that.

Fuel gauge going off when filling to the brim - This happened in my girls car too but the fuel pump didnt pack up. It just took a couple of kilometers before the gauge came back to normal. Guess we were lucky.

Thanks for the update on the failure. Have instructed to not fill up right to the brim.

GTO

[lamborghini]

hey but with the localise one coming out its sure to be put back in the race .
and im sure its not spartan ..
hell when it was launched it had the most equipment in its class and was te first car to have xenon lights too

[islero]

I was with my relatives, who know little about cars. It is soon after the mondeo was launched, and I was eager to see one.
A silver example blasts by, and I utter a yell of joy, and, upon my relatives questioning this act, tell them that it is a Ford Mondeo.
One relative quips:" Looks so similar to the Ikon. What is so great about this car? Sonata is much better."
I gasp in horror at this ghastly statement, wondering how the non-car people could associate cars SO badly, as all the others murmur their assent to that comment.
I rest my case.

[kbk_75]

Originally Posted by GTO

Fuel gauge going off when filling to the brim - This happened in my girls car too but the fuel pump didnt pack up. It just took a couple of kilometers before the gauge came back to normal. Guess we were lucky.

Thanks for the update on the failure. Have instructed to not fill up right to the brim.

GTO

Just to clarify, GTO, the fuel pump didn't pack up in my car either. And as you mentioned, the fuel gauge went dead and came back on after driving a few kilometers. The only problem is that EVERY time I tanked up after that the fuel gauge would go dead until I had driven about 40-50kms, which is unacceptable to me. This is a fuel sensor problem. As I understand it, when the tank is filled too much, the glass wool which surrounds the sensor gets buggered up and causes problems for the sensor to detect the correct fuel level. Then, once the fuel level drops, the sensor works ok again.

As I said the problem is with the sensor. But you cannot replace just the sensor, the entire fuel pump assembly has to be replaced!

To be honest, the manual is very clear on how much to fill the fuel tank. It says auto fill till it stops once, then start again, on the second auto-stop, stop filling the tank. The thing is, our petrol pump attendants are only interested in filling as much gas as possible into the tank, so I have noticed on hundreds of occassions that once the auto stop stops the petrol, they actually pull the nozzle as far out of the tank as they can, before they start pumping the gas again. I have to tell them every time to leave it in the tank and restart the fuel delivery!

[lamborghini]

waiting for the new mondeo
should be out soon
very soon hopefully
hey islero samething happened with my school mate .
they were like mondeo sux and i was like get the best car you have gimme a mondeo and then we will see .
waiting for the new one so bad
saw a black one with sexy alloys and it looked so bloody good.
and i have only sat in the car twice
besides its a car the rich and famous like to be seen in too.
my friends dad- mr Uday Kotak has one and a blood red palio sport too

[kbk_75]

Well Lambo, it's really not a NEW Mondeo at all. They've changed a few bits like the Radiator Grille, the front bumper (to accomodate the new fog lamps), the alloy wheels, side mirrors are larger and have puddle lamps in the base, the turn indicators are now colourless and there's a few more chrome bits. They've also added some features such as auto headlamps, auto wipers, climate controlled front seats, electric side mirror retracting, a different CD changer and possibly cruise control or traction control (the last two are options abroad, so I'm not sure if Ford will equip them on India spec Mondeos). Apart from these "changes" it's the same car. What this does is make the Mondeo by far the highest equipped car in the country (apart from the luxo barges like the S class, Bentleys, Rollers, Maybachs, etc), which is all well and good, the problem being that there's now 20 more things that can give trouble, and frankly Ford's dealers don't know their arse from their elbow, so if the electricals do give trouble...

The major change is that they will finally be offering an automatic transmission, which will woo a lot of sahibs who don't really want a "driver's car", and the big news is that the diesel engine they will now bring in is the outstanding TDCi engine which is far superior to the old TDDi engine they brought here the last time!

So I guess there are quite a few nice new features, but it's still the same Mondy underneath, the car I've grown to love despite my contempt for the dealers.

[kbk_75]

Now here's something to wish for:

The new 6 speed gearboxes with

The top-of-the-range 3 Litre V6 Petrol engine (apart from the ST220, which wouldn't work here, because it's been lowered, etc) that puts out 204 ps and 280 nm.

The top of the range 2.2 TDCi Diesel (the ST variant in Diesel) with 155 ps and 400 nm!!! That engine you could just stick in third gear and leave it there permanently and still be able to pass anything, any time you like!

[RedOne]

Mondeo's downfall?

Simple Answer - Honda Accord.

That said, if I was in that market, I would buy the Mondeo anyday. But then there's the V6 accord....

RedOne