At the moment i am concidering a new car, the mondeo was looking good to me, but i was unsure. All day i have been looking but tea time came before the dissision. What should do for tea? Poached eggs on toast, yes! It's been a while scince i had that.
Later on, at 01.00 i came across this review.

Steven Draper, stalybridge, england

I owned various fords first was a capri, then moved onto a mk 5 cortina then granada and finaly in 1997 i bought a mondeo had it 10 years passed every m.o.t then june last year bought a tdci mondeo 06 god i love it. i have a smile as wide as the tyne every time i drive it thanks ford your thebest

micky, north shields newcastle, england

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE rescue Ford. They are the greatest company there ver was. They gave us legends, as JC says, and also fixed Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo and Mazda. they really are the greatest and if you don't save them soon I can't get a Mustang.

Rashid, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Just 4 days into my Mondeo ownership and I'm amazed at just how good it is. Super quite the diesel pulls and pulls.Its well put together and with excellent equipment levels even in this the zetec model.It might not have a BMW or Audi badge on it but then again you are driving the better car with your pockets still stuffed with cash. GO ON TRY A MONDEO YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID.

Clive Hooks, Rotherham, UK

I have just ordered one of these cars on the basis of reputation. With the boot being large enough to camp in and the rear seats being suitable for small giraffe, the mondeo is spacious enough, and this coupled with the fact that it is a superb to drive ensures that it is as near as dammit as good as a typical german saloon. Considering the amount you pay for one of these cars, the value for money is simply brilliant

Jamie Warwick, Carlisle, England

I would not spend my own money on a Ford.
This was my opinion until 3 months ago when i was given a Focus TDCi Zetec as an interim company car, then took a rally prepared Sierra around Knockhill.
I've had Vauxhalls, Toyotas, Alfas, Mazdas,Volkswagens, and Citroens,
My next car will be a Mondeo.
Ford have turned a corner. Try to forget all the rubbish like the escort post mk2. Ford are making good cars. Try one today!

Ian Hart, Armadale, Scotland

We just bought the 125kw Passat Wagon, which we are very happy with-love the TDI style of power, but the Mondeo hatch was just released here and I look away, because it looks terrifc and the price and engine combinations are very attractive. Maybe next time...

Chris Bourne, Melbourne, Australia

I have just bought a 2.5 Titanium X in Tango Red, what a stunning car it looks. Already been stopped several times by people wanting to ' have a look'.
It drives like a dream & will certainly move when required. With sat nav,Bluetooth, electric seats & with enough space to swing an elephant.... What more could you want. Welcome back Ford...at last a cracking car !

Dave Harrop, Nantwich, Cheshire

Is it good looking? Well from the front it is a copy of the Lexus, which is good, (the looks not the cheating), and from the rear it looks like the (current, not new), Renault Laguna which is bad.
So, OK it looks alright, but well adrift of the Passat, Accord and new Mazda 6. Could try harder.

Guy Fry, Welshpool, Wales

I have always had a Ford car, from my first Escort to a 1.8LX Mondeo then onto a fuel thirsty 2.5L V6, which went only 3 months ago. I now own a 1 year old Titanium X on a 56 plate. It drives like a dream, holds the road like glue and when you put your foot down and the turbo kicks in, lets just say it goes. The inside is like the tardis, lots of room for the kids and all their gadgets and I have to lean right in to get to the back of the boot.
This car is by far one of the best in its class, design, style and some great toys on the dashboard satnav, the wife like the fact that she can plug in her MP3 player.
Lets just say I love this car

Neil Hudson, Gosport, Hampshire

I've got a 96 Mondeo Diesel which I've had from new. It's don e150,000 miles on the original clutch and returns wll over 40 to the gallon day in day out. My only sadness is that I cant afford to go out and buy another. I've never kept a car this long before, but then I've never had anything as reliable. It just keeps going.

neil, Nottingham,

I'm not surprised that Ford are in the state they are.
Five months ago I bought a Focus 1.8 Tdci. It's been in for repair to a knocking front suspension 3 times and is now currently having it's 4th visit. The dealer I bought it from in Sheffield called Dixon Ford, have now gone bust leaving me with a new dealer in town, Lookers, to try and sort it with virtually the same staff that Dixons had.
The best advice they gave me was to let it develop !!
My wife now refuses to drive it because she feels it is unsafe.
A dealer in Chapeltown Sheffield couldn't sort it either. Everyone keeps telling me they can hear it but nobody can cure it.
Ford have been absolutely pitiful.
This vehicle should have been replaced. It has still only done 4000 miles. £15000 waste of money. Thanks for nothing Ford.
My advice to anyone buying a new car which develops a fault is make sure you DO NOT accept a repair and demand a replacement within 30 Days. Ford call this an assisted buy back...Insist on it

Gary Vaughan, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

just bought my second mondeo st 24.had a 525i sport before that but all my other cars have been fords,capris,escorts etc.i find the mondeo the most enjoyable car yet.ford have a rep,unjustly i think,and it would be a real shame if they went out of buisness and we lost the chance to drive them in the future.we would loose something that most of us have a fond memory of

ken crockett, reading, england

My dad has had two Mondeos both 1.8 petrol base models and they were both magnificent. Even the one he's just given another family member feels as tight and as agile as the day we got it, and it's due its first M.O.T this year. That proves how good Ford are at making cars and the problem is not enough people realise that it is as good as it is. People buy their Vectras because they though they were getting a good deal. They weren't. Vauxhall claimed that they were putting special deals on yet the Ford was cheaper even without offers slapped on its windscreen. Ford need to learn the dirty tricks that GM use to save them. That way they'll get the sales they so preciously need. If they do go into liquidation and cease production, that'll be my favourite brand gone and one of the best automobile manufacturers gone too.

Chris, Sheffield,

Tobias, how can you compare a mini to a Mondeo in terms of comfort? The new Mini has an appalling ride. It never settles down, fidgetting over even the slightest crease in the Tarmac.
I agree the old Mondeo was not the best, and how Clarkson can say it usurps a 3-Series I'll never know, but really, a Mini beating a Mondeo on the ride - never!

rob, Stockport, UK

I currently own a 2 litre laser Ford Capri and I never have any problems with it. It's 21 years old still turns a few heads and it's easy to service it cost me 500 quid off ebay and was worth every penny and more. I have done long trips on the motorways in this car and have seen several cars such as BMW broken down on the hard shoulder with a bewildered person or people standing around with the bonnet open .. never a ford. Anyway if my engine was to blow up i simply put another one in for £2.50 ! Support Ford .... support cheap motoring.

M Jackson, southend on sea, essex

Ever since my school boy days I have been a Ford man in my heart of hearts.....my Dad had various Ford company cars from Escort's to Cortina's through to his last company car a G plate Sierra. Friends Dad's had 3.0 Capri's and 3.0 Granada's......awesome cars in the mid 70's.
I wanted a Ford when I left school in 1983 and my first one was a 76 2000E Cortina, however due to my drag racing interest I soon wanted a Mustang. I got a 1971 Mach 1 Mustang in 1987 at age 19, spent three years doing a ground up rebuild and still have the car today. It's inpractical on our current roads and fuel costs but great for occasional weekend fun.
I have also had company cars and had all 3 mondeo's. I have just got the 2007 Zetec 2.0TDCI with 6 speed auto. It's a great car and I've had 4 people ask me for a closer look when out and about. I hope Ford can survive this current period I would hate to see this heritage go under.

Russell Shane, Watford, UK

I'm mystified by Clarkson's continuos praise of the old Mondeo. It was crap. I remember getting back into my Mini Cooper right after driving a Titanium X spec, and being amazed at just how much comfier the Mini was on all fronts. The Mondeo was noisy, clanky and sported nasty hard plastics and paper thin doors. Wasn't that good of a drive either.

Tobias, Täby, Sweden

FORD stands for 'Found On The Road, Dead'. A mazda 6 looks and handles far better, and you know that, unlike the ford, it will never break down.....

j healion, edinburgh,

A Volkswagen Passat is better. But a Passat is better than everything in its' class.

Valentin, Hamburg, Germany

Owned a Mondeo Zetec 2l petrol and currently Mondeo 2.2 diesel ST. I have to say without any hesitation, the ST is the best car on the road - No Question ! The handling, power and looks are unbeatable.( for a family saloon)

The New Mondeo however i am not sure about, it looks like a Volvo at the front and Renault Laguna at the rear -the jury is still out. As for engine choice, i am amazed Ford are not offering the 2.2 diesel, especially when its main competitors are supplying increasingly powerful powerplants.

Have not seen one in the flesh yet, i hope it is good enough to fall in love with though, just like the ST.

Steve, Banbury, Uk

I've driven each of the first three generations of Mondeo. Bought the last one (2 litre Zetec) without even a test drive based purely on how much I'd enjoyed them before, and I still think it's the best car I've ever owned, despite intermittent electrical problems that the dealers never did manage to get a handle on.

The highlights of the last one were clean design, inexpensive servicing, lots of room and storage, and how good it was to drive. I'd fully expect the new one to be at least as good, if not better.

The downside to Ford ownership has been huge depreciation in resale value, and incompetent dealers. (The last time I had a Ford service, they trashed all four alloys and aligned the front wheels so badly the steering wheel was turned about thirty degrees clockwise when driving in a straight line. Not my only bad experience either...)

I don't doubt it'll be a great car to drive, unfortunately the rest of the ownership experience is bound to lose them buyers.

Dave, Plymouth,

My wife has a 2004 BMW 320 D Sport and I have a 2004 Mondeo (Diesel) Titanium X. I can assure you all that there is no comparison........the Mondeo wins in absolutely every category. It 's faster, has a smoother ride, is easier to drive, holds the road better, is more economical, has an extensive specification, gear change is smoother, the truning circle is better and boot is cavernous. We are about to part exchange our BMW, but we intend to keep the Mondeo.

Howard Lygo, Doncaster, South Yorkshire England

For once I agree with JC. It would be a real shame if Ford goes to the wall because of what it represents: good cars, reasonably priced.

I bought my Mondeo knowing full well that nobody I know would be impressed that I own one. But do I care??

The car isn't 100% perfect but it's not far off, and despite the fact that its 'only' a mass market family estate car it still brings a big smile to my face every time I drive it.

I hope that when the time comes to replace this car in a few years time I can still buy a new car this good, for such little money. But knowing how ridiculously status concious many people have become and that only 'premium' brands are in demand, I may be dissappointed.

Jonathan Teagle, Winchester,

“Why doesn’t everyone own one of these?” Simple - Ford doesn't want to sell them to you. Try and get a test drive and you'll fail. I made contact through their website (twice), visited a showroom (and waited 15 minutes for the Business Manager to get off the phone), followed it up with two emails and....nothing. One phonecall to GM and a car (actually two - a Saab & a Vauxhall) was delivered to the door. Unless Ford wake up to the fact that "company car" drivers have a choice nowadays, they'll never get out of this rut. Only two colleagues have gone for Ford and neither went for a test drive.

Sean, Dartford, UK

I have had three mondeos,all estates and all manual 2.0l petrol. The mark 1 facelift (99 model) was a bit tedious but the 01 model and the 05 model were excellent. All the company car drivers say "but the mazda 6 is better" balls I say. Its nmore powerful and thats all in my opinion. The Mondeo is better specced and rides better and is far better built. I have a mazda 6 now (2.3 litre 5 speed auto wagon) but will be taking a new Mondeo when the time comes.

Tim Jones, Christchurch, NZ

My 2.0 is up to 172K now and never misses a beat. Only pay for normal service items. Beautiful to drive. Won't go near a main dealer. Local garage is quite capable.

James Bolger, manchester, UK

Who pays list?, no one. This will sell for £5K less, it is a give away. I have a 2l Mondy estate. Leave the diesels to cheap skate companies and get a perol- more refined and reliable in the long term.
These are the bargain of the time.

ian, leicester, UK

The Mondeo is an excellent car - good honest motoring for the working man. Honestly priced, cheap to service and so much fun to drive. How else can you leave those pushy 3-Series drivers for dust on fast corners for less than £20K?
If the new model is only half as good as the outgoing one it deserves to be a success. I urge you to drop any preconceptions you may have for the blue oval and give the Mondeo a try. Ford is a worthy institution which deserves a future. Go and do your bit.

Mark, Bebington, UK

I hope this car sells well. I drive an Alfa Romeo Brera now, but I'd buy this or the Alfa 159 if I were to purchase a saloon. Like many people, I'm sick and tired of my eyes being assaulted by the hordes of the hideous BMW 3 series driven by dreary assistant consultants who've decided their 30k salary warrants an ugly, overpriced status symbol. A little bit of nonconformity would be a welcomed change.

Zacarias, London,

I have a Mondeo TDi Estate for the past four years. Wonderfull to drive, acres of boot space, fantastic road handling and excellent reliability. My daughter loves driving it and I waiting for the latest model to arrive at our shore. And best of all, it is cheaper than a Japanese car for the same size. Keep it up FORD EUROPE.

George Lai, BSB, Brunei

Very interesting review. They're bringing the Mondeo (back) to Australia some time this year (it failed last time) , and if it's as good as Clarkson says, it should sell well for Ford here, especially as their old Falcon has run its race. About time we got some compeditive innovation in mid-car size. In Australia, any medium car that gets below 9 litres/100km should do well.

Harold, Melbourne, Australia

J.D.Power has just declared Ford the number one car company in the U.S.A. for first year reliability. The Edge , Fusion and Mustang are selling well. The re badged Taurus/500 has a new engine and is $5,000 cheaper than the competition. Ford is a long way from going under. It's stock is up 30% in the last year.

paul foxcroft, San Angelo , tx

£23k is still a heck of a lot of money for what you're getting here.

Adam Neilson, Birmingham,

My 2.0 LX Mondeo has done 70,000 miles in nearly 4 years and hasn't missed a beat. It has space with all the seats, a big boot, comfortable driving position, and goes like stink.

It's also a fraction of the BMW or Audi. Got mine pre-reg for £11,000. That's without the trade-in!

Cannot beat it for value

Richard, Stanion, Northants UK

Fords problems are in North America not Europe.Here they make some of the best cars around.I have a 3 year old Mondeo -my second and it is a superb car.

I tried Volvo's, Passat and even a BMW 3 series but the Mondeo was a much better and nicer car to live with.It does everything I ask and more -.Superb value for Money.

I could get one as good or better but would be paying £12-£15000 more.I laugh as I drive past in my lovely Mondeo with Sony stereo,auto lights,auto wipers,self levelling suspension (estate) and the best drivers seat I have ever sat in and I see BMW's with their drug dealer wheels which cost an arm and a leg more.

Pay £15k more for a badge if you are a snob but if you want a great drivers car at a price you won't need to break the bank for - go for a Ford Mondeo.

If you don't beleive me take a test drive - I know what my next car will be I'm going for the hat trick!!

Paul, Cadley Heath, UK

It has been said before, if the Mondeo had a BMW roundel or the Mercedes star on the steeering wheel instead of the FORD oval, everyone would be raving about it.

Those of you shelling out over the odds for those brands just because of badge snobbery in the UK, are not getting a better quality car. Compare the interior of a BMW 520D with the new Mondeo, without knowing which car was which, and you would choose the Mondeo everytime. The cheaper BMW's are pretty low rent these days.

Why do AUDI's cost so much more than Skoda's to service, when the engines are the same? The joke is on you if you have bought one.

I am on my second new Mondeo within 3 years. The first a 130 TDCi Ghia hatch did 75,000 trouble free miles in two years, and still had the original pads and discs when I sold it to a friend. Averaged 44mpg, went like greased lightning and on the autobahn would top 130 mph. Now I have a 2.2 TDCi Titanium X estate. Fantastic.

I know what my next car will be. Do

Kevin watson, Auxi le Chateau, France

There are cars and FORDs, I rather drive a car ( VW, Mercedes, BMW, Skoda, Honda, etc) I would never buy a Ford, they're just CRAP. Even the Korean cars are far better than a Ford. Remember the time-bomb called Ford Pinto?

Jimmy, Curitiba, Brazil

I've never had anything other than Fords in the past 25 years, and touch wood they've never given me any problems - maybe the benefit of regular servicing? And why all the concerns about the Ford dealer network? I bought my last car (a Mondeo ST220 - brilliant car all round !!) on the Internet (factory order - pick an obscure extra - and UK supplied, not an import) for £6,000 less than list. And I have it serviced by a local garage owned by an ex-Ford mechanic - which thanks to the EU doesn't break the warranty terms & conditions, saves me money on dealer rates, and always does a first class job.

Andy, Bridgwater, UK

Ford's North American styling turned extremely conservative after their rather too ovoid Taurus had disappointing sales, especially with their bread-and-butter (JC would like that term) SUVs. Two model iterations ago, I thought the Explorer looked pretty good for an SUV of the time, but the next one's styling lost the rounded edges and the latest one became squarer still !

The Ford Mustang showed that a bit of design excitement (for the exterior, anyways), artfully combined with some American machoness, brings greater sales, though the decently successful new mid-sized sedans still have some of that conservative American design unlike the swoopier front ends of the Honda and Toyota.

If gas prices had soared sooner, they might have taken a risk and produced the stylish European Modeo here as it's exactly the car to appeal to a younger, or younger at heart, crowd.

Peter B, Victoria BC, Canada

I own a Volvo S60 2.0T auto. I bought it from a car supermarket 4 years ago for £13000 when it was 1 year old . It is excellent and at that price! From your report, ....If only the new Mondeo had a D5 auto option, I might well get a 1 year old one in a year or two!

colin farmer, sheffield, south yorkshire

I am just shocked that Jeremy likes Tracey Emin! I previously thought he had good judgement.

Ben, London,

I've had Ford's for over 30 years... always reliable and easy to find good driving position. My Sierra and Mondeo were good cars but the Focus is the best yet. Sad to hear about Ford's problems. Going 4x4 now!

Larry Goddard, Abergele, North Wales,

Alot of Ford's problems originate in the USA. With cheap petrol, Americans wanted their huge sport utility vehicles. Now that gasoline has shot up to what is a bargain price in Europe, but highway robbery in the states, these cash cows are only bought by the people who really, truly need them, not by the posers. US automakers are also burdened with legacy costs from labor contracts signed in the 1960's, when the US automakers controlled 90% of the market and wanted to keep the lines running at all costs.

norman st. amour, harrisburg, PA, U. S. A.

Just a total bummer that this car isn't offered here.
And what great mileage for a reasonably sized car.
Oh well.

Gus, Los Angeles, USA / CA

I have had 3 Mondeos, a 1.8 GLX, a ST200 and currently a Ghia Estate 2.0 TDI. We had aproblem with the ST200 in that the engine would suddenly just rev up with a mind of its own. But apart from that no issues on reliability at all. The dealer on the current one was appalling, I had a new bumper put on the car and the paint started peeling off, then they refused to replace it.

The current version of the Mondeo is a real drivers car, really good to drive, I am sad to hear that it is not quite as good but I will try a test drive first. I think I will be buying the new Mondeo, but from another dealer.

David Hewitt, Lyon, France

Sam Nicholson - what's killing Ford (at least in America) is the lucrative deals the Unions won for their workers over the years, which are now proving to be cripplingly expensive. Unlike Rover, which was killed off by dozens of people & groups but - ultimately - by total incompetence.

The reason Jeremy was so scathing of Rover - unlike Ford - is because they produced crap. Ford produced lots & lots of cars which simply go on for ever. I have an '80s Granada - still going strong. The '90s Rover I had for a couple of years exploded on the motorway, then the bits that weren't shrapnel rusted into nothingness in no time flat.

Ade, Wallasey, UK

Maybe its just the end of an era. Or maybe it is the end of two.

Maybe the simple things in life will make a return - you know, like having a global food supply not destroyed by runaway global warming, but hey, don't forget about those poached eggs.

Daniel Taghioff, London, UK

5 years ago I would only drive Japanese or Itailian sports cars and would never be seen dead in either a Mondeo or even worse a diesel. 5 years ago, I changed jobs and was given a choice of cars for my company car. There was a pooling arrangement which meant that you got the opportunity to drive lots of cars which were regularly changed. In that time I drove the old shape focus and the old shape Mondeo a lot. I've taken Mondeos down to the South of France in one hit (750 miles) and gotten out with no aches or pains. I've regularly gotten 42mpg from their 2.2 performance diesel, and I suffer from leaden-right foot syndrome! I'm now currently driving a 2 litre diesel S-Max and really liking it a lot, and have converted several of my friends over to Ford Mondeos after they have driven mine (and seen the savings they can make). I've never had a problem with quality of the cars.... but fully accept the dealer experience is sometimes best described as SHOCKING!

Gary Ward, Braintree, Essex

You go buy one Clarkson, no you won't will you? Do as I dribble and not as I nibble!

Don Massey, macclesfield,

Russell, you have obviously never had to deal with a Ford dealership , please feel free to order your Mondeo I look forward to the horror you will no doubt be going through when you do.

Nick Dixon, Sutton Coldfield,

Sod the car! How hot does Clarkson look as James Bond?? Jeremy you just made one desperate housewife very happy!!

Anita Beaver, Rickmansworth,

Took my 2007 BMW 3series in for repair (bodywork) and the loan car I have just been given a new 1.9d Mondeo. Shock horror, I love it, yes really. A large poached egg on 'thick buttered' toast of cars with a touch mustard also.

Michael, Ilminster, Somerset

Looks like a Lexus with Laguna rear lights to me!

Richard Bond, Welshpool, Wales

Great to see Mazda's extremely successful DNA creeping into their cousins Ford Mondeo (New Mazda 6 Genes)..
CO2 of 222g/km is a Very Dirty Engine for an "ALL New Model"
Prefer the 2008 New Mazda 6, cleaner, more fuel efficient and it will be better put together..still can not beat Made In Japan.

Ash, Adelaide, Australia

Mondeo ? Never heard of it ? Is it offered only in Europe ? It was back when the Big 3 of the US quit catering to the customers desires that they all fell apart . But then again it was getting too far out in front of the customers needs which caved in the Studebaker Brand which was way ahead of it's time (i.e. Studebaker Avanti , Golden Hawk ) . Can't win them all . Buy some now and store them , they are worth far more when the companys go out of business .

bob graham, las vegas, Nevada / USA

If the North American Fusion were, in fact, the European mondeo than perhaps I'd have bought one instead of the volvo S40 T5AWD which I did purchase, and perhaps people here might actually be interested in a Ford badge.

Justin, St. Catharines, Ontario

Tomorrow I say goodbye to my trusty Mk1 Focus Zetec after 3 trouble free, frugal & fun years. I now need something more capacious to fit my 4 yr old and her accessories, together with the ubiquitous Labrador on camping expeditions and more... I really rather fancied a Mondeo ST TDCi estate but the depreciation scared both me and my bank manager to death; the new focus estate is accomplished but so dull to behold - with Audi out of reach and beemers too lifestyle to fit the camping gear I was left with few options. Practical AND exciting? A race blue Octavia VRs TDi Estate will be collected tomorrow morning with 49mpg and 140mph. Nuff said.

John Drogan, Ramsbottom,

As somebody who grew up amongst the skoda jokes, and having driven a lot of cars in my relatively short driving life due to my fathers job as a fleet manager, I have to say I would take the equivalent Skoda Octavia over a Mondeo any day! Today's world is highly connected with the importance of "brands"...but I think the fact that Ford will openly admit that they produce a "run of the mill" car reflects exactly why you shouldn't buy one and illustrates their poor attitude towards customers!

Adam Thompson, Bath,

I inherited an old 95 Ford Taurus from my brother. I know that model used to be a big selling car for Ford and were once considered decent cars, even though by now they're not considered to be any vintage model. However close to 200,000 miles and not a lick of real trouble. My car is wide and low to the ground, which makes it steady to drive, like a tank, and still sails smoothly along the road, like a young tike. With my old car in such great shape, I would definitely buy Ford cars again.

sc, Atlanta, USA

I was also a Ford man through and through in the seventies and eighties - Escort 1600 Sport, RS2000, Capri 2.0S, Cortina 2.0 GL, XR3, etc. Then, in 1997 I bought a Mondeo 2.5 Ghia auto! Lovely car to drive, but each time I took it into the dealer I came out £100s lighter e.g. Faulty hand brake £650 ! e.g. engine mis-firing - £70 for a diagnostic check just to find the fault. The dealer was overstaffed, but totally inefficient. In 2000 I had to practically give it away privately, and then purchased a 3 series diesel. I am now on my second one!

Richard Pask, Blackwood, Gwent, UK

I've had the good fortune to drive many different rental cars - and I was always pleased when I was handed keys to a Ford. The Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo and C-Max all drove well and were mainly well thought through,
To this day the Mondeo was the most comfortable and best handling car I have driven, despite being significantly cheaper than some.
I wish Ford all the best with the new Mondeo - a good car deserves to suceed. For the moment I'm more than happy with my 1999 Honda Accord, mainly because I know it just won't go wrong. However, with the step backwards Honda made with the latest civic my next car may well be a Mondeo.
Finally, are they not worth it just because of the now almost univeral hatred of BMW drivers? Their version of the highway code encourages racing up behind someone at 110mph in the wet and flashing their headlights. Give me mondeo taxicab driver anyday!

David, Reading,

I have owned three Mondeos, two of them V6s including my current steed, an ST24. Buying a Mondeo new you'll be saving a small packet compared with the more upmarket rivals, but buying them second-hand you'll be laughing all the way to the bank.

I bought my current car with 99,000 miles on the clock for £2,000. That was two years ago and if I sold it tomorrow, I could easily get £1,500. It runs as smartly as a new car, looks gorgeous in bright red, to drive it is a complete joy and it is able to fly from corner to corner with confidence on any B-road.

I completely agree with JC, I don't understand why everyone doesn't have one of these!

Kam Atwal, Beaconsfield,

It's not that great and as others have pointed out for the same money (for a top spec model) or a bit more than what buys the basic 1.6L version, you can buy a really stylish car. On the other hand the focus is a great car although a bit noisy at speed but good value.

By the way Jeremy, have you got a Ford Mondeo?

sonny, london,

I know that the Mondeo is a good car, but I still think that jeremy is too biased too think that it's betther than the BMW 3-Series (brilliantly poised, brilliant handling), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (sporty or classy, like you wanted, passed through 15 million miles of misery and torture, put on rigs which tried to shake the cars to bits to test the build quality, while the engineers already knew hoow it would drive and crash about 5 years ago), Audi A4 (good all-rounder, brilliant interior), Lexus IS (not so much, but at least it's reliable and the petrols are refined), Alfa Romeo 159 (it's looks are too good too be true)...
...I still think I would go for the more expensive rivals, unless the Modeo turns out to be reliable - something not helped by the fact that I hear that the S-Max, of which some components are found in this Mondeo, is already having some serious reliability problems. Ford have created a brilliant car, but I would still consider the others first.

Chris Galea, Naxxar, Malta,

Mike is right about the US market. My partner's father recently purchasesd a top of the range 4.5 litre F150 Pick up with coffee brown leather upholstery, satnav and missile defence system (which is the biggest selling passenger vehicle ever, I am told) at a knock down 15 grand GBP.

He lives in rural PA, and if he ever has to negotiate anything more arduous than the speed bumps at Walmart, he needs a day off to rest.

The point is that the type of vehicles produced by Ford US are driven by the psyche of the purcaser, which is non-homogenous (its a bloody big place after all) - they simply cannot be all things to all men (yet try) and the needs of the city dweller vary to that of the urban aged, and the up and coming aspirant "DUI adolescent", and the plaid shirted artisan. So, too little range to get a handfull and not enough specialisation - Adam Smith turn in grave now.

Shocker, Smalltown, USA

I borrowed one of the last model as a diesel and my ears were still ringing from the clatter as I drove my Honda Accord to work. Not a great experience and I know that Jeremy doesn't like diesels, but his eulogy falls on deafened ears in this case.

Michael Hatton, Stoke on Trent, UK

When next-door told me they had bought a Ford, laughed. I know it is not very nice of me to do so, but that badge Ford have stuck on the front of the does nothing but make you giggle. The fact that they were proud of it made me nearly throw-up laughing.

If Ford doesn't do somthing fast, we will see them on our streets selling the 'Big Issue'....................eek.

Glyn, Cardiff, Wales

I drove the Mondeo Estate Diesel and it was arevelation to me. I am not a Ford fan, but this car had adequate performance and was very stylish. I would consider one for my next new car. - Its in my price range, unlike the reference to the new V70 at £38,000+

nev , Swindon, England

I'm now on my 3rd Mondeo in 6 years. previously owned Toyota's and honda's. After a brief flirtation with a Passat in 2005 (absolute garbage, and that's just the car) returned to the daddy of them all, a 2005 130TDCI Ghia estate.

if you want a reliable and powerful tug that's also good to drive then the Mondy is for you. Just look at how many caravanners drive TDCI's. They are phenominal, mine tows a 1420kg van plus 4 passengers, and will quite happily do the appropriate speed limit with no effort at all. None of the silly restriction son towing limits ala Renault.

As people are not buying them, then they become affordable and attractive to people who want a reliable and roomy motor, that in my opinion is the ultimate Q car.

Andrew Myerscough, Blackburn, Lancashire,

Well said JC But Please less flippancy when you talk about the demise of Ford . We who work there have children to feed.

Alan Combe, Grays, England

Ford are the architects of their own demise. They still have a reputation of creating Friday afternoon cars and whilst they overal quality has improved you still feel you are running the risk of getting a dodgy one.

Worse, everyone knows they sell cars in bulk to firms at HUGE discounts compared to the prices they sell to Joe Public and that any mug who buys a Ford new privately is going to see that car halve in price within a year.

Ford do have a way to save themselves though - undercut the global market. Start selling the Focus and Mondeo to Joe Public at the discount rates they give to companies. 7K for a new top of the range Focus, 9K for a top of the range Mondeo and Fords will be disappearing off the forecourts!

Jan, Cardiff, UK

The new Mondeo is a product of Ford Europe which is doing rather nicely at the moment. Fords big problems are in North America where big SUV sales have gone over a cliff and Fords passenger car range has failed to make any impact in a market dominated by Toyota and Honda. Ford Europe have been solidly profitable for the past 5 years and is seen as the remaining jewel in the Ford Crown.

Paul Hampson, carlisle, cumbria

I really don't understand how a company that made cars as successful as the Ka and Focus could be in financial trouble. There must be a lot more to it and I wouldn't mind betting that it was the same thing that got Rover in the end - fat cats taking all the money home to their mansions.

And another thing - Jeremy was never so nice about Rover when they were about to go down!

Sam Nicholson, Basingstoke,

I own a Mk III Mondeo ST220, and despite the appaling fuel economy (even for a 226 BHP, 3-litre engine), I love it. I am not keen on the new Mondeo however. I saw a "Ghia" saloon at a dealership the other day. The details looked fussy and contrived, the interior trim looked cheap and ugly, and now to my horror, I hear there won't be an ST model.

What will my next quick saloon or estate car be? Oh dear, I might have to buy a Vauxhall!

Rob Illing, Oldham, Manchester

If they had any sense Ford executives would make the full range of Mustangs available over here in right hand drive. Now that car has the potential to take out whole swathes of the sportier end of the BMW 3 series, including my own! I've hired a couple while over in the States and they are a joy to drive - cheap too. That said I've owned a Cortina and a Fiesta in my time and both suffered from irritating and obvious design flaws such as a stalk light switch that could be easily bumped by a knee.

Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK

I never owned a Ford until 3 years ago, when I bought a Focus, which was excellent. I have now owned a Mondeo for 3 years and have run it for 100,000 miles. In terms of reliability, it has matched previous Subaru's, Saab's and Suzuki's, and bettered BMW's, VW's, and a Nissan.
As a drivers car, it has only been bettered by an Impreza Turbo, Ford Focus, and Nissan 200SX. A 3-series BMW was great on smooth dry roads, but hopeless on snow and ice, and through standing water (i.e. in the real world here in the UK!) . In addition, the dealers are good - straightforward, efficient, competent (Nissan/VW in particular please note) cheap, and unpretentious (BMW...).
Badge snobs are missing a real treat, and I do hope Ford survives so that I can buy another.Ford, this time the superb looking X-Max. Freelander and BMW (what is that small, incredibly ugly soft-roader badged?) should be worried.

Neil, York, UK

I would have read the report on the Mondeo if it had been mentioned in the first 6 or so paragraphs. I got bored with Clarkson's drivial.

Dennis, Norwich,

I have the pleasure of living in Montreal and from a local point of view Ford deserve everything they get after years of foisting off utter crap in the North American market, at least you guys actualy get cars that are nice to drive, and nice to look at, however there is a bright side to Fords upcoming collapse, thay will leave behind a few vastly improved companies, Volvo, Aston Martin, Range Rover and Jaguar(possibly) however the X Type Jag was typical cynical shit head Ford at their bloody worst.
I will toast the death of a dinosaur, with water it would be a wste of wine.

R Cattrell

R Cattrell, Montreal, Quebec

Jeremy, the reason why BMW's outnumber Mondeos is that when you buy one with your own money you expect to get something back when you sell it. How much is your £23k Mondeo going to be worth after 2 years? - not a lot.

richard, york,

I have always been a Ford man and would be devestated if they were to dissapear. I have always had good service from the sales advisors right through to the servicing teams. This new mondeo looks great and if my current focus is anything to go by it will drive well too.

Carl Lucas, Solihull, UK

Jeremy - I often think how lucky you are to be in a position to drive a good proportion of the cars on the market without having to come into contact with the dealer networks. If Ford could bring their dealer network to heel in the UK they may have a chance of selling some cars to the punter on the street rather than trying to subsist purely on fleet sales. As it stands they are so shockingly bad I doubt I am the only one who is boycotting them.

Tim S, Surbiton, Surrey

Woody - you seem to think that the 1812 Overture was written by someone other than Tchaikovsky? Pray enlighten us...

Rotwatcher, CHELTENHAM,

Where are Ford going? Indeed they will tell you that the new Mondeo is all fun and games, with great handling and carrying the Ford Motorsport heritage. The only problem is that its not. It is, in a sense the new Volvo S6o if you go for the sedan, or the new Volvo V70 if you go for the touring. Indeed the quality is miles better (even though the interior feels like a microwave from LG Electronics) but it is also a lot duller. It is very quiet, quite comfortable and cheaper than a Volkswagen Passat.

It's a good car. Yet, I don't quite know where to put it. Sadly, it's mostly down to the badge.

Stevan, Stockholm, Sweden,

Nick Dixon, you have obviously never owned an Alfa Romeo. Yes, they make nice looking cars inside and out so in the showroom it seems to make sense. But the reality is very different when you own and live with one. This is a company which slashed its cambelt change-point from 72,000 miles to 36,000 in order to 'overcome the problems this was causing'. I have owned three Alfas and not one Mondeo. I would without hesitation order the new Mondeo TDCi while urging one and all to give the 159 a permanent wide berth and save thousands compared to the pig-ugly 3-series. Long live Ford. They deserve to survive, they have shaped our motoring culture more than any other single brand over the past two generations.

Russell, Leigh-on-Sea, UK

After a recent, significant back injury which saw me in great pain at simple, or even no movement, and off work, I decided to rent a different car. The Ford Focus I was lent, was the most exquisitely comfortable machine I have ever had the privelege to drive, more so than my bed, my sofa, my office-chair, the floor, standing up, Volvos, Saabs, Renaults, VWs, anything. I found myself going to work two hours earlier each day, the sooner to get my fix of being in perfect comfort. This is to say nothing of the drive and build quality.

When a cat jumped on the roof, scratching it, I worried for my £550 rental deposit, but the local Ford bodyshop said if I had any trouble, it was an hour's work only, and that would cost, wait for it, £33.00 plus VAT. Have you ever heard of such low servicing costs? I am now about to buy a Focus. Let's all take a break from French and Italian cars which break down and depreciate, or hard-riding, heavy, expensive-to-service, overrated German metal.

Jonathan, Baldock, UK

23 000 £?? In Norway, where I live, this car with this engine will cost around 55 000 £.. So much for "The Mondeo man"...

Audun Bakkevoll, Tromsø, Norway

Ive gott to say WOW!! It sounded REAL good like a volvo inside a ford and the design simple and nice...but the sad thing is it has not come out here in Singapore where the prices of cars are insanely priced and taxed....hoping to see it real soon and feel it...

Joshua, Singapore, Singapore

'In historical terms...' Hmm, let's ponder on this sentence for a moment. Ferrari - now Fiat, ICI - in the death throws of an Akzo Nobel takeover, NASA - sacking astronauts for being total nutters... All I can say is thank goodness for the National Trust (oh, and pound for pound a Rover 75 2.5ltr V6 is far better and more economical).

Keith Lockwood, Newark,

Gosh. I could own a Ford or I could make Jeremy Clarkson "sad"... It's not really a choice, is it?

Mike, London,

The real sad part of the story is that if Ford would bring this car to North America it may actually save itself. Alas, we are stuck with the boxy SUV tripe put out for the "American Consumer". F150 anyone!

David , Toronto , Canada

Tchaikovsky’s 1812 overture? Errr.....

Woody, London,

Ford's biggest problem is the lack of any managerial intelligence, especially in their international markets. Over here, in a country which is classified as 3rd world, but with petrol prices significantly higher than they are in the United States, the blue oval is selling 6L 4x4 gas guzzlers... Does that make any sense? Where are those European-sold diesels and hybrids?

And they question why they're falling apart.

D, Gonzales, Manila, Philippines

I look forward to this article every week. The last two, I have woken my wife crying with laughter as I read the rhetoric and humour. I totally agree on your conclusion about acting.

I saw the new mondeo at a Ford dealership this week and, not being an expert on Fords was amazed to realise that it was indeed a mondeo. A thing of beauty.

Well done JC.

Bruce harper, Wootton, England

Having recently driven the current Focus 1.6 LX, the fact it has
independent rear suspension, is irrelevant when it has fundamental flaws, that make me never want to drive a Focus
again. For example the centre console trim that curves down
adjacent to the drivers left leg. It has a sharp edge to it that digs into the drivers leg and is truely uncomfortable after a
days driving. A company that has been making cars as long
as Ford should not be making mistakes as basic as this. That they are doing so, is perhaps a part of their problems.

Martin Christopher, Whitstable, Kent

In America, maybe, anything can be rigged.. but its fairly public knowledge that the JD survey shows an egg as an egg and not cotton candy. In that case, Ford has hope. Because quite surprisingly, Ford has had a whole array of its cars in the list of winners and the Mustang right on top!!

Its one thing that a manufacturer like Mercedes has cut its profit margins by one-third (so they say!) to improve quality, but its an entirely different ball game when a company eye-ball deep in the red decides not to hold up on the green and actually produce cars that can take the stick.

If Ford is turning over a new leaf, and its high time they did, i guess we should give them a chance. If we can knight Mr.Salman Rushdie for his contributions, the least we can do for Ford for all that they have given the automotive world, is buy a few of their cars.

Melvin Michael, Manama, Bahrain

As I understand it the Mondeo was/is Ford's 'world car'. And that's still the problem... they'll be everywhere? It may well be fabulous to drive and painless to own, but ... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

KAW, Newton Abbot, UK

SOunds like a really good car, if only I could afford one in Norway, where a 2.5 litre car requires selling your kids for medical experimentation.

Jonathan, Bergen, Norway

Ford will not be allowed to go under. As an institution it is far too important.

Andy Hedges, London, England

How sad is Hanus who would rather break down in a car with 'style and good looks' than drive a reliable and spacious 'down market' car. Rep cars are usually bought because they are economical to run and reliable, something Ford beats Renualt & VW for.

John, Watford,

In the '80's Ｉ worked for a village mechanic in Hertfordshire, repairing Cortinas, Escorts, Sierras and the occaisional Land Rover. My boss couldn't comprehend why my parents never brought their cars (a Honda Accord and a VW Polo) to him for repairs.
The writing was on the wall then, and now the letters are 10ft high and day glow. Ford had a good run through the 20th century, but their game is up this millenium. Nostagia is no reason for a car company to be extant - just ask Morris Garages Jeremy.

Justin Gardiner, Yokohama, Japan

The worst car I have ever driven was a 1.1 litre late 1980s Escort, given to me brand new as a company car. It was so uncomfortable I got backache after 5 minutes, and had so little pep my old Renault 4 with a 650cc engine could beat it. It would not start in the cold How they dared to sell it I do not know. All Ford's history was reduced to a nasty, smelly tin and glass can. Even the radio did not work. I left the firm and handed in the keys when they refused to change it, saying the leasing company would not let them and that everyone knew Fords were good cars. The firm went bust two years later. I have never sat in a Ford since and never will.

Brian , Bordeaux, France

Why would you want one , when the baby Lexus or the fabulous Alfa 159 is out there for the same money you also get a much better looking vehicle without "sheep" stamped on your forehead. I look forward to the day when you are classed as a sheep when you buy an Alfa or Lexus the roads will be a better looking place. Bye bye Ford .

Nick Dixon, Sutton Coldfield,

The cars of my youth were Fords; Fiesta Sport and XR2. I even had the Sierras and Sapphires when I became a Sales Rep. But you know what Jeremy, people move on and discover that there are cars out there with style and good looks, like Renault and VW, albeit with crap reliability. Oh and yes Jeremy, that downmarket aspect. I stopped driving Fords simply because it was the company car that every rep had and I wanted something different.

Hanus Wolf, St Neots,

I've previously owned two V6 Mondeos in the 90's and they were simply sublime..... when they worked. It was a similar story of disappointment with the two Orions and the two Capris i owned before that. Since I could afford it therefore, it's been German all the way and i've never had a mechanical, electrical or quality fault since.

But..... for the first time this century.... this new Mondeo has me thinking "Why am i paying £35k for a 4 door saloon car when i could have a Mondeo for £20k?". I saw spy shots of the new Focus recently too and it looks even better than the Mondeo. If they can spark interest from a man who said "never again" a long time ago, then there's a glimmer of hope for Ford. I think I might even buy some shares let alone the car. Just PLEASE make sure it works!

Martin, Manchester, United Kingdom of German Car Buyers

It's £23,000 - for a sort of Cortina which does less to the gallon than 2.5 litre cars did 40 years ago. And my 1960s Renault 4 boinged out after a bang if you got it up to 45 mph and created a bit of air pressure.

eric campbell, harrogate, uk

Whilst I am sure this is a great car to drive and cheap that is only half the story.

When TG reviewed the Mondeo ST a couple of years ago it was enough to persuade me to ditch the other european makes and go with the blue oval. Oh what a mistake.

Now 2 years in and there is no way I will give Ford any more money ever. By far the least reliable car I have ever owned, serviced by a dealer chain that does not have a clue and backed up by a company that treats its customers with contempt.

It's a shame because as a car, my Mondeo puts a smile on my face every time I drive it but long term Ford ownership is not a plesant experience.

Mark Roddis, Spalding,