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2002 Mondeo Mk3 1.8 LX
Reviewed by:
JWGB
on 15-August 14
Owning Experience
Owned For: 2 months
Good Points: Handling, huge boot, comfortably large interior, lots of spares and inexpensive.
Bad Point: The performance and economy of the 1.8.
Ratings
How It Drives:
Fuel Economy:
Reliability:
Practicality:
Overall Rating:
My car is a 2002 Duratec 1.8 LX. Why on Earth Ford would decide to put a 1.8 engine in a car of this size and weight is beyond me. There is no where near enough power, and the revving you have to give it just to keep up with the flow of traffic means that fuel economy not overly impressive either. Driving to and from work and around town it averages 20-22mpg! Longer, faster runs are of course better at 34-36mpg.
That said, I didn't pay much for this particular example at 135,000 miles and it looks very tidy. It's very quiet on the road while driving, and there's enough sound damping to disguise the noise of the valves hitting the underside of the bonnet as you try to keep up with the bus in front of you.
The handling and brakes are very impressive for a FWD of this size and everthing seems tight despite the car's age.
The interior is pleasent enough in a uber plastic kind of way. There's a surprising number of gadgets for an LX, and everything works as it should with the exception of the drivers seat height adjustment. I collected mine with the seat stuck in the fully up position. Not comfortable when your 6'3".
So far there have been no major concerns, apart from suspecting the clutch was getting tired as the bite point is very high. I've since decided that the clutch and the dmf are absolutely fine after being quoted £700+ to change them.
There have been few minor niggles though. The bonnet release wouldn't. The seat height adjustment didn't. The rear screen washer won't. The engine management light came on two days after purchase (*#@!!) with an F0400 code which disappeared after a further days driving (yay!). Gotta love an EGR valve.
All in all a very good car, but if you're interested in getting anywhere on time, don't get the 1.8.
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