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[Minispud]

Lizzie,

Always had Vauxhalls and recently Opels. Of course most modern Vauxhalls are Opels anyway with German build quality. My first car was a Viva 1800 SL and was quite plush against my mate's Escort Mk2 Popular

Humpy

Indeed!  Ford always did skimp on the 'luxuries' in their cars.  With my first brand new Escort Mk1 a radio wasn't even fitted and there was no space purposely given in the dash for one!  You had to install one on brackets under the front passenger 'parcel shelf'!

The only problem with the Viva's was they rusted to pieces all too quickly, especially in the front wings!

 My first car was a 1970 Vauxhall Viva HB 1159cc, it was ten year old when I got her (1980) and I keep it for 4 years, had no rust problems with her  

[VXL V6]

The only problem with the Viva's was they rusted to pieces all too quickly, especially in the front wings

Yeah, I'll give you that

Humpy

My friend and I taught ourselves to drive in Viva's etc from his fathers scrapyard! You soon learn clutch control when there is no floor to put your foot on!  

[FRE07962128]

Lizzie,

Always had Vauxhalls and recently Opels. Of course most modern Vauxhalls are Opels anyway with German build quality. My first car was a Viva 1800 SL and was quite plush against my mate's Escort Mk2 Popular

Humpy

Indeed!  Ford always did skimp on the 'luxuries' in their cars.  With my first brand new Escort Mk1 a radio wasn't even fitted and there was no space purposely given in the dash for one!  You had to install one on brackets under the front passenger 'parcel shelf'!

The only problem with the Viva's was they rusted to pieces all too quickly, especially in the front wings!

 My first car was a 1970 Vauxhall Viva HB 1159cc, it was ten year old when I got her (1980) and I keep it for 4 years, had no rust problems with her  

You were VERY lucky to have one that didn't within about 6 years of new.  It was well known at the time how quickly they rusted, and that is one reason why it is extremely rare to see one still 'alive' now.  Most went to the breakers at least 25 years ago .

There will always be exceptions to the rule though!
 

[FRE07962128]

The only problem with the Viva's was they rusted to pieces all too quickly, especially in the front wings

Yeah, I'll give you that

Humpy

My friend and I taught ourselves to drive in Viva's etc from his fathers scrapyard! You soon learn clutch control when there is no floor to put your foot on!  

In 1971 I had an A40 with that problem; and it still had a legal MOT !

[VXL V6]

Still, years later when I was old enough to have driving lessons I think all I had to do was learn the Highway Code! Saved myself a fortune!

 

[amigov6]

Mk1 Mondeos drove smoother than Mk 1 Veccies & were cracking if a little boring motors...as were the veccies. Being a Mig lover but not necessarily a VX lover the early mondies in reps trim beat the Veccies hands down. Mondy clutch replacements can be an issue i know but on a £300 budget i'd opt for the Mondeo.
     Que the posts from those who had early Veccies that ran forever but i still think Ford won this one overall.

[JiMbOb789]

i agree definetly, i know what you mean

[Kevin Wood]

Mk1 Mondeos drove smoother than Mk 1 Veccies & were cracking if a little boring motors...as were the veccies. Being a Mig lover but not necessarily a VX lover the early mondies in reps trim beat the Veccies hands down. Mondy clutch replacements can be an issue i know but on a £300 budget i'd opt for the Mondeo.
     Que the posts from those who had early Veccies that ran forever but i still think Ford won this one overall.

Ford mechanicals are pretty bomb proof, in fairness. You only have to see the abuse they survive in kit cars to realise that. It's probably because the mechanicals survive total neglect to high mileages that we see so much neglected bodywork on the roads. After all, the owner of the average M reg Mondeo has probably never heard of oil changes never mind anything else.

Kevin

[The Elite]

The patchwork bumpers you see on mondies is due to a design flaw, at motorway speed the bottom of the bumper starts to 'flap', the vibration caused by this eventually cracks the bumper, hence why you see so many like it...

[bertiecbx550]

i think i would of still been driving my mondeo ghia x if it had not of been for thta woman in great bridge!!!! god i loved that car it had everything and it made feel like i had a top class motor my dad loved being driven round in it and it made him proud....you should see the smile on his face now though when he gets to sit in the miggy...god knows what he`d be like if i had an elite or mv6.....

[jereboam]

i think i would of still been driving my mondeo ghia x if it had not of been for thta woman in great bridge!!!! god i loved that car it had everything and it made feel like i had a top class motor my dad loved being driven round in it and it made him proud....you should see the smile on his face now though when he gets to sit in the miggy...god knows what he`d be like if i had an elite or mv6.....

I had a Mondeo Ghia X estate TDCi for a year or so - hated it.  Got rid of it when a colleague's Omega went up for sale.  Much happier.

Before the Mondeo I had a Volvo 960 - beautiful car - wish I hadn't sold it.  It felt like a £30k car, as does the Omega.  Strangely enough, that's what the Mondeo cost as well, but it felt like a £15k car with £15k of accessories, if you know what I mean.

[Danny]

The patched up bumper look on mondeos from 1995-2000 is pretty much a country wide thing Lizzie, and they often choose tape that least matches the colour of the car

they're everywhere up here too!!

[Kevin Wood]

The patched up bumper look on mondeos from 1995-2000 is pretty much a country wide thing Lizzie, and they often choose tape that least matches the colour of the car

they're everywhere up here too!!

That's if the bumper already matches the rest of the car. Must be a real dilemma choosing the duct tape colour when you car's one colour and your bumper's primer coloured!

Kevin

[Jimbob]

Is the 1 working and headlight and 1 missing brakelight also mandatory?

[Kevin Wood]

Is the 1 working and headlight and 1 missing brakelight also mandatory?

Ooh! That reminds me. SWMBO has 1 working headlight.  

She's obviously not driven in the dark this week or she'd have nagged reminded me.

The state of some cars is appauling. Owners seem to take no care to ensure they are driving a safe vehicle. I followed a Megane last night and it looked like the earth points on both rear light clusters had come adrift. There was a vague flickering glow from all of the lights whenever something was being signalled but impossible to tell what!

I guess the only time these cars are at an acceptable standard is on the day of their MOT.

Kevin