Blimey. 20 years since.............

[freebird]

the Sierra got panned at its launch for being a 're-bodied Cortina'. (You think you're old remembering the Mondeo launch? I can remember the outrage when the jelly mould Sierra appeared! ) Despite the futuristic looks it drove pretty similarly to the 'Tina

 

Eh? The Sierra was nothing like a Cortina and the only thing it inherited was the engine and gearbox. The ride was vastly superior and so was the handling - the Mark 5 Cortina was only a slightly massaged version of the 1970 Mark 3 and it was pretty crap. Great on the motorway but over bumpy roads it was poor, particularly for rear seat passengers. The Sierra wasn't quite as advanced as Ford made it out to be, but it was at least 10 years ahead of what it replaced.

I knew somebody that worked "behind the scenes" when the Sierra was launched. Its disasterous launch had bog all to do with whether its underpinnings were from the Cortina, its problem was that it was too radical!!

The average Cortina buyer really had nothing to identify with, all previous Cortinas were regenerations of the previous models and now Ford had not only launched a Radical design, it had also changed the name.

Senior mamagement, at that time, shit bricks, they actually believed that they had another Edsel on their hands and so Fords marketing department went into overdrive. Apparently they, more or less, "gave" cars to fleet operators at prices that were impossible to turn down which, in turn, flooded the market, flooded the roads and gave the shape and name a greater familiarity to the public. It saved Ford.

Thats what i was told, ive no reason to doubt the source.

Mondeos. Ive read the story on Aronline and, within it, appears to be the reasoning as to why so many are now being bangered. A stiffer and more rigid chassis makes them seriously good racers.

I suppose the earlier Mondeos will go the way of Granadas and MK3 Cortinas, they will end up dead on the ovals.

[ruffgeezer]

Blimey. For some reason the Xantia's age surprises me more than the Mondeo. I can't say I'm overwhelmed by Xantias though. The fact that they're so good at being normal kind of goes against why I like Citroens. The BX managed to appeal to the 'normal' people as well as the enthusiasts. Or maybe it's just me. At a Citroen rally last year, there were LOADS of Xantias. Mind you, 90% of them were V6s, most of the rest were Activas.

 

That's the thing though isn't it? For a certified Citrovert such as yourself, a Xantia isn't Citroenic enough! I felt the same about the ones I've owned (2xHdi 110 estate, 2x 1.9td estate), they were more tools to be used rather than cars to be cherished.

The BX on the other hand always felt special when I drove it, from the "I hope you aren't putting your kids in that" comments to the gentle use of the driver's door for fear of it falling off, it oozed cheap plasticy, Gallic charm.

 

I must admit I never lusted after a Mondeo, but when I was in my mid teens, I ordered a bunch of brochures for the "new" Mk6 Escort, a car I'd later buy whilst serving an apprenticeship with Ford (1998 Gti).

[hennabm]

I agree with freebird.

 

Working for a Ford dealer at the time the sales reps left in droves after the loss of the 'Tina. The rwd Cavalier took a huge numebr of them as they were still the three box vehicle they knew and loved.

 

The Sierra was a problem from day 1 with the front ARB/bottom arm bushes; sunvisor clips; steering column bottom bushes etc etc.

 

The worst I saw was the Sun rep who took a new Sierra estate and didn't put the Ford towbar on as he was advised. A little while later he came back because the OSR door wouldn't shut properly. Yep the body had twisted and Ford walked away.

 

The proper Ford bar had brace bars from the boot floor to the tops of the wheel arched to stop them twisting.

[Spiny Norman]

 

Working for a Ford dealer at the time the sales reps left in droves after the loss of the 'Tina. The rwd Cavalier took a huge numebr of them as they were still the three box vehicle they knew and loved.

 

Maybe my memory's playing tricks on me but I could have sworn the Mk2 fwd Cavvy pre-dated the Sierra by a year or so.

Weren't there X reg Cavvies? Can't remember seeing any Sierras newer than a Y.

[RichL]

I've never been a fan of the Mondeo. It's a car I really wanted to like but it just never happened. The only one I ever wanted was the ST200. Imperial Blue and a V6

[hennabm]

Hi SH

 

maybe my mind is playing tricks. IIRC the MKII came in boot form didn't it?

[Spiny Norman]

Hi SH

 

maybe my mind is playing tricks. IIRC the MKII came in boot form didn't it?

Yup, I had a bright red 1.6L as a company car for a while. (after a Cortina funnily enough...)

 

 

Back to Mondeos for a moment, there's quite a clean dark blue saloon round here on an L plate.

[stuboy]

best one in a saloon was an st200..

[stuboy]

love mine..

my friend and his wife have citrines...

[trigger]

I saw a old couple today in a clean locally registered R reg ST24 saloon without all the bodykit, just the body spoiler and chrome alloys in a nice met. blue, it looked really smart still, I think the 4 doors looked the best with a boot spoiler fitted.

[retrogeezer]

ST200 estate does it for me:

 

 

[Negative Creep]

http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/fo ... rd-mondeo/

 

Lots of prototype pictures. All seem somewhat on the bland side

[garycox]

love mine..

 

Really? Wow.

 

Why have you done that to it then?

[stuboy]

st200 i would like next

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Agree with RG, i'd like to try an ST200 estate! Reckon it would be class. I'd probably lose the bodykit though.

[triumph1300]

Here's my mk1, RS kitted, excuse the tow rope, the cam belt snapped, so i bought another with full leather and swapped it all over

 

 

I loved it, would have another mk1 anyday, only a saloon though, stuff the hatches they make me cringe.

[trigger]

I suppose the earlier Mondeos will go the way of Granadas and MK3 Cortinas, they will end up dead on the ovals.

 

Not just the earlier ones too.

 

[freebird]

I suppose the earlier Mondeos will go the way of Granadas and MK3 Cortinas, they will end up dead on the ovals.

 

Not just the earlier ones too.

 

Ive never seen one as new as that before.

All the ones Ive ever seen have been MK1 jobbies.

Blimey, the Mondeo will soon become a dying species that cannot be made faster than they can be raced to the death.