Ford Mondeo Ghia X 2.0

After 12 months and almost 23,000 miles, the Mondeo keys have been finally wrenched from our hands by Ford. How now are we going to move our furniture, family and photographers (sometimes all at the same time) we're asking ourselves? The big car has excelled at all three during the past year, yet has been a reliable and reasonably cheap barge to run. The one service in May set us back #149, although needing all four tyres replaced at once was a very expensive #595 (plus tracking). Still, it hasn't been any trouble since and despite its humble blue oval badge, it would give any executive saloon a run for its money in the comfort stakes, while there hasn't been much we couldn't fit behind the seats.

It's had a few adventures along the way too. As the original rep-mobile, we hooked up with Business Development Manager Neil Kisby, who works for Frontline (the company that gets our mags on the shelves) and took it on a sales trip. Neil liked it, but the thought of living the cliche of 'Mondeo Man' put him off the idea of owning one. And if the Mondeo has a problem then that's it. People still associate the car with wide-boy wannabe execs on the make. But to hell with the image, because when you switch on the cruise control or crank up the fine stereo or heat up the seats on a frosty morning or even take it all the way to the N|rburgring, you feel pretty good about being where you are. So goodbye, Silver Bullet, we'll miss you Paul Walton

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