Ford needed Mondeo 3 years ago.

marcosambrose · 12-03-2007, 11:56 PM

Hopefully we have all seen the new Mondeo which is coming in June, this car much like the other recent cars brought out by Ford Europe (S-Max, Focus, Galaxy) is absolutely brilliant.

But why didn't Ford bring th previous generation Mondeo over when Mazda brought the new 6 and Honda brought the new Accord into Australia in 2003. Surely they could have forseen the rising fuel costs, speculation was everywhere.

The previous generation Mondeo (2000-2007) is a great car and i'm a firm believer tha Ford should never have dropped the Mondeo after the botched attempt to bring it here from 1994-2000.

I have always loved this car, especially the ST models, But it took them too long to bring the Focus here and i also believe they took too long to bring the Mondeo here again, in fact they should never have dropped it. Medium sized cars are crucial in a Vehicle manufacturer's line-up, just like at Mazda (6), Toyota (4-cyl Camry) and Honda (Accord).

Heres some pics of the last 3 generations of the Mondeos, including the brand new 2007 model.

1996-2000: (available here)

2000-2007 (not available here)

2007- (available here)

I think Ford should also bring the S-Max, this car won European car of the year and would fit snuggly into the lineup too.

In conclusion, Ford would be a little healthier in market share if we have this great car at least 3 years ago.

Discuss.

0xyg3n · 12-03-2007, 11:59 PM

I believe we also had the mk1 model mondeo here as well.

Piotr · 13-03-2007, 12:33 AM

re-read the 3rd paragraph

GXL078 · 13-03-2007, 09:16 AM

Ford needed a medium sized car in 2005 when pertol hit $1.50. The last Cortinas were a good size.

My Dad had one of those first Mondeos for a loan car when he pranged his Fairmont. It was an auto wagon. He still goes on about what a **** car it was. He kept comparing it to his dad's Camira, he said it was in the same league.

When I see what the general public drive in Europe it makes our full-sized Australian cars look oversized. A Falcon is good for our wide open spaces and makes a cheap taxi cab for the city (I imagine those London cabs cost a lot, as they don't have a full-sized car they can use).

I wouldn't like to be paying for fuel to run one day in day out though.

digitalpunk · 13-03-2007, 01:12 PM

When Ford first brought the Mondeo to Australia it failed. The car was a hit in the UK but at the time Australians wanted big cars, the Commodore and Falcon were not in the sales situation they are currently in. In my opinion it was bad timing for a car that wasn't completely up to scratch and people who brought them were burnt. If the original launch for the Mondeo was put off for 5-10 years then I think the Mondeo would have been and still would be a hit.

The 2007 Mondeo definitely looks the goods, maybe it is off a few years to re-release the car into Australia, or maybe Ford Australia just wanted to wait for the new model to be released with a big marketing campaign (we can be hopeful) and fresh start.

holmsy · 13-03-2007, 01:22 PM

i hated the earlier mondeo's personally.
the new ones not bad tho

XR8320 · 13-03-2007, 01:24 PM

Are they going to bring the new wagon as well???

BlueRaven · 13-03-2007, 01:34 PM

From what I remember, Ford doesn't believe that there is a large market for medium cars. I'm sure I read from an interview that they believe the main sellers are the smaller cars. So it would be return on investment, like anything else.

**Polyal** · 13-03-2007, 01:42 PM

hmm...id still love a ST24. Driven the ST220, thats awesome!

SSVPom · 13-03-2007, 02:05 PM

The Mondeo didn't fare too well in the US, badged as the Contour as like Australia, the US are used to big saloon cars with large lazy engines - the opposite to Europe where we are driven by high fuel costs and smaller winding roads.

Having owned a 1.8 Zetec Mondeo in the UK, where it was considered a 'big' car, I can honestly say it suited me down to the ground... but over here where everyone is used to 4.0+ litre engines, tow boats and trailers and has been brought up on the classic big Aussie 6, it would flounder in the sales department.

In 2007 of course there is now a real need for fuel efficient cars over here as well, so bring on the new model!!

GXL078 · 13-03-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FairmontPom

Having owned a 1.8 Zetec Mondeo in the UK, where it was considered a 'big' car, I can honestly say it suited me down to the ground... but over here where everyone is used to 4.0+ litre engines, tow boats and trailers and has been brought up on the classic big Aussie 6, it would flounder in the sales department.

All that is changing here too. Look at all the Corollas and Mazda 3s on the road these days.

csv8 · 13-03-2007, 03:38 PM

FORDs biggest problem selling the MONDEO will be their crap marketting department.
If they get the adds right, it will sell.

MoreHPformyXR6 · 13-03-2007, 04:36 PM

I like the look of yhe new Mondeo seen in at MIMS. I like the pics of seen of top of the line sedan. Had hatch on display at motor show. Will have a look when its time to trade in a few years time.

Walkinshaw · 13-03-2007, 05:23 PM

There may be a market for te mondeo. Mazda6 etc purchasers were never looking at a Falcon anway, so mabey the mondeo can fill that gap. Untill it can tow 2300kg easly it wont replace falcon.

Yellow_Festiva · 13-03-2007, 09:05 PM

When I bought the Festiva new in 99 the Modeo was being sold with free air tickets over seas as a sweatener!

Hmmm wonder what goodies will be on offer this time round? not much i hope as the new Mondeo looks very nice indeed.....

Pricing as well as marketing will decide I guess!

GXL078 · 14-03-2007, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

When I bought the Festiva new in 99 the Modeo was being sold with free air tickets over seas as a sweatener!

Hmmm wonder what goodies will be on offer this time round? not much i hope as the new Mondeo looks very nice indeed.....

Pricing as well as marketing will decide I guess!

Free air tickets to countries where people actually buy Mondeos, so you didn't feel like a loner. Didn't they have an ST24 model that was nearly $40K?, lol.

the_scotsman · 14-03-2007, 10:27 AM

I've always loved the Mondeo...growing up in Scotland...yes, the Mondeo was, and I suppose still is, considered a mid-large sized family car.
Between the Escort and the FOcus, the Mondeo was the best selling car in the UK for many years.
I can also see why it wouldnt have taken off in Australia when it was released, when you have the 4 litre Falcon and Commodore family cars.

The way things are heading though, I reckon there is a big market for it over here, as someone said above, only with the right marketing though...

marcosambrose · 14-03-2007, 07:01 PM

Lets pray then, because when i'm out of uni, and have cash to burn, im getting a Mondeo ST or something alike, perfect sized car and perfect sized engine in my books.

Midas · 14-03-2007, 10:23 PM

Dude....no-one needed Mondeo.

Bossxr8 · 17-03-2007, 11:03 AM

Medium car sales have more than doubled since the first Mondeo was dropped. At the time it wasn't worth bringing in the last one as it wouldn't have sold too well. Medium sales started going gangbusters a year or so later when the Mazda 6 and Accord Euro were introduced.