Cortinas, Cavaliers and successors - where did they go?

[Tetchytyke]

Fords have never been renowned for their longevity, fleet cars never get treated well, and the Mondeo was the Ford fleet car. Mondeos that are more than about 15 years old will nearly all have been scrapped by now. So you won't see many, if any, MK3s, and a fair few of the older Mk4s will be well on their way to the scrapyard by now too.

What killed the Mondeo? Honestly, I'd say the BMW 3-series did. You always got more for your money from Ford but the Mondeo segment was notoriously snobby. And given the rise of the PCP, you could get a BMW 3-series or an Audi A4 for Mondeo money. So everybody did.

I see a few Mk5s here, and they are huge. They look like an oil tanker. That'll be the other thing- anyone who wants a car that big will probably go down the SUV route these days.

 

[birchesgreen]

This thread is magic, don't remember seeing any Mondeos for ages and i saw two today.

 

[Jamesrob637]

There's an M reg Cavalier opposite a friend of mine in Hazel Grove. It has less than 60k on the clock for almost 30 years old - that's barely 2k a year average!

 

[DustyBin]

There's an M reg Cavalier opposite a friend of mine in Hazel Grove. It has less than 60k on the clock for almost 30 years old - that's barely 2k a year average!

One of mine has just less than 5k on the clock after 7 years, although to average 2k a year over that length of time is actually more impressive!

 

[birchesgreen]

Retirement purchase, and the owner has enjoyed a long and happy retirement?

My Dad was only doing about 2K a year after he retired.

 

[chris53]

Did actually see a Cortina yesterday drive past me. Immaculate condition. Made me feel very nostalgic as it is the first car I remember my mum having when I was a kid

 

[birchesgreen]

Did actually see a Cortina yesterday drive past me. Immaculate condition. Made me feel very nostalgic as it is the first car I remember my mum having when I was a kid

Around the corner from where i live someone has a gorgeous Mark 1 Cortina, it spends the winter in a garage but i think soon it will start making appearances outside.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I was following a (seemingly) mint condition Ford Orion yesterday and made me think of this thread.

It was as near as damn it the same size as my 2013 Ford Fiesta. Goes to show just how much bigger all the cars have got in the last 30 years.

 

[Snow1964]

Did actually see a Cortina yesterday drive past me. Immaculate condition. Made me feel very nostalgic as it is the first car I remember my mum having when I was a kid

Thought of this thread when I saw a mk4 cortina the other day, then I had more of a shock few days ago when I saw an Austin Maxi drive past.

To get back to earlier comments about how the rep brands have faded, this is most popular brand in 2024 in UK (SMMT sales figures Jan-Mar)

1 Volkswagen 22,147 cars
2 Nissan 20,559
3 BMW 20,065
4 Mercedes-Benz 19,794
5 Kia 18,478
6 Audi 18,454
7 Ford 17,026
8 Toyota 16,886
9 Vauxhall 15,553
10 Hyundai 13,560
11 MG 12,934
12 Landrover 12,376
13 Peugeot 11,944

Car Registrations

SMMT is the country’s primary source of data on the motor industry. Click here for the SMMT car registrations data published monthly

www.smmt.co.uk

 

[richw]

11 MG 12,934

My parents m purchased a high spec MG 2 years ago, it’s a lot of car for the money, with a long warranty and a lot of toys. It was cheaper than a low spec similar sized Dacia. Its had no need for any warrant work.
I’d have turned my nose up at a Chinese MG until they made this purchase. It fits all their needs for a fraction of the price of anything else of similar spec.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Whenever I see a 70s-80s car, I can't resist taking a snap.

I haven't seen any "1990s bog standard / fleet car" examples by Ford or Vauxhalll, for many years.
However, locally I see a fairly presentable Mondy ST220 now and then.

 

[birchesgreen]

Saw a lovely orange Capri earlier, pity i was driving too so couldn't get a photo.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Saw a lovely orange Capri earlier, pity i was driving too so couldn't get a photo.

Don't they look small now? When I was a youth, their bonnets looked so long.

 

[bspahh]

Don't they look small now? When I was a youth, their bonnets looked so long.

I find it hard to lust after a car with cart springs for the rear suspension.

 

[DelW]

Don't they look small now? When I was a youth, their bonnets looked so long.

Many years ago, I had a 2-litre mk1 Capri, which had the V4 engine. It looked lost under that bonnet! The radiator was about a foot back from the grille.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Many years ago, I had a 2-litre mk1 Capri, which had the V4 engine. It looked lost under that bonnet! The radiator was about a foot back from the grille.

I can imagine! My first car was a 1986 Rover SD1. A straight-six twin-carbs block, with so much "air" either side of it. primarily because the engine bay also took the Buick derived Rover V8 lump.

 

[Darandio]

Didn't even know this thread existed!

I’ve liked all of the Mondeos I’ve driven, from battered old Mk1s to new Mk5s I’ve had as courtesy cars. It’s a shame Ford made the Mk5 a bit “softer” to widen its appeal (ironically!) as the driving experience was really the Mondeo’s USP. The Mk4 was (in my opinion) “peak Mondeo”, even if the exterior styling was rather questionable. The Mk4 was (in my opinion) “peak Mondeo”, even if the exterior styling was rather questionable.

I'm probably biased but i'd certainly agree. Got hold of one a couple of years ago with relatively low mileage in lovely condition that was fully loaded with all the toys available at that time, never had a problem and it's a cracking car. My mate on the other hand recently bought a Mk5 'Vignale' on the strength of me owning this Mondeo and he absolutely hates it, says it's like driving a boat.

 

[75A]

I've got a 2010 Mondeo Estate 2 litre diesel, had it from new only done 90k and I love it to bits.

 

[DM352]

In North America, it is hard to get a sedan car in favour of suvs and trucks, and they are mostly automatic transmission.

In the last few years they have discontinued more manual transmission and gone one step further with some auto transmissions to simpler CVT which has had reports of falling to bits especially with Nissan

 

[ExRes]

I looked up my old 06 2 litre petrol Mondeo, SORN and expired MOT, and noticed the car tax is now £395, no wonder there aren't many still in use

 

[Peter Sarf]

I looked up my old 06 2 litre petrol Mondeo, SORN and expired MOT, and noticed the car tax is now £395, no wonder there aren't many still in use

If it is ULEZ compliant then there is a market for such cars.

 

[75A]

Seems a lot, my 2010 Mondeo 2 litre Diesel Turbo is £210

 

[ExRes]

Seems a lot, my 2010 Mondeo 2 litre Diesel Turbo is £210

Yes, I'm slightly confused, TfL says it meets ULEZ requirements while 'Check the Car' site says 218g CO2

 

[Sun Chariot]

Parked at my local supermarket just now. Astra GTE (1986 reg). Now  that takes me back...

 

[swt_passenger]

Don't they look small now? When I was a youth, their bonnets looked so long.

I once had a short time behind the wheel of a friend’s Capri, it might have been a bad example but its handling was atrocious, the steering was hopelessly unresponsive, probably needed power steering, and from a driver‘s perspective the bonnet did seem very long.

 

[DustyBin]

I once had a short time behind the wheel of a friend’s Capri, it might have been a bad example but its handling was atrocious, the steering was hopelessly unresponsive, probably needed power steering, and from a driver‘s perspective the bonnet did seem very long.

It was probably well worn; they're actually quite "chuckable" if rather tail happy!

 

[swt_passenger]

It was probably well worn; they're actually quite "chuckable" if rather tail happy!

This would have been about 1975 or 76! I can hardly remember the cars general condition now, although as a Mk1 it mustn’t have been that old, maximum of about 6 years maybe?

 

[DustyBin]

This would have been about 1975 or 76! I can hardly remember the cars general condition now, although as a Mk1 it mustn’t have been that old, maximum of about 6 years maybe?

Yes, it couldn't have been much older than that. It would depend on the mileage and general condition I suppose, as well as the quality of the tyres.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I once had a short time behind the wheel of a friend’s Capri, it might have been a bad example but its handling was atrocious, the steering was hopelessly unresponsive, probably needed power steering, and from a driver‘s perspective the bonnet did seem very long.

I can remember my Mums Austin 1100 beating a Capri on the A322 West of the A30.

 

[Western Lord]

I find it hard to lust after a car with cart springs for the rear suspension.

Some surprisingly exotic cars had cart springs, the Ferrari 250GT (including the GTO) and as late as 1966 the Maserati Ghibli.