Posts Tagged safety
Ford Car Warranties Don’t live a little, live on fire
If you have a car that was manufactured by Ford and you are looking at buying extended car warranty, then it’s worth shopping around. By spending time researching your options, you might end up saving yourself a lot of money. The purchase of warranty agreements is an area that seems to cause many UK consumers a lot of confusion. This confusion undoubtedly arises, in part, from the way in which such products are sold in the United Kingdom.
Many are under the incorrect impression that it is necessary to visit a car dealership in order to purchase a policy. This is not, in fact, the case when it comes to such products. Nor is it the case when we turn to look at the specifics of buying a warranty for a Ford vehicle.
New vehicles will generally come with a warranty included. This is to cover the car owner during their initial period of vehicle ownership. Since new vehicles might be expected to have a few niggles, it is often fortunate that such cover is in place. The length of this initial cover can vary from one manufacturer to the next. When you purchase a new car, it’s important that you check on the exact details of any inclusive warranty arrangement. You may find that it provides assistance for anywhere between 12 and 36 months.
Once this cover expires, many Ford owners look to purchase extended warranty agreements. These can ensure that you can continue to use your car, safe in the knowledge that any problems will be covered. The financial safety margin that such a policy provides can be invaluable.
At this point, you may think that the most sensible thing to do would be to visit your local Ford dealership. This may not, however, necessarily result in you getting the best possible car warranty deal. Unless you take the time to shop around, you may be unaware of whether you are being offered real value for money.
This highlights the importance of spending time researching what’s available. You could save yourself a considerable amount by comparing prices online. Don’t simply accept the first offer that you see. Don’t live a little, live on fire
Tags: a car, car dealer, car dealers, car dealership, car warranties, car warranty, dealer, dealers, dealership, extended car warranty, extended warranty, lights, new car, new vehicle, new vehicles, price, prices, problem, problems, safety, VehicleRelated posts
Used Ford – All Hail the Mighty Mondeo
The ubiquitous Ford Mondeo first launched in 1993 and now in its fourth generation was the catalyst for the re-emergence of Ford as a major force in world motoring. Prior to this Ford’s future in Europe was hanging in the balance due to the unfortunate reputation of bland underperforming cars that on the face of it seemed to be designed by accountants rather than engineers. Phrases like “Dagenham dustbin” were being banded around and Ford were determined to reverse the negative tide.
Ford embarked on what was to be one of the most expensive new car programmes ever and from that under the codename CDW27 “Mondeo” was born. Mondeo derives from the Latin word mundus meaning “world” and was designed to be a world beater. It was also known as the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique. In Europe the Mondeo was the successor to the fairly well received Sierra but Ford were hankering after the heady days of the all-conquering Cortina which sold over a million during the twenty years it was in production.
A large proportion of the high development cost was due to the Mondeo being a completely new design sharing very little if anything, with the Sierra. With new transmissions and a sophisticated new suspension design Ford were hoping to achieve class-leading handling and ride qualities to give executive car refinement. Ford set its sights high with the likes of Honda and Nissan as the main targets.
By this time safety was a growing issue and as such was a high priority in the Mondeo design with a driver’s airbag in all models. Also on offer were side-impact bars, seat belt pre-tensioners and ABS. The advent of the heated front windscreen branded Quickclear which is still a great feature today.
The then-new Zetec petrol engine which was developed for the revised Escort powered the range together with the Endura turbo diesel which had older origins and was a bit outdated compared to the competition. Also available was a 2.5 litre 24-valve V6 unit which went on to power the performance “ST24″
The Mk2 Mondeo received a major a facelift when launched in 1996 and Ford set about addressing some of the criticisms of the Mk1 mainly around the styling, cramped rear legroom and poor headlights. Although this was all improved it was said this was at the expense of the equipment level which was lowered slightly. The cynics also argued that this was an attempt to recoup some of the huge investment cost in the original design. The Mk2 saw the emergence of the ‘oval’ grille which was a big feature of Ford vehicles around this time and was well received. Indeed the Mk2 was a big success in Europe.
In the US the Contour and Mystique did not fare so well and equally was unpopular in Australia leading some in the motoring industry to question if the Mondeo could ever achieve world car status unlike global models such as the BMW 3 Series. Although curiously Japan was a good market for the Mondeo as was New Zealand.
Next we come to the Mk3 Mondeo which is of special interest to me as I own one. The Mk3 was launched in 2000 and was larger than its predecessor. The design was not as bold as some other Ford models from around the time but had a more mature and sober feel to it. This was due in part to the fact that Ford was targeting the likes of the VW Passat seen as the benchmark for quality in this class. By using more expensive materials, the Mk3 has a quality feel especially the interior. Safety was a major selling point for the Mk3 and saw the introduction of “Intelligent Protection System” (IPS) which incorporated sensors to deploy a combination of airbags front, rear, side and curtain according to the circumstances of a collision. Combined with ABS and EBD the Mk3 is a very safe car. The level of equipment is very good and meant that the Mondeo maintained its popularity as a fleet car and in the large family car market.
June 2003 saw a slight makeover with a larger grill and some interior changes and again in 2005 some cosmetic changes were made, most notably a ‘Mercedes’ style rear light cluster. New engines were introduced and an annoying seat belt fastening reminder warning system. The unveiling of the latest Mk4 model in 2007 has affected used prices of the Mk3 so they can be picked up at very competitive prices with the TDCi being the most sought after. The high cost of fuel combined with forthcoming punitive road tax related to emissions in the UK has created an uncertain future for the larger saloon but the Mondeo lives on and we love ‘em.
Tags: airbag, airbags, car market, collision, engine, front, front windscreen, headlight, headlights, interior, lights, mercedes, most expensive, new car, new transmission, new transmissions, performance, price, prices, safety, transmission, transmissions, Vehicle, windscreenRelated posts
Ford Focus ST – For Petrolheads (With Families)
Certain cars seem to capture the public’s imagination when they are released. Notable examples in recent years include the Bugatti Veyron, Pagani Zonda and the Lamborghini Murcielago. However, even someone with the most cursory interest in cars would probably identify that these three particular examples are not within the budget of your average office worker in Dulwich. Still a car doesn’t need 600+ Bhp and 7 Litre 12 cylinder engines to provide driving appeal to the masses. Sometimes all a car needs is honest engineering, reliable engines, quality build and a very reasonable price tag. These factors alone are probably some explanation as to why the Ford Focus is the best-selling car in the United Kingdom.
I know what you’re thinking; “how can you start an article with words like ‘Veyron’ and ‘Zonda’ and all of a sudden end up at the Ford Focus?”. Well I appreciate your candour, but hear me out; the Ford Focus has a lot to get excited about. Principally, for the first time in my memory, there is a family car on the market that provides a genuinely pleasurable driving experience. Ford haven’t forgone quality in the name of practicality and for that I thank them. The New Ford Focus handles like a dream and feels like you’re driving a particularly nippy tank. This quality of weight distribution and safety is perfectly matched against the quality Ford motors. Whether you choose the sublimely sporty Ford Focus ST or the more conservative Focus Diesel 1.4, you are ensured a drive which will betray the price you paid for it. The Focus ST, generally available around the £19,000 mark, zooms off the starting line like a vehicle twice its price, but still retains the Ford practicality that the brand is internationally synonymous with.
This brings me to my second major point; considering that The Ford Focus has been manufactured solely as a family car, enormous care and attention has been invested into the vehicle making it a fun drive. Yes, you read that correctly, the Ford Focus is fun to drive. Test driving the Focus ST www.forddealsdirect.co.uk/ford/ford-focus-st.shtml around some country roads left me with a Cheshire Cat-like grin on my face; the genuine thrill of the tight corners giving way to huge rev straights in the Focus ST has rarely been rivalled at such a reasonable price point.
This is why the Ford Focus has been flying off the forecourts up and down the country ever since its inception in 1998. In very few cars can you find enough space for the whole family (plus the dog) and still experience a tight, responsive drive that truly delivers where so many other car manufacturers in this price bracket fail. The Focus’ main competition comes from the VW Golf, Vauxhall Astra and Citroen C4, all of which great value for money and impressive specs. However, none of them have the same self-assured feel of the Ford Focus or the quality feel of the interior. Comfort comes at a premium in most cars of this budget, it seems to come as standard in the Focus.
Ford Focus ST Modification Concept
Tags: a car, engine, interior, lamborghini, lamborghini murcielago, motors, pagani, pagani zonda, price, safety, selling car, Vehicle, veyron, zonda
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