Test drive Ford mondeo sedan 2003 - 2005 sedan
Without complexes
The diesel panels of diesel and gasoline Mondeo repeat each other. You can distinguish a diesel in two details: the indicator of heating candles of incandescent and a tachometer, the red sector of which begins already with the number 4500. According to the famous part of the automobile community, there is nothing more wrong than a large hatchback, and even on diesel traction. It is unsolvable, prestigious, non -minute, unnecessary in winter. The formula for love of this category of buyers is a sedan with a two -liter gasoline engine. Excessive silver. All other options are originality on the verge of perversion.
I will not convince the conservatives. This is an ungrateful thing. I will only allow myself to state the battered fact: modern turbodiesels in power indicators came close to the gasoline engines of identical working volume, uniformly playing them in elasticity, economy (and, accordingly environmentally friendly) and the resource. The only serious obstacle to the widespread spread of dierce of diesel fuel remains their relatively high price. But even in this state of affairs in Europe, up to 55% of the total sales, depending on the market, accounts for the share of diesel versions (the French remain the main diesel engines). As for the notorious problems with the launch, as the current winter showed, the mark of 20 degrees below zero is a verdict for hundreds of new foreign cars with gasoline engines. Who would criticize!
The diesel mondeo was on the wheel test recently, but in the most modest, 90-horsepower, performance. The same two-liter motor of the Duratorq DI family is offered in the 115-horsepower version and even in the 130-horsepower, which is arhegated only with an automatic gearbox. We liked that car, so we go to the next step. So, hatchback, 115 horses, 280 Newton meters (more than the BMW 525i). From the equipment of this car we mark four airbags, air conditioning, radio, immobilizer and fog. The five -door Mondeo does not seek to put its hatchbackness for showing: the car body ends with a clearly marked step. So distinguishing it from the classic sedan in most angles is not so easy. But the functionality of the machine is an order of magnitude higher. Unfortunately, the tarry in the barrel of practicality was an algorithm for folding the rear seat - the pillow is only thrown back, so Mondeo can be either two or five -seater. The intermediate option is not provided.
The operating range of the engine is narrow enough - the red tachometer zone begins already at 4500 rpm. Therefore, an important role is played by the setting of the transmission. And for sure: the transfer numbers are selected in such a way that each step has its own face. On the first, Mondeo grows excitingly powerfully, but the engine quickly twists. The second gear is exclusively power, a decisive separation from the pursuers takes place on it. Twisting the moment falls up by a waterfall, and the developed acceleration does not allow any reason to regret the diesel nature of the car. The third step is almost a machine gun: at least half a 20 km/h, at least carry it under a hundred, she doesn’t care. Well, the fourth and fifth are intended for higher speeds, and in the city they are absolutely applicable.
I will not hide that it makes sense to spend money on a diesel car with significant runs exceeding the figure of 60 thousand per year or when buying for life. But such machines like this Mondeo have another significant plus. With them you will be spared the inferiority complex in relation to the owners of gasoline cars.
The car is provided by independence.
Text: Leonid Klyuyev
Photo: Roman Ostanin
A source: Wheel magazine [No. 67/2003]
