///M
05-14-2007, 07:30 PM
This is what I've been driving for the past few days...
http://www.digitastic.biz/misc/mondeo/01.jpg
http://www.digitastic.biz/misc/mondeo/02.jpg
http://www.digitastic.biz/misc/mondeo/03.jpg
http://www.digitastic.biz/misc/mondeo/04.jpg
European Ford Mondeo, 1.8l, 110ps, MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I had originally wanted a MKII euro Focus but they had none on the lot with a manual and navigation so this is what I got instead. It drives nothing like what Ford would ever dream of offering in North America. The steering is precise and BMW-heavy unlike the typically numb and overboosted domestic car steering, the suspension is stiffly sprung (stiffer than a stock Mazda3), and the chassis is very taut - the car handles fantastic for its size. Even my base model comes with V-rated 205/55R16 Pirelli P6000 tires. The 1.8l engine is a bit buzzy at times, but peppy enough with the manual transmission and not nearly as slow as I would've expected. It'll do 120mph without a problem, and it feels perfectly content doing so.
A few interesting notes about driving here:
* 90% of the cars here have a manual transmission, and almost 50% are diesel. Most cars are high on levels of standard equipment but have the smallest engine possible. I spotted a BMW 728i a couple of days ago.
* Gas is expensive. The numbers at the gas station are the same as in Canada, but multiply that by an exchange rate of approximately 2.2.
* The 70mph speed limit on the motorways seems to be a mere suggestion. Right lane (i.e. our left lane) traffic typically flows at anywhere from 90-110mph, and the highways are not oppressively patrolled. Urban areas, on the other hand, have speed cameras everywhere.
* Highway manners are great. The right lane is ALWAYS open for passing, and everyone moves over to the left lane as soon as they've passed. Nobody ever passes on the left. In traffic, everyone moves along at a slow, steady speed instead of gassing it and jabbing on the brakes in a stop-and-go fashion.
If only driving in North America was like this...
http://www.digitastic.biz/misc/mondeo/01.jpg
http://www.digitastic.biz/misc/mondeo/02.jpg
http://www.digitastic.biz/misc/mondeo/03.jpg
http://www.digitastic.biz/misc/mondeo/04.jpg
European Ford Mondeo, 1.8l, 110ps, MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I had originally wanted a MKII euro Focus but they had none on the lot with a manual and navigation so this is what I got instead. It drives nothing like what Ford would ever dream of offering in North America. The steering is precise and BMW-heavy unlike the typically numb and overboosted domestic car steering, the suspension is stiffly sprung (stiffer than a stock Mazda3), and the chassis is very taut - the car handles fantastic for its size. Even my base model comes with V-rated 205/55R16 Pirelli P6000 tires. The 1.8l engine is a bit buzzy at times, but peppy enough with the manual transmission and not nearly as slow as I would've expected. It'll do 120mph without a problem, and it feels perfectly content doing so.
A few interesting notes about driving here:
* 90% of the cars here have a manual transmission, and almost 50% are diesel. Most cars are high on levels of standard equipment but have the smallest engine possible. I spotted a BMW 728i a couple of days ago.
* Gas is expensive. The numbers at the gas station are the same as in Canada, but multiply that by an exchange rate of approximately 2.2.
* The 70mph speed limit on the motorways seems to be a mere suggestion. Right lane (i.e. our left lane) traffic typically flows at anywhere from 90-110mph, and the highways are not oppressively patrolled. Urban areas, on the other hand, have speed cameras everywhere.
* Highway manners are great. The right lane is ALWAYS open for passing, and everyone moves over to the left lane as soon as they've passed. Nobody ever passes on the left. In traffic, everyone moves along at a slow, steady speed instead of gassing it and jabbing on the brakes in a stop-and-go fashion.
If only driving in North America was like this...