20 years driving- but never drove a Ford.

C.K Dexter Haven

I've been driving over 20 years- and it just struck me yesterday, I've never driven a Ford- ever!

I've been in a Ford many a time- especially as a kid- but I've never sat into the drivers seat of a Ford turned on the engine, and driven off. I've owned a number of cars but never thought of buying a Ford so never even test drove one. I've rented loads of cars also - but never a Ford.

Don't know if this is unusual or not so thought I'd throw it out there- have you been driving a number of years and have yet to drive even once, a mainstream brand like Fiat, Peugeot, Citroen , or indeed, a Ford?

corktina

i think ive driven pretty well everything from a dumper truck to a 7.5 tonner by way of a forklift and MANY Fords....

anthony4335

Never driven a Fiat, Citroen, Mazda, nissan plenty of makes I have never driven in 19 years to driving legally. What I have driven would include Lada riva 1500 estate in beige, proton GLS, fords ,toyotas ,BMW ,Saab ,Subaru and so on. So nothing wrong with never haven driven a Ford.

veetwin

OP you should definately try a Ford. They are generally better than the marques you mentioned and most Fords are actually a little better than their immediate rivals - Mondeo better than Avensis/Passat/Insignia - Focus better than Golf or Auris/Corolla - Fiesta better than Polo/Corsa/Yaris (IMHO at least)

Of course don't forget the Transit which is pretty much the Daddy of vans.

On topic I don't think I've ever driven a Kia or at least if I did I've forgotton it!

CrowdedHouse

My OH in probably 25 years plus driving has never owned anything except a Ford !

C.K Dexter Haven

veetwin wrote: »

On topic I don't think I've ever driven a Kia or at least if I did I've forgotton it!

Drove a Kia Picanto on a motorway in Spain. Not for the feint hearted when overtaking

CrowdedHouse wrote: »

My OH in probably 25 years plus driving has never owned anything except a Ford !

They've just been so part of the motor industry in Ireland over the last number of decades, it genuinely surprised me that I'd never driven one.

Marcusm

OP

If you prefer the musical, try this one:

http://sorrentolens.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/cruise-in-04192008-017.jpg

If you prefer the (superior) non musical, try this one (he seemed to be a spokeman)


http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/65646/Cary_Grant_Endorses_Ford/

Darwin

OP if you like driving, you have definitely missed out. I think it was around the introduction of the Focus around 1998 or so that they really sorted out the handling and 'fun to drive' factor of a lot of their models. My first motor was an Escort which in hindsight was bit of a thrasher, but later models such as the Puma, built on the Fiesta platform, got great reviews for its handling and sweet gearbox (and rock hard suspension which I can attest to). Other models in the range including the Mondeo received praise for its class-leading handling. I gather rivals have now caught up, but still worth taking a spin in a Focus to see what the fuss is all about.

Henry Ford III

You didn't miss much

1993 Escort RS Cosworth



2011 Focus RS500

C.K Dexter Haven

Would love to drive the mark 1 actually:D

ardmacha

If time machines exist or you jump off a tall building...

jomoloney

40 years driving,

once took a mondeo for a test drive intending purchase, haven't driven ford since

veetwin

jomoloney wrote: »

40 years driving,

once took a mondeo for a test drive intending purchase, haven't driven ford since

What did you buy instead?

Our man in Havana

I have never driven a fiat or any Italian car in my 20 years on the road. I am proud of that.

CianRyan

veetwin wrote: »

What did you buy instead?

A Mazda 6.

ABajaninCork

I LOVE Ford!! My first car was an Escort 1.3. Now drive a Fiesta.

Meanwhile, I've driven Cavaliers, Mondeo's, BMW 316 & 325, BMW 6, Mercedes CLK, Peugeot 206 (my last car) and 306, Astra's, AND a Transit, as well as an Escort van.

Not bad for a lady driver!

djimi

First car I ever drove was an ancient Fiesta (81 model I think it was) when I was about 9/10. I remember how bloody hard it was to steer with no power steering!

Only other Ford I have ever driven was a Ka I had as a loaner from the garage and it was comfortably the worst car I have ever driven.

keithclancy

C.K Dexter Haven wrote: »

Would love to drive the mark 1 actually:D

Its a quirky little car, jumpy auto box and seats without headrests. Apparently they cost a fortune as their quite popular for rallying.

I want to drive a Daf 66


Apparently its more like driving a boat than a car.

The lifelong feature of fords has been the gammy looking analog clock in the centre of the dash.

who the fug

ardmacha wrote: »

If time machines exist or you jump off a tall building...

That model is why I will never own a Ford, the only time it ever started on time was to go to mass on a day off school

As my Grandfather said to my father in 1950 something

FORD stands for fix or repair daily

Pegasus Galactica

I've only been driving for four years and my first car was a fiesta, then I bought a focus now I drive a corsa and I would go back to Ford tomorrow.

dgt

I've had 2 Fiestas and 2 Escorts. All grand to drive!

Was once going to buy an Escort van and in recent times opted for a TDDI Mondeo (but ended up with the 406 instead :eek:)

Mr Benevolent

Our man in Havana wrote: »

I have never driven a fiat or any Italian car in my 20 years on the road. I am proud of that.

You're missing out. Some of them are shite but most of them have personality. On topic, the only Ford I've driven was a 1.6 Puma. Lovely car but not in great condition.

Rasmus

I had a Ford Taurus a number of years ago - great car, I loved it. Never driven a Fiat and would love to try a volvo. My first car was a Chevy Corvair - awesome but a bit dangerous!

flazio

ardmacha wrote: »

If time machines exist or you jump off a tall building...

Not according to Mr Clarkson 1:33 onwards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGzo8X8yI5A

Let's fire up the Quattro

renofan

I'm trying to remember all the cars I've driven...

Citroen : - BX, AX, ZX, Xsara, Berlingo, Saxo
Fiat:- 500 Abarth, Stilo
BMW:- E30 316, 318i, M3, E36 320i, E46 318i, E90 320i, E28 520i, M5, E34 520i, 530i, 540i, E39 523i, 530i, E32 730i
Toyota:- Starlet, Celica VVTli, Hiace
Nissan:- Micra
Renault:- Clio, Megane convertable, Megavan, Laguna, Kangoo
Lotus:- Excel, Elise, Esprit
Hyundai:- Accent
Opel:- Astra, Vivaro
MINI:- One - and original mini
Mercedes:- SL, W124 Coupe
Ford:- Ka,'94 Fiesta, '06 Fiesta, '11 Fiesta, '05 Focus, '11 Focus, '06 Focus ST, Transit
VW:- Golf, Polo, LT Van
Peugeot:- 309, 205, 206
Volvo:- 440
Alfa:- 147
Rover:- 214
Saab:- 93
MG:- MGB
Audi:- A4

furtzy

Out of all the new cars my Dad bought (26 in total) he never had a Ford. My folks had a thing against them because my Grandad bought a new Anglia and apparently it was a disaster! My wife bought a new Fiesta back on 2006 as a second car and its been great....would defintely consider Ford again. Not for me but for a second car

Mr Benevolent

furtzy wrote: »

Out of all the new cars my Dad bought (26 in total) he never had a Ford. My folks had a thing against them because my Grandad bought a new Anglia and apparently it was a disaster! My wife bought a new Fiesta back on 2006 as a second car and its been great....would defintely consider Ford again. Not for me but for a second car

Yeah my dad is like that, hates Fords after buying a Cortina that gave endless trouble.

S28382

My last car was a mondeo i loved that car it was a great it very rarely gave any bother.

b318isp

It's funny how people latch on to the legacy of a previous car. The problems that a certain car has, on its own, is not representative of all of those cars - and certainly not representative of models into the future!

Back in the 70/80's almost every car gave trouble at some stage. I remember Mini/Fiat/Peugeot/Citroen/Audi/Austin/Rover/Opel/Vauxhall/Lancia/Talbot, etc. all regularily giving trouble with carbs, points, plugs, distributors, etc. Ford did too of course. Push starting cars was a regular winter past-time. The only cars that seemed to be relatively trouble free mechanically were Mercs, BMWs and Japanese cars.

I have fond memories of driving RS2000s (MkII), RS1600 (MkII), Mk 4 Cortinas, Fiestas, Mondeos over the years. Current Ford cars are, in the main, very good cars. Our family car is a Mk3 Galaxy, and its ability is incredible given its size and weight.

Surprisingly enough, of all the big companies I've never driven an Alfa Romeo or Saab.

Sleepy

Just bought my first one last week: a 2003 Mk 3 Mondeo.

Funnily enough, when getting my first driving lessons back in 97 from my Dad, he had a Mk1. I always liked that car but neither of us have owned a Ford since (he traded that one in for a C5 before beating a hasty retreat to the Octavia which he's had 3 of since) and I've not been in the market for a large car since and find the interior of the Focus so ugly I completely discounted what I know to be a good car when looking for cars in the past.#

Major Brands I've never driven: Saab, Volvo, Renault, Mercedes, BMW.

Stojkovic

Never driven a Ford either. I wouldnt drive anything that wasnt made in the Fatherland.

corktina

my Fords were both built in the Fatherland....

who the fug

corktina wrote: »

my Fords were both built in the Fatherland....

Must be quiet old Cork shut down 30 year ago

H3llR4iser

Mmm...I never drove a Toyota, a Nissan nor any Japanese car for what matters.

Trying to recall:

Alfa Romeo: 33 1.3, 75 1.8, 146 1.4TS, 147 1.9JTDm, 155 2.0TS, 156 1.8TS;
BMW: 320d;
Citroen: Visa;
Daewoo: Lublin;
Fiat: Marea Weekend, Panda;
Ford: Fiesta MKIII, Fiesta MKV, Focus MKII, TRANSIT;
Mercedes: A-Klasse;
Opel: Corsa, Kadett, Frontera;
Peugeot: 206, 405 Break;
Renault: 5 Parisienne, 5TL, 5 GTL, Megane Coupe';
Seat: Marbella (with no headlights!!!);

corktina

who the fug wrote: »

Must be quiet old Cork shut down 30 year ago

12 and 8 yrs old resp.

anthony4335

No got it wrong once drove a fiat Cinquecento , scared the absolute sh*t out of me when a truck went by on the dual carriage way.
As for "renofan" I would love to know how the esprit was , next to the lambo countach that was my second fav car. Especially when it went underwater (bond fan).

renofan wrote: »

I'm trying to remember all the cars I've driven...

Citroen : - BX, AX, ZX, Xsara, Berlingo, Saxo
Fiat:- 500 Abarth, Stilo
BMW:- E30 316, 318i, M3, E36 320i, E46 318i, E90 320i, E28 520i, M5, E34 520i, 530i, 540i, E39 523i, 530i, E32 730i
Toyota:- Starlet, Celica VVTli, Hiace
Nissan:- Micra
Renault:- Clio, Megane convertable, Megavan, Laguna, Kangoo
Lotus:- Excel, Elise, Esprit
Hyundai:- Accent
Opel:- Astra, Vivaro
MINI:- One - and original mini
Mercedes:- SL, W124 Coupe
Ford:- Ka,'94 Fiesta, '06 Fiesta, '11 Fiesta, '05 Focus, '11 Focus, '06 Focus ST, Transit
VW:- Golf, Polo, LT Van
Peugeot:- 309, 205, 206
Volvo:- 440
Alfa:- 147
Rover:- 214
Saab:- 93
MG:- MGB
Audi:- A4

dgt

renofan wrote: »

I'm trying to remember all the cars I've driven...

I can't, is that a good or bad thing?

There are some Fords I'd love to have a shot in....

Darwin

Darwin wrote: »

............. Other models in the range including the Mondeo received praise for its class-leading handling. I gather rivals have now caught up, but still worth taking a spin in a Focus to see what the fuss is all about.

I reckon the mondeo of the mid 00s was comparatively a better car handling wise to it's rivals than the mark 1 focus was Probably due to the Vectra, Primera and Avensis of the time being so bad admittedly :pac:

corktina

my Focus is nicer to drive and more comfortable than my Mondeo, almost as fast too.