The six speed auto gearbox is the future, as they become cheaper and cheaper, we’ll see the death of the 4 speed in mid size compacts.

The Mondeo is a very big car, I like to call it the ‘New Granada’ the dashboard is very cool from what I remember!

My Mondeo is working out great so far. It’s very smooth yet nimble, and quiet for the most part, which has helped to make my daily commute that much more bearable. There’s a bit of tire rumble but I guess that’s to be expected with 17″ 35-profile tires! Basically, you get all the comforts of a large car, without sacrificing everything that makes driving enjoyable. Everyone comments about how spacious the interior is. The downside to this is parking - it’s a bit of a pain compared to a small car, but the backup radar and dealer-installed backup camera really does help here.

Performance is more than adequate even with only a 2.3L engine, but perhaps I’ve gotten too used to driving the small-displacement cars over here. My biggest concern prior to getting this car was the gas mileage - after about 600 km I’m averaging around 10.5-11L/100km, which is better than what I had feared given my daily rush-hour commute to/from work. I guess the 6-speed auto transmission is playing a part in this, even though 6th gear only engages when you go above 90 km/h. The trip computer is showing my cumulative average speed as being 23km/h so that gives you an idea of how bad the traffic is over here! Hopefully the mileage will improve a bit more once the engine fully breaks-in.

I continue to be surprised by the level of luxury in this car - it’s not at all like the Fords back home in North America (excluding Lincoln/Volvo). And compared to an equivalent Japanese make, I saved a bundle by going with the Mondeo. I couldn’t be more pleased!

I think the Cashcow is the perfect size for a couple with no kids. If I had kids, I would choose the bigger CRV, but for now, the Cashcow has found a place in the China Car Times garage It should be here in 10 days, a lot less than the month they were originally saying!
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How is your Mondeo working out for you?

Biggest pluses for me are that it looks good and the CVT. The latter should help with gas mileage.

I didn’t get a chance to drive it, but did climb into one at the dealership. The interior was quite decent - better than what the photos had led me to believe - and with good use of soft materials. The doors shut with that nice solid feel newer better cars. But it’s less spaciousthan the CR-V. And I seem to recall the headroom was worse than I expected, although I may be getting this mixed up with a different car. Anyways, it’s something to check if you’re tall and plan to order one with a sunroof.

Note that the Qashqai is not quite the same as the similar-looking North American Nissan Rogue. The Rogue has a longer wheelbase and a longer front end (I’m guessing to accommodate the larger engine).

The Cashcow is indeed excellent fit and finish, you cant fault it at the price range. The rear vision is indeed a bit pooh, but the oversized mirrors are awesome. I always found the modern nissans to be lacking in rear view, but the wingmirrors on the Cashcow make pretty much everything visible.

My Livina is being part ex’d in favor of the Cashcow. The Cashcow will become the main household vehicle, canceling our two car policy.

I just like the Forester so much more.