Mondeo Spares LTD

How the Ford EcoBoost engine works

2012-04-24T09:26:00.000+01:00

Here is a video I found on how the new Ford engines work, so that you save on both fuel and emissions. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Ford Ecoboost Animation

A car that doesn't care about fuel strikes

2012-04-16T12:38:00.001+01:00

After the panic of a fuel strike that never was and the constant threat of ones ahead, combined with the ever rising price of both petrol and diesel, is it now time for a change?

There has always been something about the look of most hybrid or electric cars, that just wasn't quite right to me. They all looked liked they wanted to be a bit too quirky and look a bit like a small space ship! However, times are changing!

The new Ford Focus Electric looks like, well surprisingly like a Ford Focus. The same sharp styling and craftsmanship that we expect from Ford, with an edgy interior and trim to suit its full electric engine. It can even be connected to an app on your phone to keep you updated on it's power status.

We don't stock Ford parts for electric engines yet, but give us a few years!

You can get more information from Ford's website, so go take a look.

Keep your summer chilled with Mondeo Spares

2012-04-11T11:27:00.000+01:00

Here at Mondeo Spares we know that the last thing you want, is to be stuck in a stuffy car, in traffic, on a hot summers day.

We know that a new air conditioning pump can be more than a little expensive and that sticking your head out of the window is foolish, even for a dog! But we have a solution.

We have a collection of used air con pumps, starting at just £24.99. So if your compressor is playing up, either visit our website or give us a call on 01782 205511 and one of our staff will be waiting to help.

Now with a 3 month warranty, you can buy with complete confidence.

Mondeo Spares

Replacing Injectors Doesn't Need To Cost A Fortune

2012-04-05T15:49:00.000+01:00

If your injectors become faulty, it can become quite a stressful time, as a full set of new injectors for a Mk3 Mondeo TDCi can cost you upwards of £1000 before the cost of getting them tested in the first place.

However, there is another option! We can get you your injectors reconditioned or provide you with ones we have already had reconditioned. If you send us your Delphi injectors to get reconditioned, then you wont have to reprogram them after either.

We can do you this for just £99.99 per injector. We will also buy your faulty ones back off you at £10 each, so it works out at just £89.99 an injector.

All the injectors come with new valves and a 12 month warranty! So you can buy with the confidence you would with a new part, when you get your injectors from Mondeo Spares!

New Ford Mondeo Mk5

2012-03-28T10:34:00.001+01:00

With the new Ford Fusion due to be released in the U.S later this year, you should get a good impression on whether the 2013 Mondeo will be the next car for you. There will be a few tweaks here and there, but on the whole, it will be the same machine.

It's not just a simple face lift either, it's a whole new car. They will be keeping the EcoBoost engines, but adding a Hybrid and an Energi Plug in. It will also have all the latest gadgets that we have seen in the new Focus.

As you can see from the picture, the new design has a certain sense of Aston Martin about it and it's certainly a challenge for the XK in style as well.

Which leaves the question; if you're looking for a new family car, will you be waiting till next year for this one?

If you are, we have all the Mondeo parts to keep yours running till then!

Do you need Near Side or Off Side?

2012-02-13T14:47:00.000+00:00

Here at Mondeo Spares we get quite a few customers who haven't come across parts that are either for the Near or Off Side of the car. These are terms that you may not be familiar with if you don't work in the motoring industry. You may be more familiar with passenger and driver's side. Below is a quick guide to which is which;

Passenger Side is your Near Side or N/S

and

Driver Side is your Off Side or O/S

The best way to try and remember it, that the Near Side is closest to the curb, where the passenger sits.

Ford Fair 2011

2011-08-09T16:19:00.001+01:00

For those that attended the Ford Fair this weekend (Sunday 7th August 2011) will know what an exciting day it was to have thousands upon thousands of Ford enthusiasts in one place at one time. I think it is fair to say that we were in our element on Sunday. Hosted at the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire, the event was our very first ever exhibition and it will certainly not be our last. For those that couldn't make it to the Ford Fair here is what you missed:

All day track action on the brand new F1 grand prix circuit.

Over 3,500 cars on display from Europe's finest Ford clubs.

Top retailers in the Retail Area such as Maxxis, Adrian Flux, Mountune, STP, Meguiars and many more.

Crazy stunt driving from Paul Swift in the Ford Live Action Arena.

The very best standard and performance Ford's in the Concours competition.

The Power & Style Awards in association with Yokohama.

The Blue Oval Saloon series battling it out on the F1 circuit.

The Mountune GT passenger ride competition where the lucky winner was driven around the Grand Prix Circuit by Alex Mortimer in a GT.

0-60 Car Sprint test.

A chance to ogle at Europe's fastest Fords on the Fast Ford stand.

Classic Ford's.

Any and every Ford part you could possibly need or want in the Ford Fair AutoJumble and retail area.

South Hants Model Auto Club had every minature Ford possible to view in the Pit garages.

Old school Ford's driving sideways in the Drifting demo on track.

Many visitors had the option of taking their car for a spin on the track with e-parts.co.uk Track Time and getting a photograph to keep.

Here are some of the photos we took on the day:

We were also exhibiting and were located in Gate B12 trade area H5. If you managed to get yourself one of our free promotional bags we hope that you enjoyed them, they were all gone within 2 hours! So we think they went down very well with you all! we will remember to bring more with us next time! We were offering free next day delivery on all items ordered with us on the day so we are glad most of you took advantage of this! Hope to see you all again there next year for round 2!

Let us know what you enjoyed about the Ford Fair below.

Crazy Cars

2011-07-29T13:04:00.000+01:00

We've had a look at MSN's list of crazy cars from around the world and picked out the 20 best ones from their list of 75. These are the ones we have selected for their uniqueness, creativity and inspiring/crazy images.

This car was built in 1966 and is supposed to give a brick effect, why? because that was what all the cool kids in the 60's were doing back then didn't you know?...

Two vehicles welded together on opposite ends... because that's a practical idea.

Car constructor Edd China literally takes work home with him - in his office car, named "The Hot Desk". In 2003, he actually drove it 900 miles from London to Cannes for charity.

Who needs good old-fashioned 4x4 wheels when you've got these bad boys to carry you through deep snow? This is a Subaru Impreza STI rally car with caterpillar tracks. Thumbs up from us!

Only in America would a limousine and a all-wheel-drive pick-up be a combination worth thinking about, which is exactly what Paul Emery from Massachusetts thought to do. This particular combination was based on a 1981 Cadillac DeVille Limousine. Why not drive in style?!

It's like a lounge in a car! How awesome is that! This is one of Jay Ohrberg's creations.

This three-seater three-wheeler was built in 1954 by Egon Bruetsch, he obviously needed room for more than two people on his travels! He certainly looks very happy in this picture! The lightweight plastic that the car was made from is actually starting to come into use for today's cars.

This Hairy Car was photographed in Stuttgart, Germany. Unfortunately the hairy car look didn't catch on, I imagine it must be quite expensive to shampoo not to mention how long that would take to blow dry...

Forget caravans, imagine being stuck behind this!!! a 17th century thatched cottage!!!

Another creation from Jay Ohrberg.

I imagine this is quite hard to drive...and see.

Perry Watkins designed this car - dining table...we're not quite sure why, but it certainly gives a lasting impression. Pictured in August 2010, Perry would later attempt the record for the world's fastest furniture at Santa Pod raceway in Northamptonshire. The 'Stig' pictured here is actually a dummy and neither Perry or the original Stig from BBC's Top Gear.

This car was created and designed by William Burge of Houston, Texas. The machine was built from a 1968 Volkswagen beetle and is all different kinds of crazy, just look at those gargoyles! Not sure we'd be too happy driving with that on our tail on a cold dark night! The vehicle is aptly named "Phantoms" and could have been inspired by the gargoyle-spotted façade of a Gothic cathedral.

Crazy creation by Jay Ohrberg again...

Why have we never thought about doing this before? A shoe.. that drives! Genius. Actually, I think crazy is probably the better word in this instance. This car was created in China and is an electrically powered one-off that when pushing pedal to the metal can do up to 30 kilometres an hour and travel 400 kilometres on a single charge.

And to top off this list we have another creation from Jay Ohrberg which was been created for The King himself, Elvis. Shame he would never get to witness this beaut created just for him. I'm sure he'd be impressed!

For the whole list of Crazy Cars featured by MSN, you can view them all here.

July's Photo Competition Winner - MondeoSTOC.com

2011-07-29T10:09:00.000+01:00

Mondeo Spares Ltd are club sponsors of Mondeo ST Owners Club forum and have been helping to choose winners for the photo competition that the forum runs on a monthly basis.

In July, the competition was to send in a photograph of your Mondeo with the theme 'Car Parks' in mind.

Thanks to everyone who entered this month!

We'd like to congratulate Gareth Kidman (Burbojack) who won this months competition.

Here is the winning photo:

The picture was taken in the pay and display carpark under the Magdalen Street flyover, Norwich.

Some details about Gareth's Mondeo:

Ford Mondeo ST220 (03 Reg);

Miltex Exhaust;

Dreamscience Remap.

Good with a camera???

Don't forget to enter next month's competition for August.

Go to www.mondeostoc.com to find out what the theme is for this month and you could win yourself some free Mondeo Spares goodies!!!

5 Used Cars to Avoid And The Alternatives

2011-07-28T11:44:00.001+01:00

MoneyWatch have recently looked at car owner surveys and put together a list of vehicles that have the poorest reliability records based on five categories. The year 2008 was chosen for three reasons:

1. This particular year means that most vehicles will have had already gone through the depreciation period, so you will not have to worry too much about losing money. (New cars lose value every year).

2. The year 2008 ranked in the latest dependability study from J.D. Power and Associates.

3. The cost of used car prices have risen so significantly over this past year and used cars can make worse financial sense than new.

Small Car

From the 'Small Car' category, the first car selected is the Volkswagen Beetle.

2008 Volkswagen Beetle

According to MoneyWatch, although the Beetle's cute and all-around appeal is enticing to some, it doesn't save it from being on the least reliable list. Owners of the 2008 model told Consumer Reports that they had trouble with the climate control system and power equipment - both are very costly and expensive to repair.

Alternative : Hyundai Elantra

2008 Hyundai Elantra

The Hyundai Elantra got the maximum of five circles in the J.D Power reliability ratings and is ranked an above-average used car by Consumer Reports, where survey respondents reported no major problems. Hyundai not only make top quality cars but they are also offering consumers a 10-year, 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.

Medium Car

For "The medium car" category, the car selected is the Volkswagen Passat, picture below;

2008 Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen despite being praised by reviewers when new, the passat gets the minimum J.D two circles and a below-average rating from Consumer Reports. Readers there report problems with the fuel, power equipment and electrical and climate systems.

Alternative: Ford Fusion

2008 Ford Fusion

Ford's first real contender in years against mid-size leaders Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, the Fusion won the reliability award in this year's J.D. Power Survey. Consumer Reports gives it a top Much Above Average used car rating. Readers there reported no major problems with their 2008 Ford Fusions.

Mid-size SUV

For "The Mid-Size SUV" category, GMC Acadia has been chosen pictured below:

2008 GMC Acadia

Though its quality has improved in recent models, the 2008 Acadia is a repeat loser in this category. With the minimum two circles in the J.D Power survey, it gets a worse than average used car ranking from Consumer Reports. Readers there reported problems with the suspension and audio system.

Alternative: Toyota 4 Runner

Toyota 4 Runner

This 2008 Toyota won the J.D Power reliability award and is rated much better than average as a used car in the Consumer Reports ratings, where readers reported no serious problems. Reviewers praises its capability both on the highway and off-road.

Mid-size SUV

For "Large SUV" Category - Ford Expedition has been chosen, picture below:

Even if you need large-capacity hauling and can ignore the lame mileage number (the Expedition is rated at 12 mpg in city driving) look elsewhere. The Ford SUV line, which strangely all start with the letter 'E', has received the minimum two circles from J.D Power and a worse-than-average Consumer Reports rating, where readers report problems with the transmission and the audio system.

Alternative: Toyota Sequoia

2008 Toyota Sequoia

In a category with no clear winner, the Toyota entry again looks like the best bet. It gets four out of five circles in the J.D Power rating and an above-average rating from Consumer Reports. Reviewers praise its roomy seating and comfortable ride for long trips.

Minivan

For "minivan" Category - Chrysler Town & Country

2008 Chrysler Town & Country

Chrysler originated the minivan and in most years has sold more than other companies. But sometime around 2008, manufacturing quality began to lag.

This Chrysler van got the minimum two circles from J.D. Power and a much-worse-than-average used-car rating from Consumer Reports. Readers there reported problems with the suspension, brakes, climate system and power equipment.

Alternative: Toyota Sienna

2008 Toyota Sienna

As it did last year, the Sienna wins the reliability award for minivans from J.D. Power, and it gets a better-than-average rating from Consumer Reports. Reviewers praise its comfort and seating; it holds up to eight people.

Despite Toyota’s recent recall problems and lagging sales this year, its dominance of numerous categories in three-year-old used cars is a reminder of what a strong record of reliability it has achieved. Domestic companies certainly should not count out Toyota as a strong competitor.

Going Abroad This Summer? Be Prepared UK Drivers!

2011-07-26T15:27:00.000+01:00

The AA has put together a list of things you should have organised before you go abroad with your vehicle. We know you will find this useful and will also help to make your summer holiday as stress-free as possible!

Be Prepared!

Traffic & Speeding regulations:

Are you aware of the road and traffic regulations of the country you are visiting? Some countries use the KM speed limit rather than the MPH that we are so used to in this country, don't get caught speeding due to unawareness!

Example of Speed signs abroad:
(This is in Km's not Mph!)

If you do get caught speeding, in many countries the penalties can be both tough and instant. If you are actually stopped for a motoring offence by police you are likely to be required to pay an on-the-spot fine and most police will accept credit or debit cards. If you don't pay, your car could be impounded. If you have been flashed by an enforcement camera, the fine will follow you home and you will be forced to pay via a UK court. Take note that also some motorways as well as urban highways measure average speed between cameras. Speed limits can vary depending on weather too, for instance in France the speed is reduced when it is raining. Knowing this kind of information before you travel can be invaluable and can also save you a lot of money and bother.

Traffic signs and signals:

Most traffic signs and signals for different countries are very similar - or at least you can normally take a guess at what it means. However, there are some that can be quite confusing or unclear what they are asking of you, to avoid any accidents, arguments with the wife or mental breakdowns, we recommend familiarising yourself with these signs before commencing your journey.

Don't drink and drive:

Most European countries have a lower limit to what is acceptable in the UK for drinking and driving regulations. It really isn't worth the risk, our advice is to avoid all alcohol if driving.

Driving License:

Although a fairly obvious one, make sure to bring your driving license with you on holiday including the paper counterpart that is included.

Towing a Caravan?:

If you are taking a caravan with you on your holiday your caravan's insurance will need to extend to the countries you are visiting. Most do, but it is always better to check before-hand.

Breakdown Cover:

Make sure you bring your European Breakdown Cover documents with you, if you don't have these before you start your journey, you might be left high and dry if anything happens to your vehicle - it could cost you over the earth to get your vehicle fixed and back up and running without these documents.

Vehicle Registration Document:

Take your vehicle registration document with you so that you can prove that you are the owner of the vehicle in your possession.

Health Insurance:

It is always better to go to Europe with your health in mind, including the thought that if anything goes wrong, you are covered. The health insurance card used to be called the E111 card, however this has recently changed to the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). Please note, that EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance and it does not necessarily mean that treatment will be free. More info on the EHIC card can be found here.

Travel Insurance:

You will certainly need travel insurance if you do not have it already. If your home insurance covers your personal property outside the home anywhere in the world: you won't need baggage cover on your travel insurance - ask for this to be excluded and for the premium to be reduced accordingly. The AA offers travel insurance which can be found here.

Passport and tickets please!:

Don't forget your passport and ticket before travelling. It is amazing how many people get to the ferry/Eurotunnel and find they have left them behind.

EU Driving Kits:

Depending on the country you are visiting, will depend on what car equipment you need to take with you. Some countries require you to have high-vis jackets, warning triangles, first aid kits and wheel jacks. Most countries will require you to purchase a set of headlight beam convertors and a magnetic GB plate - this is a legal requirement.

You can double check any items that you may have missed as a requirement by purchasing a very useful European Driver's Handbook which will contain all of the information that you need to know and any documents it recommends for you to take. You can also pick up Atlas' and road maps to help you get to where you need to go (or buy a European Sat Nav!).

Ford Galaxy Chosen for Sussex Police

2011-07-18T15:10:00.000+01:00

Sussex Police Department have ordered three extensively modified versions of the latest Ford Galaxy for their Forensic Collision Investigation and Reconstruction Unit due to extreme demands placed on its crash investigation vehicles. The conversions were carried out by Ford's Special Vehicle Preparations (SVP) team.

Sussex Police Department are combining high performance and stability with fuel savings - by switching to diesel. The vehicles can attend a scene for up to eight hours with engines constantly running to power various systems, so fuel efficiency is an important consideration.

Working closely with Sussex Police technical engineer Neil Neve, SVP installed a bespoke racking and storage system, police livery and public-warning equipment.

"Visually the new vehicles have a greater presence on the road, which is a plus in terms of public awareness but also for the safety of the officers using them," said senior collision investigator Sergeant Colin O'Neill. "They are well-appointed and everyone is very pleased with them in terms of stability and performance.

The vehicles will be used for five years, covering more than 125,000 miles. The 163PS Ford Galaxy Titanium is powered by a 2.0 Duratorq TDCi engine with six-speed manual transmission and returns 49.6mpg combined, accelerates from 0-60mph in 9.5sec and has CO2 emissions of 152g/km.

Source: Fleetnews

The Most Unreliable Car Ever

2011-07-18T14:19:00.000+01:00

This car, aptly named 'Monster' is made up of parts from some of the most unreliable cars on sale in Britain including Renault Megane and MG TF.

The Monster Mk1 was created using the UK-based warranty company - Warranty Direct's -database of 50,000 policies on cars that were an average of five years old.

Here is the breakdown of the parts used on the car:

Engine - MG TF Engine

Renault Megane - Electrics

Gearbox - Land Rover Freelander

Suspension - BMW M3

Brakes - Audio A8

Air Con / Heating / Cooling - Seat

Steering - Volvo V70

And here is the result...

The reason this vehicle has been named 'Monster' is because according to Warranty Direct, this car is likely to break down every other month and cost an average of £2,050 to fix each year. Warranty Direct compiled the list of the worst-performing cars in various categories from its data of what cars suffer which faults and which parts are normally to blame. Warranty Direct says that 'monster' is five times more likely to break down than the average car based on their reliability index which measures car reliability by considering the average cost of repair, frequency of failure, age and mileage.

Overall, the index shows that 4 out of 10 vehicles require a trip to a garage each year and some models can cost up to £7,000 a time to repair.

Duncan McClure Fisher, the Managing Director at Warranty Direct said that "The wide range of cars included in our special blend highlights how mostly reliable cars can be dragged down by one problem part."

Results from the company's claim records show that almost 40 per cent of BMW M3s require repairs to axle and suspension components alone each year, while the same proportion of Renault Meganes suffer an electrical fault.

About a quarter of MG TF's will experience engine troubles, while more than one in eight Seat Ahlambras will need their air-con fixed during a typical year. One in five Land Rover Freelanders have transmission glitches, while the same number of Audi A8s will need repairs to their braking systems.

Kate Middleton's Used Car On Ebay

2011-07-18T14:09:00.001+01:00

A few years ago before marriage and a royal life were on the cards for the young Kate Middleton, Prince William and her had dated for a while but broke up for a short time. Kate wanted to get rid of anything that reminded her of the Prince, including her used Volkswagen Golf. This was a car that she and the Prince spent much time in and it is now for sale on the auction website eBay to buy.

Sonny Brazil with the Duchess of Cambridge's used Volkswagen Golf.
Picture from The Daily Mail.

The first owner of the car was the future Queen of England's and it has been authenticated on the official car report. The Middleton's traded in the Indigo Blue Volkswagen Golf in 2009 and the car is reportedly still in good shape. The owner of the car lot, who took the car as a trade-in, gave the car to his son, Sonny Brazil. Brazil got the car from his father but decided to put the car on eBay last weekend, according to the Daily Mail. The car lot owner bought the car from the Middleton's in 2009 for £1,400, when they had originally bought it in 2001 for £10,818. Now the price of the car could fetch up to £30,000 according to auction houses that have assessed the car, all because the Duchess of Cambridge's name is on the log book. Another added bonus to purchasing this car from eBay is that inside the car were found a pair of silver cufflinks, whether these could belong to any of the Princes of the Royal Family it is still uncertain, but these will be included in the price of the car. The cufflinks are estimated to be worth £30,000 +.

Source: The Daily Mail.

World's Most Exciting Roads

2011-07-18T13:15:00.000+01:00

In February 2011, AutoEvolution ran a feature exploring some of the world's most exciting roads. If you happened to miss it, it really is worth a look, here they are again:

ATLANTIC OCEAN ROAD – NORWAY

Known to the locals as Atlanterhavsveien, the Atlantic Ocean Road is part of the Norweigian national road 64 and links the villages of Karvag and Averoy with Vevang in Eide.

Currently, the Atlantic Road ranks at the top of the list for tourists going in the region and is recommended by almost all the travel agencies as a worth remembering road trip experience. At the same time, the road has been voted Norwegian Construction of the Century.

Pictures below: Atlantic Ocean Road - Norway

The construction of the road begun in 1983, taking the builders six years to complete the 8.3 km (5.2 miles) stretch of road. During this time, the construction site was hit by no less than 10 severe storms.The road uses small rocky islands as support, giving it one feature you don't easily find with other roads; as you travel along, you can feast your eyes on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The fact the road has been built to include fjords and mountains adds to the dramatic effect.

JEBEL HAFEET MOUNTAIN ROAD – UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

From the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean to the scorching heat of the desert... As with most of the gargantuan engineering projects in the oil rich Gulf region, the Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road is a more recent accomplishment, having been constructed to help motorists climb the mountain wearing the same name. Jebel Hafeet Mountain is the highest peak in the United Arab Emirates, rising 1,249 meters above sea level and overseeing the city of Al Ain.

Pictures below: Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road

The road, which stretches for 11.7 km (7.3 miles), as everything constructed using oil money, comes close to perfection. The 60 bends and corners that animate it mean nothing for a well-balanced car, which travels on the perfectly flat tarmac.

SEVEN MILE BRIDGE – FLORIDA KEYS, US

Considered by some the most exhilarating road in the world, the Seven Mile Bridge is a... nearly seven-miles-long bridge. It links Knight's Key to Little Duck Key over the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The bridge, the longest segmental bridge in the world when it was finished in 1982, rises 65 feet above the water (20 meters) to allow boats to pass underneath it and has been built to withstand winds of up to 200 mph.

Considered a wonder of the engineering world, the current bridge builds on an older one, the Knights Key-Pigeon Key-Moser Channel-Pacet Channel Bridge, erected in between 1909 – 1912 and nearly destroyed by a hurricane in 1935. Parts of the original bridge are currently used as fishing piers and access to Pigeon Key.

Pictures below: Seven Mile Bridge - Florida Keys, U.S.

The popularity of the bridge is so big that each April it is closed on a Saturday for 2.5 hours to allow scores of people to take part in what has come to be known as the fun run (or Seven Mile Bridge Run), an annual event meant to celebrate the building of the bridge.

GROSSGLOCKNER HIGH ALPINE ROAD - AUSTRIA

Austrian road in between mountains links the state of Salzburg with the state of Carinthia, taking tourists into some of the country's most respected and highly regarded natural wonders, the Hohe Tauern National Park, the Grossglockner mountain (the highest in Austria, 3,798 meters) and its glacier, the Pasterze.

Pictures below: Grossglockner High Alpine Road - Austria

The Grossglockner High Alpine road stretches for 48 km (30 miles), bringing the tourists and passer-bys through 36 bends and all the way to an altitude of 2,504 meters (8,215 feet). During the trip, drivers and riders will encounter anything and everything from alpine meadows, mountain forests, massive cliffs and, of course, tons of ice.

TIMGAD – ALGERIA

Proof that, at times, the ancients were way ahead of some of the nations currently considering themselves as part of the modern age can be found in Algeria, in the former Roman town of Timgad.
Built by Emperor Trajan in 100 AD at the convergence point for no less than six major roads in the region, the ancient city has been erected with respect to all the city building principles in use today.

Pictures below: Timgad - Algeria

At the centre of the town lies the 12-metre-high triumphal arch, called Trajan's Arch, underneath which the main road of the city passes. As a witness to the engineering capabilities of the Romans, the road has survived pretty much in its original condition to this day.

TRANSFAGARASAN -ROMANIA

In between the Carpathian Mountains, where Dracula is said to have been born, lies a 90 km-long piece of road (56 miles) that is surely going to give you nausea. The road is called the Transfagarasan and it passes through the tallest section of the Carpathians.

Caught in between the two highest peaks in the country, Moldoveanu and Negoiu, the road connects Transylvania to the cities of Sibiu and Pitesti, on the outside of the mountain arch.

Pictures below: Transfagarasan - Romania

The road is full of twists and bends, climbing to an altitude of 2,034 metres (6,673 deet) and taking the tourists not only through a wide range of landscapes, but also from summer at the bottom of the road to all out winter at its highest point.

So there you have it! Do you have any suggestions? please feel free to comment below!

For credit for each stunning picture and content please visit the original AutoEvolution article.

Ford Launches Free Accident Management Programme for UK Customers

2011-07-15T11:25:00.000+01:00

The U.S auto-maker, Ford Motor Co., has launched a new accident management programme that the company says will help customers in the UK to simplify communications between the Ford repair network and insurance companies. All new and used Ford vehicle drivers can utilise a special hotline to have repairs conveniently carried out at their nearest Ford Accident Repair Centre using genuine Ford parts fitted. The new programme follows the recommendations of the House of Commons Transport Committee in creating a transparent and efficient programme to drive down the total cost of claims.

Personal injury claims will not be included under the Ford Accident Management Programme, which allows customers to retain their legal right to make a valid claim but neither Ford no any of its partners will benefit from this. The new programme requires no signing of credit agreements by drivers underwriting the cost of repairs or hire car provision.

Ford's collision repair manager, Paul McDermott, said Ford's Accident Management Programme takes over many complex parts of the repair process such as contacting the insurance company, organising vehicle recovery and providing a courtesy car, with a single phone call.

Ford Use API Technology (Google) To Predict Driving Behaviour

2011-07-15T10:37:00.000+01:00

Ford and Google are teaming up to try and predict driver behaviour and optimise performance for their EV’s and Hybrids. Using Google’s Prediction API, Ford aim to increase efficiency and decrease commuting times by tracking regular routes that drivers embark on on a daily basis.

The API technology which was released last year by Google, can convert information on a driver’s actions in the past into real-time predictions, such as where they’re likely to be headed at a particular time of day. The predictive API will be exclusively focused on the driver, logging and analysing driving history. By studying a car owner's driving patterns, the system tries to predict where the driver is going and then optimise the upcoming trip with respect to electric driving zones. Data is collected remotely by Ford and transferred to dedicated server hardware as the history logging and route analysis is quite intensive, in terms of storage and processing power.

Ryan McGee, a Ford Technical Expert said "The Google Prediction API allows us to utilise information that an individual driver creates over time and make that information actionable. Between Google Prediction and our own research, we are discovering ways to make information work for the driver and help deliver optimal vehicle performance".

Apparently the system will work as soon as the driver starts the vehicle. Making a note of what time the driver has switched on the vehicle will determine what regular routes they would normally take at this particular time of the day. When the vehicle starts, Google Prediction would use historical driving behaviour to predict the most likely destination, check with the driver that it's correct and then optimise driving performance for the journey. When drivers start using the service, an encrypted driver data usage profile could be built, based on routes and time of travel.

A plug-in hybrid vehicle could program itself to optimise energy usage over the total distance of the route, in order to preserve enough battery power to switch to all-electric mode when travelling within an EV-only zone. McGee goes on to explain that "Once the destination is confirmed, the vehicle would have instant access to a variety of real-time information so it can optimise its performance, even against factors that the driver may not be aware of".

Ford and Google are keen to assure drivers that their privacy will be protected. "We realise that the nature of this research includes the use of personal data and location awareness, something we are committed to protecting for our customers in everything we do," says System Architect, Johannes Kristinsson.

"A key component of this project is looking at how to develop secure personal profiles that will ensure appropriate levels of protection and specific data use only by the driver and the vehicle to deliver the best driving experience."

Watch a video that goes into more detail about this here:

Ford First Automaker To Back Ban On Using A Mobile Phone When Driving

2011-07-15T10:01:00.001+01:00

Ford Motor Company is one of the first auto-maker to back a ban on using mobile phones when driving in the USA.

Ford have said they are endorsing a bill introduced last month by U.S Rep Carolyn McCarthy. Pete Lawson, Ford's Vice President of government affairs, said the company is backing the bill "because it represents a practical, common-sense approach to a national problem."

Ford has been eager to protect drivers from distractions that could cause accidents such as using a mobile phone while driving. Sync and MyFord Touch are technologies developed by Ford that allow drivers to make hands-free calls and receive or send text messages orally, rather than using a hand-held mobile phone.

Although nine states and the district of Colombia have introduced a mobile phone ban whilst driving, there are still a substantial amount of states that still have not banned their use. According to The Governors Highway Safety Association, this is because they want to postpone any bans until further research has been completed.

"Research conducted in labs and on roads shows that activity drawing drivers' eyes away from the road — whether text messaging, manually dialing a cellphone or reading maps — substantially increases the risk of an accident or near misses,"Lawson said.

"Ford believes hands-free, voice-activated technology significantly reduces that risk by allowing drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road," Lawson said.

Telecommuncations giant Verizon also has endorsed the bill.

McCarthy said "Ford is demonstrating great leadership and being a good corporate citizen" by supporting her legislation.

"GM has been way out in front for years, among our employees, states and consumers, with a simple message of put the phone down and drive," said General Motors spokesman Greg Martin.

"We're still doing our part, but we're not certain what meaningful effect a federal ban would have at this time as these issues typically reside with state and local enforcement," he said.

GM bars employees driving company cars from using a hand-held cellphone behind the wheel.

States that refuse to comply within two years could lose 25 percent of their federal highway money.

Source: Detroit News.

June's Photo Competition Winner - MondeoSTOC.com Forum

2011-07-08T15:41:00.001+01:00

Mondeo Spares Ltd are club sponsors of Mondeo ST Owners Club forum and have been helping to choose winners for the photo competition that the forum runs on a monthly basis.

In June, the competition was to send in a photograph of your Mondeo with the theme 'Old Buildings/Churches' in mind.

Thanks to everyone who entered this month!

We'd like to congratulate Steve Feltham who won this months competition.

Here is the winning photo:

The photo was taken by Steve outside Old Plumstead Hospital, Norwich.

Some details about Steve's Mondeo:

05 Plate Mondeo ST TDCi Estate

A few subtle modifications include:

Focus ST 225 brakes;

full stainless exhaust;

and a few badge changes!

Good with a camera???

Don't forget to enter next month's competition for July.

Go to www.mondeostoc.com to find out what the theme is for this month and you could win yourself some free Mondeo Spares goodies!!!

Ford Motor And Georgia Tech Working On 'Green Eco School Bus'

2011-06-24T16:26:00.000+01:00

Georgia Institute of Technology is working in partnership with the Ford Motor Company Fund on the country’s first conversion of a traditional school bus to a hydraulic hybrid vehicle running on recycled biofuel.

Ford Motor Company

The project conducted by Georgia Tech, one of the world’s premier research universities, is financed by a $50,000 Ford College Community Challenge Grant. It is one of five given each year for a student-led project that matches university resources with an urgent community need related to sustainability. Focusing on converting existing school buses to hydraulic hybrid, this project could reduce transportation costs for schools and lower greenhouse emissions.

Georgia Tech assistant professor of mechanical engineering, Michael Leamy and his students designed and developed the hydraulic hybrid system for the 16-passenger school bus donated by the Atlanta Public Schools (APS).

Its installation is close to complete and students at Mary Line Elementary School are painting the “Green Eco School Bus” green. The elementary students are also organizing a collection drive for used cooking oil for processing into biodiesel.

“Our students are eager to learn about new ways to care for the environment,” said Brian Mitchell, principal, Mary Lin Elementary. “The Green Eco School Bus turns a theoretical concept into a fun and exciting reality that stimulates their learning. Together with Georgia Tech and Atlanta Public Schools, we are taking innovation from the classroom to the community,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services.

“This is a noteworthy example of the types of programs we are bringing to Atlanta as part of our new Operation Goodwill partnership with local Ford and Lincoln dealers with the goal of expanding our engagement with this community.”

Please note, we take no credit for this article. Article taken from: AutomotiveDiscovery.

EA Games and Ford Come Together

2011-06-24T16:06:00.000+01:00

The immensely popular life simulation video game, The Sims 3 which was created by Electronic Arts, is working with Ford to gain brand awareness for Ford's new Focus.

The pixelated Ford Focus Sedan available for download for The Sims 3 gamers.

The Sims is a video game in which the gaming community can create lifelike human characters called Sims, give them personalities, construct their surroundings, and give them life goals and desires, and then decide to grant their wishes.

As part of the 'Focus Neon Nights' expansion pack, enthusiasts of the popular game can download a pixelated Ford Focus Sedan available in several different colours, with a stereo, neon lights and also a t-shirt that their sim characters can wear.

The Ford Focus has been part of The Sims video gaming community before, the previous generation being featured in The Sims 2 along with the Mustang GT, Edge, Fusion and Escape Hybrid. The 2012 Ford Focus joins the Ford Fiesta in The Sims 3 which was first released as part of the 'Fiesta Urban Streetscape' downloadable package which was available for download on the EA (Electronic Arts) website.

Ford's social media specialist, Brian McClary, said "Our involvement with The Sims 3 demonstrates how Ford is looking for alternate ways to talk to the consumer outside of print, television and radio. Gaming is a key area we are focusing on and The Sims have proved it can be an effective channel".

According to Electronic Arts, The Sims 3 has been the most successful launch of the game series to date and already over 8 million of the Ford vehicles available for download have been downloaded by gamers wanting a Ford Focus Sedan in their game.

Orchestra Plays Instruments Made From Ford Car Parts

2011-06-24T15:41:00.000+01:00

We saw this and thought we'd share it with you. I bet you can spot some familiar looking parts on the video!

Tips On How To Insure Your Car For The First Time

2011-06-24T14:39:00.001+01:00

If you are a new car owner by law you have to buy car insurance. It is illegal to own a car let alone drive a car without this coverage. Many insurance companies will penalise you as a first time car owner regardless of whether you consider yourself to be the best driver in the world or not, as you have no past history of driving or accidents, they basically can charge you the highest, premium rates. Rates can come down for you as a first time car owner if for example you are over the age of 25 rates are considerably cheaper than say an 18 year olds insurance. Unfortunately being young in an insurers eyes means that you will get judged regardless of how little faults you received when you passed your driving test!

But do not despair, there are ways to try and get the best possible deal for you in the form of price comparison websites. This should be your first port of call to compare rates. Things you will need to use these websites are:

Car Brand (e.g. Ford)
VIN Number/Vehicle Registration
Model of car (e.g Fiesta Freestyle)
Year of car (e.g. 2006)
Driving License Number (Found on your driving license)
The mileage of your car.
Address/contact details

And finally you might need your financial details if you choose to proceed. If the car is not owned by you and you lease the car, you will need all of the details of the company that you are leasing the car off too.

If you have been driving for a while but are only insuring your own car for your first time, the insurance companies may ask you for your full driving history. This includes any accidents where you have made a claim and also it is important to notify them of any accidents that weren't your fault. It is fraud if you do not admit to any accidents, even if you haven't claimed on your insurance.

You will have various policies now to choose from. You can insure your car against theft, fire, car damage or injuries from car accidents. There are insurance policies out there for most budgets and preferences. You can buy coverage for any purpose you think you will need the most. It is also possible to get a policy for more than one car with a discount on the second car, so if you do own two cars - make sure you query the insurance company about possible discounts that could help you.

If you have been driving for a number of years and have barely any 'blips' on your driving history, in other words, barely any accidents or claims, than it is likely that you are able to justify a lower rate to your potential insurer. For a first-time driver, this will not be the case, however. Insurers unfortunately see first time drivers as big a liability as a learner driver as most accidents that do occur in a drivers life occur within the first 2 years of them passing their driving test.

Find as many quotes as you can, once you have all of the ones you are the most interested in being insured with, print out all of the quotes you have received. The reason for this is so that you can compare each quote side by side based on rates, coverage, monthly payments and premiums. You should also look at each companies reputation in the form of reviews which can normally be found online. Find out if other customers are happy with their service by reading online reviews about their company. Don't forget to read the fine print of each policy you are looking at. You can either purchase a policy online or ring the company, the latter will help you to ask any questions or seek information that perhaps you could not find online just so you are 100% sure. Our advice when choosing an insurer is to go for a well established company that has a good reputation. Try and opt for an insurer that is known to release claims without giving clients a hard time.

Please also see: How to reduce your car insurance if you found this article interesting.

The Difference Between New & Used Car Parts

2011-06-24T13:05:00.000+01:00

A customer asked me not too long ago what the difference was between new and used car parts. I thought it was fairly obvious what the difference was but when I started thinking about it, perhaps there is a deciding factor for those that are unsure on what to buy - new or used. So I decided to look at the differences, including the pros and the cons of each.

New Car Parts:

Pros:

There is normally a guarantee that the new parts will work especially if they are OEM parts, this is normally a much longer guarantee than on second hand parts.
Brand new parts can normally easily be sourced from the original parts manufacturer or from a store, you do not have to search for it.
These parts can normally be seen and ordered in the store or showroom or dealership.

Cons:

They are normally nearly always double the price of a second hand, used part.
Some parts may have to be 'worn in' to the car, like a new pair of shoes!

Used Car Parts:

Pros:

For a used part, you would be paying an extremely low price in comparison.
Used parts can work just as good as new parts.
Some car spare shops (such as us, for example) have warranty's on all parts, so if anything does go wrong you are covered.
If you are on a tight budget, a used car part will not break your bank account in comparison.

Cons:

Unless you already have a reliable supplier of used car parts for your specific vehicle you could have a bit of a search on your hands to find a supplier for your car.
Used parts are normally a lot dirtier than new parts, don't expect them to have a sleek, shiny finish. They may have oil on them, scuffs, scratches and scrapes.
Photos of the parts are not always available.
They might not work as well or for as long as a new part would.
The warranty may be considerably less time than on a new part as they would likely have the original factory manufacturers guarantee.

If you are struggling to find a used car part and you have a Ford, firstly take a look at our online store to see if we can help you get the part you need, or call us on 01782205511.

Or you can use some of the quote compare websites that are available for you to use, all you have to do is type in your vehicle registration, the part you need and suppliers will contact you with their quotes.

Here are some we have found:

www.1stchoice.co.uk

www.carsparefinder.co.uk

www.partsgateway.co.uk

www.247spares.co.uk

TomTom Goes LIVE

2011-06-24T11:42:00.000+01:00

Some people may remember the days of maps and trying to read from a scrappy piece of paper with directions scrawled all over as a distant memory. Satellite Navigation technology took the driving community by storm and enabled drivers to have a pleasant, driving experience without the need to take their eyes off the road. TomTom was one of the first manufacturers to bring Satellite Navigation to the general public and they haven't stopped there. Their newest TomTom product - GO LIVE has brought a whole list of added extras and possibilities for drivers. The connected GO 2505 M LIVE comes with all of TomTom's LIVE services, including TomTom HD Traffic.

Some of the features this new technology offers drivers:

Instant and continuous routing
Excellent graphics
Pinch-to-zoom
Swipe from screen-to-screen using gestures.

It keeps the drivers' safety in mind by having Bluetooth hands free calling and intuitive voice recognition. A new click and lock mount keeps your device safely mounted while driving and it also features a 5" glass touch screen.

What other features does it have?

Real-time map updates.
Street names are announced to you as you drive.
Easy to use voice commands - drivers can now say "take me to the nearest petrol station" and a map will be routed for your nearest one.
Instant and continuous routing.
GO's services are delivered via AT&T's wireless network and include Local Search, Fuel Prices and Weather Bundled.
Includes the award winning TomTom HD Traffic which is known to be the most accurate, comprehensive and frequent traffic information available.

The goal of TomTom HD is to offer real-time traffic solution to their customers, in hopes to empower consumers with superior driving intelligence.

You can pick one of these up from most participating stores such as Halfords and Amazon.co.uk for between £160-£280.