What’s struck me over time since I started driving is realizing what brings out the sheer joy in driving and what doesn’t. It’s in this simple idea that should be the basis for any person seeking to find a new or used car. At the end of the day, driving can be a total distraction, it could be necessary to get from point x to point y, and it can be extremely expensive. We know all of that…so when any person makes a decision to own a car, after they’ve looked at their bank account and done a tally of how much money it will cost to operate a supposed car over a year, the key that everyone should weigh last but most importantly is … does this car bring me happiness and can I stand being in it every day? The joy of driving must never be underestimated because be it the distractions of anemic engines disallowing you to pass others on the highway, proclivity of mechanical failures inside the cabin or elsewhere, huge blind spots, BAD CAR SMELL, you name it … those all factor in on your own emotion the second you’ve finished driving and can easily shape the rest of your day if you’ve devolved into a stress ball over the car that you choose or are forced to drive. Happiness matters far more than we think when it comes to our simple mode of transport.

And it is in this personal joy to drive that I will begin a new weekly series of talking and reviewing cars that I’ve driven because I think it’s important to share with you all what cars are important for the family, for your bank account, and for your sanity. Car magazines tend to review the deep drive specifications of a said vehicle but rarely do they make it clear to the reader that a newly reviewed car will make you feel better after your drive than before. I’m going to rectify that.

I’m going to ask my readers to write to me on Facebook, twitter, and elsewhere and tell me which cars they’d like me to talk about; chances are, I’ve driven it. And will gladly include it in my new #FabianoCarFile weekly blog.

This week, I’ll start with a truncated but interesting review for all of you to get a clue of what I plan to do.

FABIANO CAR FILE 6/23: Ford Mondeo Titanium Sport X. In America, we don’t have the Ford Mondeo. We have a parallel sized car called the Ford Fusion. (full disclosure, Ford has built the next generation Mondeo as the same as our state-side Fusion as part of their global brand integration strategy) but recently, I had my hands on the wheel of late build 2013.5 Mondeo, the last model year of the last generation of the car. To date, it’s still being sold in the UK for a few more months. Even reviewing this car so late in the game may seem ridiculous but for those bargain hunters or buyers that want a freshly used car, this may be of some help. For any family, the Ford Mondeo should check off a lot of the lists: good trunk space, lots of cup holders, an array of tech features if you ante up the moola and a well put together interior that is intuitive and not cluttered. Ford has made it essential to their business model to offer many engine options to the Euro public, including high and low powered diesels, which don’t have the same impact on the American market (yet). The car is now looking a bit dated on the outside, it’s front and rear fascias looking oh-so 2007, and interior switch gear that belongs in Ford cars of the last decade.

But, that shouldn’t detract a searching buyer to give this car a serious look. I had my doubts when I stepped in it. But then I turned it on and grabbed the wheel. The leather chunky wheel, handy in the grip, felt solid. On some cars, the stick is so long that you feel like you’re driving a bus built in the 80’s but this fairly long throw shifter (a 6-speed) didn’t bother me. As for the driving position, all the instruments were well at hand, buttons in abundance and seemingly a bit dated, but very clear to read and see. Turning it on, I immediately knew I was going to enjoy myself. After just moments, the car took brilliantly to the road, shifts easy to manipulate, steering tight but not so much that older drivers would scare away, and the grip on the road was impeccable. The car moved between lanes on highways and country roads with aplomb; fast acceleration and tight handling for a rather big family car. Years ago, at the inception of this new generation Mondeo (circa 2007), it received a myriad of awards from auto sites, blogs, and magazines. Today, most are fast to diss the car for being dated and on the UK roads, only around 15,000 of these puppies have been built…numbers nearly 100K in 2007 tell a different tale but nevertheless, I dissent from the detractors. The 2.0 Liter Turbo Eco Boost engine, pumping out 237 horses, does a supremely good job for a family hauler, one never feels out of control on the road, and perks like auto head lights, auto clima-control, a Sony Sound System, auto folding mirrors, and a good informative gauge cluster made the driving experience exceptionally fun and enjoyable.

I strongly recommend this car to UK and Euro drivers before the new model debuts on your shores. You’ll get a bargain and you’ll be happy driving the car with it’s pretty decent list of perks and a well tuned engine attached to a good chassis.

Engine and Chassis A-
Features and Amenities B
Value (Price and depreciation) B-
Design (Exterior and Interior) B-
Joy to Drive B+

Overall B