Mondeo would be my choice, it's a great all round car, I just don't like FWD!

Although the Ford Derv has problems, all other modern dervs also suffer problems, i.e. DMF etc.

I am just not a fan of French cars, not that I have owned one, the engines always sound 'weezy' to me (Petrol units) and I hate the design on all the later models seen to have, that hideous gaping frogs mouth stuck on the front!

Old Diesel unit's are the reliable ones, the old Ford 1.8D went on for years in endless different models without problems.

Sounds like you had a dodgy Focus as these are endlessly reliable, normally!

Not that I am biased but Ford seem to have everything about right, i.e. build quality reliabilty etc (Excluding the Derv's) if you look at the reliabilty stats, recalls etc.

I don't see Ford having recall warnings on Watchdog, unlike Fiat, Vauxhall etc.

I am not sure if they changed the Diesel engines/fixed the injectors issues etc in the MK4 as I don't take an interest in Diesels but if so, have you thought about one of them?

Although there is no MK4 ST, there will be an equivilant, i.e. the Volvo 5 pot, is the equivilant Petrol MK3 ST!

Martin