After eight months, EF02 POH has visited the dealer network for the first time for its 12,500-mile service. You don't struggle to find dealers; the Ford website showed three within spitting distance of the office and I chose Hilary Brock Ltd in Olney, just down the road from our Wollaston base. The service came to ΂£116.89, which seemed extremely reasonable for what is arguably Ford's flagship car. When I booked the ST220 in, I also asked them to have a look at the wobbly rear-view mirror and the fluctuating air conditioning temperature. The wobbling mirror has been fixed. But despite Hilary Brock promising to investigate the air-con problem, it's still not right. Every time you drive off, it blasts you with hot air and you have to adjust the temperature control to its lowest setting to get any cool air. We've heard there's a recall for a power steering problem, so it could be that both could be attended to at the same time.

It's been over a week now since I saw the ST220, in which time I've covered miles behind the wheel of the RS6, Zafira, Impreza STi and Clio Cup. They're all good in their own ways but, sad to say, I am missing the Mondeo.