Recommendation Please

[Flatsix]

Hi,

Been looking around for a new (well to me) 3 litre Mondeo as the family car. My preference is for a ST220 - uprated
suspension etc. etc. However you seem to get more for your money with the Titanium or Ghia. So my question is - what do you get for the 220 over the other two and what would you recommend?

Cheers

Gordon

[BigMansZetec]

The ST220 is probably the quickest in the range, so if it's speed you want, that will be the one to go for.

[Witchfinder]

You get Recaro seats as standard in the ST220. They're great. I also think the engine and gearing are slightly different.

[Flatsix]

Thanks for the input guys - appreciated! Looks like it's going to be the ST220 then

Another couple of questions if I may;

i) when were the facelifts applied and what were the major updates (e.g. 5 gears to 6)?

ii) apart from the usual caveats such as 'buy on condition', are there any ones best avoided?

Cheers

[Witchfinder]

There were two facelifts in the life of the Mk3 Mondeo. One came in 2003 when the interior trim was changed (mainly a hugely improved centre console) and some exterior alterations were made (grille and whatnot). The ST220 benefited from the interior changes and replacement of the 5-speed gearbox with a 6-speed unit. There was another minor facelift of interior and exterior trim in 2006 (some exterior chrome added, new gearknob and suchlike).

As I understand it, the 6-speed gearbox is a much better match to the engine than the old 5-speed. It improves economy and all-round performance. For me, the interior upgrade alone is worth it.

Weakpoints are the usual Ford stuff. Rear suspension bushes, gearbox and suchlike.

I just hope you're prepared for the awful fuel economy!

[Flatsix]

Witchfinder said:

Good Facelift stuff...

Thanks for the information - I was thinking of a 2005 model so that seems fine.

Witchfinder said:

I just hope you're prepared for the awful fuel economy!

Is the economy that bad? What I hear is that it returns an average of 28mpg (mix town & motorway).
Our current family wagon is a Vauxhall Vextra 2.6 V6 which I think returns approximately the same.
Full tank (55 litres) gives a range of just shy of 400 miles.

Thanks again for the info!

Edited by Flatsix on Sunday 1st June 23:15

Edited by Flatsix on Sunday 1st June 23:15

[Dave_ST220]

You won't get 400 miles to a tank EVER! Mine is now showing 24MPG DRIVEN. That's mostly Motorway and A roads driven no faster than 70...ish and speed limits in 30's and 40's. Still not run in though........

[Witchfinder]

Flatsix said:

Witchfinder said:

I just hope you're prepared for the awful fuel economy!

Is the economy that bad? What I hear is that it returns an average of 28mpg (mix town & motorway).
Our current family wagon is a Vauxhall Vextra 2.6 V6 which I think returns approximately the same.
Full tank (55 litres) gives a range of just shy of 400 miles.

I do mainly town driving, and my average fuel economy currently reads 21 MPG. I'm not especially lead-footed (apart from the occasional blast - you don't buy an ST220 to pootle around everywhere).

It also seems to eat a set of front tyres every 10,000 miles. Those are the standard Continentals. I've not tried it on anything else.

The servicing is very reasonable, but the cost of fuel, the imminent rise in tax (£400 per year) and the inevitable tyreshredding a front-wheel drive V6 carries out means that it't not a cheap car to run. I'm not trying to dissuade you, I just want you to look before you leap.

[Dimski]

I know mine is a diesel but still

I test drove the Ghia X and then the ST back to back. And logically, the Ghia X would have made more sense. It has a softer ride, and more toys, and at the time I was racking up 35k p/a on motorways.

However, I was trading in a Passat V6 TDI, which was the best motorway mannered car I have ever owned, but in 2 months I was sick of lurching all over the place round corners, so....

I am very, very glad I went for the ST now. Yes, the ride is firmer, but the handling makes up for it. And it is by no means bad on the motorway.

And thats describing my diesel, the petrol must be even better.

[Flatsix]

Witchfinder said:

The servicing is very reasonable, but the cost of fuel, the imminent rise in tax (£400 per year) and the inevitable tyreshredding a front-wheel drive V6 carries out means that it't not a cheap car to run. I'm not trying to dissuade you, I just want you to look before you leap.

Points taken and appreciated, you're absolutely correct it's always best to consider costs etc. Whilst it certainly isn't the cheapest car to run I reckon it's more than made up for on the servicing and mechanical costs. Additionally I was considering a 530, but that would have had less toys, cost significantly more (or been significantly older), handled less well and cost much more to service/maintain for only slightly better fuel economy.

Dimski said:

I am very, very glad I went for the ST now. Yes, the ride is firmer, but the handling makes up for it. And it is by no means bad on the motorway.

And thats describing my diesel, the petrol must be even better.

That's the clincher then

[Dave_ST220]

A quick look over the brochure reveals the Ghia X has nothing additional to the ST, infact the ST has better specification in petrol form Get a fully loaded 220 and you won't be disappointed.........

[NST]

iirc the Ghia X has heated and cooling seats. the ST220 of course has recaros which are very comfortable. i really miss my old ST220. quite tempted to get another to replace the diesel.

only issue with the car iirc is the front tyres don't last long and the fuel consumption, around town its low 20s but on the motorway low 30s is easily possible. i think (might be slightly off with the figs) i once got 390miles from about 55l (full tank) driving at 80 leptons.

NST

[Dave_ST220]

The Recaro's are heated as standard, the Ghia X does indeed have "climate seats", the cooling is nothing more than a fan blowing air up through the seat cussion, use the CC correctly and you won't need that

[Witchfinder]

NST said:

only issue with the car iirc is the front tyres don't last long and the fuel consumption, around town its low 20s but on the motorway low 30s is easily possible. i think (might be slightly off with the figs) i once got 390miles from about 55l (full tank) driving at 80 leptons.

I'd say this was about right. I went to York yesterday and reset the trip counter before I went. About 20-80 urban-motorway returned me almost 30MPG for the round trip, although that was making a conscious effort to drive economically.