Should I buy a Mondeo ST24/ST200??

[Kitchski]

Looking at the possibility of a Mondy ST24 or ST200 as we need a bigger car for a family that's about to start!

I'm still looking at MG ZT's in the sub £2k market but I've found quite a few ST200's for the same kind of money. I work for a Ford dealer, so it's a pretty ideal solution when I need to buy spares.

I've driven an ST24 briefly once when I was 17 and can't really remember it that well. I do remember driving a V6 Ghia auto, which I thought was pretty lame TBH! BUt I've read good things and I've recently had a Fiesta Zetec S (proper one, not the box) and if the same people make the Mondeo then I know it'll drive nicely!

Economy isn't really an issue as the car won't be used daily, but reliability is. I know the engine's chain driven so no belts, but I've heard the V6 has a weak bottom end?

Is the ST200 really worth the price hike over the ST24? It definately has something more special about the looks, but are there any hidden gremlins?

Basically any experience people might have would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[h4muf]

Hi.
This is my st24.




I bought it 2 days before le mans last year!
Le mans guise


It`s been one of the best car`s i`ve had

`99 on a v
56k from new
ffsh
Metal water pump fitted
Twin exhaust ala st200

I fancy a 220 next so i`m open to offers!
Cheers.

[Kitchski]

Whats the tax/MOT situation like? What sort of money you thinking of advertising for?

[h4muf]

Hi rich.
mot until end of april,but would put a year on for you if you want?

Was looking for around £1500 ish if any good?

[Kitchski]

Cheers mate, I've seen a few 200's for not too different money so not sure if you'd be open to negotiation, but I'll speak to the missus' and email you if interested?

Thanks!

[Dimski]

The auto is a fair bit slower than the manual V6.

0-60 7.9 (or 8 ish) vs 9ish (or even 10 dead IIRC).

I had a Ghia X V6 manual that I put nearly 40k on in about 15 months, from 53k to 92k.

I know there are concerns about the ST220 engine (ask Dave) but I have no idea whether the 2.5 version is as bad. Mine was still running very well when I sold it. There are a fair few with high milers out there.

While not that fast, the car never felt slow, and was a great motorway hack. Set a pretty good time from near the Italian border (Risoul) to Calais too. On a more relaxed trip, at 80 or above, I got 35.2mpg. (Long drive to Zermatt.)

At 1500 pounds, it's a lot of car for the money.

[daphantom]

Ive had both these cars. I had a 98 ST24 for 2 yrs + a 01 ST200 for 3.5years. IMO the 200 is by far the better car. The extra 30bhp makes a hell of a difference. I never had any major issues with either car. Get them serviced on schedule and they will both run fine for years. The ST200 has a few wee extras such as digital climate control. Looks wise i dont think there's any argument that the ST200 is miles ahead. If you get an average mile 200 with service history for anything below £2.5 i would recommend you definately take it as you wont regret it!

[Dave_ST220]

A fair few ST200 engines let go under warranty @ 40k miles, check the water pump as the plastic ones break. Both are old cars now, the V6 CAN go on and on but it can also fail(HG common) at low miles & cost you a packet to fix. My Mk1 V6(1996) had the water pump changed & the HG went 10k miles later, it's now on 96k miles and touch wood is fine. My ST220 needed a new head after 1400 miles!!!!!

[crustyfur2000]

A chap i know through work has one that i know he's trying to seell, only wants about £1000 for it, if interested call Bob on 01425 489993 & he'll give you the details

[Kitchski]

crustyfur2000 said:

A chap i know through work has one that i know he's trying to seell, only wants about £1000 for it, if interested call Bob on 01425 489993 & he'll give you the details

St200 or ST24?

[daphantom]

must be a ST24 - cant see a 200 going THAT cheap unless theres riduculous miles on it

[h4muf]

I`m not just saying it to be funny chaps but...

There`s some proper tat out there,i know two st200`s near me and both are scabby as hell.
Every st24 has some stupid pipercross filter sucking in warm air,drivers seat blolster ripped and torn etc.

Where are all the good standard ones???

[Kitchski]

I've seen some half decent looking ones up at around £1700. The St24's seem to be asking around £500 less overall, although many are a bit of a mess.
There are some ST200's out there with the owners on another planet! I've seen one on a 2000 plaet for £4k today! £4k for a 9 year old Mondeo?!?

I think they're nice, but not that nice! For the £1.5k - £2k range I don't think you can do alot better in that catagory personally. My second choice would be an MG ZT.

[wilf tuscan s]

From personal experience of both models I would take the ST24 over the ST200 any day. However, if your budget would stretch the ST220 is a better car again and prices have dropped considerable recently. I throughly enjoy every drive in our ST220!

Good luck which ever you choose.

[daphantom]

wilf tuscan s said:

From personal experience of both models I would take the ST24 over the ST200 any day. However, if your budget would stretch the ST220 is a better car again and prices have dropped considerable recently. I throughly enjoy every drive in our ST220!

Good luck which ever you choose.

Why do you say youd take the st24 over the st200 any day? Ive owned both myself over the years + im intrigued by your post

[rsstman]

daphantom said:

wilf tuscan s said:

From personal experience of both models I would take the ST24 over the ST200 any day. However, if your budget would stretch the ST220 is a better car again and prices have dropped considerable recently. I throughly enjoy every drive in our ST220!

Good luck which ever you choose.

Why do you say youd take the st24 over the st200 any day? Ive owned both myself over the years + im intrigued by your post

i am assuming he meant take the st200 over the st24 anyday, i know i definately would after driving both.

[Podie]

rsstman said:

daphantom said:

wilf tuscan s said:

From personal experience of both models I would take the ST24 over the ST200 any day. However, if your budget would stretch the ST220 is a better car again and prices have dropped considerable recently. I throughly enjoy every drive in our ST220!

Good luck which ever you choose.

Why do you say youd take the st24 over the st200 any day? Ive owned both myself over the years + im intrigued by your post

i am assuming he meant take the st200 over the st24 anyday, i know i definately would after driving both.

Surely ST200 over the 24..?!?!

I ran an ST200 for a couple of years (details in profile) and it did the job well. Represents a lot of car for the money IMO.

[Albert Clocked]

I had one of these, bought it from a guy in work for £850.00 with 100,000 miles on the clock. Best car I ever owned including brand new TDCI mondy, mazda 6 and AMG merc A class. Thrashed the nuts off it and felt like a teenager again at 40, built a high flow exhaust and bypass on egr. No silencers at all just lovely low growl. I sold it a couple of years ago and still get asked about it by friends. Am considering buying another possibly ST220 as titanium X just doesnt cut it.

[Twiggy27uk]

had a mk1 V6 si and found it to be a real trouble. head issues due to waterpump issues. but this was a very early mk1 remember. 1995 was first issue of the duratec v6 engine. the st200 was a better revised engine. different upper inlet manifold and TB plus different profile cam shafts compared to the 24 to give the approx. 200bhp over the 168bhp of the st24. waterpump was revised on the mk2 and the st200 had this revision. there is a belt and braces version that's a metal impeller version that's a bolt straight on job to replace the plastic version and wont fail like those plastic ones are prone to. they do also have a weak point in the head gaskets on the rear bank gearbox end and front bank oil filter end and if its weak there is minimum thickness to the outside world on the gasket there. early st200 had half leather recaros so if your going for a t-plate that may have them. later ones had the black leather recaros. if you go for a saloon version ( st200 ltd ) this was one of 300 made and had a contrasting blue black leather recaro interior. the estates are more rare and fetch good money but prices have dived a bit since I looked into them. decent hatches with 100+ on them fetch between 900-1200 and will still have crusty arches if not looked after. rear arches go really easy and followed by the sills. seen a few high milage ones for good money in good condition but remember nowadays they are a throw away price so tend to be bought to hack rather than for show. can get a decent 52 plate st220 for 2k now.

Dan

[Podie]

Er.... you realise this thread is 5 years old?