Mondeo ST200 Limited - most painful purchase ever

[C70R]

I recall your previous thread, and I think I was one of the people who advised you against pouring money into it, as I don't believe that it will pay you back in the way that many other Fords have appreciated. Having said that, even though it probably won't become a classic, I commend you for your absolute labour of love, and you deserve to get some enjoyment out of it.

[ManicMunky]

I do like these, good on your for keeping it going!

[irocfan]

I can see why you wanted it, looks lovely (ok the seats are an acquired taste, but still) now that you've sunk all that wedge into it it's time to enjoy it with just (hopefully) no more than routine servicing to do. Please keep it - it'd be a shame to sell it and have some barryboy kill it (especially since the likelihood is it'd be someone relatively local who would buy it)

[budgie smuggler]

Looks really nice, well done

[bigbob77]

Blue Oval84 said:

So, to start the story at the beginning, I owned a MK2 Ghia X V6 in 2007 and look back on it fondly as one of the best cars I've ever owne. I've no idea why, I just really, really liked it.

Perfect driving position, loads of feel through the controls, lovely induction sound from the V6 (especially when the IMRC kicks in) and absolutely none of the electronic numbness that newer cars have... I also remember my Mk2 Mondeos as the best cars I've owned

Your ST200 looks fantastic. I'd love one, but I don't think I could spend that much on it...

Edited by bigbob77 on Thursday 26th May 11:19

[bungz]

Wow I thought this was tin cans already.

Respect for sticking with it.

How is the quality of the welding and what do you plan to do to keep it at bay?

Underseal it or store it in a swimming pool full of dry rice ?

Looks great

[Blue Oval84]

Thanks for all the positive comments guys, it almost makes the whole ordeal seem worthwhile!

I did a check the other day and I think there are only a few hundred ST's left, and probably well under 100 saloons, so I think it probably is close to being one of the best left on the road. Having looked at the MOT advisories on the one in the Ford Heritage collection, mine would seem to have a similar list of advisories and has much lower miles!

I'm under no illusions that this will continue to be a fraught ownership experience but I have to try and get my money's worth now!

bigbob77 said:

Perfect driving position, loads of feel through the controls, lovely induction sound from the V6 (especially when the IMRC kicks in) and absolutely none of the electronic numbness that newer cars have... I also remember my Mk2 Mondeos as the best cars I've owned

Your ST200 looks fantastic. I'd love one, but I don't think I could spend that much on it...

Thanks! I think you may have nailed why it has that "right" feeling actually, it feels a lot more connected than any modern car, and the lack of nastiness like EPAS just helps with that connected feeling

mrtwisty said:

How does it drive compared to your other mk3? My sister had a boggo mk3 2.0 petrol many moons ago and I was always surprised how well it behaved when she chucked it through the bends - certainly far better than the similar era Passat's/Vectra's etc.

That's a tough question actually, the MK3 feels significantly more modern (not having it's roots in 1992 I guess it should do!) In terms of handling, I'd say the ST is a little better on the open road, albeit very much harsher over bumps, whilst the MK3 probably has the edge on sharp cornering on the slower roads as it's a bit lighter up front. I also suspect I need to factor in some new wishbones for the ST within the next year or two.

bungz said:

Wow I thought this was tin cans already.

Respect for sticking with it.

How is the quality of the welding and what do you plan to do to keep it at bay?

Underseal it or store it in a swimming pool full of dry rice ?

Looks great

It came very close!! I've no idea about the welding quality as I haven't pulled the carpet back up to look at it, or been underneath. However, it was MOT'd and they didn't give any advisories for the standard of the welds. They did give a couple about other parts of the sills though so I fully expect to have to have the sills replaced properly within the next year, I'll do the arches at the same time. I can't face it at the moment.

I know that at the moment there is underseal clagged everywhere that the welding has been done so hopefully this will hold the win worm at bay until I do further work in the future.

The frustrating thing is that this work wouldn't be needed if it hadn't been left to flood inside for 3 years, and no one had jacked it up onto the sills and ruined the original underseal.

[anonymous-user]

I went to the classic car show and saw a few on these and started looking to buy one, as your thread has been an eye opener, but your car is very nice and I sure in time will pay back both financial and rewarding driving.

[Blue Oval84]

I think I'll be off to Ford Fair with it in August, assuming it behaves itself and doesn't give me any serious grief.

[anonymous-user]

it is amazing how well they rust. Did ford just not galvanise them.

[Blue Oval84]

God knows, to be fair, mine has only rotted badly where the underseal has been damaged and been left. It's also spent it's whole life in damp climates (Glasgow and Manchester), now it lives beside the sea...

[irocfan]

The Spruce goose said:

it is amazing how well they rust. Did ford just not galvanise them.

Wasn't this the era of the Puma & Ka? Kinda tells it's own story

[shedweller]

I bought a ST200 estate 3yrs ago for my Mrs (for me really but I have 4 cars already) whilst looking for a car for the someone else,
Fell in love with the colour and how well presented it was (mint) - I've kinda fallen for it more since, but if I'd have known a bit more about all the model specific parts I maybe wouldn't of after being quoted £384 for ONE front spring with a 6wk wait from SVT

Well done for persevering with it,not sure I would've tolerated it myself. I have yet to tackle the flickering lights issue but will have to soon.

I too love the noise and your right they still get attention - the Mrs is often approached about hers, partly because I keep it Very clean after polishing 17yrs worth of swirls out of its paintwork.

Plus the colour - love it, unusual these days in the sea of silvery greys.

[hoppo4.2]

My old man had an st24 company car in 1999 just as I turned 17. Brilliantly the policy was the any family members could drive looked odd with L plates on still have a soft spot for them.

[Blue Oval84]

shedweller said:

Well done for persevering with it,not sure I would've tolerated it myself. I have yet to tackle the flickering lights issue but will have to soon.

Are you familiar with the Technical Bulletin about this issue? It may be your alternator of course (as mine was even with two new alternators from Euro Car Parts, had to get one from Ford in the end), but if you're lucky it may be affected by the TSB and just need an additional wire...

[Trixxz]

Curse you OP! You a fuelling my desire to buy a crusty Ford to rescue!

I too am a Ford fan and have spent many many hours sorting out tin worm on a variety of crusty old Fords - The worse being a mk3 XR3i that I spent far too much money on, So I totally "get" why you cant walk away from it!

Just keep doing your man maths and it will all be OK! There are far far worse habits/addictions to have than pouring money into old cars

Keep us updated

[Hudson]

Another ex ST24 owner, couldn't afford an ST200 at the time. My wheel arches rotted and the exhaust fell completely off (and the excess heat melted part of the gear linkage - probably shouldn't have been driving it haha) but I loved it.

[shedweller]

Yes I had heard of adding the (earth?) wire to the existing alternator and I will probably do that, but whilst there I will do the alternator as well.
It started with just dimming of headlights as per our previous Mk2 (which didn’t get worse) but over the last few weeks it has progressed to the battery light coming on at 5k with hesitancy/miss under load from 5k up and from 4k with lights on.

Here she is as of this morning, 113k with the full leather recaros, 4 previous keepers who clearly looked after it, As its had some really high quality welding in the past…. Non crusty anywhere except on one arch which I will get done. - excuse the boxes but were moving out of our st rental house in 3days.
Wheels are getting a long overdue refurb next week.

[Blue Oval84]

shedweller said:

Yes I had heard of adding the (earth?) wire to the existing alternator and I will probably do that, but whilst there I will do the alternator as well.
It started with just dimming of headlights as per our previous Mk2 (which didn’t get worse) but over the last few weeks it has progressed to the battery light coming on at 5k with hesitancy/miss under load from 5k up and from 4k with lights on.

Here she is as of this morning, 113k with the full leather recaros, 4 previous keepers who clearly looked after it, As its had some really high quality welding in the past…. Non crusty anywhere except on one arch which I will get done. - excuse the boxes but were moving out of our st rental house in 3days.
Wheels are getting a long overdue refurb next week.

That's beautiful!

The only piece of advice I can give you then is do NOT buy your alternator from ECP, get it from Ford. If you ask them to do a stock order (takes longer) they should be able to do a worthwhile discount. The first two alternators from ECP still generated flicker, the third and final one from Ford was perfect, and I don't even have the extra wire. It's not a job that you'll want to do twice...

[oobster]

Cracking car OP.

I wonder if Ford will make a 'cooking' version of the latest Mondeo. I know you can get a Vignale with the 240ps engine, but I don't really see that a successor to the ST200/ST24.