Mondeo ST220 estate
Discussion
Probably going to look / test drive an 06 Mondeo ST220 Estate at the weekend. Anything particular I should look out for? Not had chance to do much research yet, but will be scouring past threads here over the next few days. Any good owners sites I should be looking at?
Will be a family-wagon, so does anyone know if it has Isofix in the back?
What are people's thoughts on the ST220 estate? For my budget (£14k-ish) is there anything better I could be looking at? Criteria is it has to be an estate with reasonable space for pram / kids stuff etc, but I want something with a bit of power at least (not a 1.6 vectra estate etc), and half-decent handling (ok, ok, I know it's an estate), as I've come from a line of sports cars, and just 'cos needs demands I now get a family-wagon I don't want to end up with a heap that I hate driving! ST220 looks reasonable value, though I guess mpg is not too good.
Any comments much appreciated. Thanks.
Will be a family-wagon, so does anyone know if it has Isofix in the back?
What are people's thoughts on the ST220 estate? For my budget (£14k-ish) is there anything better I could be looking at? Criteria is it has to be an estate with reasonable space for pram / kids stuff etc, but I want something with a bit of power at least (not a 1.6 vectra estate etc), and half-decent handling (ok, ok, I know it's an estate), as I've come from a line of sports cars, and just 'cos needs demands I now get a family-wagon I don't want to end up with a heap that I hate driving! ST220 looks reasonable value, though I guess mpg is not too good.
Any comments much appreciated. Thanks.
excellent cars, but with 14k I would look for an STTDCI estate,
they still go like stink, handle just as well, still have the same looks, recaro leather etc, but also do 50 odd mpg
my perfect everyday car as it happens, shame I squander all my cash on silly cars and have to make do with a more meagre budget for the everyday hack
they still go like stink, handle just as well, still have the same looks, recaro leather etc, but also do 50 odd mpg
my perfect everyday car as it happens, shame I squander all my cash on silly cars and have to make do with a more meagre budget for the everyday hack
www.stdrivers.co.uk is a good site, www.stownersclub.co.uk is also good but membership only.
ST220 has better spec than the ST TDCI and is more reliable than the ST TDCI (EGR and injector issues are common problems).
I almost replaced my old ST220 with a ST TDCI, but i just couldn't bring my self to do it, it doesn't sound like a 220 or does go like the 220 and you can't potter around town in 5th gear like you can in the 220. 220 is grin inducing as soon as you turn the key.
ST TDCI is a good car though if you want better fuel consumption.
8 way Leather recaros are standard on the 220, ST TDCI iirc doesn't have recaros as standard they are optional.
NST
ST220 has better spec than the ST TDCI and is more reliable than the ST TDCI (EGR and injector issues are common problems).
I almost replaced my old ST220 with a ST TDCI, but i just couldn't bring my self to do it, it doesn't sound like a 220 or does go like the 220 and you can't potter around town in 5th gear like you can in the 220. 220 is grin inducing as soon as you turn the key.
ST TDCI is a good car though if you want better fuel consumption.
8 way Leather recaros are standard on the 220, ST TDCI iirc doesn't have recaros as standard they are optional.
NST
Both great cars I reakon.
Sure enough, I have had one reliability glitch in my ST TDCI, the EGR valve.
Either way (ST220 or STTDCI) they handle great, although they are big cars... I would advise keeping good tires on them, mine is on slightly cheaper tires, and it has really affected grip, and the front end feel.
The ST TDCI is torquey, but the only place it would be a match for an ST220 is on the motorway. even 3rd you will struggle to leave normal cars who are pushing it. However the in gear punch (which in 4th 5th and 6th is big) makes for easy rapid progress, especially with the handling as good as it is.
However, on the other hand, my Audi S6 used to get about 26mpg (so the same as as the ST220) and the ST TDCI has saved me a fortune, even with the big increase in petrol prices in the last year. It gets 42mpg every day.
Ok so they depreciate quite hard, but why on earth people would choose a less well equipped, slower BMW 320 M sport over one is beyond me...
Ahh nearly forgot. Mine has the optional recaros, which I cannot recommend highly enough. The best seats I have ever had in a car. (I once spent a 650 mile (with trailer for 350 of them) 16 hour straight stretch from Surrey to London to Chesterfield to Inverness in them, no pain at all.)
:edited to wax lyrical about recaros
Sure enough, I have had one reliability glitch in my ST TDCI, the EGR valve.
Either way (ST220 or STTDCI) they handle great, although they are big cars... I would advise keeping good tires on them, mine is on slightly cheaper tires, and it has really affected grip, and the front end feel.
The ST TDCI is torquey, but the only place it would be a match for an ST220 is on the motorway. even 3rd you will struggle to leave normal cars who are pushing it. However the in gear punch (which in 4th 5th and 6th is big) makes for easy rapid progress, especially with the handling as good as it is.
However, on the other hand, my Audi S6 used to get about 26mpg (so the same as as the ST220) and the ST TDCI has saved me a fortune, even with the big increase in petrol prices in the last year. It gets 42mpg every day.
Ok so they depreciate quite hard, but why on earth people would choose a less well equipped, slower BMW 320 M sport over one is beyond me...
Ahh nearly forgot. Mine has the optional recaros, which I cannot recommend highly enough. The best seats I have ever had in a car. (I once spent a 650 mile (with trailer for 350 of them) 16 hour straight stretch from Surrey to London to Chesterfield to Inverness in them, no pain at all.)
:edited to wax lyrical about recaros
Edited by Dimski on Thursday 17th January 21:31
Thanks for the comments folks, very helpful. Hadn't really considered the ST TDCi, but will probably have a test drive if I can find one locally, as I'm going to be doing quite a few miles (motorway, new job) so the increased mpg could be useful. Any other comments appreciated of course. Off to check out those other sites now....
Dimski said:
Ok so they depreciate quite hard,
...only if you buy new I guess? I'd have thought that a 2 yr-old, say, wouldn't lose shed loads would it?
When I bought my ST220 hatchback, I test-drove the estate version. Unfortunately, the facelifted estate was out of my budget at the time, but I was suitably impressed (it looked fab in metallic blue with white Recaros).
You should aim to pay less than your budget. Even at £12-14K, the ST220 has not finished its depreciation dive, so avoid anything over £13K.
To own, it's an excellent car. Comfortable, spacious, quick and understated. Build quality is fairly good. However, fuel economy is consistently abysmal. I average 21MPG, although I do mainly drive around town.
You should aim to pay less than your budget. Even at £12-14K, the ST220 has not finished its depreciation dive, so avoid anything over £13K.
To own, it's an excellent car. Comfortable, spacious, quick and understated. Build quality is fairly good. However, fuel economy is consistently abysmal. I average 21MPG, although I do mainly drive around town.
Mogsmex said:
they still go like stink, handle just as well, still have the same looks, recaro leather etc, but also do 50 odd mpg
The diesel didn't come with Recaros as standard. They were an optional item. The standard seats are half leather, but still very good.Edited by Witchfinder on Monday 21st January 12:23
Interesting comments, thanks.
Witchfinder said:
the facelifted estate
When did the facelift models come out? What's the difference?Witchfinder said:
However, fuel economy is consistently abysmal. I average 21MPG,
blimey, that's low!! May be getting tempted by the ST TDCi at this rate....bungle said:
Interesting comments, thanks.
Well as a guide, my Old Ghia X V6 used to get 32-35mpg on my typical drives, my ST TDCI gets about 43-45.Witchfinder said:
the facelifted estate
When did the facelift models come out? What's the difference?Witchfinder said:
However, fuel economy is consistently abysmal. I average 21MPG,
blimey, that's low!! May be getting tempted by the ST TDCi at this rate....Assuming the ST220 would be a bit worse than my V6, extra gear making up for the extra weight and power. I reakon you should still see 30+ on the motorway, and 25 day to day.
Facelifted cars? Almost no difference. Some earlier ST220 were 5 speed, and the facelifted cars had some extra crome. (On door handles). I am sure there are other changes... But I dont know them.
bungle said:
When did the facelift models come out? What's the difference?
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).The facelifted estate didn't appear until mid-2004 IIRC.
Edited by Witchfinder on Wednesday 23 January 08:37
GR said:
You should see around 38mpg on the motorway and 25mpg in town.
That sounds more reasonable!Was red leather side bolsters, and alcantara middle section, an option? I thought leather Recaro's were std, but have seen the red/alcantara seats on a Motorpoint car on Autotrader.
Also got a 56reg (32k miles) for <£13k, which is tempting...
bungle said:
Was red leather side bolsters, and alcantara middle section, an option? I thought leather Recaro's were std, but have seen the red/alcantara seats on a Motorpoint car on Autotrader.
That sounds unusual! Remember, most cars at Motorpoint are Irish imports (unless it's something they've got in in P/X). Got a link to the Autotrader ad?bungle said:
GR said:
You should see around 38mpg on the motorway and 25mpg in town.
That sounds more reasonable!Was red leather side bolsters, and alcantara middle section, an option? I thought leather Recaro's were std, but have seen the red/alcantara seats on a Motorpoint car on Autotrader.
Also got a 56reg (32k miles) for <£13k, which is tempting...
Im getting a 54 plate st220 next week, has only 19k on clock. It will be my third mondeo(Currently on a 02 Ghia tdci estate)
Ive read some comments here about the brakes on the st. Whats the solution to improve the braking from the factory fitted brakes, and a rough idea of the cost?
Ive also been told that having the bhp boosted to 260 bizzarely also improves the fuel economy? is this correct, and if so, what exactly does it involve?
If anyone can provide any answers, it would be much appreciated!
Ive read some comments here about the brakes on the st. Whats the solution to improve the braking from the factory fitted brakes, and a rough idea of the cost?
Ive also been told that having the bhp boosted to 260 bizzarely also improves the fuel economy? is this correct, and if so, what exactly does it involve?
If anyone can provide any answers, it would be much appreciated!
Edited by bigjb on Tuesday 29th January 20:11
To anyone considering the diesel, stop being tight, get an older ST and give the rest of you cash to BP. The poor MPG of the V6 is more than made up for by this sound track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79EeuCOd2Js
I bought an 02 plate for £6500. But with just 55k it looks and drives like new. Very well looked after by it's 1 previous owner, as I guess you would shelling out £25k! He must have had a shock come trade in time.
The earlier models like mine do without a lot of the toys found on the facelift ones though - only 5 speeds, only seat height is electric, no cruise control, mp3 radio, folding mirrors, auto wipers/headlamps etc. Luckily I do have the optional xenons fitted though.
I get about 26-27 mpg out of it on my commute, mainly motorway, but not holding back on the slip roads On country roads I get about 24 mpg, and round town or really pushing it it gets about 20mpg.
Or to look at it another way, my 1.8 Focus did 340 miles for £50. The ST220 does 300 miles for £55. Not that much worse really.
Grip and handling is amazing. Even full acceleration on wet roads doesn't provoke any torque steer or traction control. And I haven't managed to activate the esp or feel any understeer in it yet either, at speeds way beyond what my Focus could handle. It is still on the original spec Continentals.
Finally, engine sounds lovely. Doesn't pull as well as I expected from low revs, but then I am used to the low down grunt provided by a 200SX's turbo. But then my Lexus V8 seemed to have a lot more noticable low down torque than the ST too - I guess I was expecting something similar from a 3.0 V6. Above 5000rpm though it starts to sing and really flies
I bought an 02 plate for £6500. But with just 55k it looks and drives like new. Very well looked after by it's 1 previous owner, as I guess you would shelling out £25k! He must have had a shock come trade in time.
The earlier models like mine do without a lot of the toys found on the facelift ones though - only 5 speeds, only seat height is electric, no cruise control, mp3 radio, folding mirrors, auto wipers/headlamps etc. Luckily I do have the optional xenons fitted though.
I get about 26-27 mpg out of it on my commute, mainly motorway, but not holding back on the slip roads
On country roads I get about 24 mpg, and round town or really pushing it it gets about 20mpg. Or to look at it another way, my 1.8 Focus did 340 miles for £50. The ST220 does 300 miles for £55. Not that much worse really.
Grip and handling is amazing. Even full acceleration on wet roads doesn't provoke any torque steer or traction control. And I haven't managed to activate the esp or feel any understeer in it yet either, at speeds way beyond what my Focus could handle. It is still on the original spec Continentals.
Finally, engine sounds lovely. Doesn't pull as well as I expected from low revs, but then I am used to the low down grunt provided by a 200SX's turbo. But then my Lexus V8 seemed to have a lot more noticable low down torque than the ST too - I guess I was expecting something similar from a 3.0 V6. Above 5000rpm though it starts to sing and really flies
Edited by mr_fibuli on Monday 28th January 19:17
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