The "I love my ST220" thread...

[Podie]

Following on from the O/T stuff on one of the many Focus RS threads, it seems a few of us own an ST220... so feel free to enlighten the masses.

'05 Mondeo ST220, one owner from new, 45,500 miles. Spec includes a glorious sounding 3.0 V6 mated to a 6 speed 'box, full Recaro leather (5 stage heated front and rear!), touch screen controls for Sat Nav, CD changer / Radio / iPod and climate control. Cruise Control, xenon headlights, park distance control and no less than 4 cup holders (dang!)

Mine for under 9 bags of sand, and with Ford running costs to boot - so it shouldn't (touch wood!) break the piggy bank.









and yes I did straighten the gear knob after I took the photo!

Edited by Podie on Thursday 19th June 09:39

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Dave_ST220 said:

You asked for it!!

One of the last to role off the production line(ordered just before the books closed for good ) Every option available apart from steel spare wheel. Saloon as i prefer the looks??

Nice

I do like the red stitching and the red edged mats

I notice you've not got a boot release button next to the ESP switch..

We wanted the hatch for extra flexibility.

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Dave_ST220 said:

... i don't think the 220 will cost much more to run than the old 2.5V6 mk1(that's what i'm telling the wife anyway!).

So far the 220 is returning about 2mpg MORE than the 200.

Dave_ST220 said:

I think when the £400 VED kicks in what with fuel costs these cars will be VERY cheap next year.

Has the £400 VED been confirmed...? I thought that there were still discussions. In all honesty, £190/yr more is not going to break my piggy bank - as much as I hate it going to the tax man

Dave_ST220 said:

Podie, i've seen one of your posts saying more power should be easy from what your SVE m8's say-tell me more!!!

I'll drop you a mail.

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Dave_ST220 said:

...
Every option available ...

Which rear seat option you got? The stereo controls or the heated seats..?

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Dave_ST220 said:

Forgot to mention in email, see here :-

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Yep, aware of that issue... although mine isn't suffering from it at the moment.. might have a look and see if it's been done though.

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Dave_ST220 said:

Ricky_M said:

Beautiful cars guys. What do you think one of these will be worth in a few years time?

About a quid?! Seriously you can get one now for £5K, wait until next year when the VED changes and i'm hoping to get a newer one for less than £8k.

As Dave says, you can get an early car (pre-facelift) for 5k. Spec'd up facelift ones cost a bit more, and I bought from a dealer (and traded in the ST200) so paid a little more as well.

Given the depreciation curve on the Mk2 Mondeo, I reckon the early cars will hit £4k in the next 12 months (for decent spec / mileage) and the later ones (like mine) will probably drop a few grand as well.

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Mannginger said:

Just seen this thread.

Podie, depending on what the new job's travelling involves, I may be looking at the ST TDCi - Have you driven one? How does it compare to the 220?

(Other than not sounding like this!)

Any others with comparisons?

Cheers ears

Phil

Phil, driven quite a few mate. There are potential known issues, but they're generally good cars. Give me a sometime mate.

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mr_fibuli said:

That's one of the things that suprised me most about my car was the amazing grip and total lack of understeer or torque steer. I struggle to get the ESP to light up, even driving like a tw@t in the wet. That is on both Contis and F1 Asymmetrics.

Mine goes round on rails.

Driven one with a Quaife ATB fitted, and that was just stunning

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Witchfinder said:

I have (admittedly shagged) Continental SportContact 2s. See the tyre thread for more about this, actually. I am looking for a good, economical replacement tyre at the moment.

I had Hankook Ventus Sport K104's fitted to the ST200 - and they managed over 20k. I'd certainly consider them for the ST220 when the time comes.

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t84 said:

I reckon this is the new MX5 of PH.

Anyone seen the Kreissieg exhausts on youtube?

It's just a straight through system with no cats or silencers...

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Zad said:

Podie said:

t84 said:

I reckon this is the new MX5 of PH.

Anyone seen the Kreissieg exhausts on youtube?

It's just a straight through system with no cats or silencers...

There must be something, because they seem to be able to switch between NOISY and REALLY NOISY. Not sure I could live with that, but woah, hell of a sound!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP5W9-RqMIk

I've seen plenty of chopped up ST220 exhaust systems and most sound like that with nothing in the way of cars or silencers.

This lot may have put butterfly valves in.

Even with cats and the silencers removed, they are too loud to live with.

Edited by Podie on Wednesday 7th July 16:41

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GaryST220 said:

As you pointed out, the Mondeo is more comfortable (by a long way) and it has a V6. You will not lose out in performance, I've dispatched many FRS's albeit not by much. Handling wise, I've been in both round track, and would say the only noticable advantage the FRS has, is the ability to scream out of 1st gear corners on full lock. Other than that, they are very closely matched.

I'm surprised. The Mondy is a capable car, but I personally wouldn't have put it in the same league as an FRS.

Quaife LSD available for the Mondy... which makes life more fun.

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Witchfinder said:

Dave_ST220 said:

Yeah i think i'd miss the V6. Honestly not bothered about FWD though!

What about the 5-cylinder turbo? Surely it's good for around 270 BHP.

Must admit, I have wondered if the 5pot would fit in the Mondy...

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t84 said:

How does the ST220 compare to the 330Ci? That's another car that I'm looking at.

Plenty of willy-waving threads about on that subject.

Think the OP who asked in genuine curioisty was a_bread

[Podie]

Yes.

Yes, you do.


ETA - No, perfectly normal behaviour.

Edited by Podie on Thursday 15th July 10:30

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oh. Right.

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Dave_ST220 said:

IIRC a 54 will be cheap tax too

Mine's an 05 and I get the cheaper tax.

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GaryST220 said:

I still love my ST220, despite replacing it with this today...

http://www.robster-lobster.co.uk/2.JPG

I am going to run both for a month or two and see how I get on.

Edited by GaryST220 on Monday 19th July 22:07

#

Tidy. Bet you'll be popular on the Ford fanboy forums...

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GaryST220 said:

Howard- said:

Dave_ST220 said:

220's ALL have Recaro's, half leather will mean the other half is Alcantara, there were NO cloth seats.

Yeah, this one had leather/Alcantara.. Was this an option on the ST220 then? I thought leather Recaros, Recaros with leather or perhaps Leather Recaros were your only options?

GaryST220 said:

Dave, the tax on my ST220 is £245

Fixed

No, its most definately £215.

I paid £215 for a year, back in November.

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t84 said:

What options were there on the 220?

Off the top of my head...

• Xenons
• Sunroof
• Parking sensors
• Heavy duty battery
• Sat Nav
• Heated rear seats or Rear Seat Audio (RSA)

Dave will know the rest...