Mondeo ST220 - any good?

[minimoog]

Hi

I've got a chance to get one of these, an '05 on 90-odd K miles for around £2K. Looks very tidy.

Are they any good? I'd be coming from an E34 540iA so am used to reasonable pace and comfort.

I've had a sit in the Ford and obv the interior is a big step backwards from the 540. How about the rest of the experience though?

I put 160K on a 2003 TDCi so I know they are practical and in the case of that one, very reliable. Obv the ST is a slightly different proposition though.

What should I be looking out for if I give it a proper going-over?

Thanks folks...

[V8forweekends]

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

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=5&a...

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

[r11co]

Yup - Topic has been done to death and then some. Can we close this one before it becomes even more fragmented?

[minimoog]

r11co said:

Yup - Topic has been done to death and then some. Can we close this one before it becomes even more fragmented?

There are about a million threads on PH asking repeat questions. Why don't you pop off and try and get those closed as well?


Thanks V8 for those thread links. Not sure how objective an 'I love my ST220' thread is going to be but I'll give it a read.

[HertsBiker]

Why is the bmw better interior? Last few I looked at were way inferior to the Ford ? All the bm's look so dull, or have I been looking at old ones? I reckon the top end fords are easily the equal of the best German gear and no amount of brand snobbery is going to change that. And to be honest, the mondeo is so well sorted handling wise that in real terms makes the bmw seem a little rubbish. Who gives a stuff about rwd purity. I'm talking benign handling that works in the real world.

[Fastdruid]

IMO BMW make (and fit) more powerful (and bigger) engines, Ford make better handling cars.

For the same power I'd have the Ford any day over a BMW and while the ST220 is only equivalent to a 525i in terms of power it'll handle lots better.

Not sure about a 540i vs the ST220, while it probably handles better you might miss that ~56hp.

[minimoog]

Thanks guys. The 540 is pretty wallowy on 15s. I don't mind that as it's just a cruiser with a bit of grunt really, but tauter handling is certainly a plus.

As for better interior, the Mondy was an all-black coal hole, and the quality of materials and build just isn't up the same standard, though it's still decent enough. Good seats too.

This is the inside of mine. No comparison in my view.