Ford Mondeo Estate ST220
Discussion
The hunt was on for a quick, special estate car big enough to carry my work stuff around and also fun and quick at the same time. The search was fairly limited and I didn't want anything that was too leggy, and it couldnt be too thirsty (I needed to be able to convince myself it would do 30mpg). After looking at 330is, an old S4 and v70/850s I ended up with the Mondeo ST220, and with all things considered it just couldn't be beaten. So I started looking, I wanted a facelift (post 04) but pre 06 so I wouldn't have the high tax (£475 rather than £225). At any given time, there was around 10 estates for sale in the whole UK, but trying to find on that met my sepcific requirements was difficult and I was though I was going to have to travel to get it.
Then, after a few months of looking (but not actually visiting any cars) this car came up aboyt an hour from my house. IT looked great so I went to check it out, and put down a deposit after a test drive and picked it up a few days later.
I paid £3100 (it was up for £3250) and he MOT'd it for me and put two new tyres on the front (Avon ZZ5, which get great reviews).
67,000miles, FSH, great condition and very well looked after. Cruise, heated leather recaros, climate control and a great growling 3.0 v6 under the bonnet.
I've had it only a few days but I'm already in love with it. It's much tighter than my last car (a very tired puma) and I love the grunt. I'm also really enjoying the little luxurys of a range topping car. Ultimately it's so much car for the money!
And to a few photos, from the sellers ad as I haven't taken any yet.
Then, after a few months of looking (but not actually visiting any cars) this car came up aboyt an hour from my house. IT looked great so I went to check it out, and put down a deposit after a test drive and picked it up a few days later.
I paid £3100 (it was up for £3250) and he MOT'd it for me and put two new tyres on the front (Avon ZZ5, which get great reviews).
67,000miles, FSH, great condition and very well looked after. Cruise, heated leather recaros, climate control and a great growling 3.0 v6 under the bonnet.
I've had it only a few days but I'm already in love with it. It's much tighter than my last car (a very tired puma) and I love the grunt. I'm also really enjoying the little luxurys of a range topping car. Ultimately it's so much car for the money!
And to a few photos, from the sellers ad as I haven't taken any yet.
FlashmanChop said:
Love it. Almost the same as our gurt. Thinking of having her wheels refurbs same colour as yours. What colour leather? Hers is Red, but then she is a bit of a kinky b
h.
Black leather. Sensible choice really as I have a pooch.h. I was considering a red car with red leather but thought it was a bit much for me.
AMH82 said:
Very nice - looks like a good one.
Have nearly bought one of these many a times, just wish they had a bit more power.
Out of interest, what put you off the S4 or v70/850 (assuming it was a T5 or R version?)? I've had a couple of 850's before, and considering a B5 S4 at the moment.
The s4 was ruled out because of fuel economy just not being good enough at around 18mpg and bills when things go wrong are rather higher I think. Have nearly bought one of these many a times, just wish they had a bit more power.
Out of interest, what put you off the S4 or v70/850 (assuming it was a T5 or R version?)? I've had a couple of 850's before, and considering a B5 S4 at the moment.
The t5 and 850r are hard to find that aren't very leggy or pretty old or both. They got ruled out because I couldn't find a good one.
TheBALDpuma said:
AMH82 said:
Very nice - looks like a good one.
Have nearly bought one of these many a times, just wish they had a bit more power.
Out of interest, what put you off the S4 or v70/850 (assuming it was a T5 or R version?)? I've had a couple of 850's before, and considering a B5 S4 at the moment.
The s4 was ruled out because of fuel economy just not being good enough at around 18mpg and bills when things go wrong are rather higher I think. Have nearly bought one of these many a times, just wish they had a bit more power.
Out of interest, what put you off the S4 or v70/850 (assuming it was a T5 or R version?)? I've had a couple of 850's before, and considering a B5 S4 at the moment.
The t5 and 850r are hard to find that aren't very leggy or pretty old or both. They got ruled out because I couldn't find a good one.
The ST is nearly as comfy, certainly 'feels' quicker (although it is significantly less powerful of course), and averages about 27mpg - I have got just over 30 out of it on long motorway drones, but the average doesn't drop hugely in more 'normal' use - not brilliant, but acceptable. It doesn't go wrong - tempting fate - but most importantly, it is great fun to drive.. light feeling, poised, sharp, in a way my V70 just wasn't. Personally, my 8-year old Ford hatchback (black, too, but with tarty red leather seats - I like it) is the best all round car I've ever owned, so... congratulations, and enjoy your cool looking black estate!
NLB said:
I used to have a V70R - admittedly, an auto, but a manual one was very hard to find - and now have an ST220 hatchback. Bearing in mind that anecdote does not equal data, I'd say you've done the right thing. My V70 went wrong a lot and cost a mint to fix (ok, I bought a car at 'the wrong point in it's life cycle', or it was a bad one, or...), wasn't hugely fast - although it had a Rica chip and was dyno'd at the right sort of power - never got over 28mpg no matter how I drove it, and usually hung around 20-23mpg, and was generally stodgy to drive. It was lovely to sit in, and superbly comfy, but... Oh, and it was that fab/ludicrous metallic orange - 'saffron bronze metallic' Volvo call it I think.
The ST is nearly as comfy, certainly 'feels' quicker (although it is significantly less powerful of course), and averages about 27mpg - I have got just over 30 out of it on long motorway drones, but the average doesn't drop hugely in more 'normal' use - not brilliant, but acceptable. It doesn't go wrong - tempting fate - but most importantly, it is great fun to drive.. light feeling, poised, sharp, in a way my V70 just wasn't. Personally, my 8-year old Ford hatchback (black, too, but with tarty red leather seats - I like it) is the best all round car I've ever owned, so... congratulations, and enjoy your cool looking black estate!
Thanks. Just done about 700 miles in it over the weekend and averaged about 32mpg, so pretty happy with that. It mostly motorway driving though, with a massive hold up on the M25 because of a caravan fire!The ST is nearly as comfy, certainly 'feels' quicker (although it is significantly less powerful of course), and averages about 27mpg - I have got just over 30 out of it on long motorway drones, but the average doesn't drop hugely in more 'normal' use - not brilliant, but acceptable. It doesn't go wrong - tempting fate - but most importantly, it is great fun to drive.. light feeling, poised, sharp, in a way my V70 just wasn't. Personally, my 8-year old Ford hatchback (black, too, but with tarty red leather seats - I like it) is the best all round car I've ever owned, so... congratulations, and enjoy your cool looking black estate!
Reset the trip computer for a little hoon on some fun roads, and got 17mpg :S
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