Mondeo ST24 or Puma 1.7?

Mondeo ST24 or Puma 1.7?

Author
Discussion

Gooly

Original Poster:

965 posts

147 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Hi guys,

Ran some quotes and found that a Mondeo ST24 (2.5l V6, 160BHP, 1350kg) is largely the same amount to insure as a 1.7 Puma (1.7l I4, 120BHP, 1000KG). Which would you rather have based on A) Purely on driving dynamics, and B) As an overall ownership package.

Some context; I'm an 18yr old student living out at uni, I occasionally (ie some weekends) do a 100 mile motorway trip to London, other than that it's town and country hooning. Currently have a MK5 Fiesta 1.25 which isn't a hugely different proposition to the Puma (I may just do a 1.7 swap into this, same ins price as a puma); that sits at 5kR PM doing 90leptons on the motorway, feels out of depth past 65, assuming the Puma is the same. However since trips are occasional I won't let this be a big factor.

Edited by Gooly on Tuesday 9th October 00:32

danjama

5,728 posts

141 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
If you really have to change, I'd go for the Mondeo between those two, as the Puma would be a bit too similar. Unless you can buy a Racing Puma.

However, I'd skip both and go for something entirely different.

Something with rear wheel drive maybe.

Gooly

Original Poster:

965 posts

147 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Cheapest RWD to insure would be an E36 318is (same as the 16/18 on isurance) which is £500 more than the above options. Would love a RWD and will go for one as soon as it's affordable, but for now this is it.

Can also get an 850 T5 for the same as the ST24. Really tempting...

BorkFactor

7,258 posts

157 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Go for the ST24 - I bought one at 18 and it was fantastic. Really nice car to drive, good on long trips, great fun on back roads having a blast, and sounded great too. Surprisingly good on juice as well!

Just make sure you get one with a working IMRC (should be a noticeable increase in power over 3500 rpm) and watch out for rust. Oh, and speed sensors are a gearbox out job so don't be fooled!

Great cars if you can find a good one, go for it smile

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Puma is very buzzy on the motorway, and once it gets past the VVT kick in point it gets quite thirsty too, so my Puma owning friend who likes to go fast tells me.

Papa Hotel

12,760 posts

181 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Puma.

Way more fun than the Mondeo, cheaper to run as a poor student, easier to park in London.

Thirsty? bks. Mine managed mid fifties on one trip from Hampshire to Edinburgh although that was deathly boring. Realistically you will get forties from it. Thirties if you're having fun. Twenties if you're having a lot of fun.

The Puma is worth it for the gear change alone. Honest.

Gooly

Original Poster:

965 posts

147 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
davepoth said:
Puma is very buzzy on the motorway, and once it gets past the VVT kick in point it gets quite thirsty too, so my Puma owning friend who likes to go fast tells me.
Is that around 4000RPM? Assuming thats 80 in 5th? Current fiesta on the London M23/M25 trip will do 50MPG on a slow run and 33MPG on a not-so-slow run, well past 5000RPM in 5th.

Only real problem with a Puma would be after two MK5 Fiestas (Both of which had the same lovely gearchange/driving position/pedal feel/steering feel) it would just feel the same, only slightly better.

Kinky

39,456 posts

268 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
What other cars did you consider? Or is your shortlist Ford only?

Gooly

Original Poster:

965 posts

147 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Anything mildly exciting with four or more seats that is insurable for me. These two happened to be the best candidates, the fact that they are both Fords which I have hankered over for a long time is a bonus for me.

Volvo 850 T5 and Vauxhall Omega V6s (bonus points as it's RWD) are also reasonable but still considerably more than either of the above.

danjama

5,728 posts

141 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
How about an mx5?

Kinky

39,456 posts

268 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
You might pay more on insurance; but if the car is a bargain to start with ....

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

Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Papa Hotel said:
Puma.

Way more fun than the Mondeo, cheaper to run as a poor student, easier to park in London.

Thirsty? bks. Mine managed mid fifties on one trip from Hampshire to Edinburgh although that was deathly boring. Realistically you will get forties from it. Thirties if you're having fun. Twenties if you're having a lot of fun.

The Puma is worth it for the gear change alone. Honest.
Puma does get buzzy at motorway speeds but other than that it's a cracking little drive.

I may have one for sale at the moment whistle

Vince70

1,939 posts

193 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
go for a happy medium and get yourself a ford cougar.
they are fanatic cars which are not prone to rot like puma.

Chrisw666

22,655 posts

198 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
For just motorways Mondeo, for occasional motorway trips Puma because its more fun everywhere else.

Ignore the power output on paper as it feels quicker and is more than capable of motorway runs. They are a bit thirstier at more than 80mph which is at just below 4k rpm but mine returned 35mpg over 2000 miles of mainly motorway and French Nroads with plenty of overtaking and some sustained driving over that 4000rpm limit.


Riknos

4,700 posts

203 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Vince70 said:
go for a happy medium and get yourself a ford cougar.
they are fanatic cars which are not prone to rot like puma.
This - A mixture of the two? They can be had at dirt cheap prices as well!

Maxus

951 posts

180 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
A Focus ST170 is probably somewhere between the two if that is insurable.

As a Puma owner they are great cars but are not good on motorway trips.

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Riknos said:
Vince70 said:
go for a happy medium and get yourself a ford cougar.
they are fanatic cars which are not prone to rot like puma.
This - A mixture of the two? They can be had at dirt cheap prices as well!
confused The Cougar was not Ford's finest hour - I'd stick with the Mondeo, rather than the Cougar.

If you can stretch to the ST200 (in both terms of purchase and insurance) it's worth the extra over the ST24.

Chrisw666

22,655 posts

198 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Maxus said:
A Focus ST170 is probably somewhere between the two if that is insurable.

As a Puma owner they are great cars but are not good on motorway trips.
Owned both, the Puma isn't much worse at motorway trips and isn't notably slower in most situations. It is also much cheaper to run.

Gooly

Original Poster:

965 posts

147 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Cougar just seems like a heavier uglier more impractical ST24; I understand they handle better (ST200 used Cougar subframes) but I don't think I'd bother tbh. My mum used to have a 2l zetec mondeo when I was (even)young(er) and I always used to lust after the Mondeo ST models because of that, so the ST24 still has that appeal to me. I was an odd child.

I'm going to go look at a black ST24 tomorrow, if it's clean I'll take it, if not I won't bother as it seems to be the only one within a distance I can be bothered to travel to.

If not, I'm going to look into getting a Puma, or failing that I may just 1.7 swap my Fiesta as it's a lovely wee thing and hasn't got any rust.

Papa Hotel

12,760 posts

181 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Gooly said:
I may just 1.7 swap my Fiesta as it's a lovely wee thing and hasn't got any rust.
No.