RE: Shed Of The Week: Ford Mondeo ST24
Discussion
alorotom said:
these have aged very badly, the saloon moreso ...
Has it really? It's a 21-year old heavy-facelift of a 24-year old design. The saloon was always fugly, even when new, but the Mondeo as a whole has aged ok IMHO.
Think of what else was on sale as competition:
- Mk.1 Vectra just launched, last Cavalier (Mk.3) was a contemporary of the early Mondeos
- E36 3-series (was only replaced by the E46 in 1998)
- Renault Laguna Mk.1
- Peugeot 406
- Citroen Xantia
- Alfa 156
- Audi A4 (B5)
Only the last two have aged significantly less, but the 156 is a design classic and the A4 has been honed so gently over the years. Actually, looking at pics the B5 A4 still looks pretty fresh!
alorotom said:
never driven one but cant imagine they are inspiring
Then prepare to be surprised if you ever do.Proper feedback through every single control like you just can't find in any modern car. Nothing is overly-assisted, there is no numbness anywhere, while at the same time nothing is harsh (obviously compared to new cars it'll be rougher and more noisy, but not awful). Perfect driving position - you could spend all day driving hard and not get tired.
That engine was fantastic too. Lovely induction growl and gives you a proper kick in the back and a nice howl at 4,500rpm when the secondary valves open up.
When i was a kid and my dad was not very well off, we had a mondeo zetec as a company car. (that was seen as a big deal in our family ! it was brand new, and had aircon and electric windows !! it was by far the best car we had ever had.
We used have father and son days out, to watch the touring car racing at thruxton, and the Rapit Fit Mondeo was the car i would cheer on
and loved the look of it.
Someone in our town had a lovely blue ST200 and we where always inspired, mainly because it had the V6 and sounded great.. ( it had different pipes im sure)
I know there are a lot of bad / dreary comments about this car / shed and agree time has not served it well,
but I am sure it was a good car in its day, and viewed as a flagship model in the range. Just like ST's and notRS's of today.
We used have father and son days out, to watch the touring car racing at thruxton, and the Rapit Fit Mondeo was the car i would cheer on
and loved the look of it.Someone in our town had a lovely blue ST200 and we where always inspired, mainly because it had the V6 and sounded great.. ( it had different pipes im sure)
I know there are a lot of bad / dreary comments about this car / shed and agree time has not served it well,
but I am sure it was a good car in its day, and viewed as a flagship model in the range. Just like ST's and notRS's of today.
Konan said:
It was these cars that brought my Ford fandom to an end.
Being a fan, I was looking to replace my Sierra and was after an ST200. Drove a couple of them, one for a few days and thought better of it. Bought another Sierra.
Years later, I had a loan of an ST220 which I really liked. Not sure what they managed to do between MK2 and MK3.
Mk2 and Mk3 were pretty different.Being a fan, I was looking to replace my Sierra and was after an ST200. Drove a couple of them, one for a few days and thought better of it. Bought another Sierra.
Years later, I had a loan of an ST220 which I really liked. Not sure what they managed to do between MK2 and MK3.
Really loved my ST220, and a much better build car than the ST200 and the Mk2 Focus I have now.
My Dads mate bought a brand new one in '98, the Saloon in Black and it had them exact Alloys. At the time it felt pretty rapid and on a few Cross County blasts it Handled rather well.
A Vectra 1.8 SRi 130 followed not long after and that felt a just as quick and Handled just as well, felt and looked slightly more Modern.
A Vectra 1.8 SRi 130 followed not long after and that felt a just as quick and Handled just as well, felt and looked slightly more Modern.
Had a 2.0 ghia saloon in black and to be honest it was amazing at the time the way it handled compared to anything I'd driven before including the old mans sierra saphire 1.8lx which I learn't to drive in and which he still had at the time. The steering was fantastic and it was a nice place to sit as well. I also had the the mk3 which was more of the same, handled great for a basic family saloon at the time but wasn't as nice imo inside.
I replaced the Mk2 with an Alfa 156, which was even better and started off my obsession with Alfa Romeos which you end up treating like a member of the family giving it constant attention. The mondeo never needed or made me want to give it attention hence why although good I never got attatched to it.
This could be £500 and I still wouldn't hanker after it though no matter how good they were at the time.
I replaced the Mk2 with an Alfa 156, which was even better and started off my obsession with Alfa Romeos which you end up treating like a member of the family giving it constant attention. The mondeo never needed or made me want to give it attention hence why although good I never got attatched to it.
This could be £500 and I still wouldn't hanker after it though no matter how good they were at the time.
I have a '99 2.5 4dr Ghia, black 4dr with the same sports appearance pack.
In a similar fashion it was ordered as new by my father, so we were the sole owner. I happen to love the design, it drives fantastic, though it is true that these machines rust pretty fast.
But now that it spends the winter in hybernation, I don't have to take it t the workshop every second year. Yes, it is keeper!
In a similar fashion it was ordered as new by my father, so we were the sole owner. I happen to love the design, it drives fantastic, though it is true that these machines rust pretty fast.
But now that it spends the winter in hybernation, I don't have to take it t the workshop every second year. Yes, it is keeper!
a said:
Then prepare to be surprised if you ever do.
Proper feedback through every single control like you just can't find in any modern car. Nothing is overly-assisted, there is no numbness anywhere, while at the same time nothing is harsh (obviously compared to new cars it'll be rougher and more noisy, but not awful). Perfect driving position - you could spend all day driving hard and not get tired.
Completely agree. The best all-round car I've owned. Excellent to drive. Would very happily have another.Proper feedback through every single control like you just can't find in any modern car. Nothing is overly-assisted, there is no numbness anywhere, while at the same time nothing is harsh (obviously compared to new cars it'll be rougher and more noisy, but not awful). Perfect driving position - you could spend all day driving hard and not get tired.
My dad turned up home one day in a Zetec-S (Same bodykit etc)
Thought he was the coolest dad around and it had some real road presence at the time (in my eyes anyway).
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Thought he was the coolest dad around and it had some real road presence at the time (in my eyes anyway).
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These drive much better than they look. However, I totally agree with others that this model hasn't aged well.
Handling, ride and overall refinement were really very good, and performance in ST24 guise is also perfectly acceptable.
If this is in good shape it could really be a bargain shed.
Handling, ride and overall refinement were really very good, and performance in ST24 guise is also perfectly acceptable.
If this is in good shape it could really be a bargain shed.
Absolutely nothing wrong with driving a 19 year old car as a daily, although I wouldn't think a Ford would last as well nearly 20 years on as a daily compared to a Toyota. And I only say that as my daily driver is a 19 year old Corolla.
This would still be a good motorway cruiser though I think. Although it hasn't aged well. But hey, neither has Tony Blair or Cherrie.
This would still be a good motorway cruiser though I think. Although it hasn't aged well. But hey, neither has Tony Blair or Cherrie.
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