RE: Ford Mondeo ST24: Spotted

RE: Ford Mondeo ST24: Spotted

Tuesday 15th January 2019

Ford Mondeo ST24: Spotted

With Sierras still soaring and numbers dwindling, is the Mondeo now the fast(ish) Ford to watch?



Historic fast Fords being desirable is hardly a new phenomenon; the combination of big-selling popularity and motorsport success ensure a devoted following among impressionable young minds. What is new, however, is the latest generation of Blue Oval offerings now making the grade - or at least trying to.

Take this Mondeo ST24, for example. Not old enough - or significant enough, you could argue - to be considered any kind of modern classic. Right? But the Mondeo is now more than 25 years old, meaning the very earliest cars (if one can be found) do qualify as classics. Moreover, the ST24 was launched in 1998, and this particular example is now 20 years old. A similar age, in fact, to the very earliest Focuses. Time does move fast.


Moreover, the V6 Mondeo was the first ST-badged Ford, an accolade that's becoming more notable as further additions are made to the range. Only this week an ST badged was slapped on a 400hp Explorer in the States, and that's in addition to a host of hilarious Focuses and Fiestas. It might be the junior fast Ford billing, but a favourable reputation is now well and truly assured. You expect ST Fords to be good, put simply, which hasn't always been the case.

Perhaps an even more important factor in assessing the ST24's classic status, though, is its scarcity. Now, of course, a car needs to be more than rare to qualify as something worth saving, but the rate at which numbers have dwindled is incredible. In 2008 there were 6,546 Mondeo ST24s registered in the UK; a decade of scrappage, rust and crashes later, and there are just 395 remaining by 2018's numbers. They can't be far off an endangered species TV appeal.

And while the 2.5-litre ST24 wasn't quite the pukka fast Ford the ST200 was (Jamie Oliver having got less popular in this century too, funnily enough), it still delivered decent handling in that late-90s Ford fashion. Lower than a standard Mondeo and with a modest-but-not-unappealing bodykit, it arguably cut more of a dash than its contemporaries from Vauxhall and VW as well.


Anyway, the ST24 was reasonably good and probably worth saving, finding itself in a similar position to where the XR Sierras were not long ago. Is it worth saving for £5,000, though? Those who purchased them at Shed money will surely scoff, but you only need look at the drastic decline in numbers, the values of Sierras and the affection for the Mondeo badge in the UK to see where things might be headed.

Alternatively, buyers desperate for a 90s rep racer should still be able to secure an Accord Type R for £5k and have more fun (though may need to bide their time), and if it has to be a V6 Mondeo then the newer and faster ST220 is still in budget. All of which means there are plenty of reasons why you might want to spend £5k on a Mondeo ST24 - and many why you might not. Given the dealer's name, it's clear to see where they think values are headed - so what about you?


SPECIFICATION - FORD MONDEO ST24
Engine:
2,544cc, V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 170@6,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 162@4,250rpm
MPG: 29.7
CO2: 233g/km
Year registered: 1999
Recorded mileage: 54,000
Price new: £NA
Yours for: £4,995

See the original advert here



Author
Discussion

cib24

Original Poster:

1,115 posts

152 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
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No.

JamesL

104 posts

151 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
The ST200 didn’t have a 3 litre engine. It was the same 2.5 but with extensive changes. You’re probably thinking of the later ST220 which was in fact a 3.0.

832ark

1,224 posts

155 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
I’d give them £50 for it and promptly have it crushed. A real automotive turd.

wab172uk

2,005 posts

226 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
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Always quite liked these back in the day, and the ST220 after that. Just not in Red though,

Type R Tom

3,859 posts

148 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
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My Dad had a ghia x Mondeo with this engine, I used to borrow it occasionally and he’d put me on the insurance for the weekend. Used to love driving it, at 18-19 the engine seemed amazing! It broke down and the garage diagnosed it as a head gasket, it wasn’t and a neighboor got a very good car fixed for peanuts.

P-Jay

10,551 posts

190 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Well, we've got some nice pics of it for the history books now - they can load it in the crusher now for all I care.

I bloody hate Mondeos.

Inky81

282 posts

95 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
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What a cute ickle exhaust rotate


GingerPixel

92 posts

145 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
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Absolutely, profoundly gopping.

mrbarnett

1,090 posts

92 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Surprised by the lack of love of these. I liked the bodykit (love the alloys still), the handling was amongst the best in class, the standard equipment was generous, and whilst the engine was entirely standard, it's output was competitive and it sang a lovely tune.

With all that said though, at this money though and in this rather unflattering colour, it's a no from me. The ST200 was more special and more deserving of inflationary price tags.

Charlie Michael

2,750 posts

183 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
P-Jay said:
Well, we've got some nice pics of it for the history books now - they can load it in the crusher now for all I care.

I bloody hate Mondeos.
How come?

Glasgowrob

3,232 posts

120 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Who writes this drivel

St200 was a hotter 2.5.

Motoring journalists my backside either that or just lazy


St200 I'd have your arm off st24 at a fifth of the price maybe

_Leg_

2,798 posts

210 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Back in the day (1997) my first ever company car was a fk awful green Vauxhall Vectra LS. It was a bag of ste. I chose it because it was preferable to a Mondeo.

stevekoz

525 posts

161 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Having had both. The ST200 was an animal in comparison. It sounded sublime and its handling was pretty good for its era. Not exactly a precise weapon but a very comfortable brisk saloon. Much better than the GSi Vectra of the same time (which i also had). The ST200 nodding towards the btcc success of the era. It really was a lovely and rare (even then) thing. I miss mine. I had two. The second a bit of a dog, but the first, ran a mustang throttle body and a number of SVT additions that made it a lovely sounding and as said fairly brisk fun car.

On the downside rust and a chav status have really destroyed their reputation and killed many off. Searching online you won't find many for sale at all. That aren't ruined by one, either or both of those things.

The clutch was a weak point and a pig of a job with you needed to drop the subframe to remove them.

That said if someone was to offer me another st200 right now i would have their arm off - i think it could truly be the next appreciating classic "hot" ford. As for the ST24 it always felt like its poorer cousin not a direct descendant. It did not handle as well and the engine was not a "performance" piece in any shape. It just was a fairly decent sound with awful mpg. Dont get me wrong, my st200 averaged 12mpg. But it had far more performance to warrant that over the st24 that would not do much better. That may sound like a drove round like a lunatic but it was over a 13 mile commute. City traffic and long jams and i remember replacing it eventually with an Impreza which in comparison saved me money on fuel! I guess another achiles heel. The same cam be said really of the st220 of which i had as well. MPG in ford v6's was never a strong suit for those who like to drive them briskly.

Regardless. The blue st200 was beautiful thing and the car was smile inducing. I miss the st200. I don't miss the st24. Regardless of looking very similar. That was where the comparison ended. That about sums it up for me.

JMF894

5,475 posts

154 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Awful interior, slow and thirsty. Having driven a Mondeo with this engine I have to say no. My old E46 coupe commuter barge is only a diseasel 2.0 with 160k on the clock but would slay this and be more fun regardless of how it sounds and at a fraction of the cost.

Tuvra

7,920 posts

224 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
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This or an ST225?!? Tough choice hehe

Bennet

2,119 posts

130 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
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A mk2 mondeo was the best all-round car I've owned. Great to drive, comfy, fast enough, cheap to run. Feelsome steering and decent driver involvement. I've always imagined the ST models would be great cars. Looks are subjective, but I like the shape and I like the body kit. The colour of this particular one, (much like the price) may be a bit over the top.

832ark

1,224 posts

155 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
stevekoz said:
As for the ST24 it always felt like its poorer cousin not a direct descendant. It did not handle as well and the engine was not a "performance" piece in any shape.
Nor was the ST200. 200bhp from 2.5 litres is not exactly exciting and way below the specific output I’d expect from something even remotely sporty. A stty boat anchor.

EK9_CTR

464 posts

133 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
I'd rather go for the Accord Type-R.

brickiebrownie

7 posts

90 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
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Reading the comments, a lot of people seem to have forgotten that this is / was a 1997 car.

Having had one for year, it made a fabulous noise, the trick butterfly valve (albeit crude tech) created a split personality and it handled ok in reality. I had an 1998 S reg without the RSAP bodykit and 16inch(!) starburst alloys. Hot hatch eater and great on faster B-Road.

Yes, its a Mondeo. But it was 1997. And purple half-leather and paisley fabric was de-rigeur.

DoctorX

7,240 posts

166 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Kinda got used to the looks of the facelifted version at the time. Looking at that front end now though, I don’t know how, that grille is hideous.