RE: Shed of the Week: Ford Mondeo ST220
Discussion
Absolutely loved mine. Wonderful noise from the V6, and superb handling that really belies its size. Some of the best seats I've sat in, too. I do love my mk4 Titanium X Sport and it does feel like an evolution of the ST220 but there are elements I do miss (seats, noise).
That one's a 54-plate so rust shouldn't be too much of a concern as that appeared to be mainly the prefacelifts.
The circular part of the engine cover is above the coilpack so presumably ventilation for that.
It's a shame someone has replaced this one's ST wheels with the ones from a Titanium X / Ghia, but such is life. They're a sod to clean anyway
It also appears to have half-leather in the back but full leather in the front. Bit of an odd mismatch.
The engines are generally solid but keep an eye on the oil level especially as they need to be fully revved for maximum performance.
That one's a 54-plate so rust shouldn't be too much of a concern as that appeared to be mainly the prefacelifts.
The circular part of the engine cover is above the coilpack so presumably ventilation for that.
It's a shame someone has replaced this one's ST wheels with the ones from a Titanium X / Ghia, but such is life. They're a sod to clean anyway
It also appears to have half-leather in the back but full leather in the front. Bit of an odd mismatch.The engines are generally solid but keep an eye on the oil level especially as they need to be fully revved for maximum performance.
J4CKO said:
They are a bit council, or at least were as those folk have typically moved on from 15 year old Mondeos.
With a bit of work this could be made to look very presentable, they do drive very nicely, another vote for the workmanlike but very good 1.8 LX, I had one for a while and sold what was a very decent car to buy a nightmare Fiat Coupe Turbo. It wasnt fast but it did the job and felt like a proper car, so light on its feet for what it was and a nice ride, Ford nailed it with these, later Mondeos are also excellent but by then so many were addicted to "premium" and 75 percent of the decision is whether the badge matches their status, whether something is any good is secondary
Good point and actually reading this weeks SOTW makes me a little nostalgic for an era only 17-18 years ago when there a much bigger variety of marques. You used to see loads of Mk3 Mondeos about, whereas the current Mk5 is a relative rarity. Going the same way as the Renault Laguna, Peugeot 406 and the other non German saloons that have disappeared. These days it really is a bit boring just seeing Merc, Audi and BMW everywhere.With a bit of work this could be made to look very presentable, they do drive very nicely, another vote for the workmanlike but very good 1.8 LX, I had one for a while and sold what was a very decent car to buy a nightmare Fiat Coupe Turbo. It wasnt fast but it did the job and felt like a proper car, so light on its feet for what it was and a nice ride, Ford nailed it with these, later Mondeos are also excellent but by then so many were addicted to "premium" and 75 percent of the decision is whether the badge matches their status, whether something is any good is secondary
Driven a few of these over the years. Back in 2003 there was a driver in F1 called Ralph Firman who drove for Jordan, who at the time were using Ford Cosworth engines. Ralph's "Company Car" was a Mondeo ST220 estate and was due to be changed to another ST220, this time a rare 4 door saloon. As he was out of the country most of the time (obviously) it was decided to make the swap while he was at the Goodwood FoS. I was "volunteered" to drive the new car down to Goodwood, liaise with his PA, swap over the keys and bring the old car back. We went cross country to Goodwood, which as many will know, has some lovely roads. The ST needs to be revved but it loves to do this and then goes pretty well and the big comfy Recaro's, beautifully weighted steering and supple ride made it a memorable journey. When we arrived we had a wander around and then called the PA to arrange a time and place to meet. I mentioned to his PA that my wife and I were big F1 fans and Ralph invited us to join him in the Driver's enclosure to hand over the keys. He made time for us, had a chat and got some of the other driver's to sign our programmes. It was a great day out, all for free and Ralph and his PA made it extra special.
I also had a 130ps TDCi Mondeo which was superb. Really strong performance, great ride and handling, super comfortable and very practical as the boot is massive. No matter how hard I drove it, always returning 50 mpg. On a run it could get close to 60mpg. The ST220 on the other hand struggled to get more than 22 mpg, but what a great soundtrack.
I also had a 130ps TDCi Mondeo which was superb. Really strong performance, great ride and handling, super comfortable and very practical as the boot is massive. No matter how hard I drove it, always returning 50 mpg. On a run it could get close to 60mpg. The ST220 on the other hand struggled to get more than 22 mpg, but what a great soundtrack.
Overall the best car I have ever owned. Decent performance, great handling. superb noise (mine had a Milltek exhaust which sounded awesome when the car was revved but didn't drone on a cruise), practical and (fuel aside) cheap to run.
I did 60k miles in mine and got 26-27 mpg average. A heavy fronted car with good handling did mean that you lent on the front end a lot and so front tyres were a regular purchase.
Thrust bearings in the clutch have a habit of failing. Mine went at 74k miles which is fairly typical - a new clutch and DMF was £950. There is also a breather hose on the engine that will fail every so often but its a £30 fix. And sumps do leak sooner or later.
With hindisight, the blackeye headlights I did on mine weren't the best taste, but I was only 22 when I did it and have grown up a bit since.
Standard brakes are poor - they are the same as all the other Mk3 Mondeos. Easy fix is to fit Focus ST 225 front calipers, pads and discs - straight swap.
Standard suspension is good but fitting the Eibach spings (offered by Ford as an official accessory for most MK3 Mondeos, although oddly not the 220) actually improves the handling AND comfort. I fitted Eibachs as I had a snapped spring and the 4 Eibach springs were cheaper than 1 standard one - people had told me the car rode better on them but I didn't believe it. It's true, the ride became supreme and the handling even better. A no brainer mod, especially if you have to change a spring anyway.
My current workhorse is a Mk4 Mondeo. Diesel sadly. Nowhere near the fun of the ST, although it does nearly twice the mpg...
Over the years I have briefly looked at having a Mondeo every time I swapped cars, which is often ( 120+ in 45 years) because of my illogical biases I have always dismissed them . As I have now grown up I realise that I have missed out , the barry boy council tag is probably the reason why .
The need for higher seat squabs due to knackered knees and back mean I probably never will . Unless one pops up locally at a bargain price.
The need for higher seat squabs due to knackered knees and back mean I probably never will . Unless one pops up locally at a bargain price.
Excellent SOTW, I have owned 4 mk3 Mondeos, all silver, all hatchback and all bar 1 petrol.
I had my ST220 around 4 years ago it was a 52 plate that, prior to my custodian ship had lain in my mates driveway unused bar getting out for its annual MOTs.
Without a doubt the best £1000 I’ve ever spent on a car. It had the wrong wheels and a burst drivers seat but I covered that up with some black tape with every intention of fitting Red Recaros. I never did fit them....... or remove the black tape but I did fit the correct wheels...... and xenon headlights
My Son absolutely loved it. No idea what the fascination with a Mondy as he refers to them as is, but absolutely loved the ST220
Sold it and went back into a VW T5 van, which looking back was probably a silly move.
I had my ST220 around 4 years ago it was a 52 plate that, prior to my custodian ship had lain in my mates driveway unused bar getting out for its annual MOTs.
Without a doubt the best £1000 I’ve ever spent on a car. It had the wrong wheels and a burst drivers seat but I covered that up with some black tape with every intention of fitting Red Recaros. I never did fit them....... or remove the black tape but I did fit the correct wheels...... and xenon headlights
My Son absolutely loved it. No idea what the fascination with a Mondy as he refers to them as is, but absolutely loved the ST220
Sold it and went back into a VW T5 van, which looking back was probably a silly move.
Searched for a while to find a final facelift saloon as I preferred the styling and it's never missed a beat really over the past 4 years. Just happened to have the red interior and Denso touchscreen as well which makes it stand out a bit more.
Originally standard, I've upgraded the front brakes to the Focus ST225 setup, added a custom stainless exhaust from MIJ and freshened up the suspension with new OEM struts, uprated bushes and H&R springs. It drives well, sounds well and despite the horror stories doesn't cost much to run at all really. Although I've never really had a sensible car where economy is concerned
Whether it'll "appreciate" is very much up for debate, but then again all Fords seem to become worth daft money eventually.
Originally standard, I've upgraded the front brakes to the Focus ST225 setup, added a custom stainless exhaust from MIJ and freshened up the suspension with new OEM struts, uprated bushes and H&R springs. It drives well, sounds well and despite the horror stories doesn't cost much to run at all really. Although I've never really had a sensible car where economy is concerned
Whether it'll "appreciate" is very much up for debate, but then again all Fords seem to become worth daft money eventually.
Still one of the best sounding cars I've ever owned. And one of the worst for performance vs thirst!
Careful with the front wing - it is actually slightly wider than the standard Mondeo, so I wouldn't imagine they are that easy to find replacements for these days.
Problems I had with mine were rear brakes seizing, door bottoms rusting, fuel pump, and the alternator smart charging circuit.
Careful with the front wing - it is actually slightly wider than the standard Mondeo, so I wouldn't imagine they are that easy to find replacements for these days.
Problems I had with mine were rear brakes seizing, door bottoms rusting, fuel pump, and the alternator smart charging circuit.
I ran one for a year, about five years ago. Bought it off a mate for £1200 with 115k on it, put another 30k on it in a year, then sold it for £1250. In that time it had two tyres, front discs and pads and an ABS sensor. Pretty impressive stuff really. Only sold it because the mileage was getting high and I wanted an estate. Probably the best car I've owned.
People sneer at Mondeos but most who do have never driven one. The MK1 and 2 were very, very good cars, but the MK3 was really excellent, especially in ST form. The steering feel was beyond what most cars could dream off. They felt so nimble and confidence inspiring. There are roads that I've driven down in more modern, faster cars where I wouldn't dare hit the speeds I hit in the ST220. It inspired endless confidence and was a genuinely capable sports saloon.
Yes it's fairly thirsty, yes it's not that quick by modern standards, but what a fantastic car. Great sound, revvy, willing engine, sublime chassis, handsome looks, great seats, decent equipment, all in probably the most practical package in its class. The article mentions the 3-series, but you'd be a mug to buy a 3-series over an ST220 to be honest, unless it was an M3. I used to work with a former Lotus chassis engineer and, when I bought mine, he was one of the first to praise the purchase. He said that, whenever Lotus did consultancy work for an OEM, the Mondeo was ALWAYS the sports saloon benchmark. I think that tells you all you need to know.
People sneer at Mondeos but most who do have never driven one. The MK1 and 2 were very, very good cars, but the MK3 was really excellent, especially in ST form. The steering feel was beyond what most cars could dream off. They felt so nimble and confidence inspiring. There are roads that I've driven down in more modern, faster cars where I wouldn't dare hit the speeds I hit in the ST220. It inspired endless confidence and was a genuinely capable sports saloon.
Yes it's fairly thirsty, yes it's not that quick by modern standards, but what a fantastic car. Great sound, revvy, willing engine, sublime chassis, handsome looks, great seats, decent equipment, all in probably the most practical package in its class. The article mentions the 3-series, but you'd be a mug to buy a 3-series over an ST220 to be honest, unless it was an M3. I used to work with a former Lotus chassis engineer and, when I bought mine, he was one of the first to praise the purchase. He said that, whenever Lotus did consultancy work for an OEM, the Mondeo was ALWAYS the sports saloon benchmark. I think that tells you all you need to know.
bristolracer said:
What's with all the investment value chatter?
Its a shed.
Buy it
Run it
Break it
Scrap it
Buy something else
Because it's a fast Ford. It will go up in value sooner or later.Its a shed.
Buy it
Run it
Break it
Scrap it
Buy something else
Rat_Fink_67 said:
Searched for a while to find a final facelift saloon as I preferred the styling and it's never missed a beat really over the past 4 years. Just happened to have the red interior and Denso touchscreen as well which makes it stand out a bit more.
Originally standard, I've upgraded the front brakes to the Focus ST225 setup, added a custom stainless exhaust from MIJ and freshened up the suspension with new OEM struts, uprated bushes and H&R springs. It drives well, sounds well and despite the horror stories doesn't cost much to run at all really. Although I've never really had a sensible car where economy is concerned
Whether it'll "appreciate" is very much up for debate, but then again all Fords seem to become worth daft money eventually.
That's lovely. Mine was black too. Best colour for them in my view.Originally standard, I've upgraded the front brakes to the Focus ST225 setup, added a custom stainless exhaust from MIJ and freshened up the suspension with new OEM struts, uprated bushes and H&R springs. It drives well, sounds well and despite the horror stories doesn't cost much to run at all really. Although I've never really had a sensible car where economy is concerned
Whether it'll "appreciate" is very much up for debate, but then again all Fords seem to become worth daft money eventually.
bristolracer said:
What's with all the investment value chatter?
Its a shed.
Buy it
Run it
Break it
Scrap it
Buy something else
But why not? All fast Fords achieve silly money eventually, and these are some of the rarest. Didn't Clarkson once say that Aston shifted more DB9's than Ford did of these?Its a shed.
Buy it
Run it
Break it
Scrap it
Buy something else
I suppose it will be a case of if they remain a well kept secret under the radar, or not.
Until Shed reminded me, I'd completely forgotten the Mk1 Mondeo existed. Can't remember the last time I saw one; even the Mk2 is a rare sight these days.
A colleague has a 2.5 Ghia X auto, with pretty much all the options you could ever imagine. Heated and cooled seats! They don't work though. It sounds pretty good, but thanks to the auto box is glacially, almost hilariously, slow for something so thirsty.
A colleague has a 2.5 Ghia X auto, with pretty much all the options you could ever imagine. Heated and cooled seats! They don't work though. It sounds pretty good, but thanks to the auto box is glacially, almost hilariously, slow for something so thirsty.
Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:
bristolracer said:
What's with all the investment value chatter?
Its a shed.
Buy it
Run it
Break it
Scrap it
Buy something else
But why not? All fast Fords achieve silly money eventually, and these are some of the rarest. Didn't Clarkson once say that Aston shifted more DB9's than Ford did of these?Its a shed.
Buy it
Run it
Break it
Scrap it
Buy something else
I suppose it will be a case of if they remain a well kept secret under the radar, or not.
A quick fact check suggests just over 5000 on the road at their peak in the UK, compared to 3600 DB9s.
(So around 60% are still on the road, which probably isn't too bad for a model that is 13-17 years old.)
As for future values well they are probably more Sierra XR4x4 than RS Cosworth in status and desirability, so probably not going to be worth silly money.
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