RE: Ford Mondeo ST220 | Shed Buying Guide
Discussion
I've always fancied one of these having had 2 Sierra xr4x4's and 2 V6 Mondeos(ST24/Ghia X). I do really like a V6 Ford. 
I love the Recaro seats in these and they seem to be very well specced too. I remember having some fun with one in my 200SX(before I modified it) and I thought that the ST220 went very well in fairness.
I love the Recaro seats in these and they seem to be very well specced too. I remember having some fun with one in my 200SX(before I modified it) and I thought that the ST220 went very well in fairness.
Krikkit said:
Jon_S_Rally said:
ExPat2B said:
The problem with these cars, and whilst this is probably the best example of the V6 front FWD saloon from that era, is the fuel economy and handling just don't justify the performance on tap, and whilst the nature of the performance suits motorways very well, it does not economically cruise at 80+ speeds in the UK, the constant accell and decell caused by our traffic is an mpg nightmare on these engines. Yes, ok its quite good at a constant 60mph, but why buy a bloody great v6 and drive at 60 ?
Its a big V6 that likes to rev, using the performance, 20 mpg is realistic, that will cost you £3500 a year ( 10,000 miles ) in fuel, plus its high tax, penchant for rusting, ford cost cutting on the engine in every department. Not at all cheap to run you are looking at .
If you consider running the car over 3 years compared to a BMW 3 Series 3.0 325d M Sport 4dr : https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The BMW is 2500 pounds more expensive to buy, The BMW has comparable performance, however it will do 40 mpg where the Ford will do 20mpg, saving you 1250 pounds a year if you are doing 10,000 miles.
So about 2 years before the BMW breaks even and starts saving money compared to the Ford. If you are doing 20,000 miles a year, one year approx.
Now to my senses, the BMW has the Mondeo licked on pretty much every metric other than soundtrack. Its a better car, and if you keep it its a cheaper car as well.
This is why Mondeo man disappeared and was replaced by turbo diesel Audi and BMW man. In their segment, BMW and Audi are completely dominant.
The problem is, one is a revvy, big capacity six cylinder, while the other is a four pot diesel. If you're that bothered about fuel economy, you're unlikely to be looking at these types of car anyway. My ST averaged 26-28mpg, so a bit better than your estimates. It's never going to be great on fuel, as it's from a bit of a bygone era by modern standards.Its a big V6 that likes to rev, using the performance, 20 mpg is realistic, that will cost you £3500 a year ( 10,000 miles ) in fuel, plus its high tax, penchant for rusting, ford cost cutting on the engine in every department. Not at all cheap to run you are looking at .
If you consider running the car over 3 years compared to a BMW 3 Series 3.0 325d M Sport 4dr : https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The BMW is 2500 pounds more expensive to buy, The BMW has comparable performance, however it will do 40 mpg where the Ford will do 20mpg, saving you 1250 pounds a year if you are doing 10,000 miles.
So about 2 years before the BMW breaks even and starts saving money compared to the Ford. If you are doing 20,000 miles a year, one year approx.
Now to my senses, the BMW has the Mondeo licked on pretty much every metric other than soundtrack. Its a better car, and if you keep it its a cheaper car as well.
This is why Mondeo man disappeared and was replaced by turbo diesel Audi and BMW man. In their segment, BMW and Audi are completely dominant.
I would take one over a 320d all day long.
Here's some pics of my old ST220 Estate taken on the day I picked it up from Archers of Ashby back in May 2006. It was an 55 plate and I kept hold of it up until Jan 2016 when it made room for my current C63.
EDIT: it was a 55 plate not 05, just changed that...doh!
EDIT: it was a 55 plate not 05, just changed that...doh!
Edited by Powerfully Built PSC Director - Outside IR35 on Monday 11th May 21:28
Jag_NE said:
He was comparing a 3.0d (325d) to the Mondeo, in fairness.
He makes some good points and a 325d is obviously a great car, but a car better car in every metric other than soundtrack- really?! As a family car which doubles as a fun driving car, the Mondeo has the BMW licked on several scores. Vastly superior interior space and boot, plus a hatchback for starters. The Ford probably rides better than the M Sport BMW on our roads (The Mondeo was always very good in this department) and despite my comments on the previous page about turning into a money pit as it gets older, you wont have the usual expensive diesel parts failing on you as you do with this sort of age of car....BMW and Audi man replaced Mondeo man mainly due to advent of cheap credit and lease deals, coupled with the British obsession with German badges. In many road tests back in the day, the Mondeo triumphed against the A4, if not the 3 Series BMW. It was a decent car, just with the wrong badge.
Great car, I had a 2005 car for a couple of years and loved it. Looked good, was well specced, comfortable, good sound system, drove brilliantly and was more than quick enough.
It was so easy to drive and felt special everytime I got in it.
I got 26-28mpg and could push 30's on a long motorway run.
Is the only car i've ever had to not have a single mechanical/electrical problem. I recall that it did eat tyres but that could have been down to me whizzing round windy 'B' roads at all hours!
It was so easy to drive and felt special everytime I got in it.
I got 26-28mpg and could push 30's on a long motorway run.
Is the only car i've ever had to not have a single mechanical/electrical problem. I recall that it did eat tyres but that could have been down to me whizzing round windy 'B' roads at all hours!
I went through 5 mk3 mondeos a few years back.
Didn't have the ST220 but had a 2.2 Titanium X, which i think is a better choice and almost as quick once tuned.
I also did the Focus caliper swap which really helped the feel of the car...thats not to say the standard brakes were poor, they'd always stop you if you stamped on them, just they felt a bit under assisted. Same brakes as the ST170 IIRC.
Great cars - I'd have another one tomorrow, even in base spec, and even if i was given the choice of todays equivalent.
Didn't have the ST220 but had a 2.2 Titanium X, which i think is a better choice and almost as quick once tuned.
I also did the Focus caliper swap which really helped the feel of the car...thats not to say the standard brakes were poor, they'd always stop you if you stamped on them, just they felt a bit under assisted. Same brakes as the ST170 IIRC.
Great cars - I'd have another one tomorrow, even in base spec, and even if i was given the choice of todays equivalent.
greenarrow said:
He makes some good points and a 325d is obviously a great car, but a car better car in every metric other than soundtrack- really?! As a family car which doubles as a fun driving car, the Mondeo has the BMW licked on several scores. Vastly superior interior space and boot, plus a hatchback for starters. The Ford probably rides better than the M Sport BMW on our roads (The Mondeo was always very good in this department) and despite my comments on the previous page about turning into a money pit as it gets older, you wont have the usual expensive diesel parts failing on you as you do with this sort of age of car....
BMW and Audi man replaced Mondeo man mainly due to advent of cheap credit and lease deals, coupled with the British obsession with German badges. In many road tests back in the day, the Mondeo triumphed against the A4, if not the 3 Series BMW. It was a decent car, just with the wrong badge.
I guess it's horses for courses. I have an accord type r for me, and a 335d as a family car, and although the Accord is not as fast as the BMW, but the way the performance is delivered is unique to each car. There is so much more to these cars than the power figures. I love both cars - but to compare a 6 cylinder Diesel to a v6 petrol in the case of the mondeo and BMW, or 4 cyl petrol from the type r on raw figures is pointless!!BMW and Audi man replaced Mondeo man mainly due to advent of cheap credit and lease deals, coupled with the British obsession with German badges. In many road tests back in the day, the Mondeo triumphed against the A4, if not the 3 Series BMW. It was a decent car, just with the wrong badge.
I currently have a 3.0 V6 Ghia X hatchback on the drive that I've owned for a year and have been hugely impressed with it. I fancied an ST220 but these were a little over my £3k budget a year ago and I don't regret the Ghia X for a second. As has been said, the engine is an absolute peach, it is stuffed full of toys and drives brilliantly. As to maintenance costs, i previously had a (perfectly reliable!) 2004 E-Class Merc and the minuscule size of the maintenance bills on the Mondeo in comparison have been a real pleasure.
On the mpg front, mine averages 25-27 normally but on one memorable occasion I filled it up, reset the computer and set off up the M3 for Heathrow from Winchester. I was very early so set the cruise control for 65mph and when I arrived I had apparently averaged 42mpg!
Sadly, it's sitting unused now and once the world starts up again it will be for sale. The appeal of something fast, reliable, well screwed together, economical and cheap to maintain has worn off, so I've bought another Range Rover...
On the mpg front, mine averages 25-27 normally but on one memorable occasion I filled it up, reset the computer and set off up the M3 for Heathrow from Winchester. I was very early so set the cruise control for 65mph and when I arrived I had apparently averaged 42mpg!
Sadly, it's sitting unused now and once the world starts up again it will be for sale. The appeal of something fast, reliable, well screwed together, economical and cheap to maintain has worn off, so I've bought another Range Rover...
I've expressed my disappointment with the ST220 Saloon I owned some years ago more than once on PH. Nice engine and when it was clean (always), it did look good in that rare colour of Ink Blue with Red Leather but they're the only redeeming points I can think of.
As an ex-management car is was also fully loaded with just about every option. Here's a few pictures for anyone that might be interested:
As an ex-management car is was also fully loaded with just about every option. Here's a few pictures for anyone that might be interested:
That ink blue with red leather is a stunning combo.
I bought an ST220 a few years ago to run as a stopgap, easily the best £1000 I’ve ever spent on a car.
I’ve ran 4 mk3 Mondeos over the years, a 1.8LX, 2.0Ghia the ST and a 2.2 TDCi Titanium X. They were all great cars in their own right, the only one I never really liked was the TDCi, the engine noise always made me think I was in a transit which is hardly surprising as they share engines
I bought an ST220 a few years ago to run as a stopgap, easily the best £1000 I’ve ever spent on a car.
I’ve ran 4 mk3 Mondeos over the years, a 1.8LX, 2.0Ghia the ST and a 2.2 TDCi Titanium X. They were all great cars in their own right, the only one I never really liked was the TDCi, the engine noise always made me think I was in a transit which is hardly surprising as they share engines
Just been reading back through the thread.
I've owned 2 Mk3 Mondeos including a Ghia X V6.
Also owned a 320i E91 BMW, engines aside as its not a fair comparison the quality of the cars build and interior I have to say the Mondeo felt a lot better and certainly the interior plastics held up better than the BMW. The BMW door panel plastics had bad surface peel, it looked really scruffy, start button wore out too.
I also had far more faults with the BMW than I ever did with the Mondeo.
This thread makes me want to search for a ST220 estate again.
I've owned 2 Mk3 Mondeos including a Ghia X V6.
Also owned a 320i E91 BMW, engines aside as its not a fair comparison the quality of the cars build and interior I have to say the Mondeo felt a lot better and certainly the interior plastics held up better than the BMW. The BMW door panel plastics had bad surface peel, it looked really scruffy, start button wore out too.
I also had far more faults with the BMW than I ever did with the Mondeo.
This thread makes me want to search for a ST220 estate again.
Jamescrs said:
Just been reading back through the thread.
I've owned 2 Mk3 Mondeos including a Ghia X V6.
Also owned a 320i E91 BMW, engines aside as its not a fair comparison the quality of the cars build and interior I have to say the Mondeo felt a lot better and certainly the interior plastics held up better than the BMW. The BMW door panel plastics had bad surface peel, it looked really scruffy, start button wore out too.
I also had far more faults with the BMW than I ever did with the Mondeo.
This thread makes me want to search for a ST220 estate again.
Mike Brewer and Paul Cowland were talking about the ST220s today.I've owned 2 Mk3 Mondeos including a Ghia X V6.
Also owned a 320i E91 BMW, engines aside as its not a fair comparison the quality of the cars build and interior I have to say the Mondeo felt a lot better and certainly the interior plastics held up better than the BMW. The BMW door panel plastics had bad surface peel, it looked really scruffy, start button wore out too.
I also had far more faults with the BMW than I ever did with the Mondeo.
This thread makes me want to search for a ST220 estate again.
I adored my 3.0 V6 Ghia X estate. It's possibly one of the best cars I've had, which is surprising!
CharlieAlphaMike said:
I've expressed my disappointment with the ST220 Saloon I owned some years ago more than once on PH. Nice engine and when it was clean (always), it did look good in that rare colour of Ink Blue with Red Leather but they're the only redeeming points I can think of.
As an ex-management car is was also fully loaded with just about every option. Here's a few pictures for anyone that might be interested:
I buy this 220 saloon ink blue if still for sale As an ex-management car is was also fully loaded with just about every option. Here's a few pictures for anyone that might be interested:
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