RE: Ford Mondeo ST200 | Spotted
Discussion
Article said:
this was that odd time with no really significant fast Ford at all. The Puma was great, but never got more than 123hp (unless you were willing to pay mad money for a Racing), the Focus ST170 was a bit limp, a fantastic Fiesta never got more than a Zetec S and the SportKa only arrived after the standard one had been around for seven years.
The ST170 and Sportka weren't around at the time of the ST200 launching and by the time they did exist the Focus RS and ST220 did too. Always preferred the MK3 to the MK2, thought the front end was a bit iffy. Shame the ST200's are mostly all gone now though, they make a brilliant noise.Edited by aaron_2000 on Monday 21st June 18:37
All this talk of V6 Mondeo’s is both wonderful and depressing (rather like the Grand Tour dedication to the Mondeo).
Wonderful because they are great cars. I looked seriously in 1999 at an ST24, but couldn’t quite stretch to it. I also looked at a Facelift 2.5 V6 Ghia, but ended up saving a couple of thousand and got a 97 Vectra 2.0CD. I also missed out on a 1982 2.3 Ghia Cortina in 1990.
I’ve just always liked the concept of a high spec mid sized Ford with a V6 Engine. Depressing because we’re probably not going to see one again and I never got to own one.
Wonderful because they are great cars. I looked seriously in 1999 at an ST24, but couldn’t quite stretch to it. I also looked at a Facelift 2.5 V6 Ghia, but ended up saving a couple of thousand and got a 97 Vectra 2.0CD. I also missed out on a 1982 2.3 Ghia Cortina in 1990.
I’ve just always liked the concept of a high spec mid sized Ford with a V6 Engine. Depressing because we’re probably not going to see one again and I never got to own one.
DaveyBoyWonder said:
I had a quick look at these a few weeks back as I saw an old touring car pic of one, low over big multispoke wheels and thought "that'd be cool as a new car as I bet they're dirt cheap now like 220s are". Oh how wrong I was... Still kinda cool.
Still get one for under 4K or less 200bhp V6 with manual box and decent handling
Main thing on a 20 year old car will be rust
Seesure said:
The 1998 Ghia X 2.5 I had before my ST200...loved it as it was higher spec'd than the ST200 and turned heads wherever it went with the pearlescent paint, the ST body kit and chrome alloys... The picture doesn't show it clearly but it was a dark green and in the sunshine it absolutely glistened...
Ours doesn't have the leather, the board computer and CD, but otherwise everything including the power sunroof and side airbags. 
I remember those chrome alloys, they were pretty neat!
At 41, it is pretty wild to drive the car I first drove when I was 19.
optimal909 said:
I remember those chrome alloys, they were pretty neat!
I loved them too. I only ever saw them on the odd Mondeo at Fordfair though. They looked so good for sure. 
I often say it, but I would love another Ford in my life at some stage for certain. I reckon that a nice V8 Mustang would definitely do the trick!
devnull said:
Always remember the vectra forums jizzing over the ST200s as some hallowed model. Nice enough, but they were just vectra GSIs with AP racing brakes and some one off alloys.
The Vectra ST200 actually pre-datedthe GSi and Mondeo ST200 ( the GSis , as you say, didn’t get the lightweight Speedline Mistrals and Michelins, the big AP 330mm brakes and 4-pot callipers, the Suretrac LImited Slip Diff, the revised shorter gearing ( ST200 was pulling 6800 rpm at 137mph, the GSi about 5800rpm ), adjustable Konis and lowered springs and a few cosmetic differences. The GSi was in essence, an ST200 without the special bits above
Both cars were built from SRi V6s and you could order the various upgrade packages off the ST200 for your GSi or SRi if you wanted
Takes me back 10 years+. Good times when simpler cars could mix it with more serious company and come out on top.
So this was a car that you could absolutely drive the wheels off all the time assuming you were happy to run with the TC off. Easiest to heel and toe ever, and with good rubber it was able to be as fast or faster than 99.9% of anything else on twisty B roads. Engine was characterful and loved to rev but noticeably at the expense of torque. Interior was tough and the seats were super comfortable and supportive. With the seats down the capacity in the back was huge - even for the hatchback. 25.3mpg on average as I recall over several years was okish for the time. But the dreaded 2.5 engine death rattle took mine after I threw 100k miles on mine over 4-5 years.
So this was a car that you could absolutely drive the wheels off all the time assuming you were happy to run with the TC off. Easiest to heel and toe ever, and with good rubber it was able to be as fast or faster than 99.9% of anything else on twisty B roads. Engine was characterful and loved to rev but noticeably at the expense of torque. Interior was tough and the seats were super comfortable and supportive. With the seats down the capacity in the back was huge - even for the hatchback. 25.3mpg on average as I recall over several years was okish for the time. But the dreaded 2.5 engine death rattle took mine after I threw 100k miles on mine over 4-5 years.
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