RE: Ford Mondeo ST220 | Shed of the Week
Discussion
Jon_S_Rally said:
Had one of these about 10 years ago. Probably one of the best all-round cars I've owned. Not the fastest, but it sound great and the engine revved pretty well. Chassis was the stand-out though. I don't think I have driven a car that inspired such confidence. I've owned cars that could cover ground faster, but there was something about the ST220 that made you fearless. It was just so easy to press on.
I went from a re-mapped Mk1 Octavia VRS to a MK3 Mondeo Ghia X TDCi Estate, both on 17" wheels. The acceleration was much slower, and the TDCI 130 engine not great, but the chassis of the Mondeo was in a completely different league to the crude Octavia. It was vastly better in every aspect, very impressive on all types of road -and a big, usefully square boot.
Going from the Mk3 to the Mk4 estate, it did feel much heavier and larger when changing direction, although still very good for its bulk and very quick and confidence-inspiring cross country. The Mk5 estate is similarly-sized to the Mk4 and does also drive very well.
Edited by MC Bodge on Sunday 19th March 09:32
MC Bodge said:
I went from a re-mapped Mk1 Octavia VRS to a MK3 Mondeo Ghia X TDCi Estate, both on 17" wheels.
The acceleration was much slower, and the TDCI 130 engine not great, but the chassis of the Mondeo was in a completely different league to the crude Octavia. It was vastly better in every aspect, very impressive on all types of road -and a big, usefully square boot.
Going from the Mk3 to the Mk4 estate, it did feel much heavier and larger when changing direction, although still very good for its bulk and very quick and confidence-inspiring cross country. The Mk5 estate is similarly-sized to the Mk4 and does also drive very well.
The thing that really bugged me about the MK4 was the seating position. The backrest of the seat seemed really low, like the top of it was sitting almost at the bottom of my shoulder blades. The steering column also felt too low. The angle was ok, but it just felt a few inches too low, like I was sitting above it. It all felt very disjointed after the MK3 in that respect.The acceleration was much slower, and the TDCI 130 engine not great, but the chassis of the Mondeo was in a completely different league to the crude Octavia. It was vastly better in every aspect, very impressive on all types of road -and a big, usefully square boot.
Going from the Mk3 to the Mk4 estate, it did feel much heavier and larger when changing direction, although still very good for its bulk and very quick and confidence-inspiring cross country. The Mk5 estate is similarly-sized to the Mk4 and does also drive very well.
Edited by MC Bodge on Sunday 19th March 09:32
Jon_S_Rally said:
The thing that really bugged me about the MK4 was the seating position. The backrest of the seat seemed really low, like the top of it was sitting almost at the bottom of my shoulder blades. The steering column also felt too low. The angle was ok, but it just felt a few inches too low, like I was sitting above it. It all felt very disjointed after the MK3 in that respect.
Fair point. The MK3 leather seats were very comfortable, and very supportive, in my car. The Mk4 cloth ones didn't offer much lateral support when pressing on. The Mk5 seats are fine.Seating position itself is obviously personal.
I had a relatively rare saloon back in 2008. It was a relative bargain, was 5 years old, £5400 on 31k miles. Was probably what, £25-30k new?
Came with no history and one key, from a pretty ropey garage in Wales, but it had the original number plates on so off I trot to Southampton Ford down the road and got a full print out of the full ford service history and an extra key!
It looked nice, was comfy and was relatively quick.
All this hullabaloo about it being good at handling (top gear video for one) is horse sh** though - it was the worst handling saloon I have owned, so much understeer at any speed. Maybe, tyres, maybe alignment, but for me it was terrible. On an open track perhaps it is more fun but on the road it wasn't.
The brakes were the worst bit, same as the crap thrown on the 1.8 - They faded on me 2-3 times in mildly spirited road driving, really dangerous. Had new pads, decent discs and a fluid change too.
Was also terrible on fuel, don't think I ever beat 22mpg on the OBC in my ownership.
Overall, crap in my opinion, and I was 19/20 at the time so would have had rose tinted glasses on. I had an E46 330ci M Sport shortly afterwards which was 10x the car despite being a bit older and on double the miles.
Came with no history and one key, from a pretty ropey garage in Wales, but it had the original number plates on so off I trot to Southampton Ford down the road and got a full print out of the full ford service history and an extra key!
It looked nice, was comfy and was relatively quick.
All this hullabaloo about it being good at handling (top gear video for one) is horse sh** though - it was the worst handling saloon I have owned, so much understeer at any speed. Maybe, tyres, maybe alignment, but for me it was terrible. On an open track perhaps it is more fun but on the road it wasn't.
The brakes were the worst bit, same as the crap thrown on the 1.8 - They faded on me 2-3 times in mildly spirited road driving, really dangerous. Had new pads, decent discs and a fluid change too.
Was also terrible on fuel, don't think I ever beat 22mpg on the OBC in my ownership.
Overall, crap in my opinion, and I was 19/20 at the time so would have had rose tinted glasses on. I had an E46 330ci M Sport shortly afterwards which was 10x the car despite being a bit older and on double the miles.
joropug said:
All this hullabaloo about it being good at handling (top gear video for one) is horse sh** though - it was the worst handling saloon I have owned, so much understeer at any speed. Maybe, tyres, maybe alignment, but for me it was terrible.
You appear to be in a very small minority.Your car was presumably knackered.
I wonder what fading brake pads and old fluid were fitted to your car?
joropug said:
I had a relatively rare saloon back in 2008. It was a relative bargain, was 5 years old, £5400 on 31k miles. Was probably what, £25-30k new?
Came with no history and one key, from a pretty ropey garage in Wales, but it had the original number plates on so off I trot to Southampton Ford down the road and got a full print out of the full ford service history and an extra key!
It looked nice, was comfy and was relatively quick.
All this hullabaloo about it being good at handling (top gear video for one) is horse sh** though - it was the worst handling saloon I have owned, so much understeer at any speed. Maybe, tyres, maybe alignment, but for me it was terrible. On an open track perhaps it is more fun but on the road it wasn't.
The brakes were the worst bit, same as the crap thrown on the 1.8 - They faded on me 2-3 times in mildly spirited road driving, really dangerous. Had new pads, decent discs and a fluid change too.
Was also terrible on fuel, don't think I ever beat 22mpg on the OBC in my ownership.
Overall, crap in my opinion, and I was 19/20 at the time so would have had rose tinted glasses on. I had an E46 330ci M Sport shortly afterwards which was 10x the car despite being a bit older and on double the miles.
The brakes are definitely not the best, but I don't recall ever suffering from fade, even with pretty hard use. If I was every to revisit one, I would definitely fit Focus ST bits, but the standard ones were hardly dangerous. As for the comments about handling, I suspect your car was broken, or your inputs were! Came with no history and one key, from a pretty ropey garage in Wales, but it had the original number plates on so off I trot to Southampton Ford down the road and got a full print out of the full ford service history and an extra key!
It looked nice, was comfy and was relatively quick.
All this hullabaloo about it being good at handling (top gear video for one) is horse sh** though - it was the worst handling saloon I have owned, so much understeer at any speed. Maybe, tyres, maybe alignment, but for me it was terrible. On an open track perhaps it is more fun but on the road it wasn't.
The brakes were the worst bit, same as the crap thrown on the 1.8 - They faded on me 2-3 times in mildly spirited road driving, really dangerous. Had new pads, decent discs and a fluid change too.
Was also terrible on fuel, don't think I ever beat 22mpg on the OBC in my ownership.
Overall, crap in my opinion, and I was 19/20 at the time so would have had rose tinted glasses on. I had an E46 330ci M Sport shortly afterwards which was 10x the car despite being a bit older and on double the miles.
MC Bodge said:
You appear to be in a very small minority.
Your car was presumably knackered.
I wonder what fading brake pads and old fluid were fitted to your car?
I know - and perhaps so, but it was my experience in it. I got it after my Accord Type R so maybe that spoiled the experience. To me it was rubbish. Your car was presumably knackered.
I wonder what fading brake pads and old fluid were fitted to your car?
Jon_S_Rally said:
MC Bodge said:
I went from a re-mapped Mk1 Octavia VRS to a MK3 Mondeo Ghia X TDCi Estate, both on 17" wheels.
The acceleration was much slower, and the TDCI 130 engine not great, but the chassis of the Mondeo was in a completely different league to the crude Octavia. It was vastly better in every aspect, very impressive on all types of road -and a big, usefully square boot.
Going from the Mk3 to the Mk4 estate, it did feel much heavier and larger when changing direction, although still very good for its bulk and very quick and confidence-inspiring cross country. The Mk5 estate is similarly-sized to the Mk4 and does also drive very well.
The thing that really bugged me about the MK4 was the seating position. The backrest of the seat seemed really low, like the top of it was sitting almost at the bottom of my shoulder blades. The steering column also felt too low. The angle was ok, but it just felt a few inches too low, like I was sitting above it. It all felt very disjointed after the MK3 in that respect.The acceleration was much slower, and the TDCI 130 engine not great, but the chassis of the Mondeo was in a completely different league to the crude Octavia. It was vastly better in every aspect, very impressive on all types of road -and a big, usefully square boot.
Going from the Mk3 to the Mk4 estate, it did feel much heavier and larger when changing direction, although still very good for its bulk and very quick and confidence-inspiring cross country. The Mk5 estate is similarly-sized to the Mk4 and does also drive very well.
Edited by MC Bodge on Sunday 19th March 09:32
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