Mondeo ST220

[OMNIO]

CharlieHotel said:

£1200 is quite cheap for your age but like you say, your mum will be driving it most of the time.
Funnily enough me being a main driver would come to £2300 on a ST220. Is it Admiral that are quoting you?
I really don't think any other car compares with the ST220 in this price range. I'd be driving one in a couple months time if the insurance was a bit more kinder to me.
I'm sure you've looked into the faults that can crop up with these cars? I looked into it a couple months ago and there was a couple of common problems that occurred with these cars...

Yes Admiral. I was going to get a bit of an idea of whats out there then start looking at individual cars problems.

I havent had an in depth look at problems which occur with the ST220.

I would have thought that as with any car of this type many will have been thrashed. Is there any way to tell if a car has been ragged everywhere?

I have decided to avoid anything with after market wheels, lowering springs, exhaust, remap etc also i sont want anything over 50k miles

[Baryonyx]

OMNIO said:

Is there any way to tell if a car has been ragged everywhere?

Are you sure you're ready to jump headlong into owning a warm saloon with so little apparent knowledge about cars? You should be able to tell if something has had a hard life pretty easily.

[OMNIO]

Baryonyx said:

Are you sure you're ready to jump headlong into owning a warm saloon with so little apparent knowledge about cars? You should be able to tell if something has had a hard life pretty easily.

How about being a teacher instead of a tt?

I have asked for opinions & advice on a motoring forum so people can point out what I can look for. There are several ST220 owners on here who I'm sure can shed some light on this.

I have never bought a car - so 'obvious' things wont be as 'obvious' to me. The car I'm currently driving we got for free so I didnt really care about the past life. If it broke then scrap it. Spending 3 - 6k on a car you tend to care more.

If you have nothing of use to add then please feel free to ps off.

[Acheron]

Im considering selling my ST220. Its got 60k on the clock on an '04 in silver with black leahter.

Its an ok car but after 4 years of Vectra, it still doesnt feel 'just right'.

[Baryonyx]

OMNIO said:

How about being a teacher instead of a tt?

Don't get your knickers in a twist!

If a car has been ragged about it'll show by everything either being fked or feeling a lot older than it should. The gearbox and clutch will suffer from hard driving, especially if the previous owner was clumsy on the pedals, and this is one of the obvious things when sitting down. Look for worn interior, baldy tyres, poor service history, bad fluid and oil levels etc etc, basically all the things a careful, conscientious owner would look after.

Like I say though, if you're having to ask it's like you won't have yet developed that sense of being able to tell when a car has had a hard life or not. The more cars you drive, the easier it should be to work out whats been hammered. If it feels like st, walk away.

[OMNIO]

Baryonyx said:

Don't get your knickers in a twist!

If a car has been ragged about it'll show by everything either being fked or feeling a lot older than it should. The gearbox and clutch will suffer from hard driving, especially if the previous owner was clumsy on the pedals, and this is one of the obvious things when sitting down. Look for worn interior, baldy tyres, poor service history, bad fluid and oil levels etc etc, basically all the things a careful, conscientious owner would look after.

Like I say though, if you're having to ask it's like you won't have yet developed that sense of being able to tell when a car has had a hard life or not. The more cars you drive, the easier it should be to work out whats been hammered. If it feels like st, walk away.

Thank you. Sorry about the last post but you came accross as patronising and very unhelpful. Two traits I cant stand.

I wont be going it alone. My dad will tag along once we have got a few cars to look at, and hes obviously got a much bigger car history than me.

Obvioulsy going to HPI it and whatever.

TBH tyres, fluids, service history etc are common sence. I thought youd be on about plumes of smoke on start up, how the engine should / shouldnt sound, bits that are worn after 5xxxx miles when they shouldnt be needing to be replaced until 8xxxx etc.

[OMNIO]

Acheron said:

Im considering selling my ST220. Its got 60k on the clock on an '04 in silver with black leahter.

Its an ok car but after 4 years of Vectra, it still doesnt feel 'just right'.

After reading about your noisy power steering pump, bent alloy and stalling when idle in a different thread I'll politely decline

Given me some bits to look out for though so thanks

[Acheron]

OMNIO said:

After reading about your noisy power steering pump, bent alloy and stalling when idle in a different thread I'll politely decline

Given me some bits to look out for though so thanks

Dont forget the engine warning light too...

[maniac0796]

OMNIO said:

Decent Post code
Off street
mum & dad on premium
Mum main driver - which is true - none of this fronting malarky. Hopefully we can arrange what we arrange with the RAC when I passed my test which is I can get NCB even as a named driver rather than the main driver. I am assuming it was a perk of passing my test with RAC then using RAC insurance but its worth a go!
Up to 7,000 miles a year

£1200 fully comp.
£2300 - me as main driver which it too much
£3500 - Named driver but re-mapped! NO THANKS!

Might be a bit steep but tbh the stories in GG & Readers cars about 18 - 20 year olds paying £2000 - £3500 on a corsa makes it look ok.

Watch out for named driver no claims. They tend to lead nowhere. You may find when you come to take out your own insurance policy, they don't exist anymore, and all that hard work not crashing hasn't paid off.

[HellDiver]

OMNIO said:

Is the Vectra VXR as appaling as Clarkson makes out?

Only if you're driving a pre-production VXR with Opel SRI suspension setup (which isn't even as good as Vauxhall's UK specific setup), crappy OE Continental tyres, kill the ESP & TC by pulling the fuse, and specifically drive to induce understeer.

I'd still have a ST220 long before a VXR Vectra, though...

Edited by HellDiver on Tuesday 22 February 18:55

[texasjohn]

HellDiver said:

Only if you're driving a pre-production VXR with Opel SRI suspension setup (which isn't even as good as Vauxhall's UK specific setup), crappy OE Continental tyres, kill the ESP & TC by pulling the fuse, and specifically drive to induce understeer.

I'd still have a ST220 long before a VXR Vectra, though...

Edited by HellDiver on Tuesday 22 February 18:55

The Vectra isn't a bad car, and very rapid. Mondeo is nicer to drive and has a lovely feel to it.

The Subaru Legacy posted on the previous page is a good choice, lovely to drive and will be a lot cheaper to insure than the VXR or the ST. It is a bit quicker than the ST but not as fast as the VXR.

You can find the legacy in a six speed manual version, called the 'spec B'. Insurance for me on the legacy was £280 compared to the Vectra VXR at £380.

Really, drive all three and see what you like best. I found the Vectra surprised people a lot, but I also found the ride hard on 19s. Steering feel is a little remote.

Overall I preferred the Legacy Spec B out of the three cars but bought the Vectra as I needed a hatchback.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2287019.htm - I have been to view this car and it is very nice. Been very well looked after by a fastidious owner, serviced on time every time at Subaru. He even had every receipt for 99 octane petrol over the last five years and folders of history, down to invoices for minor parts and a prodrive sticker!! You won't meet a more thorough owner than this bloke (no I dont know him other than viewing his car a few months back).

Edited by texasjohn on Tuesday 22 February 19:45

[HellDiver]

Thinking about it, I think the ST220 is a better A-road car, the VXR is the one you want if you want to push Mercs and BMWs along the Autobahn (the VXR isn't 155mph limited).

[Fox-]

VladD said:

I think the S-Type Jag beats the Mondeo in most of the categories that you specify there.

The S-Type is nothing like the ST220. It's a lardy, wafty cruiser not a sport saloon. It was never intended to handle well and consequently doesnt as it simply isnt the point. Not even sure what it is doing in this thread.

[VolvoT5]

OMNIO said:

Decent Post code
Off street
mum & dad on premium
Mum main driver - which is true - none of this fronting malarky. Hopefully we can arrange what we arrange with the RAC when I passed my test which is I can get NCB even as a named driver rather than the main driver. I am assuming it was a perk of passing my test with RAC then using RAC insurance but its worth a go!
Up to 7,000 miles a year

£1200 fully comp.
£2300 - me as main driver which it too much
£3500 - Named driver but re-mapped! NO THANKS!

Might be a bit steep but tbh the stories in GG & Readers cars about 18 - 20 year olds paying £2000 - £3500 on a corsa makes it look ok.

So you are buying the car for yourself but you wont be the main driver? hmm... I assume your mother is going on all the paperwork then? Even if what you say is true, insurance companies are going to be very suspicious in the event of any claim.

I would also be concerned about how 'named driver NCB' is viewed by other insurance company when you come to get a policy in your own name.

Personally I would buy a 4k car and use the remaining money to make sure it is insured properly.

otherwise.....maybe an X-type is worth a look.. The 3.0v6 models can look nice in the right colour, bit less chavvy than the mondeo as well.

[300bhp/ton]

OMNIO said:

Hi all,

In a few months i'll (hopefully) be in a position to get a 'new' car.

I really like the look of the Mondeo ST220, they seem nippy, good handling, well specced etc and there are lots of low milage examples on 'trader for £6,000 or less.

Basically. Is the ST220 the pick of the bunch or are there any comparables?

Spec.

4 doors

fwd/ rwd/ awd - no preference. Have only driven fwd.

decent engine power - ideally sub 8 sec to 60 and a good power when accelerating between 50 - 90 out of the motorway roadworks

Reliable

Petrol

will only be covering a max of 7000 miles a year so MPG not hugely important id say 20 in town and 35 on a run is good

insurance is a factor - im 21 (3yrs ncb) and both my parents will be on it but scoobys etc are still a no. Not looking to spend more than £1300 a year fully comp

Max price - £6,500

55 plate or older - to avoid tax being over £235

Would prefer it not to be a BMW - only reason being the old man is getting a 5 series diesel company car (hence petrol requirement earlier!)


Thanks for any help!

Lots of choice for this money. Does depend on tastes and insurance perhaps. Also for 7000 miles a year I think mpg isn't such an issue.

I'd personally look out for an Alfa 156 GTA or Jag X-Type 3.0 V6.

But an MG ZT260 V8 or Jaguar XJ6 4.0 S6, XJR6 S6 superchraged, XJ8 4.0 V8, XJR 4.0 V8 supercharged or a Jaguar S-Type 3.0 V6 manual, 4.0 V8 or 4.0 V8 supercharged are all good bets too.

There's also the Impreza range, Legacys and Forresters and of course a Mitsubishi Evo.

Plenty of BMW's too, from e30's right through to e46's, e34's and e39's with various engines.

Ford Sierra Costworth is another one maybe.

Personally I rather like the Cadillac STS Seville. It was sold at GM (aka Vauxhall) dealers from 1998-2004. Has a lovely DOHC 4.6 V8 and around 300hp. Hugely well specced too and supremely comfy.


Accord Type R is another worth looking at too.

[300bhp/ton]

OMNIO said:

I have looked at Various MGs and i do have a bit of a soft spot for them. Are parts getting scarce or are they likely to become scarce? If not then they are really good value as there are lots of 20k - 40k examples for under £6k - Was it only the 1.8 engines that suffers with the head gasket problem?

Parts for most of them are fine. Rover never made the parts, it used to be Unipart, then Cat, not sure who it is at the mo.

But put it this way, you can still buy new bits for a Rover SD1 or a Triumph Herald, so I suspect support will continue for a bit longer.

I've heard one or two tails about Rover 75 diesel (only diesels) parts being difficult to get, but I think that's BMW's doing more than anything Rover.

My brother had a MGZS180 (also a Rover 200BRM and a VVC MGF). The 180 was very nice to drive, good handling and sorted chassis. Fairly quick, although a few tweaks would likely wake it up quite a bit.

Great value for money too these days. ZS is quite a bit smaller than a Mondeo though.

[300bhp/ton]

VladD said:

Howard- said:

I edited my post because I forgot handling. Did you mean the X-Type though? The S-Type is a totally different car, unlike the X-Type which is Mondeo-based.

No, I meant the S-Type as I have one. It fit's the budget and I'd take one over a Mondeo for all the reasons that you mentioned.

+1

While the S-Type isn't the best looking car out there, I do admit I prefer it most visually. Always liked the ones I've driven too, if not maybe quite as sporting.

[300bhp/ton]

Baryonyx said:

OMNIO said:

Is there any way to tell if a car has been ragged everywhere?

Are you sure you're ready to jump headlong into owning a warm saloon with so little apparent knowledge about cars? You should be able to tell if something has had a hard life pretty easily.

I disagree. I think it can be very hard to tell if a car has been ragged everywhere.

Being driven hard doesn't mean it hasn't been looked after, and a looked after car doesn't mean it's actually been treated well by the driver.

[Podie]

300bhp/ton said:

OMNIO said:

Hi all,

In a few months i'll (hopefully) be in a position to get a 'new' car.

I really like the look of the Mondeo ST220, they seem nippy, good handling, well specced etc and there are lots of low milage examples on 'trader for £6,000 or less.

Basically. Is the ST220 the pick of the bunch or are there any comparables?

Spec.

4 doors

fwd/ rwd/ awd - no preference. Have only driven fwd.

decent engine power - ideally sub 8 sec to 60 and a good power when accelerating between 50 - 90 out of the motorway roadworks

Reliable

Petrol

will only be covering a max of 7000 miles a year so MPG not hugely important id say 20 in town and 35 on a run is good

insurance is a factor - im 21 (3yrs ncb) and both my parents will be on it but scoobys etc are still a no. Not looking to spend more than £1300 a year fully comp

Max price - £6,500

55 plate or older - to avoid tax being over £235

Would prefer it not to be a BMW - only reason being the old man is getting a 5 series diesel company car (hence petrol requirement earlier!)


Thanks for any help!

Lots of choice for this money. Does depend on tastes and insurance perhaps. Also for 7000 miles a year I think mpg isn't such an issue.

I'd personally look out for an Alfa 156 GTA or Jag X-Type 3.0 V6.

But an MG ZT260 V8 or Jaguar XJ6 4.0 S6, XJR6 S6 superchraged, XJ8 4.0 V8, XJR 4.0 V8 supercharged or a Jaguar S-Type 3.0 V6 manual, 4.0 V8 or 4.0 V8 supercharged are all good bets too.

There's also the Impreza range, Legacys and Forresters and of course a Mitsubishi Evo.

Plenty of BMW's too, from e30's right through to e46's, e34's and e39's with various engines.

Ford Sierra Costworth is another one maybe.

Personally I rather like the Cadillac STS Seville. It was sold at GM (aka Vauxhall) dealers from 1998-2004. Has a lovely DOHC 4.6 V8 and around 300hp. Hugely well specced too and supremely comfy.


Accord Type R is another worth looking at too.

He's 21 and getting four figure insurance quotes for a 3.0 V6... and you're suggesting V8s..!?!?

[lockup]

Relax. Buy a small sh!theap in your name, accrue a couple of years no claims, and then get something sweet with all the money you've saved.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2507853.htm