Mondeo ST220

[OMNIO]

thanks guys.

Podie said:

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

Yes I was going to say. All this talk of V8s and supercharging is very nice but I just got a quote for the Vauxhall Vectra VXR........ £2050....... I'd say V8s are a way off yet.

But bad news!

Mum got in touch with a couple of insurers earlier and you guys are correct. My NCB means very little to anyone other than RAC now.

putting my NCB to 0 now means £1700 for ST220 and around that figure for pretty much everything else suggested. The Jags were between £1800 and £2500

Seems the best bet is to keep the current car i'm insured on but switch me to the main driver. so i can clock up some NCB - guess we are tied to RAC for now seeing as they are the only people that recognise my current NCB.....

sigh I hate insurance companies.

[300bhp/ton]

Podie said:

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..!?!?

Yep I am!

Think they need to shop about, a V8 doesn't always mean more, although it can do.

Joining an owners club can sometimes help lower insurance too, and if it's old enough to count as a classic it'll make a difference.

But yes I agree some might be a bit high on the insurance side of things.

[VolvoT5]

OMNIO said:

Seems the best bet is to keep the current car i'm insured on but switch me to the main driver. so i can clock up some NCB - guess we are tied to RAC for now seeing as they are the only people that recognise my current NCB.....

sigh I hate insurance companies.

Do that. Otherwise you will be in the same position in 2, 3 or 4 years time.

I'm 24 with 3 years NCB and I only just got my quote under 1k last year.... and with the way insurance costs are going up it will probably be back to four figures when I renew later this year. That is for a 04' Leon 130 TDI... hardly a sports car!

Going on a a named driver (fronting or otherwise) is a bad idea generally. Ok the chance of getting caught out is fairly slim but you just get shafted in the long run because you are failing to build up the NCB anyway.

[aka_kerrly]

OMNIO said:

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

It is much better to buy a car from a someone who may well give the car a bit of stick and use full throttle on a far more regular basis than Mr V Average but is only driving a car fast within its potential which is very different to thrashing a car.

Things to look out for which would indicate if a car is abused is to let the seller drive the car first to see how they behave, if they start hammering it from cold, slipping clutch, stamping on the brakes, hard with the controls then it's likely they don't give a stuff. If they drive off sensibly an wait for the oil/coolant temps to get up to normal before using a decent amount of throttle, are respectful of the controls and use the clutch an brakes smoothly then that is a better sign the car has been cared for.

Another thing to look for is paint condition, a car that has only ever been through car washes can look clean but will have st paint full of swirls an horrible marks. A car that has been handwashed regularly an waxed/polished is immediately obvious as the paint reflections will be better and if its raining/wet the water will bead in tiny balls rather than streak down the paint.

[CharlieHotel]

Is it £1700 a year on the ST220 if you are the main driver or if you are fronting(mum as named driver)?
£1700 isn't that much. I was paying that last year when I was 20 on my Fiesta 1.4.