Mondeo St220

[croggers]

Hello all,

I'm looking into getting a St220, probably around 04 plate with low ish mileage if I'm lucky.

I was wondering what they are like to live with as an every day car. I'm going to be using it for work and tooing and frooing, etc. I have looked around at reviews and this site and only found one that's had a major problem, which would be Davest220's.

Any help on what to look for, etc would be much appreciated.

Craig

[anonymous-user]

clutch/DMF failure can happen, rusty door bottoms and dropping/cracking rear bumper is VERY common. Mines a lemon-they are usually very good cars

[croggers]

Thanks very much, shall keep eye open for that. Is the clutch more a person's driving style and inability to use it proper or actually a problem with some of the clutches?

[anonymous-user]

Not sure TBH, personally i think it's people slipping them(driving like a tt) which a DMF doesn't like. When i test drove one i ragged the st out of it and it stank when i got back(it also srtaed slipping), if you drive it like like then i guess it will let go. Then again mine will probably fall apart when pulling out of the garage..........

[croggers]

I reckon it's got to be people driving like idiots with it. At least if that is the case, I will know if it has been ragged by the slip.
The way your car is going, Ford are going to make sure there are man things wrong with it when it leaves the garage.

[Nebby]

I've had mine for 2 years now and apart from the fact some t**t fitter put the windscreen lower trims on wrong and water leaked through the pollen filter and into the cabin no problems at all.

He must of been fitting a new filter or something i don't know.

Mines a Performance blue 4 door saloon 04 plate had 26000 on the clock when we bought it now it's got 36000 and it's a great family car which you can also have a bit of fun in aswell.

Would of liked the Mpg a little better but what the hell you only live once!

[croggers]

Very true. I know the MPG isn't going to be great, but I can cope with that. I'm not going to be doing mega miles in it anyway, so it shall even itself out.
The theme I'm getting is that the car is great, just don't let a Ford mechanic near it.

[croggers]

Also, while I think of it. What is the difference between the saloon and hatchback version?

[agentsmith]

had mine for 4yrs and 32k now (total around 48k), it's fab. had a couple of issues both sorted under warranty. touch wood at 5yrs old now she's still running great despite the thrashing.

soaked up a trip to sevenoaks and back with a 32.2mpg today.

[Nebby]

Hatchback is a normal 5 door with a tailgate & rear wiper.

4 door saloon when viewed from the side is pretty much still angled the same as the hatchback so the boot opening is smaller than other saloons but i think looks a lot better like this & no rear wiper.

Also the saloons are a lot rarer.

[agentsmith]

Dave_ST220 said:

clutch/DMF failure can happen, rusty door bottoms and dropping/cracking rear bumper is VERY common. Mines a lemon-they are usually very good cars

i think the door bottoms, and bumper issues went away after the facelift (03/53)..... happy to be proved wrong.

[Nebby]

soaked up a trip to sevenoaks and back with a 32.2mpg today.
[/quote]

They do produce could Mpg on a run best i've had from mine is 34.1 it's just the town driving starts to hit you.

[anonymous-user]

agentsmith said:

Dave_ST220 said:

clutch/DMF failure can happen, rusty door bottoms and dropping/cracking rear bumper is VERY common. Mines a lemon-they are usually very good cars

i think the door bottoms, and bumper issues went away after the facelift (03/53)..... happy to be proved wrong.

Door bottom TSB is upto 04, bumpers are cracking on 07 plates(dispite what Ford CRC tell you!). I had to fit two parts to mine that Ford deleted due to cost cutting(see my thred in this forum re:220 rear bumper), my bumper hasn't dropped & cracked, others i know with 07 plates have saggy bumpers & Ford say sod off as trim is covered for one year! Maybe now people will see why i don't trust one word that Ford CRC come out with or their "technical" department.

[Podie]

Dave seems to have been very unlucky - I know of one other engine failure, but that's it (but then I don't trawl the internet, so there may be more).

Clutch/DMF issues suggest abuse... the biting point is best described as "sudden" and quite a few people stall them at first.

Mine is my daily car and it's been great so far. They have a reputation for chewing tyres, so get the 4 wheel alignment and tracking checked - mine felt fine when I bought it, but seems the wheels were pointing in different directions (exagerating to make a point).

Check that the boot release works, and the button on the dash (if fitted) s both are known to cause grief.

Other than that, like any car - check everything works, there are a lot of toys on these things.

[wilf tuscan s]

The wife's had hers from new, '52' plate, brilliant car does everything you want power when needed, will sit in traffic no problem, carry all the shopping etc, comfortable and seats 5 and more. Never had a problem, unlike to ST200 which was nothing but problems!

[anonymous-user]

rust:-

Mondeo 2001 (10/2000–) Build Date: 10/2000-09/2004
Build Date: YY-4L

Rear bumper :-

Build Date: 12.12.2004-19.02.2006
Build Code: 4T-6Y
Assembly Plant: Genk

BUT 07 PLATES ARE STILL DROPPING/CRACKING!!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Pics may have gone now as old ISP.

[Podie]

GaryST220 said:

Don't expect too much low down torque though, 6th gear is quite long and the car can be quite timid if its laden and going up hill....you need to use the revs!

Just in case you weren't aware, torque is restricted in 1st and 2nd.

[anonymous-user]

Podie said:

GaryST220 said:

Don't expect too much low down torque though, 6th gear is quite long and the car can be quite timid if its laden and going up hill....you need to use the revs!

Just in case you weren't aware, torque is restricted in 1st and 2nd.

I thought that was the diesel only? Can't see anything in the 220 TSB about that?

[croggers]

Thanks very much guys.

Well, I went on a test drive of one earlier today. No intent to actually buy that one as way overpriced. It was just a go and see how one drive's, etc.

What can I say. It sounded awesome, went quick when I wanted it to be. Went nice and slow, calm and quiet when I wanted it to be. Big plus for the wife, as expecting first child. Massive boot for said childs stuff.

Now I shall just wait till I sell my car and wait for the right one to come along for me. Then I shall look for the bits that you have all pointed out and I'm on to a winner.

[Podie]

GaryST220 said:

Dave_ST220 said:

Podie said:

GaryST220 said:

Don't expect too much low down torque though, 6th gear is quite long and the car can be quite timid if its laden and going up hill....you need to use the revs!

Just in case you weren't aware, torque is restricted in 1st and 2nd.

I thought that was the diesel only? Can't see anything in the 220 TSB about that?

I thought they were restricted in 1st, 2nd & 3rd...though if I'm honest it certainly doesn't feel that way.

Most Ford's are torque restrcited in 1st and 2nd.

Floor in 2nd, then floor it in 3rd - you should feel the difference.