ST220 or Focus ST?
Discussion
Hi,
Iam going to start looking in the near future to replace my ST24 which Ive had for over nine years now. I have been looking at other stuff but keep coming back to Ford and in particular the ST220 hatch or estate (sweet in black or the metallic blue), or a 2.5 5 pot Focus ST, preferably the '3' with the leather interior.
I imagine the good and bad points with an ST220 are more or less the same as the ST24, except for items such as the starter motor and dual mass flywheel which I think was introduced with the MK3 Mondy.
I have no experience of the Focus ST other than getting the general impression that its just as good on juice as the Mondeo (not) and that the motor was originally used in some variation in the Volvo T5. Is the 5 pot engine a cam belt engine rather than the 2 x cam chain drive that the V6 Duratec motor has?
Am I right in thinking that after March/April 2006, the car tax gets a lot more expensive for both of these cars?
What else should I be looking out for when choosing either of these?
Thanks
Cheers
Marty
Iam going to start looking in the near future to replace my ST24 which Ive had for over nine years now. I have been looking at other stuff but keep coming back to Ford and in particular the ST220 hatch or estate (sweet in black or the metallic blue), or a 2.5 5 pot Focus ST, preferably the '3' with the leather interior.
I imagine the good and bad points with an ST220 are more or less the same as the ST24, except for items such as the starter motor and dual mass flywheel which I think was introduced with the MK3 Mondy.
I have no experience of the Focus ST other than getting the general impression that its just as good on juice as the Mondeo (not) and that the motor was originally used in some variation in the Volvo T5. Is the 5 pot engine a cam belt engine rather than the 2 x cam chain drive that the V6 Duratec motor has?
Am I right in thinking that after March/April 2006, the car tax gets a lot more expensive for both of these cars?
What else should I be looking out for when choosing either of these?
Thanks
Cheers
Marty
IMO the 220 is a nicer looking car, the FST just looks like it is trying too hard to me. Never driven one but should imagine it is spot on. The 220 always brings a smile to my face, the 3rd gear acceleration ensures that 
It's not the fastest out there but goes well enough, fuel is not that bad-25-29MPG driving it how it should be, it sounds sweet too. Lool out for worn rear sub frames, rust on door bottoms on early cars and dropping rear bumoers on later cars. I came from a Mk1 V6 so same engine as your ST24 and the 220 will leave it standing(unless it is baking hot where the 220 really struggles with the roasting hot engine bay air-early 5 speed cars had a second cold air feed that was ommitted on 6 speed cars!).
It's not the fastest out there but goes well enough, fuel is not that bad-25-29MPG driving it how it should be, it sounds sweet too. Lool out for worn rear sub frames, rust on door bottoms on early cars and dropping rear bumoers on later cars. I came from a Mk1 V6 so same engine as your ST24 and the 220 will leave it standing(unless it is baking hot where the 220 really struggles with the roasting hot engine bay air-early 5 speed cars had a second cold air feed that was ommitted on 6 speed cars!).ST220 all the way for me. I've test driven a couple of the Focus ST (incidentally, I preferred the cloth seats - the leather ones didn't grip me enough) and thought it was quick, sounded great, and a lot of fun, but it didn't feel as well-balanced as the Mondeo, or as comfortable inside.
Well, I'm going to stick up for the Focus! Having had a 1.8 Mondeo a few yrs back, I looked at ST220s as potential replacements... however, I took one drive in an Asbo and was immediately sold. To my mind, the Mondeo felt too cumbersome, where the ST was more sporty and fun to drive.
I think the ST looks more modern inside & out, although that's very much a personal opinion and everyone will have their own views there.
The cloth Recaros are great and the 5-pot is eager & engaging. My advice would be to buy a nice ST-2, apply a DreamScience map (or possibly get a Mountune car) and enjoy the car's character. The chassis is upto more than the 260bhp+ such upgrades would give you and you'll never stop smiling.
I've had my ST (well, now my wife's ST!) for 3yrs and it's more enjoyable now than it was on day one (OK, we we have just recently DreamScience'd it, so that helps too!).
We like the ST so much, that it has now been joined by a Mk2 RS, which will be Mountune'd next week.... these cars are tremendous fun
I think the ST looks more modern inside & out, although that's very much a personal opinion and everyone will have their own views there.
The cloth Recaros are great and the 5-pot is eager & engaging. My advice would be to buy a nice ST-2, apply a DreamScience map (or possibly get a Mountune car) and enjoy the car's character. The chassis is upto more than the 260bhp+ such upgrades would give you and you'll never stop smiling.
I've had my ST (well, now my wife's ST!) for 3yrs and it's more enjoyable now than it was on day one (OK, we we have just recently DreamScience'd it, so that helps too!).
We like the ST so much, that it has now been joined by a Mk2 RS, which will be Mountune'd next week.... these cars are tremendous fun
Thea st220 is a great car but the focus st is just a better car in every way as any magazine review will confirm. It looks better and less ordinary although in black or grey can still be very understated, has a much more tuneable engine reknowned for its reliability in other guises, has a better interior but with the same lovely recaros, and it handles better. Not really a contest unless you need that very little bit of extra space. Drive both and it will become clear.
I've had both......and I would recommend buying......both.
The ST220 I had was excellent, quick, sounded ace and plenty of room, also loads of toys.
The Focus ST is definitely quicker than the 220, sounds just as good but different, delivers power in a different way which I prefer. Also easily tuneable, unlike the 220.
If I had the choice of the two, having never had either? ST220. Don't know why, just feels more special than the Focus.
Fuel/reliability/tax/servicing wise they're pretty much the same.
The ST220 I had was excellent, quick, sounded ace and plenty of room, also loads of toys.
The Focus ST is definitely quicker than the 220, sounds just as good but different, delivers power in a different way which I prefer. Also easily tuneable, unlike the 220.
If I had the choice of the two, having never had either? ST220. Don't know why, just feels more special than the Focus.
Fuel/reliability/tax/servicing wise they're pretty much the same.
Edited by killsta on Friday 23 July 16:39
GaryST220 said:
slighter quicker on the straights, and as far as I can tell, just as compotent in the bends.
Have driven both, have raced both. ST220 for the win,
Not looking to argue but Even the std ST is a second quicker to 60 than the 220 and has an extra 30 bhp/ton so they are actually quite a bit quicker than the 220.Have driven both, have raced both. ST220 for the win,
However both are very good cars, If performance is your main thing get the Focus, If Space and more toys is your thing go for the Mondeo.
Whenever I drove the Focus, I felt like it was pulling its punches, never delivering quite the whack I expected. No doubt a remap sorts this out, but a car shouldn't need to be tuned to be enjoyed in my opinion.
I've never felt that with the ST220 - the V-Tec style shove it gives you at 4500 RPM is very satisfying.
I've never felt that with the ST220 - the V-Tec style shove it gives you at 4500 RPM is very satisfying.
pinchmeimdreamin said:
GaryST220 said:
slighter quicker on the straights, and as far as I can tell, just as compotent in the bends.
Have driven both, have raced both. ST220 for the win,
Not looking to argue but Even the std ST is a second quicker to 60 than the 220 and has an extra 30 bhp/ton so they are actually quite a bit quicker than the 220.Have driven both, have raced both. ST220 for the win,
However both are very good cars, If performance is your main thing get the Focus, If Space and more toys is your thing go for the Mondeo.
They both have near as makes no difference, the same power, and they both weigh within 40kg of each other (depending on the model), BHP per ton is almost identical. What I will say is the Mondeo is more aerodynamic, hence the superior top end speed.
After 5 years of ST220 ownership I hope that I have made the right decision as just in the process of swapping from a ST220 to a Focus ST3.
Its down for being part exchanged, but if someone is looking for a 05 facelift ST220 petrol in panther black with 38,000 miles, DVD sat nav, 2 owners (me for 37,400 miles), 12 months MOT drop me an E mail I would be looking for £6750.
Its down for being part exchanged, but if someone is looking for a 05 facelift ST220 petrol in panther black with 38,000 miles, DVD sat nav, 2 owners (me for 37,400 miles), 12 months MOT drop me an E mail I would be looking for £6750.
Edited by SHIFTY on Sunday 25th July 08:35
pinchmeimdreamin said:
That's not exactly scientific... but fun However, lets be honest here, which car you prefer will ultimately come down to personal preference. Do you need the space of the Mondeo? Do you prefer the looks of the old design Mondeo or the Focus hatch? Do you prefer the power delivery of the turbo 5-pot or the N/A V6?
In std form, they're pretty much as quick as each other in give & take driving, but will both have very different personalities. However, get a Mountune ST or spend £400 on a 2nd hand DreamScience with a few lives left on it and the ST changes character and will be noticably quicker than the Mondeo, thanks largely to a great dollop more torque. Cheap power AND better fuel economy
Maybe you need to get out there and try both to make your mind up. There's plenty of us on here, I'm sure someone is close to you and will offer you a spin!
Just a note on the Mondeo, there were known issues with rust on cars built upto 2004, sadly the 54 plate I was planning on buying on the weekend had just started to go. I for sure will not even think about touching a car in that build date (IIRC >2005 to be safe). Check out some pictures that are out there-truly shocking for such a young car!
356Speedster said:
pinchmeimdreamin said:
That's not exactly scientific... but fun However, lets be honest here, which car you prefer will ultimately come down to personal preference. Do you need the space of the Mondeo? Do you prefer the looks of the old design Mondeo or the Focus hatch? Do you prefer the power delivery of the turbo 5-pot or the N/A V6?
In std form, they're pretty much as quick as each other in give & take driving, but will both have very different personalities. However, get a Mountune ST or spend £400 on a 2nd hand DreamScience with a few lives left on it and the ST changes character and will be noticably quicker than the Mondeo, thanks largely to a great dollop more torque. Cheap power AND better fuel economy
Maybe you need to get out there and try both to make your mind up. There's plenty of us on here, I'm sure someone is close to you and will offer you a spin!
Simon Bags said:
356Speedster said:
pinchmeimdreamin said:
That's not exactly scientific... but fun However, lets be honest here, which car you prefer will ultimately come down to personal preference. Do you need the space of the Mondeo? Do you prefer the looks of the old design Mondeo or the Focus hatch? Do you prefer the power delivery of the turbo 5-pot or the N/A V6?
In std form, they're pretty much as quick as each other in give & take driving, but will both have very different personalities. However, get a Mountune ST or spend £400 on a 2nd hand DreamScience with a few lives left on it and the ST changes character and will be noticably quicker than the Mondeo, thanks largely to a great dollop more torque. Cheap power AND better fuel economy
Maybe you need to get out there and try both to make your mind up. There's plenty of us on here, I'm sure someone is close to you and will offer you a spin!
Dave_ST220 said:
Just a note on the Mondeo, there were known issues with rust on cars built upto 2004, sadly the 54 plate I was planning on buying on the weekend had just started to go. I for sure will not even think about touching a car in that build date (IIRC >2005 to be safe). Check out some pictures that are out there-truly shocking for such a young car!
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