Ford Mondeo ST220 | Spotted
Never the most glamorous Ford, but easily improved with a 3.0-litre V6...
A random car park attendant once told us: "don't let anyone tell you you're a Ford. You're a Ferrari." Obviously we didn't start on the GT thing, but we did understand the sentiment.
However, not all the regular Fords are so undervalued - you only need look at how some classic fast Fords have appreciated for proof of that. But the quick Mondeos have not yet joined their predecessors. This despite cars like the ST220 seen here combining much of the fun that made so many love various Focuses and Fiestas, albeit with a practical side as well.
The lusty 3.0-litre V6 meant with 226hp and 210lb ft, which translated to 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds and 150mph. Guaranteed to make the kids, the dog, and the front passenger queasy in no time at all. The fuel economy was one the reasons fancy business executives moved on from the Mondeo, so there's a nice treat for future buyers to look forward to. However, they'll also get one of Ford's best chassis thrown into the bargain as well, the ST220 praised at launch for its finely honed dynamics - even with a big lump of V6 up front.
This Imperial Blue '220 hatch was registered in 2004, which means it still sneaks into a lower tax bracket - beat that, Ferrari. It remains completely standard too, perhaps a fortunate upside of the Mondeo's more mature fast Ford image. No ghastly bodykits or upgrades here! There not one but two service books full of stamps, a first aid kit and three keys. ST220s were always rare to begin with - you'll remember the Top Gear episode with the DB9, no doubt - so one that looks like this so many years later is a real find.
Although there are no decent pictures of the interior, the ad claims the black, heated Recaro seats "look barely worn", and the snap of the back appears to pay testament to that. With unmarked silver wheels alongside the trademark paint, it glistens in the sun as well as any GT ever could. Maybe.
At £4,000, it's hard to imagine a good ST220 ever being worth less. Never know, it could well prove to be an investment, seeing how those other fast Fords - including this car's ST200 predecessor - have appreciated in recent years. And even if doesn't, you'll be left with a brilliant fast car. Perhaps not a Ferrari, but a damn fine Ford nonetheless.
SPECIFICATION | FORD MONDEO ST220
Engine: 2,967cc V6 petrol
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 225@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 207@4,900rpm
MPG: 27.7
CO2: 245g/km
First registered: 2004
Recorded mileage: 118,541
Price new: £23,565
Yours for: £3,995
I don’t think Ford ever did.
Remember test driving the V6 and it feeling pretty smooth but the upgrade never quite worked out at the time.
I had a MK4 Mondeo 2.5T a few years later and it was such a disappointment. Ford really lost their way with the Mondeo after the MK3. It was never as good again.
What's sad is that I sold mine for £1250 (I only paid £1200 for it). They seem to have picked up a bit in value since then.
I changed mine for a mk4 Titanium X Sport which felt like the spiritual successor in some ways, but missed the true 'je ne sais quoi' of an ST vehicle.
I'm now in a mk3.5 Focus ST and absolutely loving it.
Good ones (that aren't rotten and/or battle-scarred, with clean interiors, and don't need a fortune spending on suspension and brakes to bring them to their best) are getting rarer. £4k isn't bad if this one is as nice as it looks.
Ideally look for one between 2004 and 2006 - you don't want a prefacelift, and 06 onwards are silly money to tax.
Also the one in the OP is Performance Blue, not Imperial Blue.
I'm normally completely wrong with any kind of prediction like this though...
Limited numbers, Tick
Well reviewed against contemporaries, Tick
Still good to drive, Tick
These will only rise if they are low owners, low mileage, original and good condition
The one I used to own wasn't an ST220 but a Ghia X 3.0V6 which wasn't much different but had 23 bhp less, softer suspension and more wood inside. It still surprised many people away from the lights when I chose to cane it, or you could waft around in high gears on a decent wave of torque.
As to economy, it generally returned 25-27mpg although on one occasion, I reset the trip computer after a fill-up in Hampshire. I then drove up the M3 with the cruise control set to 65mph as I was very early to meet Mrs D.R. who was arriving back to the UK on a flight. When I arrived at Heathrow it told me I'd returned 42mpg.
I've always thought the Mk3 Mondeo was a massively under-rated car in general. Should i ever find myself in a position where I need to buy a cheap and sensible car, but one that I know I'll enjoy driving, I wouldn't consider anything else.
Currently got the later model in 2.5T form (my wife's!) and that's fine, but still keep looking at these. If I had a spare space on the drive (and the money spare), and hadn't just bought another toy, I'd deffo be tempted by something like this - especially if it was the even rarer estate version!
Mine was silver/grey, with red leather interior. Mates called it 'the mobile bordello'...
:-D
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