Mondeo ST200

[Fireball]

This one is probably for Steve mainly!

Seriously looking for an ST200 to replace the Diesel Escort. The escort is a great car, very efficient and good on the motorway, but i barely drive it these days, and would rather something a little more fun and attractive for the short time that i do spend driving.

Always fancied one, so will be looking nowish. Besides the rusty rear arches which seem to be an issue, has another seen a buying guide or otherwise that can offer some advice? Want to get one in the 70k-80k mile mark if i can, which i know is asking a lot, as most seem to be the thick side of 120k these days.

Seen the Special Edition which just seems to have a slightly more pimped interior, but people want nearly £3k for that! Bit much for a 10 year old Mondy.


And yes, still making the fiesta, but been so short of time, she's not had much love recently. Gotta stop going into the City and getting smashed EVERY OTHER DAY!    LOL

[cozmeister]

Seen the Special Edition which just seems to have a slightly more pimped interior, but people want nearly £3k for that! Bit much for a 10 year old Mondy.

By the same token, £3k is "a bit much for a 20-odd year old Sierra".     Limited editions always command a premium.

There was a buyers guide in an older Fast Ford, may even be on their website.  If not, email them, and let me know which one it's in, I've got too many to flick through individually

As for mileage, bear in mind they're 10 years old - average mileage WILL be around 100k.  Also remember it's not the mileage, it's the maintenance that counts.  There's twincam and V6 Sierras out there with twice that mileage on them.

[Fireball]

By the same token, £3k is "a bit much for a 20-odd year old Sierra".     Limited editions always command a premium.

There was a buyers guide in an older Fast Ford, may even be on their website.  If not, email them, and let me know which one it's in, I've got too many to flick through individually

As for mileage, bear in mind they're 10 years old - average mileage WILL be around 100k.  Also remember it's not the mileage, it's the maintenance that counts.  There's twincam and V6 Sierras out there with twice that mileage on them.

Fair points all, cheers - and i keep seeing ones with 160k + so i guess the engine can take it! I'm just used to having little engine motors that start giving up at 100k.

I'll give the FF site a look....

[cozmeister]

Could also get Steve J to add his input, seens as he owned one, albeit briefly...

[RST-Steve]

Briefly Chris? I had mine for just shy of 3 years...... and loved it!

Really pleased to hear your thinking of getting one Steve, I know you always liked mine   ...... I believe the buying guide is in the May or March 2008 issue of Fast Ford as I have it myself (as well as the brochures, press release and photo and road tests in Auto Express and Autocar...... but that's another story lol)

The ST200 is a great car and in my own personal opinion, is better than the ST220 which i have also now owned..... and sold on..... as it just didn't have the 'fun' factor of the 200. The limited edition is ok, but i don't like the blue and black interior and the saloon Mondeo Mk2's just don't look quite right. The prices are true tho, the ltd edition saloon does command more money as they only made 300. It also has heated front seats.

When buying one, make sure the water pump has been replaced with the one with metal blades as the originals had plastic blades and it is very important when driving that you feel the kick of the secondaries opening at around 5,000 revs. This is very costly to get sorted if it goes wrong! The engines are very strong tho and I know a chap who has one with around 130,000 miles and it's still going strong I think.

It's shocking how cheap they are now tho, I paid just under £4k for mine in 2008 as totally standard and with 54,000 miles and part ex'd it for a lot less shall we say earlier in the year with around 71,000 miles for the ST220. In some ways I know I should never have sold it, BUT..... the rear sills were going right in the corners when you open the rear doors and I wasn't getting involved with welding etc in those areas next year. The arches etc were all fine on mine but the rears are a common place to go. Mine was also re-mapped by Dreamscience so didn't hang about

I've now got the car however that was the reason Ford made the ST200 in the first place and that is also a car worth considering again, as they are so cheap...... yep, i've switched to the dark side!!!  


EDIT: but I do still have the Fiesta too  

[massivewangers]

You've changed your daily AGAIN?! You're worse than me!!!
 
What now? 

[RST-Steve]

Jon........ think MSD (milton keynes) tuned from new and V6 


If you give yourself a budget of £2000 Steve, this would secure a mint condition hatchback, just be patient and wait for the right car...... you know it's not going to be like the Escort on fuel but if you drive it sensibly, you should get some decent mpg for what it is 

[massivewangers]

A Vectra GSI then?

What age? Friend of mine had a '98 model one, I really liked it I must say. Ride can be a little hard, but then the ST200 is too really.

Really nice engine note, and love the looks.

Get some pics up you madman!

[RST-Steve]

Yep you guessed it 

............. mine's a 2000 facelift 2.5 GSi saloon tho as i prefer the shape so one of the 3900 built and tuned by MSD. They also made 500 2.6's as a run out in the Vectra B shape as i'm sure you know and although they have xenon's, headlight washers and cruise control, they only have 170 odd brake but plenty of torque...... mines the 192 bhp model sounds awesome tho like you said, nice roar......

The GSi wiped the floor with the ST24 so Ford's answer was the ST200 just in time for the facelift GSi like mine and probably had the edge over the two imo

All these cars are just absolute bargains these days  

[massivewangers]

Yeah, no one wants them with the current fuel prices. You change your car like most people change their underwear 

They are nice though, go well enough and do sound really good. I'd have one I think. Think it would be a tough call between a GSI and an ST200. Any reason you've plumped for one? Didn't have you down as a Vauxhall fan!

I'm not sure which generation I'd have. I really like the pre-facelift, something cool about it (especially in super touring form!), but the newer one is a bit more modern looking.

As I said, get some pics up!

[RST-Steve]

Any reason you've plumped for one? Didn't have you down as a Vauxhall fan!

Was very tempted to get another ST200 but it would never be as good as what I had as I had so much done to it so fancied a change. Never been into Vauxhall's much to be honest, so just stumbled across the GSi by chance 

[Fireball]

EXCELLENT advice steve, thanks. I'd not have known about the water pump at all. Was that a recall issue that should have been done under warrenty?

I know what you mean about the kick down - when my bud down here took me out in his silver 24, it felt like a turbo was coming on boost! Awesome power.

I actually like the saloon one, call me crazy, but i think it's pretty tidy. Either way, i will be properly looking with intent next month, plus i expect they'll be cheaper round xmas - too many people in need of the money. Should flog the escort too, just so i have parking space. Bah, i hate selling cars, such a ball ache.

interesting what you said about the 220 - i nearly went for one of them, just assuming it'd be better. Wish I'd known you were selling yours, i'd have had it off you

Am i right in thinking that they come in both full and half leather? And are some Recaro branded - whats the deal with interior options....?

[massivewangers]

Some don't have full leather, but I think all have Recaros. I'm sure Steve will confirm though.

It's a tricky choice. I'd be tempted by an ST220, as they're a bit newer, and are coming down in price a lot. Never driven a 200 though, so the only comparison I've had is when Steve took me out in his ages ago!

[RST-Steve]

They all came with Recaro branded front seats and half leather was the standard, full leather the option........ that said, its the full leather that is the far more common varient, to find one with half leather is actually pretty rare imo. The only car that had a higher spec in the range at the time was the Ghia X and due to this, the ST200 has pretty much everything and didn't really have any options that I can think of right now. They all have electric windows all round, electric mirrors and electric adjustment on driver's seat, traction control, climate control, heated front and rear screens, front and rear fogs, driver and passenger airbags and airbags in the seats, fuel computer, rad/cass and 6 CD changer......... the Ghia X just had heated seats and cruise control over this but the ST200 saloon had heated seats too and i've seen cruise control retro fitted in a 200 too.

The ST24 is only 168bhp (same as the V6 Ghia X) compared to the 200bhp in the ST200 steve, so if you think the 24 is quick, wait 'till you try the 200 I also had the panel filter, remap and mongoose on mine so was actually running the 200 brake or there about's it should have had... most have lost power over the years, mine was no exception when I got it. I think the water pump was a recall, but don't quote me on that lol.

The ST220 is much more modern Jon is right, well put together and very smooth but I prefer the older shape and it felt slightly slower I think than the 200, the 220 may be a 3.0 with 20 extra brake but it's a heavy old bus too....... although the heated seats and heated screen is something i'll miss in the coming weeks i'm sure!!

[Fireball]

Awesome advice from all, cheers. gonna get the escort cleaned up a bit and list that to sell. Looking forward to owning something with a bit more bite 

[Fireball]

UPDATE!:

Sold the trusty Escort on Saturday, and picked up my minty mint X reg ST200 last night. 72k on the clock, full leather option, and immaculate. Very pleased with her, pics to follow

Oh, and removal of one of the cats and a trip to dreamscience is on the cards before summer. Be nice to get her back to factory power (assuming she's not there now).

[RST-Steve]

Great stuff steve

btw, mine was an X plate and I part exchanged it with 71k ISH!! that was a year ago tho

The custom tune at dreamscience's premises at Hull was £500 including the box with the maps on, but worth it imo, you get what you pay for!

[Fireball]

Great stuff steve

btw, mine was an X plate and I part exchanged it with 71k ISH!! that was a year ago tho

The custom tune at dreamscience's premises at Hull was £500 including the box with the maps on, but worth it imo, you get what you pay for!

Cheers steve for the info! So they replace the ECU completely? I wasnt sure whether they mapped straight onto the existing ford one (didnt know if that was possible with the EEC V). Did you have a cat out too? I'm not after more power really, i dont want it devouring fuel, I'd just like to get it back to factory, get a nice clean map that's more intune with the engine (as it's obviously going to have changed somewhat in 71k miles), and get the exhaust popping and banging a little if i can!! I can't see that happening with 3 bloody cats

[RST-Steve]

When i took the car up to Hull it had the K&N panel filter in it at that time and that was all, I actually bought the cat-back mongoose a little while after I had the car re-mapped or 'custom tuned' as they call it there. No new ECU was fitted, they simply used what was already there. I was amazed that Adam (one of the bosses there and a really nice chap) just used a laptop to do it all, not a spanner in sight! That's the thing, we all know about the tuning of RS's but the ST200 is at the start of the era where it's all a bit different imo. When I got it there, it ran 173bhp on the rollers (due to my very relaxed drive up there they said lol) and after a few hours the peak figure acheived was 208bhp, but that was with the traction control disabled i think. I didn't want that, so that map was saved on the box and the map i stuck with was the one that had everything standard but it was running 198bhp on the rollers, PERFECT! It totally transformed the drivability of the car tho, you'd stick your foot down before and it was kind of hesitate a little however after the re-map it was progressive all the way through the rev range and very responsive. As said, i later had the mongoose fitted so i'd like to think it was running the 200bhp after that but we know exhausts wouldn't make a huge difference. I didn't bother with a de-cat tho, as for me, that's not my cup of tea

[Fireball]

When i took the car up to Hull it had the K&N panel filter in it at that time and that was all, I actually bought the cat-back mongoose a little while after I had the car re-mapped or 'custom tuned' as they call it there. No new ECU was fitted, they simply used what was already there. I was amazed that Adam (one of the bosses there and a really nice chap) just used a laptop to do it all, not a spanner in sight! That's the thing, we all know about the tuning of RS's but the ST200 is at the start of the era where it's all a bit different imo. When I got it there, it ran 173bhp on the rollers (due to my very relaxed drive up there they said lol) and after a few hours the peak figure acheived was 208bhp, but that was with the traction control disabled i think. I didn't want that, so that map was saved on the box and the map i stuck with was the one that had everything standard but it was running 198bhp on the rollers, PERFECT! It totally transformed the drivability of the car tho, you'd stick your foot down before and it was kind of hesitate a little however after the re-map it was progressive all the way through the rev range and very responsive. As said, i later had the mongoose fitted so i'd like to think it was running the 200bhp after that but we know exhausts wouldn't make a huge difference. I didn't bother with a de-cat tho, as for me, that's not my cup of tea

Ahh interesting stuff dude. So this "box" i assume it was like a blufin when you can plug it in and remap the ecu yourself by copying that pre-made onto the car? Would it be cheaper without that bit of kit - i.e. just map it and send me on my way?

£500 is a lot for a car that cost me £1400 notes and i just wanna use to get about at the weekend.... I mean, if it was a classic and i could see myself keeping it nomatter what it needed then the cost would be nothing. You see what i mean.

[RST-Steve]

Yep, know what you mean steve and that's a good price if the car is mint ...... the box is indeed like the bluefin etc but you cannot buy one 'off the shelf' you could say for the ST200 like you would for a Focus ST for example as the car is just that bit too old for that modern technology lol, the car can be remapped but has to be live mapped, or custom tuned.

I'm sure you probably could get it less the box, no probs but they saved the car's original map onto it too so I still had it. They advise that when ever the car goes into Ford, to remove their map and put on the original but to be honest......... i never did that, just left it on and never used the box 

How's that Fiesta coming on btw 

[Fireball]

Yep, know what you mean steve and that's a good price if the car is mint ...... the box is indeed like the bluefin etc but you cannot buy one 'off the shelf' you could say for the ST200 like you would for a Focus ST for example as the car is just that bit too old for that modern technology lol, the car can be remapped but has to be live mapped, or custom tuned.

I'm sure you probably could get it less the box, no probs but they saved the car's original map onto it too so I still had it. They advise that when ever the car goes into Ford, to remove their map and put on the original but to be honest......... i never did that, just left it on and never used the box 

How's that Fiesta coming on btw 

Fiesta has been sitting in a cover for months really - Tis waiting for a few infastructure things - I finished the workshop, which has been helpful already, and the work area/garage is waiting for a layer of concrete, then i'm ready to start stripping her. That will require some warmer weather, so might get to do that next month.

In the mean time, i've sourced all the standard parts i needed - heated windscreen, passenger airbag and controller, rear pop out windows etc.

Gonna come to Central day with the ST200 so i can see you boys all there and race up the strip!

[RST-Steve]

In the mean time, i've sourced all the standard parts i needed - heated windscreen, passenger airbag and controller, rear pop out windows etc.

There's some rare parts there, nicely done!

Yeah be nice to see you there mate, all being well i should be there in my Fiesta

[Fireball]

The saga begins......

After driving it home from where i bought it with plenty of respect and a little fear, it sat on my drive for best part of a week as I was staying at the missus's in the City. I get home, get it taxed, then take it out (finally). 50m up the road i can hear something grinding so i swing back and have a poke around the front wheel, only to discover that the suspension spring has snapped and is now stuck into the tyre!! Very pleased it didnt do this while cruising down the M4 from picking it up...

Turns out lots of other Mondy ST owners have had the same issue, and you have to get the springs from Ford as motor spare places can't get ST springs. My two local ones produced springs for the Ghia which were not even close in size and shape. Have now ordered two front springs (£185 for the pair!), stripped the stuts out, and should have it on the road by the weekend.

One day, i might actually get to drive my new car!!!

[RST-Steve]

D'oh! That's a bummer but at least it's an easy-ish fix and the car will be back on the road soon........ can't beat the genuine parts tho tbh steve

I had a rear caliper seize on mine, that certainly gave a nice grinding noise lol!