the mk2 mondeo had two types of rear sway bars with different shackle pins fitted. The ones on the 99 onwards chassis were a load better than the early mk2 (like the focus ones) Only the ST200 had better wishbones and front subframe from a cougar with horizontal bushes like a mk3 mondeo.
I found the mk1/2 mondeo very sensitive to what wheels had been fitted. The basic 14" wheels fitted to an early lx made them feel like a ship. The wheels on the later 99 on cars with the 199 60 15 tyres improved things a lot but still nothing special. The best size IMO was the 16" alloys with the 205 50 16 tyres like the zetec and st24. I felt these gave good handling without the car feeling like a ship or to harsh like the ST200.
But when the mk3 first come out when i was working for ford a basic 1.8 mk3 zetec felt worlds apart.from a mk2 equivalent. Even when i had my old mk3 tdci zetec s that had covered 98k felt a load better than my mk2's. And again a mk4 mondeo is a load better than a mk3.