Hi All,

Well with the recent very sad departure of my two cars, my Escort daily driver and my mk5 XR3i project, i decided to cheer myself up and went an bought a ST200 Mondeo. The old ST200 ticked all the boxes for the sort of car i wanted really, comfortable, quick, and handles well for when i feel like chucking it about it a bit. This is all from what i know and have read by the way as I havent actually picked it up yet, going to get it on Saturday, but obviously if its anything other than described in the listing ill kick up a fuss! But ive spoken to the guy and he seems sound and the car looks good and if its as described it should be all good.

Ive had a look around online at reviews and a few forums so i know what to look out for, and ive owned god knows how many Fords so i know about the rust! But i wondered if theres anything i might not know about i should look out for. Any previous owners out there?

I dont know why im asking this as i know someone is bound to say they're shit, but what peoples general opinion of them?!

Cheers
Matt

 

i love em mate. seriously considering getting rid of my saph and fixing up the st200 i've got stored at my work!

 

had my estate for over 3 years now, only problem i have at the min is a oil leak somewhere on the drivers side of the engine where the belts are.

in 3 years i've had a new CV joint as it was knocking on full lock and a new clutch, which isn't cheap.

i have to say though its never let me down and is a pleasure to drive

i've also found i get more MPG if i run her on super unleaded.

cheers Matthew

 

st200 saloon is lush but as thirsty as hell ,my mate got shot of his purely for this reason as to quote him = "little better than a range rover on fuel"

mainly rust and check for oil leaks and test drive it checking steering and suspension

 

Get it warm and listen for a noticeable 'tick' from the engine (louder than the injectors). If so it 'could' be the head gasket. There is a weak spot and they blow through, but from the cylinder to atmosphere, so you don't get any water/oil mixing. They can go on for quite some time like it, but I wouldn't want to buy a car with the noise. A very similar noise can also be caused by the ex-manifold gasket. Again, not the end of the world, but a right pain to sort as it's always the rear bank that goes.

Front wishbones are unique to the ST200, and are more than double the cost of a standard Mondeo wishbone, so listen for clonks from the front end. If in doubt, jack it up and give the wheels a waggle. Any play and knock him down.

Really nice cars to drive - just don't expect much in the way of mpg! I got shot of mine because even driving it like Miss Daisy it barely did 20mpg, and if I got a bit giddy it would be in the low teens!!

 

Thanks for the info chaps, very very useful and interesting indeed. Will post up some more details and pics after I've been to pick it up

 

Ask if the water pump has been changed. They have a plastic impeler which snaps. You can replace these with a metal impeler pump. There a easy job to do.

 

It's not such a big deal on 200s, especially the later ones, as they had stronger impellers. It only really seems to affect the earlier cars from what I can gather. It's still a sensible mod however!

 

Yeah, I'd heard the ST200 had a revised one.

The Mondeo isn't too bad for rust compared to a lot of Fords, but the arches seem to go a bit. A friend of mine used to have a 200, though I only went in it once. They don't feel mega fast, but the way the needle goes round the speedo is quite deceptive really, it did get a good shift on pretty quick, and all without any drama.

They sound nice too, better than the ST220 even. Still look smart too. I'd have one - if it wasn't for the fuel bills!

 

Few experiances from my ST24, which is similar, check the rear wheel well as they can leak round rear lights, some sealant soon fixes it. Check all the doors lock on the remote, the door lock solenoids can go, had 2 go on mine.
Check the suspension springs which can snap, may think you'd notice that, but mine did and luckily mine spring stayed in the turret, but was knackered.
Mine is a 2000 ST24 and had a cream coloured water pump impeller, uprated one, the early iffy ones where black, usually in 97/98 ST24s, so as said ST200s should be OK, but I've changed mine anyway as it cheap and I didn't know of different types till I got metal one to uprate mine.
Also, check the secondaries are opening around 3500/4000 rpm, should get a little boost, if not the IMRC could be fried it located at hot spot at front of engine, nice one Ford and they few hundred quid new from Fords.

May sound a lot of problems, but mainly for me just been niggles, otherwise great cars, hope yours is a good'un

 

I got between 28-30mpg from mine average and it didn't get an especially easy life from me, it handled well and sounded great with a panel filter and blueflame cat-back exhaust on it. Makes an absolutely brilliant daily driver IMO.

I'd 100% have another one if I could get hold of one without high miles or shoddy condition... for sensible money.


Cheers,
Grant

 

Is that mpg from the trip computer, or calculated properly? If it's the latter you did a damn sight better than I ever did!!!

 

Initially went on the trip computer but then when I saw people saying they were struggling to get 20-22mpg from their cars I calculated it properly bud.. I've never understood why they were mocked for low MPG when mine seemed to do so well, like I said, I didn't give it too easy a life and did a bit of town work too.

Maybe mine was running crazy lean and is melting all 6 pistons away slowly..... so if you're reading this and you own ST200 with the reg number V747LHK then get it checked out.


Cheers,
Grant

 

I wad averaging 32 around Shetland an when I got it on the motorway it was certainly 35+. That was working it out properly to end up with. I love em. Only car i've ever really wanted to own twice. Although the present one is rough on the bodywork side. Interior is pretty mint tho. As said I'd probably keep that and sell the saph.

 

Dans pretty much hit all the major points. also you should get a major pick up in power around 3k revs, if you dont, the IMRC is shot, very common, because of the genius place ford placed them. if the IMRC is fully functional, id relocate it to the battery tray, will prolong the life, and there not cheap.

as for the 'tick', i know people who have sold cars because of the 'tick'. mine sounds like a steam train at the minute, but its 100% the exhaust manifold gasket, its had every headgasket check known to man, twice, i even had glenn sat ontop of the engine while i drove it up and down the road, and its defo comming from the exhaust manifold.

the gaskets are cheap enough, Ł18 each from ford, or Ł5 each from a motor factors, but as said, there a c*nt of a job to do, like everything else on a V6 mondeo. its actually easier to undo the engine mounts and jack the engine up, so so you have a bit of movement, because every millimeter counts, especially on the rear bank.

the waterpump change is defo worth doing, for the sake of Ł50 for the metal impellar pump, and an hour job, its peace of mind. change the belt while your on, there only Ł11 from ford.

both my V6 mondys have had metal pumps, my first, was an 02 plate V6 ZS, with the uprated ford pump, with improved plastic, but fitting the metal impellar pump was still first job on the list. my current one also has a metal impellar pump aswel.

 

Dan loves Mondingos! Loves them.

 

He drives them and knows them well, but i think 'loves' is a tad far lol

 

like fuck...he LOVES them with a passion.

Bought himself a Ford logo'd boot protector that's the size of a mouse mat to protect his boot when loading, always on any mondingo related thread within five replies, always...and he sticks delphi injectors up his bum on the regular. He will admit it all, he aint shy....the love runs deep.

 

Pitty his arse cant recode them, he would make a fortune

 

haha!

I know, i get told allllllllllllllllll about the common Mondeo faults, how to fix them, how to "retro fit" a footwell LED, the part numbers of wings and interior screw covers and all kinds of Mondeo-theme'd dad bollocks from him. I just rebuff it with questions about his petrol-like fuel consumption on his TDCI

 

He knows his beans like when it comes to the V6 and diseasel mondys, all i know about the diseasels, is the injector and DMF issues, which are expensive, so ive always steered clear of them. my specialist subject is V6 petrol mondys, better the devil you know and all that

 

You are such a fucking liar Davies!!

 

It's facts! You know it, you sneak. You heart mondingos and get all sweaty over the in depth "how to" guides on that forum you own and moderate.....

You have a smaller version of this-

http://revolution247.com/richbrook-f...r-82709-0.html

It makes baby Jesus cry

Enough abuse though now, back on topic...i'll hand the reigns back over to the capable hands of the Mondeo Messiah himself, Mr White.

(his screensaver at the moment is an LX with wire wheels)

 

Interesting experience for the customers who choose to wait while the work is done.... and there'd likely not be many TDCi Mondingo's with their bonnets open at shows due to the reek of Danny's boiled arse juice on the engine.


Cheers,
Grant

 

Ive had mine 4 years this month and tbh haven't replaced it as for bang for bucks its been unbeatable.

Fuel isnt great lol duno about mpg as my clock says 20ish, get 200 or more from Ł50, never tried figuring it out correctly.

Will be giving the bugger away next year as I want an audi and tbh dont think the ST will sell even though low miles.

Had 52K when I got it and now got 90K.

 

Mine said 29.4 today kev, i should be so lucky, its clearly been hitting the crack pipe, because i get roughly that to a tenner. i know petrol is ridiculously expensive, but its not a Ł10 a gallon, YET

 

 

I know a fair bit about V6 mondys aswell.In sick of doing jobs to fiddys lol.Mind you i cant remember the last time i did any work on it.

 

So, update, i bought it! Travelled down to Benfleet this morning (7.00am start on a Saturday, not cool!) and was actually for once in my life pleasantly suprised at what i turned up to! The guy said the pics in the auction didnt go it justice and he was right! Apart from one small scab of bubbling (hasnt broken through the paint) on the back arch the bodywork is more or less completely spotless! Sound guy as well, always helps doesn't it? One thing he said which i think (hopefully) sums up how he's treated the car was when he said 'yeah, id probably change the oil if i were you, its starting to get a little bit darker'!

Anyway, here's the highlights;

2000 'w' reg
83,000 miles. Actually clicked past 83,000 as i waa driving it home
FULL service history
Unmarked leather
Clifford CAT1 alarm
MOT till Feb
Tax out at the end of the month unfortunately
Very good continentals tyres all round
All the usual toys, which all work inc the ir con

It was a beautiful on the drive home. Bearing in mind my last car was a ratty old 1.6 Escort on 160k, and to be fair most of the cars ive had before have been old hot hatches with rock hard suspension, it was like a different world. And fuck me does it shift, and the noise!!!!!! Loving it.

Will get a few pics tomorrow after ive had a chance to wash it, but heres a quick one;



I'm sure you'll agree that is a hell of a lot for Ł900!! Happy days

 

Oh, also had all the books, original bill of sale, spare key, spare fob etc etc etc!

 

I have the st engine in the coog only probs iv seen is lower pully seal can leak but can be done easy with engine in fuel is not bad can average 27 and do clean the manafold every year to two years as the EGR fills it full of cack and you can get a clutch kit for Ł160.ho and that looks a minter enjoy !

 

thats a bargin mate.....

no one has mentioned the wishbones mate Ł113 a side

awesome car mate

 

I did!

If the balljoint goes it's much much cheaper to get a new balljoint, and grind the rivets off and bolt the new one in place. Both sides for Ł40

 

Ive let you have a year off, after doing the springs, i thought it was best

 

I had a st200 and it was spot on for the 6 years i had it i had a blue flame exhaust on it and a dacat and it still past the mot as they have 3 cats on them and i droped it by 30mm i only sold it as my 3dr was going on the road

 

Does look good lowered I must, really want to try and resist the urge to start buggering about with it though!! Bet they sound awesome with a decent exhaust though..

 

Bloody bargain for 900 quid.I do like these a lot.

 

I will never lower a mondeo again.

 

Couple more piccies for ya'll!

 

Great looking car for 900jeebs, think you got a bargain of that mate.


Cheers,
Grant