Zetec_mk4_XR3i

had a scabby one for a few days before moving it on and was very pleasantly surprised with it so been looking at good ones for a daily and wondered if anyone had any opinions/suggestions.

i've read about the water pump situation so I know about that, anything else to look for?
are they belt driven or chain?
How bad on gas are they? (i walk to train station for work so wouldnt be doing 100 miles a day lol)

cheeRS for any input.

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

head gasket is the other thing

chain driven

£10 used to get me 50 miles ish depending on how its driven

bookwyse

Save your money and get the better ST200. They are not that more expensive now and are a lot better car.

Alzay

I've had 5 ST24s and a ST200 the 24's are preety bomb proof, rear arches and water pumps are a problem and need fixed / changed.
Cylinder heads go after 110k and its normally the back bank.

Good fast car for pennies. £10 should get you 70miles.

Seen a good one on Autotrader the other day.

Fiddy

Cant go wrong with them, there cheap as chips, drive well, go pretty well for what they are. if you can stretch to buying a 200, go for one of them, but as reasonable 200's start around £2k, and reasonable 24's start around £1k, the 24's are a lot better value for money, even though the 200 is a lot better car.


Al, i dont when you were getting 70 miles out of £10. i put £60 in mine in last week, a lot of duel carrageway way driving, and a lot round the doors, so about as combined as you can get, ive done 290 miles, and its time for a visit to the petrol station. i think more around 50 mile to £10 mate, even less if you got a heavy right foot.

cossie500

Bought a nice one and did 100k in it before moving it on, no problems apart from the usual consumable stuff, great cars.

Gazzonator

iTrader: (9)

As already mentioned, they can be thirsty if you drive them hard.

A lot of car for the money though. I only paid 750 quid for mine with 65k miles.

I had to change the water pump on mine a couple of days after I bought it and the diff exploded wrecking the gearbox (never known an MTX75 box to do that but hey ho!) but other than that has been pretty sound.

ECOS95

Very good cars, had 2 now & would have one again if I needed a cheap (not on fuel) run around.

massivewangers

iTrader: (1)

Nice enough cars, but getting on a bit now.

Good apart from the mentioned water pump issues, and a bit of rust getting into a few of them. They're a decent motor, that can be had pretty cheaply.

ST200 doesn't really warrant the extra price to be honest.

BUT, when you look at what else you can buy, I'm not sure they're the best out there.

I recently bought my 850 T-5 and it worked out to be about £1k. For that, I got full heated leather, climate control, electric memory driver's seat, electric windows all round, a much better stereo, more interior space, more comfort, a 2.3L, 5 cylinder turbo lump knocking out 225bhp and 220lbs/ft. It had 10 months MOT and about 4 months tax. Set of 850R wheels later and it looks pretty smart and with a chip will be knocking on the door of 260bhp.

Fuel wise, it doesn't really seem massively different to a V6 Mondeo from what I've heard, I just get a great five pot growl and enough power to properly surprise people, as well as a whole load of comfort and space. It even handles ok for a big old bus.

ST24 is a decent car, but I think there's better choices for the money now really.

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Get one bought mate,they are a good car and they go well.If your worried about the water pump,get a metal prepeler pumop and fit it.They are easy to do.I love the ST 200s.

xr4x4rs

iTrader: (5)

ive had mine just over a year now, only replaced brake pads and discs and plugs and oil change, its done 160k now and still going strong

only thing i would advise is dont get one thats lowered hey will eat through tyres, ive done 2 19s in less than 2k miles due to camber and its only lowered 25mm as far as i know

the later st24s have galvanised bodies so no rust, well mine has no rust anyhow and its a 99 v reg

i use mine as a daily runner and its never let me down, everything works as it should, also find one with heated seats like i did, st200s dont have heated seats, ive upgraded mine to st200 seats but i miss the heated part in this weather

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

I beg to differ. They're barely any more, but nicer 'better' car - plus even if the HG pops you can sell the specific 200 parts for a pretty penny!

massivewangers

iTrader: (1)

When I was looking though, the cheaper ones that were just above ST24 money all looked like rusty or silly mileage dogs. Nice ones still seem pretty expensive to me, compared to ST24s anyway.

Nice 200s border on MK3 Mondeo money, and I know which I'd rather have.

Not that I can say much, I bought a Volvo

Zetec_mk4_XR3i

thanks for all replies.

Its a black V plate I'm looking at - done 67k with full Ford history and is up for £995 ono - must be worth a look.

STEVEST24

Great cars, few problems been with mine, check rear wheel well!!!/boot for water they can leak round rear lights, broken suspension springs, check remote locking all working.
Sounds a good car, hope it is.

COLEYST200

iTrader: (3)

i loved my old ST200 i sold it just 1 year back for £2400 with 64,000 on the clock and i never had a spanner to the motor and i never had to do the pump as the newer motor,s had them put in by FORD when they built they

Brian ST-2

iTrader: (1)

Christ get it bought at that price with that mileage and history.
I'm driving North tomorrow in mine so I'll let you know what long range fuel consumption is like

If I recall last time I got from here to Penrith before I needed fuel on last trip.

Zetec_mk4_XR3i

lol cheers guys!

does anyone know if the later ones had revised water pumps if the early ones were prone to failing?

STEVEST24

Mine was a W reg and had a cream coloured plastic water pump impellor, I believe the early iffy ones had black plastic impellor. I changed mine to metal impellor anyway cos it only £40 and had bought it before took old one off heyho.
Check plugs been done on one you looking at cos should be done a 60K according to Ford. Also check front wishbones which some peeps had problems with.

Fiddy

From 99 onwards ford used a revised water pump, still had a plastic impellar though. id still fit a metal impellar one tbh, i did to my MK3 a week after i got it, and thst was 02 reg. ive just bought a MK2 V6, and that is getting a metal impellar water pump ASAP. there about £40, easy to fit, and gives you piece of mind, a new water pump belt is about £10 from ford aswel, so your looking at about £50 and an hours work all in.


As above, bottom arms, central locking, brake pipes, and rust can a problem. they have also been known to pop headgaskets. listen for a ticking sound when the engine is running, thats a sign the HG is on its way out.

Fiddy

Bet its this one

http://dundee.gumtree.com/dundee/23/51590123.html

Zetec_mk4_XR3i

your good mate looks and sounds alright i think?

cheers for info by the way, didnt realise water pump was a fairly easy job, i'm used to doing them on zetec mondeo's.

Fiddy

Its not to difficult mate, and defo a worth while job. the revised water pumps are pretty good tbh, it was the MK1 and early MK2 mondys that failed, but as i said, for the sake of £50 and an hours work, its worth it just for peice of mind.

If you buy it, register on the mondeo forum in my sig. its the only scottish based mondeo forum, they do a lot of shows in your neck of the woods, and are very knowledgeable and freindly bunch. i moderate on there, and even though im south of the border, its my mondy forum of choice.

Csm

SMF is where its at

Zetec_mk4_XR3i

thanks guys, I am already on there as my mate James recommended me to join up

Fiddy

Happy days mate, hope to see you and some pics on SMF if you buy it. watch out for millsy though, he's a bit mental.

Csm

Thats polite about me Craig

Fiddy

Just wanted to give him the heads up mills



Love Ya Really

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

the hardest part about doing the water pumps is getting the old gasket off. Fiddy do you still want your car lowering after that comment about changing tyres all the time.

Fiddy

Wey aye, i know plenty of lads with them lowered, and they dont go through boat loads of tyres, be rite man lol.

**caz**

defo the st200 over the st24, but still if you prefer the st24...then go for it they are still nice cars!

x