ST200, any good?
21-06-2010, 08:00 PM
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ST200, any good?
I'm really thinking about getting one at the moment, i want a nice comfy 4/5 door car and they seem to tick pretty much all the boxs for me.
What are they like to live with? I understand fuel wont be great but i can live with that, any common probelms to look out for?
Any advice would be great.
Cheers.
What are they like to live with? I understand fuel wont be great but i can live with that, any common probelms to look out for?
Any advice would be great.
Cheers.
21-06-2010, 08:03 PM
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They are a good car, especially for the money!
Watch out for sticky IMRC's, they often fail to open up as they should and make the car feel slow.
Watch out for sticky IMRC's, they often fail to open up as they should and make the car feel slow.
21-06-2010, 08:06 PM
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I think they open at about 3-4k rpm, you will notice a step in power if they are working correclty. Best fix is the buy a replacment controller
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21-06-2010, 08:11 PM
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Check the a/c condenser for rot, enjoyed owning mine, shame you were not in the market for one in Feb this year I had spent a few grand getting her mint.Part exd it for £1200 in the end 
The 200 had other upgrades not just performance parts over the 24 including wish bones etc the water pump impellor was also made from different grade plastic to the 24. Nice car really enjoyed mine.
The 200 had other upgrades not just performance parts over the 24 including wish bones etc the water pump impellor was also made from different grade plastic to the 24. Nice car really enjoyed mine.
21-06-2010, 08:18 PM
#9
The water pump should already be uprated as the ST200 is a later run of the V6 Mondo... although, for peace of mind, its not big wedge to get a new one and fit it.
I had one and loved it. I was averaging 28mpg in mine, with mostly short runs around the place, on the motorway at 70-80 it would do low 30s without much hassle. I also removed the resonator box, fitted an uprated panel filter fitted and it sounded amazing low down... really grunty.
They also offer lots of lift-off oversteer on a wet roundabout. I know, random fact.
Cheers,
Grant
I had one and loved it. I was averaging 28mpg in mine, with mostly short runs around the place, on the motorway at 70-80 it would do low 30s without much hassle. I also removed the resonator box, fitted an uprated panel filter fitted and it sounded amazing low down... really grunty.
They also offer lots of lift-off oversteer on a wet roundabout. I know, random fact.
Cheers,
Grant
21-06-2010, 08:25 PM
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yeah they are a good buy, if you can strech to it try an ST200 ltd, it's only available in saloon form and has different interior, but otherwise is the same.
21-06-2010, 08:31 PM
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A limited edtion one would be nice and miss's loves the 4door ones but its just trying to find one, don't wont to get to hung up on getting a ltd model and end up missing good deals.
The youth, i don't think thats bad money you got for it considering the damage. How much would it of been to replace the tensioners? Is it an engine out job?
The youth, i don't think thats bad money you got for it considering the damage. How much would it of been to replace the tensioners? Is it an engine out job?
Last edited by Saaamon; 21-06-2010 at 08:32 PM.
21-06-2010, 08:48 PM
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A limited edtion one would be nice and miss's loves the 4door ones but its just trying to find one, don't wont to get to hung up on getting a ltd model and end up missing good deals.
The youth, i don't think thats bad money you got for it considering the damage. How much would it of been to replace the tensioners? Is it an engine out job?
The youth, i don't think thats bad money you got for it considering the damage. How much would it of been to replace the tensioners? Is it an engine out job?
21-06-2010, 09:08 PM
#15
Great cars imo! 
Had ours over a year now and have been very impressed, got the estate version because of a large dog and a baby on the way, and hasn't let us down. I prefer the estates and they seem rarer than the saloons now too! Front wishbones are common fail points and are £200 a pair plus labour. Ours has done 131k now and runs like a dream, is very comfortable, and safe for the little'n...
...will be selling at the end of the year for an ST TDCi though
Had ours over a year now and have been very impressed, got the estate version because of a large dog and a baby on the way, and hasn't let us down. I prefer the estates and they seem rarer than the saloons now too! Front wishbones are common fail points and are £200 a pair plus labour. Ours has done 131k now and runs like a dream, is very comfortable, and safe for the little'n...
...will be selling at the end of the year for an ST TDCi though
21-06-2010, 09:21 PM
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Great cars imo!
Had ours over a year now and have been very impressed, got the estate version because of a large dog and a baby on the way, and hasn't let us down. I prefer the estates and they seem rarer than the saloons now too! Front wishbones are common fail points and are £200 a pair plus labour. Ours has done 131k now and runs like a dream, is very comfortable, and safe for the little'n...
...will be selling at the end of the year for an ST TDCi though
Had ours over a year now and have been very impressed, got the estate version because of a large dog and a baby on the way, and hasn't let us down. I prefer the estates and they seem rarer than the saloons now too! Front wishbones are common fail points and are £200 a pair plus labour. Ours has done 131k now and runs like a dream, is very comfortable, and safe for the little'n...
...will be selling at the end of the year for an ST TDCi though
21-06-2010, 10:02 PM
#18
Try to get one that doesn't make an audible revs related ticking noise. At best its the exhaust manifold gasket, as worst it's the head gasket. It blows to atmosphere, so there are no other tell tale signs, no oil in the water, no smoke etc.
I got rid of mine because it had niggly problems and was just too thirsty (20-23mpg). I broke it for more than I paid it for, as there are always ST24 owners looking to upgrade to 200 bits. As a result it's a safe bet even if it does pack up.
As said wishbones are unique to the 200, so aren't cheap, although you could always just replace the balljoints which would work out cheaper.
Good car though, just buy wisely and be patient looking for an enthusiast owned low miler, rather than a leggy abused one. They're dirt cheap, for what they are too.
21-06-2010, 10:11 PM
#19
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There very good cars if looked after. common issues, plugs, leads and coil pack leading to missfires, TPS failure leading to running lumpy, IMRC failure leading to no power over 3.5K revs, they like to spin the shells if you drive them hard and corner at high revs and the oil level isnt kept to maximum or just above. listen for a ticking sound coming from the heads, can point to headgasket failure, and being a mondeo, check the bottom arms, the 200 arms are specific to the 200 and cost a retarded amount, about £130 a side. bar that, there really good cars, and there cheap as chips these days.
21-06-2010, 10:19 PM
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You can see the 'secondaries' open if you look in the engine bay and rev it past 3000. You should feel it get more lively when you drive it too. It's not as big a shove as a VTEC (Yo!) but it should be noticeable.
No need. That affected the early cars and not the 200. It's become a bit of a (forum spread) urban myth.
Try to get one that doesn't make an audible revs related ticking noise. At best its the exhaust manifold gasket, as worst it's the head gasket. It blows to atmosphere, so there are no other tell tale signs, no oil in the water, no smoke etc.
I got rid of mine because it had niggly problems and was just too thirsty (20-23mpg). I broke it for more than I paid it for, as there are always ST24 owners looking to upgrade to 200 bits. As a result it's a safe bet even if it does pack up.
As said wishbones are unique to the 200, so aren't cheap, although you could always just replace the balljoints which would work out cheaper.
Good car though, just buy wisely and be patient looking for an enthusiast owned low miler, rather than a leggy abused one. They're dirt cheap, for what they are too.
No need. That affected the early cars and not the 200. It's become a bit of a (forum spread) urban myth.
Try to get one that doesn't make an audible revs related ticking noise. At best its the exhaust manifold gasket, as worst it's the head gasket. It blows to atmosphere, so there are no other tell tale signs, no oil in the water, no smoke etc.
I got rid of mine because it had niggly problems and was just too thirsty (20-23mpg). I broke it for more than I paid it for, as there are always ST24 owners looking to upgrade to 200 bits. As a result it's a safe bet even if it does pack up.
As said wishbones are unique to the 200, so aren't cheap, although you could always just replace the balljoints which would work out cheaper.
Good car though, just buy wisely and be patient looking for an enthusiast owned low miler, rather than a leggy abused one. They're dirt cheap, for what they are too.
surely not that bad 
..
21-06-2010, 10:23 PM
#21
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It ticking isnt guaranteed HG failure, it could be any number of things, but the HG tick is very loud and distinctive, so you should spot it. i know a lad who swore blind he had a ticking and his HG was on its way, it turned out to be a knackered exhaust manifold gasket.
21-06-2010, 10:31 PM
#22
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This statement is true enough, mine had a tick that turned out to be a cracked manifold, welded for £30, sorted
21-06-2010, 10:43 PM
#24
the headgaskets went on the v6 because of the failed water pump impellers, as said the st200 has the far better plastic impeller which is pretty good so don't worry about the headgaskets.
If it rattles for a couple of seconds from cold that is the chain tensioners on there way...RUN LIKE FOOK!!!! mine did this for 3 weeks then went bang
steve
If it rattles for a couple of seconds from cold that is the chain tensioners on there way...RUN LIKE FOOK!!!! mine did this for 3 weeks then went bang
steve
22-06-2010, 06:27 AM
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Cant really add anything to the above except that they are fun to drive and will go forever if they are looked after. We run a pair of them a common hatch and a rare estate. The saloons outnumber the estate even though it is the saloon that is badged as a limited edition.
If you are close to the Kent border then I am only in Sittingbourne and am more than willing to take you out in ours to show you what they go like and also point out any potential problems you may encounter. I have been running 200's for over 5 years now so know them like the back of my hand.
Jeff
If you are close to the Kent border then I am only in Sittingbourne and am more than willing to take you out in ours to show you what they go like and also point out any potential problems you may encounter. I have been running 200's for over 5 years now so know them like the back of my hand.
Jeff
22-06-2010, 12:57 PM
#26
The issue isn't related to overheating - it's a design flaw, where there's a very thin bit of gasket and the cylinder blows out to atmosphere. It can happen at any mileage - some go at silly low miles, like 50K, and others are fine over 180K. It's a really distinctive tick, and a lot of cars suffer from it. However, the can go on for miles miles like it, as there's no water/oil mixing etc.
22-06-2010, 01:25 PM
#29
That was being careful too. The MPG was shocking on mine, and was disproportionate to the performance. You will get some ticking from the injectors, but the dreaded 'V6 Tick' is very noticeable.
The issue isn't related to overheating - it's a design flaw, where there's a very thin bit of gasket and the cylinder blows out to atmosphere. It can happen at any mileage - some go at silly low miles, like 50K, and others are fine over 180K. It's a really distinctive tick, and a lot of cars suffer from it. However, the can go on for miles miles like it, as there's no water/oil mixing etc.
The issue isn't related to overheating - it's a design flaw, where there's a very thin bit of gasket and the cylinder blows out to atmosphere. It can happen at any mileage - some go at silly low miles, like 50K, and others are fine over 180K. It's a really distinctive tick, and a lot of cars suffer from it. However, the can go on for miles miles like it, as there's no water/oil mixing etc.
steve
22-06-2010, 02:01 PM
#30
I quite like them, really good friend has one and loves it, we both drove to the TT last month and back from liver pool averaged 36mpg in his st200 and eventually 37mpg in my 328, they both went very well, essentially as quick as one another, mines cheaper and his sounds better lol
You can't really go wrong with them, they are wrong wheel drive, but apart from that they're a quality car. Got to say tho, an x-type jag with the 4wd and better v6 (same engine, more powerful and apparently economical) could be a better bet, fairly cheap (not as cheap) but probably a better car (my own opinion)....
Rob,
You can't really go wrong with them, they are wrong wheel drive, but apart from that they're a quality car. Got to say tho, an x-type jag with the 4wd and better v6 (same engine, more powerful and apparently economical) could be a better bet, fairly cheap (not as cheap) but probably a better car (my own opinion)....
Rob,
22-06-2010, 08:37 PM
#32
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23-06-2010, 12:41 PM
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23-06-2010, 05:27 PM
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