2002 Ford Mondeo ST220 from UK and Ireland - Comments

Can't quite agree. Driving fast away from the lights requires very little skill. Driving fast where lights are likely to be - i.e. towns / suburbs / areas with lots of other cars - is not really permitted, nor safe.

Driving fast around twisting country roads, when there is no other traffic (or very little) is far more rewarding. The speed limits are higher; and no, it does not require you to be on the wrong side of a blind corner for it to be fun, that is just dangerous. This type of terrain is where skill comes to the fore.

Just got an 05' ST220 Saloon and loving it and to all the 0-60 fanboys - try catching me and my torque going up a hill ;) A question for you other 220 owners: under 4krpm the clutch is smooth as but over 4krpm it feels different. It all works OK mind and it's difficult to describe exactly how it feels different, but it does. All I can relate it to is two metal wires rubbing over each other - that's kind of the feeling you get from half to full depression of the clutch. Is this normal, wear and tear or the sign of a fault? Cheers.

To the comment from the 4th of march: You really didn't understand my post. I am saying neither is safe, but that at least with traffic lights it is from a low speed, and as long as you stop once you have reached the limit, and only put your foot down with a clear open stretch ahead of you, then it is going to be atleast as safe as driving around country lanes like they are your own personal rally course, whether it be on your side of the road or not you need to be able to stop!

To the last comment: If the clutch has a cable make sure it is routed correctly in the engine bay and not obstructed as this was a problem on my car (not a ford though so not sure it applies).

...so accordingly, you vary your speed in accord with how far ahead along the road you can see.

Yes, both probably increase danger relative to driving gently, but the likelihood of something highly unexpected happening in town are higher, and the rewards to the skilled driver from driving hard are non-existent in town whereas in the country they can be substantial.

I can only assume that you are not a driving enthusiast. If I am wrong about this assumption, please tell me, where do you get your kicks?

I never said in town; I said with traffic lights and an open stretch of road, and before you say traffic lights are only in town; they aren't. There are plenty on dual carriageways, etc.

Funny you should mention being a driving enthusiast - I drive an Integra Rype R DC2 for my weekend car, and a Golf diesel for the week/work. And as to where I drive it fast - on the track where it belongs. I don't think it is ever really safe to take the Integra to its limits on the public roads (as much as I can handle it) as you can't account for a lot of things. And just so we are on the same page, the Mondeo is NOT a driving enthusiasts car; it is a fast family saloon.

OK then not town, but traffic lights tend by necessity to be situated at busy intersections of road, which (in general but by no means exclusively) are to be found in more congested areas.

In such areas the excitement is pretty much restricted to accelerating hard, although I don’t deny doing this from time to time in the sort of areas you describe. No interesting and uncongested twisty bits in which to indulge in challenging yourself to balance a car just right. The latter is capable of being no less safe than driving at a constant 30mph (let alone booting it hard up to 60) on a much more congested road.

I agree with you re the Mondeos, although the ST220 is quite a lot more sporting than the rest. I drive an M3, and if driving hard was something I only did on track days, then that would be too restrictive a window to justify buying my car over and above say a 325 or a 330 (which I had before and which I almost didn’t buy thanks to trying an ST220 – almost as good and much cheaper but RWD, more torque and a straight 6 howl rather than V6 growl won the day).

For frequent and significant dicing with, and breaching of, the car’s limits – yes I agree with you, track is required.

I always wanted an ST220 back in the UK but couldn't afford one. Then I moved to Dubai and found they cost nearly half the price and bought one straight away. It was 12 months old and cost me 9,500 pounds. It's a 4 door in performance blue and I've had it for a year.

Petrol is so cheap here so I don't mind planting my right foot through all the gears.

The ST is not very popular in Dubai, so when a local races up behind me on the motorway, flashing his lights for me to move over, I just drop a couple of gears and check my mirror to see the look of surprise on his face as a Ford Mondeo is leaving his Mercedes or BMW behind.

Only one problem. the front discs are the same as the back and not the larger vented ones as in the UK (don't know why) so breaking can be a bit scary at high speeds and when the pads need changing the discs have to be skimmed because of sand and high temperatures.

It's a great family car with plenty of room but much more fun on your own.

I LOVE IT.

I agree with the Accord Type-R as being a different animal to the ST220, but the Accord has the all round package of comfortable Recaro seats, that Jekyll and Hyde nature engine and amazing handling for its size... rather like a fat Integra!

The Mondeo in my opinion is the prettier looking car, and is much more luxurious, but will return worse mpg that the accord will, even on the vtec boil.

Yes I own a Type-R, but I am not a blonker here.. I fully respect the Mondeo for what it is, and I am certain it will be my next "buy". The Accord will become tiresome for any owner, with its lack of soundproofing.

To sum up, the Accord Type-R is something you MUST own for a year or so, because it's that brilliant. The raw nature will wear off, and to add to the reliability comment, it's not actually that reliable (faulty gearbox synchros common £1000 to fix) as its built in Swindon, not on the S2000 line in Japan!

On todays roads, and if you're not one that's really fond of track days, the Mondeo is the perfect compromise of great handling, comfort and power. I am looking forward to its ownership as there are bargains to be had for the ST220.

I must say I found all these comments very interesting, and find agreement in a lot of which has been said.

Having graduated through all the blue ovals V6 cars from a 3 x Capri 2.8, 2 x Sierra xr4x4, ST24, ST200 and of course the ST220, I found all these cars exciting at the time and saw each one as a technical progression from the last.

I am about to take delivery of a 06 fully loaded 5 door, which is my second ST220. I find both the handling and refinement excellent for the money that these cars can be bought for! The 06 was £29K list fully loaded, and I am able to purchase under £9k in less than 3 years.

Yes I agree fuel can be an issue, but my mother's 1600 Focus Ghia auto returns a similar mpg around town.

A problem not mentioned here is residual value when you go to sell these cars. The 03 plate cost me £18k3, and only after a fight was the trade in raised to £4k1 for a 6 speed fully loaded example.

To sum up this car has proved to be a great all rounder to me, providing speed, comfort and refinement. Sure there are faster more well equipped cars around, but not for that sort of money.

To sum up, this car can be all things to all people! Fast when required and practical when you need it. It was good reading all your views, good and bad, as no car will ever be universally accepted by every one, or else the streets would be awash with them and it would be very boring place.

P.S. I am like a big kid and can't wait to do the swap on Saturday. Happy and safe motoring!

My Accord Type-R is about to go on sale, and the wife has agreed the Mondeo will cover all our needs. Stuff Audi's and BMW's, IMHO they are such inconsistently unreliable cars. God only knows why all my family own BMW's when they have to put up with the expensive servicing and issues they have had! I've had 2 VW's in the last 2 years, and both suffered breakdowns. My S2000 was the most reliable of the lot, followed by the Accord Type-R. It will be a sad day when it leaves my hands, and unfortunately they are now cheap enough to fall into the hands of the chavs, I hope my example gets as well kept as I kept her.

But looking forward, the Mondeo hits all the right notes for me. Comfort, those beautiful seats and equipment... I just hope it isn't as bad on fuel as my focus ST-2 was, where Ford got that 30.4 mpg from is unbelievable, more like 22!

I am a proud ST220 owner in Cape Town South Africa. Have and always will be a Ford fan. (why I have supported Michael Schumacher - getting those Benetton Fords to the front of the Grid)

I have owned a power blue ST220 for the past 5 years. It is the best car I have ever owned and I have no intention of ever selling it.

I have enjoyed its charms in terms of the Cape Town to Johannesburg run on a few occasions and the Karoo roads here in South Africa allow for effortless cruising at 200km/h for long periods. My Mondeo never missed a beat.

It is a big car and not the fastest robot to robot car around, but it is a car for all seasons and when it sings - what a song.

Fuel, yeah, not it's strong point, but obey the road speed limits and you will be surprised.

Deon Manuel.

Just thought I'd put a review up of my 02 registered ST220.

I bought it last year (Nov 2008) with just 20k on the clock, 1 owner, immaculate condition. This car was 6.5 years old and looked like new.

I traded my Fiesta ST for it after having our first child, and the 5 doors are a god send.

Heated seats in winter are pleasant, and the aircon is way better than past aircon systems I've used.

OK, performance wise! Will outrun far more superior motors, BMWs are my favs. LOL.

Mechanically it has been fine for the age, although I think the bushes could be corroded due to age rather than mileage. Now at 32k.

The seats are really comfy and the engine noise is great. Tyre noise is high and sometimes quite an annoying whistle while traveling at speed.

One major downside to the Mondeo ST, is that it's never been approved for towing, so I'm having to sell up in order to tow my track car around.

All in all a great car. My partner loves driving it, except parking which can be hard to judge the rear bumper.

What sort of mpg were/are you getting?

Mines an 04 with 42000 miles. on motorway it can give 34 mpg. at 85-90mph it returns 30mpg.

I've found the combined cycle 27.2mpg spot on. driven "extended urban aggressive" mid to low twenties.

In urban areas or queuing traffic it can be a horror petrol wise so the answer is it depends. take your pick.

I have a 03 ST220 with 250 bhp and I can definitely say that is does 0-60 in 6.8 seconds, because mine has been chipped the rev limit in each gear has got longer so it hits 65 mph in second gear and it's a 6 speed. Also has a Blueflame exhaust and Viper Cold Air Induction kit which makes a lot of difference. Needs much better brakes though! Awesome car for the family man who has got bored with Type R's and Cupra's.