2003 Ford Mondeo ST220 from UK and Ireland - Comments

Wind noise over 70 on passenger side.Unresolved.

Tapping noise on idling.Unresolved.

Corrosion on rear quarter light frame. Apparently not a warranty fault.Unresolved.

I spent a lot of time researching which car to buy on the net, I loved my alfa, but needed more performance than the 1.8 Ts could give and also had a company fuel card.

In the end the there was no choice. The vauxhaull Vectra GSI was shabby compared, and the Seat Leon Cupra was not in the same class!

As it stands I bought a black 5 door 03 ST220 and can honestly say it is the best car I have ever owned.

On a 800 mile trip to Brittany it tore the motorways apart and carried estate size loads in the boot.

This car is a real wolf in sheep clothing and can beat all bmw's amd Audis apart from the real 3 litre boys who can dice.

You can pick these up at £17000 new and with under 15k on for £12000.Why pay more?

This review generally sums up the ST220, arguably the best performance family hatchback/saloon/estate for some time, certainly from Ford (remember the Sierra Cosworth anyone?) However I wouldn't say the Vectra GSI is shabby though, particularly the new one and more especially the 2005 face-lifted version (no I have not driven either car, but I have sat in them, and the build quality and gear-change are smooth on the Vectra, maybe if anything a little smoother than that of the Mondeo, which almost sometimes seem to "jump" into 1st, however naturally driving the car itself would be the proof of the pudding). Remember also that the Vectra, while being a slightly longer and (I think also slightly) heavier car, has the extra 200cc on tap (3.2 vs 3.0) so will therefore be just as fast certainly to 100km/h (I don't think you should always believe car mags, because they give different values for the same car which is a little unjustified in some cases). I'm not sure how things fare above 100km/h though, as I say I would need to drive both cars on a track or somewhere where their high speeds could be potentially exploited to prove their worth there. Price-wise yes that car you bought is serious value for money I cannot argue, even £17,000 new is seriously good. I hope you enjoy your car, maybe you update us again when it has about 20,000 miles or so?

Regards from Belgium.