Hi guys, thanks for reading...

I own an 05 Octy VRS. The car is brill and has never let me down in the 2 and a half years I have owned it. HOWEVER, I have always egged after an ST220, kinda need an estate and just really fancy a change. The only car I have ever wanted instead of the Octy is the ST220. Has anyone got experience of being in my situation, or owned one before, wish they could get one, didn't like it, loved it etc etc......??!!

I am looking at selling mine and getting one, having test driven one this afternoon I wasn't blown away by the speed....in a way it may have felt slower but the V6 sounded awesome, it looked lovely, loadsa toys and it was still pretty quick...hhhmmmmmm, decisions decisions...

All views appreciated!

Cheers

Edited 17 August, 201015 yr by Woo7dy

An st tdci was going to be my next choice if I'd not bought the vrs. Lovely cars and very comfy!

Easy to maintain and parts not too expensive. Comparable to vag.

Prepare to be raped by mr darling though with the petrol. Diesel, although not as quick to 60 is as drivable in gear as the petrol and can easily be tweaked to squeeze out another 50% icrease in torque!

I drove one a few years back and thought it was very competant 'out of the box' so to speak. Had it for the weekend as a demo from FMC. Drove and handled very well. And yes, the 3.0 V6 is a peach. But in today's times, with stupid fuel costs it's the wrong choice IMO. Depends on your annual mileage though, to some extent. Then there's the tax....

Go and drive one - see what you think. Then see if you can make the figures and running costs add up

Steve

Yes good shout but one of the reasons I really love the 220 is that grunty V6! Tbh, petrol prices are not a huge issue for me, do average miles each year and have no kids

So I'm not too fussed about that, they do still seem quite pricey tho, £7500 for a 54 plate with 40k on the clock, the equivalant VRS is £4500..ish!

The ones I'm looking at are the same tax band as the VRS!! As long as I get one that's registered b4 march 2006. Comforting to hear that you had a good experience with one tho Wardy!

Edited 17 August, 201015 yr by Woo7dy

If you can make the fuel and tax costs add up then go for it

Didn't realise they'd be in the same bracket as your vRS; thought they'd be up in the £400s now...

Ride and handling is first rate - a very, very good standard setup IMO.

Seems pricey to me, that example you've found.

They have three versions, first one is now quite old and had a few problems reported. The second phase, late 03 to late 05 had a few minor changes but both of these are in band K so £225 or £245, can't remember now. The third one, although minor changes again (bit more chrome) has the same power CO2 emissions etc but is in band L so £440! It's a no brainer really, get the second phase one! Yes, £7.5k is alot but it is very low mileage, 38k and is a 54 2005 reg, really immacualte car.

Yep that link works mate, nice clean vrs with some good mods wish mine was on an 05 plate! Good luck with the sale.

I looked at the ST220 long and hard before I bought my vRS as I had a 2.5 V6 a few years ago but could not justify paying the £400+ a year for the tax. All cars that are made between 2001-2006 are only in band K till next April (2011) then they are going up see link below.

My mates mum bought a 2007 2.5 V6 mondeo a year ago for £15k ish and it's only done about £17k miles but now she is struggling to sell it for £8k because of the tax.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/News/Road-tax/Guide-to-tax-changes/

Edited 25 March, 201016 yr by Nickbes

Hi guys, thanks for reading...

I own an 05 Octy VRS, it is remapped with a few mods. The car is brill and has never let me down in the 2 and a half years I have owned it. HOWEVER, I have always egged after an ST220, kinda need an estate and just really fancy a change. The only car I have ever wanted instead of the Octy is the ST220. Has anyone got experience of being in my situation, or owned one before, wish they could get one, didn't like it, loved it etc etc......??!!

I am looking at selling mine and getting one, having test driven one this afternoon I wasn't blown away by the speed....in a way it may have felt slower but the V6 sounded awesome, it looked lovely, loadsa toys and it was still pretty quick...hhhmmmmmm, decisions decisions...

All views appreciated!

Cheers

What's this woo7dy start as many ST220 threads as possbile to try and get the one of us to say "YES GO FOR IT" well it's not going to work matey....

We love our VRS's.

Joking aside you sound like you have made your choice just go for it, there I said it...It is not a wrong choice, there is no wrong choice just your decision. The thing is that is is not much different to the VRS in what it can offer really but it is a new car to you so that in itself if a powerful point for your decision. Something for you to play with.

go on do it.....

Edited 25 March, 201016 yr by Bowders1

Bah! It's still a Ford Mondeo. I'm not sure I'll ever be old and bland enough to drive a Mundano......

Having said that, it is a good car, and they're normally well driven. It's also alot better than a BMW.

Get a '97-'99 (340bhp) Audi S8 Quattro if you want a fat 'n fast saloon! You can pick one up for £4-5k now.

It's on the old tax system so you would normally pay £190 for 12 months tax! But thanks to our pathetic excuse for a government it's gone up to £205 now. Still it's a complete bargain! (http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/road-tax/?deriv=13298#manu=164&model=36&deriv=13298)

Only minor drawback is the 18mpg.........

Buy whatever you want and screw what anyone else thinks. I think you'll miss the turbo though.

I had a look at ST220s but three years ago when I was buying they were just out of my budget for a nice one and the fuel costs put me off making the stretch.

I did also consider a 2.0 Zetec-S which had the looks but not the running costs but they were as rare as rocking horse poop and the only local one I found (still had an hours drive each way to see it) ended up being tatty.

If the fuel and road tax don't put you off I'd say they were a great choice.

It might be fun to drive and sound extra nice, but it's a Ford and everyone has one. When I was looking for my last car, I was almost gonna get a MK4 Golf, but I'm really glad I got the Octy. I feel special in it. There aren't loads around every street corner and it drives and rides really nice. But maybe that doesn't bother you. The vRS is probably also the best value "performance-ish" car of it's age.

Edited 25 March, 201016 yr by okenobi

I'd considered one before the VR6, very nice cars! The diesel's aren't quick at all, but the petrols are very smooth

Nickbes I cannot find anywhere where it says 2001-2006 cars over 225 co2 currently in band K will change in April 2011. Only new cars (or cars after March 2006) will be in the £400's. That link you posted does not state that unless I'm being a blind idiot!

Nickbes I cannot find anywhere where it says 2001-2006 cars over 225 co2 currently in band K will change in April 2011. Only new cars (or cars after March 2006) will be in the £400's. That link you posted does not state that unless I'm being a blind idiot!

lol I was refering to to this bit:-

"Please note: All cars registered between March 2001 and March 2006 that produce more than 225g/km CO2, will temporarily join Band K in 2009 and 2010."

Yer sorry Bowders, maybe I should go to the Ford ST site and ask the same question.... I reckon then would advise me to get one!!

The garage are not budging on asking price....they want £7900 for it...

Yes I have driven the diesel and defo wouldn't want that, probably good with a remap tho, but yes the petrol when I drove it was very smooth and refined.

Okenobi, yes the Mondeo is a common car, but the ST220 is not, you must have all seen the Top Gear episode....it's rarer than a DB9! Especially the estate, tbh I love my VRS but the same can be said for them, I mean how many do you see as Taxi's, grandad drivers (over 40's lol) but again I agree, the VRS is rare much like the ST220, I think one would get that same special feeling when driving. I agree tho, it must be the best value performance(ish) car around, but I just get bored easily and don't wanna throw more money at it doing mods when I could have spent that on something different!

An S8, erm yer, nice car but just to old and thirsty, good shout tho

Hmmmmm, getting there :S

Oh yer, the "temporarily" bit is worrying me, I did try and do some searching on it lastnight to see what is gunna happen in 2011 but could not find anything, I suppose its just a gamble....

Here is mine:

*******************..

Woody

Edited 25 March, 201016 yr by DGW
PM me if you really don't know why.

hmmm a rare good engined Estate?

How bout a W8 Passat?! lol

My neighbour has a T-prefix Oednom ST, never garaged, and it still looks nearly as good as when he got it new.

As for the "they're so commonplace" argument, Mist Wagon 3-series are actually more common (source SMMT registration figures).

W8 Passat ftw! Makes an even more sexier noise than my car!

It's like Chewbacca and Mrs Chewbacca getting it on. On stage. At Wembley. Using Spinal Tap's PA-system.

Edited 25 March, 201016 yr by Babs

Oh yer, the "temporarily" bit is worrying me, I did try and do some searching on it lastnight to see what is gunna happen in 2011 but could not find anything, I suppose its just a gamble....

I think they will be going up but as you say its a gamble plus you have to think about that fact that its not just the higher tax you will have to pay its also the prices will drop quite a lot i would think.

Edited 25 March, 201016 yr by Nickbes

Yer sorry Bowders, maybe I should go to the Ford ST site and ask the same question.... I reckon then would advise me to get one!!

maybe you should post on there that you are looking at a VRS and see what they have to say

Have you considered an S4 Avant ???? one of the older 2.7 Bi-Turbos

ueah, i like the looks but the performance is so-so IMO, you'd miss the mid range puch i think.

W8 or S4 far more interesting!