Mk3 Mondeo Zetec S

Skeeter

Skeeter

Skeeter

Caporegime
Joined
8 Mar 2007
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Surrey
Hi all

Can I have all the OcUK knowledge on the Mk3 Mondeo Zetec S? Im looking a for a new car and as many, I would like an ST220. Although I can afford it now, im living at home, and dont pay much out. I cant guarantee this will be my situation in a couple of years, the cost of owning and running one meant it was a no go. Are the 2.5 V6 and 2.0 TDCI Zetec S's good as cheaper alternatives to an ST220 or ST TDCI? What kind of MPG does the 2.5 get? what is there to look out for? What goes wrong? etc etc etc.

Basic specifiations for the car are:
must last a good few years without costing a fortune (i.e. be unlikely to break and if it does, not cost an arm and a leg to fix)
look nice (the Zetec S is slightly less meh than the bog standard Mondeo)
do my 70 miles a day commuting without costing me an arm and a leg
be a comfortable place to be for those 70 miles a day (A and B roads)
be atleast a little bit fun

Any other recomendations for cars that fit the bill welcome. Zetec S's can be had for under £4k, so thats the ball park.

Cheers
 
Whilst they aren't massively common you can get a 2.0 petrol Zetec-S.

Would avoid the V6's drink problem if you wanted to keep with a petrol version.
 
Just get the ST220 ;) The 2.5 V6 drinks as much as the 3 litre anyway!

(coming from an ex 2.5 v6 mondeo owner.... it drank the same as the car that followed it, a 3 litre straight 6 automatic 5 series)
 
The trouble with the ST220 is I can afford it... and thats it. I cant afford to save any money, and I cant afford to pay any rent or things should I move out (which im planning on doing in a year or 2) so its not a viable option. If the 2.5 V6 drinks as much fuel then maybe its not such a good idea... Im just not a fan of sporty cars with Diesel engines. Had a Golf GT 2.0 TDI for 2 weeks, and it annoyed the hell out of me.

Its just uncertainty tho, in 2 years I could move out and rent a place, but be 2 miles from work and not have to worry about fuel, but I just dont want to have to take that risk.
 
By 'quite rare' you mean rocking horse ****. There is only 1 for sale that ive found accross ebay, Autotrader and Pistonheads! lol
 
Why would you want the zetec s in lower power form. the 2.5 isnt any more economical than the ST220 really, and it has rubbish wheels and no recaros and no ST220 badge. If I wanted a 220 I would get it you cant really sub in a zetec s for one in my eyes.

Not thought of getting one then downgrading if you do move out, or maybe get a cheaper older one as they are relatively reliable ad cheap as chips to pick up nowadays. What was your budget out of interest?
 
My budget would be a loan... ("omg credit crunch" comments not allowed) so I wouldnt want to buy one, and then sell it after 2 years and still have outstanding debt on it. ST220s range from £5 - 7k, for 03/04 ish ones, but would ideally like to keep to the cheaper end.

Thanks Solid and Pete, was kinda hoping the 2.5 V6 would be much cheaper than the 220 to run, but as you say, if its not there theres not much point in buying one.
 
I have a 53 plate 2.5 V6 Ghia X and I can confirm that fuel consumption is similar to the st220 - expect 28mpg in average use or a bit more on a run.

At the end of the day, because they don't offer the performance of the st220 they're much cheaper to buy. I'd imagine I would only get £3-£3.5k for my lowish mileage specced up car.

Seeing as you're going to be borrowing the cash - I wouldn't discount one over an st220. Go have a go with one - though they're not that common in facelift form.
 
Yeah they are all pretty much pre facelift, but what does the facelift on the Zetec S actually change other than the grill and a few bits inside?
 
Skeeter said:
Yeah they are all pretty much pre facelift, but what does the facelift on the Zetec S actually change other than the grill and a few bits inside?
Click to expand...

Facelift adds a much nicer interior in all trim levels. The facelift cars also got a 6 speed gearbox with the V6 engines although these aren't necessarily that much better.

Zetec S gained cruise and climate. Options wise it's the Ghia X that changed the most at facelift time as that gained auto-lights, auto-wipers, aircon seats, folding mirrors and wooden steering wheel.
 
I wouldn't finance a Zetec S or ST220 if you can't afford it once you move out. You will lose a hell of a lot in depreciation when you come to sell it a year later and you'll be paying extra to get rid of the finance.

If you want this car you will have to keep it so you don't lose a fortune whatever the circumstance is.

A mate bought an Accord Type-S for £10k last year on finance. Now it's worth about £6k and he owes a hell of a lot on finance where if he sold it now, payed off the finance.... he'd still have about £2k to pay out of his own pocket!

Something like that anyway.

I can obviously vouch for the ST220. Him and myself took a trip to Birmingham in my car and he absolutley loved it. He said it was better than his in everyway apart from the dual zone climate he had.
 
peterattheboro said:
He said it was better than his in everyway apart from the dual zone climate he had.
Click to expand...

I have dual zone climate and I find it to be utterly pointless. I have only ever had two different temperatures once when the girlfriend insisted it was was too hot and I thought it was too cold.

I wouldnt miss it if I didn't have it.
 
Cheers guys

Most of the massive depreciation on these cars has already happened though, seen as 04 cars are under £5k already, and the ideal would be to keep it untill it dies, i.e. depreciate it to zero the moment I buy it. But if there is that chance of having to sell it in a couple of years, and the Zetec S isnt much of a saving over the ST220, then I guess ill have to look elsewhere.

Gonna blame the GF for still being at uni :)

Whatsthe arguments for and against the 2.0l Diesel Zetec S vs. the ST tDCI, aparet from the obvious engine size. As the price difference in these is much greater than the Zetec S petrol and ST220.
 
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having driven both it did feel a touch more responsive, certainly if you check old autocars 0-100mph is 21 Vs 24 secs not much but its quicker ;)
 
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