Help please - Have £4000 but didn't like the ST220

alexthecheese · 26 Aug 2009 at 15:39

DannyW said:
its not failed the mot

theres about a week or 2 left he said

Janesy B said:
Tell him to put a fresh MOT on it. It was last test 1 year ago. A whole number of gremlins could have popped up in that time.

^^^

IAmATeaf · 26 Aug 2009 at 16:11

How about a Honda Accord 2.4 Type-S?

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...cleYearOfManufacture=2003&vehicleRegLetter=03

Maybe not as quick as some of the other suggestions and I'm not just recommending it cause I own 1

Spamalot · 26 Aug 2009 at 16:45

I don't think you can do better than this!

I got a 54 plat Aero 210BHP, 0-60 7 sec, 150MPH, Full Cream Hide, Cruise, FSSH..... £4750 with 90K

I don't think you can beat it, but then I would say that. People always think it's worth more than it look and say it looks good, if you like that sort of thing.

Firestar_3x · 26 Aug 2009 at 17:28

People who know nothing about cars think my passat was worth about 14k when i got it two years back, granted this was a group of girls but these still class as "people"....

I wouldn't pick a Saab with this budget imho, many better cars in budget that have already been posted in this tread.

Spamalot · 26 Aug 2009 at 18:03

Firestar_3x said:
People who know nothing about cars think my passat was worth about 14k when i got it two years back, granted this was a group of girls but these still class as "people"....

I wouldn't pick a Saab with this budget imho, many better cars in budget that have already been posted in this tread.

The ST220 is better in many respects I agree, but suffers from the "mondeo man" image. I'd like to know what else you think is better in this threat thoguh, I think you'd find it had to argue the VRS is better is anyway shape or form :confused:

. I don't meen any offence in that coment either.

What sort of budget would you pick the Saab in?

peterattheboro · 26 Aug 2009 at 18:11

I've been driving around in a Ka all week and jumped into my ST earlier and absolutely love it. It's just so smooth and pretty quick aswell.

Gonna go drive a friends 1.8T TT (180

) soon so I can compare what the acceleration feels like

Phil W · 26 Aug 2009 at 18:16

Spamalot said:
The ST220 is better in many respects I agree, but suffers from the "mondeo man" image.

I don't believe it does at all, its not common enough (well, i certainly don't see a great deal of them around) to fall into the "Mondeo Man/Rep Mobile" category.

Ok, so they're harder to spot if they are not in Performance Blue, but they are stunning for what they are...

Ford.mondeo.mk3-black.front-by.ranger.jpg

Janesy B · 26 Aug 2009 at 18:20

Hasn't Mondeo man become 320d man?

[TW]Fox · 26 Aug 2009 at 18:37

Spamalot said:
What sort of budget would you pick the Saab in?

I dont think I would, to be honest. It's not a bad car its just that at every pricepoint there are better cars unless you particularly want the newest possible car for your money.

Spamalot · 26 Aug 2009 at 18:46

Phil W said:
I don't believe it does at all, its not common enough (well, i certainly don't see a great deal of them around) to fall into the "Mondeo Man/Rep Mobile" category.

Ok, so they're harder to spot if they are not in Performance Blue, but they are stunning for what they are...

Like wise, areo is to the 9-3 what the ST is to the Mondeo.

Phil W · 26 Aug 2009 at 18:48

Spamalot said:
Like wise, areo is to the 9-3 what the ST is to the Mondeo.

They look the same to me apart from a front splitter :confused:

bobert50 · 26 Aug 2009 at 18:49

Phil W said:
I don't believe it does at all, its not common enough (well, i certainly don't see a great deal of them around) to fall into the "Mondeo Man/Rep Mobile" category.

Ok, so they're harder to spot if they are not in Performance Blue, but they are stunning for what they are...

The majority of people immediately see a mondeo when they look at an st220 and it has mondeo written on the back, so how can it not fall under the same stigma except on enthusiast forums? I've driven an ST220 and as much as i thought it was a really really capable allrounder and a great car for the money with so many strengths, i echo MrLOL and co's thoughts that it didn't feel fast at all.

Infact, i found it similar from a refinement point of view to the 530i.

I've always thought nothing screams FAIL.... quite like a MONDEO

Spamalot · 26 Aug 2009 at 18:53

[TW]Fox;14756636 said:
I dont think I would, to be honest. It's not a bad car its just that at every pricepoint there are better cars unless you particularly want the newest possible car for your money.

In theory, if you had £4k to buy a car and couldn’t get a BWM or an ST220 what would you get?

So a SAAB would come bottom of your list, that’s what it sounds like you’re saying? I think SAABs are great value, as you point out you can get a relatively new car with a not to be sniffed at badge and image and relatively good performance for a knock down price.

You say you wouldn’t have one at any price point but I don't see how you could argue that they’re not superb value so it should be an option at almost all low (less than £8K) budgets.

Spamalot · 26 Aug 2009 at 18:56

bobert50 said:
The majority of people immediately see a mondeo when they look at an st220 and it has mondeo written on the back, so how can it not fall under the same stigma except on enthusiast forums? I've driven an ST220 and as much as i thought it was a really really capable allrounder and a great car for the money with so many strengths, i echo MrLOL and co's thoughts that it didn't feel fast at all.

Infact, i found it similar from a refinement point of view to the 530i.

I've always thought nothing screams FAIL.... quite like a MONDEO

I'd have to agree. I don't think you could ever say to someone I have a Mondeo and they say "oh, nice car". If I had a ST220 it would be an ST220 if people asked not a Mondeo. They are great cars but they are dull atleast in name!

Spamalot · 26 Aug 2009 at 18:58

Phil W said:
They look the same to me apart from a front splitter

And the wheels and side skirts, so that will much the same as the std Mondeo and the ST220 then :confused:

peterattheboro · 26 Aug 2009 at 19:05

Spamalot said:
I'd have to agree. I don't think you could ever say to someone I have a Mondeo and they say "oh, nice car". If I had a ST220 it would be an ST220 if people asked not a Mondeo. They are great cars but they are dull atleast in name!

I've had MANY people come up to me and say nice car. Ok not MANY but a few people

The big wheels and the flared wheel arches really set it apart from a standard Mondeo.

And it's much lower than standard aswell.

bobert50 · 26 Aug 2009 at 19:14

peterattheboro said:
I've had MANY people come up to me and say nice car. Ok not MANY but a few people

The big wheels and the flared wheel arches really set it apart from a standard Mondeo.

And it's much lower than standard aswell.

I do really rate them as an allrounder, even if not as a "speed demon" and i hope this came across, its just the image is pretty undesirable like no other

Spamalot · 26 Aug 2009 at 19:18

peterattheboro said:
I've had MANY people come up to me and say nice car. Ok not MANY but a few people

The big wheels and the flared wheel arches really set it apart from a standard Mondeo.

And it's much lower than standard aswell.

I know I love the ST, I almost got one and always do a double take. My only point to most people it's still a Mondeo. I myself think that's quite cool as do most "car fans" I think that's part of the appeal. Most however think it's dull reps car.

Locky · 26 Aug 2009 at 19:21

what about a 2001+ Impreza WRX

Firestar_3x · 26 Aug 2009 at 19:24

Spamalot said:
What sort of budget would you pick the Saab in?

Don't think i would pick a Saab at any budget really, i've never liked the brand from both an aesthetics or engineering point of view, i think they offer poor value for money vs the rivals, which is why you don't see many Saabs on the roads.

But i do understand that some people enjoy them, the aero hot stuff has lots of power i suppose.