330ci to a st220-madness?

[MrFunex]

On the topic of ST220 brakes, I've found mine to be a bit soft too. The braking ability is there, just you need to press the pedal a lot more to use it, you get used to it though. Maybe braided lines will make a difference...

Apart from that, its a very capable car - if you're after a smooth motorway cruiser, coupled with some fun on the back roads, you could do a lot worse. Sure, it drinks a bit, and could do with loosing a bit of weight (couldn't we all!) - makes a lovely noise too! At the moment I can't think of what extra I'd want from my next machine...

 

[Banny]

Same amount of performance but with the ST it's wrong wheel drive.

Not everyone wants rear wheel drive, not a lot of good in the snow was it, lost count of the RWD cars I see abandoned.

 

[mjt]

Not everyone wants rear wheel drive, not a lot of good in the snow was it, lost count of the RWD cars I see abandoned.

Perhaps, but seeing as the OP lives in the UK and not Siberia, this is totally irrelevant.

 

[thepharcyde]

If you want something exciting both are not much cop. Op I preferred my auto E46 vs manual

 

[daveydave]

Same amount of performance but with the ST it's wrong wheel drive.

You have to pushe very very hard to get any noticeable understeer and FWD with a heavy V6 on the front axles is a god send in the snow

 

[Cr0fty]

Sounds to me like you want something much more 'raw' than the 330, are you sure that a st220 is a step in the right direction, or is it just going to satisfy you for a brief period whilst you are in your car-honeymoon stage? I could have interpreted this horribly, however.

 

[aproctor]

Perhaps, but seeing as the OP lives in the UK and not Siberia, this is totally irrelevant.

God i wish i had bought a corsa d now, thank you for showing me the light.

 

[helpimcrap]

The BMW's a BMW, the Ford's a Ford. Fords are more for the masses whereas the BMW's are something to hope for a bit. It's not a Ferrari or nothing but it's more 'polished' than a mondeo for sure.

 

[MrFunex]

The BMW's a BMW, the Ford's a Ford. Fords are more for the masses whereas the BMW's are something to hope for a bit. It's not a Ferrari or nothing but it's more 'polished' than a mondeo for sure.

This is why everyone now drives a 116i ES on finance.

 

[Fr0dders]

I have made my comments on judging performance by 'matching' people on the public road in the past, its pretty meaningless really as I gather even MrLOLS 300bhp Vectra didnt leave anyone for dead.

On the road a few car lenths are not noticeable but on a track a few seconds are an age.

i had to agree it didnt really proove much.

on paper my in gear acceleration should have walked all over 330. But out on the public roads, i just dont think there was room really.

I bet it would be different down the 1/4 mile. Anybody know what a stock 333i will do ?

 

[rare]

Thanks for all the comments...its a tricky one. Dont want anything a great deal quicker than a 330i, cant be doing with all the related costs of moving to a v8 or a turbo, Dont want anything Japanese...have owned many many BMW's, Mercs...

The BMW's a BMW, the Ford's a Ford. Fords are more for the masses whereas the BMW's are something to hope for a bit. It's not a Ferrari or nothing but it's more 'polished' than a mondeo for sure.

I would have once agreed,but I see many many more times 1 and 3 series these days than I do mondeo's. Infact I dont even remember the last time I saw a ST220! But I can almost bet I will always see a 330 around where I live!

 

[jamoor]

The BMW's a BMW, the Ford's a Ford. Fords are more for the masses whereas the BMW's are something to hope for a bit. It's not a Ferrari or nothing but it's more 'polished' than a mondeo for sure.

IMO BMW are a posh mass market manufacturer.

A Rolls Royce or an Aston Martin is something to hope for.

 

[Cairns78]

Mine matched Tom's 330 at the last meet.

Will find out of sure this year though

From a standing start i'm sure the 330 would dick the ST but this was from around 30-100 and it was even.

That's basically what i found. I have the 330i and a friend has the st220. No doubt the st220 is great value for money and i wish i'd known about them when i was looking in 06.

Give or take, they're equally fast: it seems the bmw performs better at low/medium speeds, but then the mondeo accelerates better at high speeds. We tried 70-120, was a bit of a shock, embarrassing for me! The ST picks up speed damn quick in that range. They also sound more sporty although the bmw has the ultimate edge on handling, and I suppose, better image.

To the OP, 330ci to a st220, madness? No i don't think so! I've thought about it - for me it would be too small a change, but i wish i'd known about them at the time, I might have bought one.

 

[[TW]Fox]

I would have once agreed,but I see many many more times 1 and 3 series these days than I do mondeo's. Infact I dont even remember the last time I saw a ST220! But I can almost bet I will always see a 330 around where I live!

Comparing like with like (The Mondeo isnt available as a Coupe) there were 3000 330i Sport Saloons sold in the UK and 4,750 Mondeo ST220 Saloons and Hatchbacks.

 

[Hxc]

Heard an ST220 popping and banging, really, really raspy exhaust around town last night... must've had something on them.

330i is the nicer car though, imo.

 

[Cairns78]

Mine matched Tom's 330 at the last meet.

Will find out of sure this year though

From a standing start i'm sure the 330 would dick the ST but this was from around 30-100 and it was even.

You are doing a timed test? could be interesting, don't think anyone's done one before as far as i can tell.....are they both stock?