Ford's 2.5 V6?

MikeHiow

MikeHiow

MikeHiow

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Not the ST220 type, but rather that fitted to the Mondeo Ghia X.

Now, I've been looking for a car for the other half, and I've considered all sorts, but one of them is the Mondeo - specifically the Ghia X. I've been looking at 2.0 examples, but an exceptional example of a 2.5 version has come up, within budget, about half the mileage of the rest and frankly seems like the best of the bunch.

My question is though, what are these engines like reliability wise, and also in terms of fuel economy? The combined figure is quoted as 27MPG, which I would be more than happy with, but I'm not sure I'd achieve that? FWIW, I generally achieve in the range of 21MPG in the ST, and the Mondeo would likely be driven far more sedately.
 
The V6 would definately be more economical than the Focus, but they aren't "economical"

The V6 suffered historically from:

Plastic-impellored water-pump failure
"secondaries" control unit failing- basically it opens the secondary intlet tracts about 3200ish rpm.
Alternator- first sign is light on at high revs- it's a real pig to change.
Head gasket- sounds like a blowing exhaust manifold gasket, but it's almost always the head gasket.
There were issues with oil surge when low oil and cornering hard, leading to big-end bearing failure, most fit the ST220 sump as a mod.

Other non-engine mk3 issues are rear subframe bushes and rear brake calipers siezing.

Sounds like a lot of issues, but thats really all of them.
The V6 is really smooth and efforless, perfect in the Mondeo.
 
The headgasket normally goes because of the water pump failing. they changed the water pump design around 99/2000 and i haven't heard of the new one failing or much head gasket problems on mk3s.
 
Just come from a ST24.

I was getting 18 - 20mpg on my commute, pretty standard A road with traffic around 60mpg.

My alternator went which cost around £400 at a garage to change due to it being a right nightmare to change.

Just be carful of rust, the reason my car failed its MOT!

Engine is smooth, effortless overtaking, and sound nice :)
 
Going to look at one of these (MK3) tomorrow, its already had the subframe bushes done - is there anything else I should be looking out for in particular?
 
Mondeo ghia x v6 owner

for the last 7 years nothing apart from tyres pads and disks have been needed still on original exhaust, 25 round town 35 on a run now done 111,000 miles :)
 
Not sure how common this is but aren't the coil springs prone to breaking/fracturing on these cars?

My dads N reg mk2 and also his S reg facelift model got broken springs.
 
I had a 2003 2.5 Ghia X, optioned up with DVD screens in the back and air-con seats. Was a great car, Used to average 28mpg in it - though 32-34 was just about possible on long trips. I drove it hard at times but I walk to work so most journeys were long ones.
 
I got a mk3 though an MOT recently, I had to fit;
new rear wheel bearing
new rear coil spring
both rear calipers
both handbrake cables
rear arb drop link
both front-rear brake pipes

Gives you an idea of what goes wrong....
 
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