ST220 vs V6 Ghia X

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Soldato
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How different to drive are the ST220 vs the V6 Ghia X?

I'm looking for an ST220 primarily but the only ST220 around here in my budget was sold this morning :mad:. Instead I have found a 56 plate Ghia X with the 3.0 V6 + xenons + satnav.

Would I really regret getting the tamer version? I'm coming from a Mondeo TDCi 115.
 
Agreed it does look far better. However I probably won't get Nav or Xenons on the ST within my budget and insurance is a lot less on the Ghia x.
 
The Ghia X is advertised for £3400, insurance is £86 a month on it, where as its £160 on the ST.

edit: I can get the ST insured for £100 a month if I pay annually, so I would do that. But then I'm left with only ~£2500 to buy the car
 
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blimy my ST220 is £450 a year to insure, £160 a month sounds crazy are you living in east london and 19 years old or something

I think you may regret the ghia because youll end up with poor mpg and not much power to compensate the misery of putting £££ petrol in each month :p
 
R220 said:
blimy my ST220 is £450 a year to insure, £160 a month sounds crazy are you living in east london and 19 years old or something

I think you may regret the ghia because youll end up with poor mpg and not much power to compensate the misery of putting £££ petrol in each month :p
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Tell me about it.. I'm in a group B postcode and 23 but only 2 years on my license.

I've got some other options:
Toyota Corolla T Sport VVTL-I (04) - £3200 and £90 a month to insure
Seat Leon Cupra 1.8T (02) - £2000 to buy + £1154 up front insurance
 
The ghia is a more 'spongy' cruiser, its not really going to be the right car for you by the looks of it because your comparing ST220, Corolla T Sport and Cupra turbo, seems to suggest your after something that offers a bit more than just a comfy ride. Cant comment on anything other than the st220 on your list so far though but my brother has a Toyota Celica which i think has the same engine as the corolla and that will give similar performance to the ghia x but with much better fuel economy
 
R220 said:
The ghia is a more 'spongy' cruiser, its not really going to be the right car for you by the looks of it because your comparing ST220, Corolla T Sport and Cupra turbo, seems to suggest your after something that offers a bit more than just a comfy ride. Cant comment on anything other than the st220 on your list so far though but my brother has a Toyota Celica which i think has the same engine as the corolla and that will give similar performance to the ghia x but with much better fuel economy
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You're right I am, it just seems like good value for money with it being a 56 plate + Nav + xenons and almost as much speed as a ST220 for £3400.

The Corolla seems ideal apart from this, it's just the nearest one is 60 miles away.
 
You might not find the Ghia too wafty, it's only a small drop in power. I'd take the Ghia if the ST220 worked out that much more to run.
 
I've not driven a non ST Mk3 but I didn't find my Mk2 Ghia X particularly 'wafty'. It's not really a big enough car to be wafty, though I appreciate the Mk3 is much bigger.
 
I used to have a hatchback MK3 and it handled pretty well I thought, just didn't have enough power (1.8 petrol). I've no idea how this compares to the ST though.
 
I haven't ever found the desire to drive my Ghia X in anything over than plodding along fashion, it's just not that kind of car.
 
My ex's Mk3 V6 Ghia felt very flat & relatively slow compared to my old 328i Auto, and indeed my 528i tbh.

Given the BMW's are both auto's & the Mondeo a manual, I found this particularly dissapointing.

That said, the V6 Ghia is a nice car to drive, plenty of grunt, for what it is. It'll amble along happily in a waft ish manner all day long.

Given the OP's insurance prices, I'd opt for the Ghia, as Fox said, the ST is better but not that much better.
 
The Ghia suspension is a bit soggy for me, but that could be fixed with a set of springs and dampers from a Zetec if you don't like it.

V6 Mondeo's, other than the ST, are about as desirable as a dose of the clap in today's economy focused diesel centric used car market. Negotiate hard on price because the car will be difficult to shift for the seller and you to move it on.
 
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