Thinking of upgrading from 1.8LX Mk3 Mondeo to ST220 - advice please

MikeHiow · 2 Jan 2011 at 20:38

Which is ironic, because some people were dishing out stick for people who said 'looks ok from the advert' - yet these people have more information to form a more informed opinion than someone basing a car being rubbish on price alone.

Scania · 2 Jan 2011 at 20:41

smr said:
You're joking? I drove my mate nuts I bought my Mondeo getting him to drive me to several places all over the midlands to go and see the cars and test drive them until I was satisfied with my last visit.

How people can bid on 3k cars on ebay is beyond me, without obviously having seem them or even driving them!

I'm not joking mate, I'm whinging about it, just as you are.

daveydave · 2 Jan 2011 at 20:43

MikeHiow said:
Which is ironic, because some people were dishing out stick for people who said 'looks ok from the advert' - yet these people have more information to form a more informed opinion than someone basing a car being rubbish on price alone.

Quite possibly because they themselves have gone through the process of looking to buy this very car and indeed own them now....

MikeHiow · 2 Jan 2011 at 20:45

Markets change.

£3.5k may have been an almost sure sign of a dog two years ago, but may very well be simply hit and miss today.

[TW]Fox · 2 Jan 2011 at 20:52

Let me guess, you are the resident expert now on the ST220 Mike?

Shame you couldnt apply the same logic to your own car purchase and seemed convinced that Hondas never ever ever ever lose money ever.

MikeHiow · 2 Jan 2011 at 20:55

No, but I suppose that'd be you instead, though?

Too many people on here are too quick to dismiss cars on price alone, which is fine if you are looking for a car yourself. However, people who regurgitate this advice to people looking for a car, based on a quick look on autotrader are potentially leading someone into spending more than they really wanted/needed to.

I guess my point is, much the same as Joshy; go look at a few, including cheap ones.

Joshy · 2 Jan 2011 at 21:02

[TW]Fox;18127834 said:
Let me guess, you are the resident expert now on the ST220 Mike?

You've got to see where he's coming from though?

To be fair daveydave almost certainly knows more about ST220s being around that crowd and owning one, but no owners like to talk down the values of their cars and that's where I think the rose tinted specs may have come out, especially the comment about them have done all their depreciation which I just can't see being accurate.

daveydave · 2 Jan 2011 at 21:31

Trust me, the value of my car has no effect on my own perspective of self. I paid 5k for mine, if it was worth 3 now I wouldn't care, equally if it was worth 2 I would still feel indifferent. You don't buy a car of this age and type to retain sell on value. Like I said it's done all its depreciation. My reasons for buying were fast, comfortable, reliable and nice looking (imo).....(and it was a bonus that it had done most of it's depreciation)

But it seems we're now debating the what kind of money gets you a decent one. I'm a tiny bit bored of doing so now, but I will try to justify my comment one final time.

As I am looking to come out of mine next year for something fast and newer, I've been keeping an eye on the market, in response to Mike's comment about markets changing, yes they do, but not much when you consider this is a fairly niche vehicle that has done most (if not all) of it's depreciation.

I will stand corrected if the OP finds one for 3.5k that is in great condition without galactic mileage. But as I've already said, I doubt he will find one he can trust from a reliability standpoint for that kind of money. I would certainly fork out the extra to ensure I didn't end up with a big V6 going all smokey on me because it's done the rounds on council estates and "been serviced by my mate that's why there aren't any stamps in the service book mate"