Info on ST200's?

[rick_172]

I'm after an ST200 but I'm finding it difficult to find any useful websites for these cars. The only one I have found is stownersclub.com but there isn't a whole load of info on there and they seem to want to know my life story before I can even join up to their forum! So, does anyone know of a good online rescource for this motor? I know there's a potential hand grenade lurking in the engine bay in the form of the duff water pump but it would be nice to know what else I should be looking out for.

Cheers

Rick

[zzr]

rick_172 said:

I'm after an ST200 but I'm finding it difficult to find any useful websites for these cars. The only one I have found is stownersclub.com but there isn't a whole load of info on there and they seem to want to know my life story before I can even join up to their forum! So, does anyone know of a good online rescource for this motor? I know there's a potential hand grenade lurking in the engine bay in the form of the duff water pump but it would be nice to know what else I should be looking out for. Cheers Rick

Try the mondeo enthusiasts group website.

The st200 has much the same issues as the normal 2.5, the water pump being one, these engines also need regular oil changes with the correct grade of high quality oil, they either seem to last 100k or go on forever.

The other thing to look out for is split front wishbone bushes.

[seesure]

Would like to offer advice, but all I can go on is the wife's car which is a Jan 2000 car now with 131k miles. (Although I drove it for the first 93k miles).

In it's life all it has had done is an oil service every 10k miles,
a new starter motor and a new alternator (both within the first year).
New leads at 120k miles as it was starting to kangaroo occassionally.
For some strange reason it's on it 4th battery though. They've tended to only last 18 months.
Rear dampers replaced at 110k miles.
Front tyres last about 22k miles the rears lasted 96k miles and were replace with still 2.5mm of tread.
Brake Discs changed at 80k miles
Recently had a few small rust bubbles on the roof cleaned up and the roof resprayed under warranty and that's about it.

Did fill the windscreen washer bottle a few times ..... erm, I guess that's it, get one at a good price and enjoy it.

[cj_eds]

I bought my ST200 a few months ago and the mondeo enthusiasts and st owners are the best places to go looking really. Apart from whats mentioned above, look out for the usual mondeo things from those sites.
If you start one cold and it sounds a bit rattley at first then beware that if they've been sat for a while the timing chains and tappets can be a bit clattery for the first 10 to 15 seconds because of the lack of oil pressure. If the rattle persists longer, then be a bit more wary!
Its a great car to drive - I'd recommend it. If you aren't thrashing it you get a half reasonable consumption too (I get well over 30mpg on M-way/A-road driving).

And if you see a white one, you can be sure it was once a cop car!