It was one Sunday when we found an ST200 Estate in out Ebay watch list that was ending that day. Considering I was after a Hatch version I wasn't particularly bothered about this one, that and the discription was somewhat lacking in any detail meant I didn't really give it a second though. Jamie, on the other hand was getting more and more interested in it as the day went on as it was a silly low price. After talking it through with him it was decided that for the money, even if it had some issues it would work out alot cheaper than if I had got myself another one which was in good nick but for the average price. So, during Sunday lunch, Jamie excused himself, came back 5 minutes later to inform me that I was now the proud owner of a car we didn't really know that much about!
To cut a long story short it was arranged to collect the Mondeo that next Sunday (as well as another Ebay bargain - a Citroen AX that has since been sold on). First impressions was that it was a little bit too purple in colour for my liking and it wasn't as big as I originally thought. After signing all the paperwork and finding everything in order it was time to get it home. Jamie drove it while I drove his Mk 3 Mondeo Ghia X behind. All I can say is that from that 100 miles drive home, Jamie was most impressed. It would seem that the secondaries were nice and free, opening marvelously around the 3500rpm mark, the air con was blooding nice and cold, all eletrics were working etc... the only issue we found was that there was a rattling from the rear when pulling away. Signs point to a loose exhaust or possibly new back boxes (something we have yet to look at and have been factured into the budget).
So far I've done about 1500 miles in it (not thought of a name yet!) and apart from the rattle and a few blown bulbs it's been bloody excellent to drive. Parking is probably better in this than a hatch due to the visibility all round, it's also nice to have a little road presence rather than being punted off the road every time I go out. I also think people are a bit wary of it as these cars were often used for Police cruisers so I now am getting people slowing in front of me and pulling out of my way! Which is quite funny!
So, some photos. These first lot were taken the day we picked it up. Obviously before it was cleaned. I was a bit put off with the state of it if I'm honest. Personally if you are going to sell a car you'd get it a bloody good clean first.
As for all photos, click on them for a larger view!
As you can see, it was pretty grubby inside. The car itelf had covered 133K, which will explain the thousands of stone chips on the front end of the car and the hole in teh drivers side mat, but the engine was replaced by Ford at 85K after they had blown it up (wrong oil, ragged it on a test run, that old chestnut). I was a litle hestitant with this little gem of info but considering the engine had been in there for going on 50K it was more than bedded in and any running issues sorted.
Since the first photos were taken it's had more than a few washes. I gave it a going over the Monday after getting it so I could get a idea of any bodywork that needed attention. The front grill isn't sitting 100% true and the stone chips are a bit annoying to say the least, but there's nothing much to worry about, just the usual dints and marks from it's 7 years on the road. Slight curbing to a couple of the wheels with the drivers side rear being the worst affected. Front alloys from memory are curb free. Tyres are in good condition, with the rears being replaced recently. Brakes and pads on teh front were done last year. I did have an issue with the bonnet catch and the drivers front seat. Both were extremely hard to move (the seat wouldn't budgt forward and the bonnet wouldn't catch) but after some lubricant both are loosening up nicely. To help with the rest of the car, I did all the door locks and hindges with grease to prevent them seizing.
So, after it's first clean it looked miles better.
So, with it looking a bit cleaner I did abit of running about in it, one journey was collecting some Ka interior bits from Chelmsford to put the Turbo back to standard to sell it. I was very suprised at the way the boot just swallowed the parts with no messing about. The load cover is just spring released to remove and the back seats go down with easy, with no flaffing about with lifing the bottom part up first (as like the mk3 Mondeo). The ride quality is stop on too. The Ka I found was a bit harsh on the old spine, but this felt firm enough that it doesn't wallow around bends, but soft enough that my spine and jaw isn't jarred everytime I encounter something larger than a stone on the tarmac.
My only issue with the car now was that it was dirty again!
Ok, it wasn't that dirty, but it was enought for me to buy some Claybar stuff and attack the paint and glass work over two days. It was a tough job todo considering the age of the car and the high miles it had covered, but the results were amazing.
I'd used Claybar on the Ka before and was really impressed with it, the Mondeo took two days to do due to the sheer size of the car, but I'm glad I didn't rush it or cut corners as it's made a massive improvement to the paintwork. It was given a coat of Meg's wax after the final wash and dry which brought the paint up beautifully. However, a few days later this should happen!
That bloody orange dust has made it's yearly appearance! Most annoying, but another excuse for a wash!
So, I've had the car for just over a month now, so far I've got the necessary bits and bobs needed for a service, just need an oil filter now. I've also got myself some lovely black leather gaitors as the old ones where a little tired and worst for wear. A couple of weeks back I had to replace the passenger side front indicator as that blew, and I've just got myself a couple of rear number plate light bulbs as one of those has gone. I feel bulb replacement might be the crux of this car! Hopefully at the weekend we will be looking at the exhaust rattle and investigate why the screen wash is a bit feeble.
I'll update this soon with MPG averages and gaitor photos when they are put in. :)
posted by yahbitch @ 11:16 pm
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