stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

anyone know much about these three, looking to replace my forester as its worn out and looking to spend up to 5k on a run a round so looking at something like these below

vectra gsi,
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3122774.htm
mondeo st
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3021898.htm
bmw
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3115691.htm

i appreciate the BMW will probably come with a higher price tag and higher miles but which would you go for, the vectra will at a guess be cheaper and lower millage and the mondeo in the middle but any one had one, driven one or can compare them would be great

ScoobyJawa

Beemer or Mondy by a mile!

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Mondeo because they are rarer. Son-in-law as the V6 3.0l and it's fab, loads of toys and been mechanically excellent.

CREWJ

Has to be the 3-series by a long way.

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

issue is when shopping around the BMW will use most of the budget and comes with the highest miles on the clock and in most cases fewest toys. the gsi seems to be the cheapest and lowest mileage with the least (mentioned) toys and the mondeo sits in the middle but can come very well spec'd up.

any one had the pleasure of driving them and can shed some light on them

also anyone no of any major things to look out for?

thanks

Saxo Boy

Have to disagree, when I was in the market with a similar choice I was spending up to £7k and elected to get the ST220. The reason was that £-for-£ the ST was younger, with less mileage and better equipped. Any 330i I had bought at the time would simply be nowhere near as nice even though it is technically a better car.

I would imagine with a £4k budget the gap is even greater as the 330i is likely to have clinged onto it's value better than the ST220. You can still get nice ST's for that money. I haven't looked but I can image a £3500-4000 330i would be either dog ****, epic mileage or cloth spec

Frosticles

iTrader: (1)

Ford then BMW. Stay clear of the Chav wagon........

Jamescsti

ST 220 all day long for me, was really tempted for one recently but I can't justify the fuel bills with my milage, lovely cars to drive though, i'm a big fan.

cuprajake

iTrader: (11)

had a really good look around the st220 before i bought the scooby,

general concensus was:

knocking from the rear beam means the bushes have gone, ford reccommend new beam as the buches are sealed, but they do aftermarket ones that will fit in.

the engine is a chain so will be good for 100k

the exhausts can rust

brakes are the same as the 1.8 pertol so kinda lacking,

oh and the door skins can rust and wheels corrod, but other than that quite bullet proof

jave a look on stdrivers and the stowners clubs

Caged "R"

iTrader: (4)

I will accept £3900 for this 330ci Sport from a fellow 'netter'

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3097505.htm

Brun

I was gonna follow the ST220 gang but.... Like ^^^^^^

Fantom

I followed Saxo Boy into an ST220. It's the best car I've owned so far. You will get a better spec and less miles than the BMW for sure.
I've had no problems with mine apart from the mpg. I only do short journeys so I'm only getting 22mpg but if you can get the ford average of 27mpg then its not too bad.
Full leather heated recaro seats are seriously comfortable. Ride is a bit sporty but really comfortable too. It's pretty quick still
They look great as standard
Would highly recommend one

Razorwrx1

iTrader: (21)

Mondeo st220 buddy. The only BM I'd consider for your budget is e39 530-540 sport 02 Reg.

St220 looks and sounds sweet on YouTube!

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

Appreciate the offer mate although I'm not looking to pick anything up until end of next month, I'm just doing the back ground on stuff so I know what to look out for, what spec n toys I can get for the money along with condition n miles etc
But thanks for the offer

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

Thanks mate, can I ask why a 530-540 over the 3 series, surely these will be just as high miles and cost as the 3 series.

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

And thanks to all the replies its does seem to be the st that is the preferred choice so far.

Anyone know of any faults or dealer call backs etc on these?
Anything they should of had put right under warranty?
Things to walk away from if you see on a viewing?
Or to look, listen for on a test drive?

Thanks

kz-scoob

Mate and his wife both had that shape Vectra's... both got rid within a year, not great cars tbh!

jura11

iTrader: (7)

ST220 nice car to drive,not best on fuel,but nice roar from 4k RPM onwards,worth every penny.Mongoose or Blueflame exhaust i will recommend,have before both.


Jura

acstua

iTrader: (1)

i was tempted by one too, and a mate of mine, but i went the honda route in the end
he had to go the diesel route, pretty much the same car but with a diesel engine (ST TDCI)
so cant really say alot about the v6 engine (apart from it sounds lush heh)
but the interior etc is pretty good, comfy seats and fairly well spec'd too

i'd go for the ST220 over the other two for pretty much the same reasons as everyone else heh

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

The st does look to be the better option, although I'm tempted by big fuds wagon as a daily runner at the moment lol.

Out of curiosity anyone driven a e36 m3, a mate sent me a link for one with 101k on the clock full history and it was up for 3.8k which seems a lot of car for the money, it was a 6 speed too. Am I being stupid to think it would be trouble free motor!

Any big issues with these, I know the vanos systems can be troublesome but surely by this age and miles it would of been sorted? Any other issues with them?

fatscoobfella1

iTrader: (1)

I have a friend who is selling a Black 53 plate Vectra 3.2 GSI...

He has recently spent a lot of money on it inc Full service inc plugs(which cost a fortune),new headlights. New springs all round,new exhaust and rear suspension arms..

Full 12 months MOT and valeted...

Looking at £1700...no offers...

Oh....I have had a couple of E36 M3's in the past.Can be used as a daily driver,but remember even the best of them is over 10 yrs old..Most are likely to have 100k+ so be prepared to have stuff changed and repaired..

The 3.2 evo is a quick thing,321 bhp....

lozgti1

Just those four cars? Not thought about Octavia VRS?

Good spec,rock solid,rather quick

Miss mine

Nato

£1700 is a bargain for the Vectra fella. You'll be disappointed if you expect it to set the world on fire with its performance though, as it's too heavy to be properly quick.

Razorwrx1

iTrader: (21)

I just prefer the look of the e39. The 530I is the same engine as the 330i e46 coupe I think. The 540i is a V8 tho

fatscoobfella1

iTrader: (1)

E39 is built a lot better than the E46 too..

The E39 is just a different class,great cars...

cairns101

ST220 or 330, not 325 or Vectra

Vectra's handling rules it out in comparison with the others, and 325 is slowest.

I have the 330 which I love, but often enjoy driving a friend's ST220, which is surprisingly good.

If ST220 is still noticeably cheaper (last time I looked they were), it's a bargain choice and although you'd be giving up a little on build quality and interior (and mpg) vs the BMW, you would still enjoy it and there aren't so many of them around.

wrxsti280

iTrader: (6)

Avoid the vectra for starters, it will be the cheapest out the lot, but there are reasons for them being the cheapest, they are crap.

The bmw will be the other end, prob the most xpensive and not nessacarily the most reliable

Mate has the tdci st mondeo, bought with a lot of miles on it for 4k, its the estate model, all mod cons, e air conditioning went up the shoot, so had that done under warranty, but other than that its been faultless, drives nice, hasnt got the shove of the 3.0 petrol, but still not sluggish by any respect, general good alrounder with lots of nice toys.

wrxsti280

iTrader: (6)

Avoid the vectra for starters, it will be the cheapest out the lot, but there are reasons for them being the cheapest, they are crap.

The bmw will be the other end, prob the most xpensive and not nessacarily the most reliable

Mate has the tdci st mondeo, bought with a lot of miles on it for 4k, its the estate model, all mod cons, e air conditioning went up the shoot, so had that done under warranty, but other than that its been faultless, drives nice, hasnt got the shove of the 3.0 petrol, but still not sluggish by any respect, general good alrounder with lots of nice toys.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Like I said my son-in-law as one and I have driven it quite a bit, apart from a few consumables, track rod end, doesn't use oil, no problems in three years of ownership. The interior is standing up well to the grandchildren and all their kit. You have got to love the Recaro's. The front lower grill as been a pain as the clips are pretty ****e.

It's an excellent comfortable bruiser for the M-way but can be hustled along B roads at a good pace, but can get juicey on fuel. He's running Falken's on the car and these are lasting well. Be aware some are 2.5 V6 and later the 3.0 V6, so the Road Tax is the £400 + bracket.

Can't really comment anymore as now't as gone wrong.

Cammy5106

iTrader: (3)

BMW I just sold my 330I touring and already regret selling it, loved that thing..