31st Jan 2007, 12:17
Sorry, but there just isn't a substitute for cubic inches. Turbo chargers put extra strain on engines and they don't last as long. Plus you just can't beat the sound of an American V8! But with the gas prices you guys in Europe have to pay, I can't blame you for trying to find alternatives.
1st Feb 2007, 12:02
5/6 litre engines are ridiculous. The 3 litre ST220 engine delivers 223 BHP. I bet the V8 gas guzzlers don't deliver a lot more considering the hike in CC's. The sound of the V8 is okay, but it doesn't give the same fantastic metallic rasp of the good ol duratec V6, which incidentally is derived from a V8 lump. Real racing sound when the rev!
1st Feb 2007, 21:09
Well I don't know about all V8's, but the 5.7 liter in my SUV makes 405 horsepower and it isn't modified to anywhere near it's full potential. And the V8's GM is putting in their new SUV's make almost that and get 20MPG on the highway. But like I said, that's in America where gas isn't $5+ a gallon. But I did see the Ford Mondeo ST220 on a BBC top gear clip today, and what a sharp car! It looks fantastic! It handles good too! They were comparing it to some car called a Vectra, which had a lot more power, but really bad understeer. I don't know why they don't sell the Mondeo here! We have the 221 hp Fusion which is a nice car, but I think they should sell the Mondeo as a high performance version of that! Won't happen tho'.
8th Mar 2007, 06:04
If I recall correctly, the Mondeo is FWD and smaller than the Falcon. The older Mondeos didn't fair well in Aus!
The Falcon is RWD with control-blade suspension and big engines.
The Mondeo is a smaller car and the 3 litre V6 is only normally aspirated yet still 220bhp. Compare that to the GT-P's 390bhp N/A out of a 5.4 V8.
We've all seen what the Mondeo engine can do when tuned... The Noble M15 has a turbo'd lump at 455bhp (455 ft-lbs torque also) and gets that light car to 60mph in 3.2 seconds and keeps it going to 185mph.
Yes Ford's 5.4 V8s can do well too - the 2000 Mustang Cobra R was supercharged I think and did 60mph in 4.4 - not bad for a big fat car (especially when compared to the noble) but do not rule out what the Brits can do with the engines they have.
And last, but not least don't forget the Ford RS200 Evo from 1983. Pat Doran had the 2.18 litre BDT engine pushing out 750bhp taking the car to 60mph in 1.8 seconds.
19th Mar 2007, 07:33
I think people are getting confused with the Focus ST 170;
The Focus ST170 is the old shaped 2.0ltr 170bhp focus, not the new 2.5ltr 'orange' ST one.
2nd Nov 2007, 17:24
Just bought second hand 2005 Mondeo ST220, Machine Silver with every extra including touch screen dvd/sat nav. Well pleased; an all round excellent car.
Performance is not rapid, but is fast enough. Traded in my BMW M3, which was like a rocket, but I like the 220 much better.
1st Apr 2009, 05:36
I've just purchased a used ST220 in silver, great car.
As for speed, I would say it's not super quick, but it's fast enough. My previous car was a Motegi Honda Prelude 2.2 manual. In comparison to the Honda, it's slower off the mark, but it's quicker 3rd gear onwards. The engine is really torquey and pulls well in every gear.
Overall it's a great package, and I'm very happy with the car. It's a bit greedy on fuel though.
28th Apr 2009, 03:29
Talking about the ST170, I had a chav in a Focus ST170 inches off my bumper as I was on my way to work in my ST220, he obviously wanted a race so I switched to the other lane and dropped a gear, he couldn't even keep up, the difference was massive by the end of 4th gear, I then slowed down and he passed me looking rather upset.
8th Jul 2009, 15:51
Ha ha ha. How can people say the ST170 is faster than the Mondeo ST220! I am in a large Ford club and we often have meets at Shakespeare County Raceway (1/4 mile dragstrip).
I was beating matching times in a Sport Ka with one ST170 Focus.
Now I have the Mondeo ST220 and have ran friendly against club members and it leaves them.
Take off the ESP and you get full power from leaving the line.
The Mondeo is a quick car for "what it is".
I also considered a MG ZT 4.6 V8 instead of the ST. 4.6 V8 260bhp! And it's slower than the ST! H ha.
I'm a Ford nut, and with all my respect the Focus 170 is a nice motor but it just doesn't cut it against a Mondeo ST220.
31st Jan 2007, 06:10
'I can't imagine why people won't clamour for the bigger engines that are seen abroad.'
The reason we don't go for bigger engines, is because we get similar BHP output from 2/3 litre engines as Americans/Australians do from 5/6 litre engines. We get great power from naturally aspirated engines, but add turbo's & superchargers to get that extra oomph. The advantages of this is that our cars are much lighter, and for cars that have the engine up front (as opposed to mid-engined) are not nose heavy, & so handle better.
Also, we get taxed a fortune on fuel (so can't be doing with V8 fuel guzzlers), insurance premiums are high on big capacity engines & so are company car taxes.