4th Mar 2008, 13:44
Volvo = old mans car. ST24 straight pipe remapped chip induction kit new. Wouldn't need to leave first gear.
21st Sep 2008, 18:17
I think that the lack of power in this reviewed car is down to the old favourite - The Inlet Manifold Runner Control. This is what opens the other 6 of the 12 inlet valves when engine revs go above 4000RPM. They are PRONE to problems on the Duratec V6 engine and start off by becoming faulty intermittently. The IMRC has a cable attached to it that operates a linkage in the lower inlet manifold which opens 6 butterfly valves in 6 of the 12 inlet ports. It was added to the engine to make it more economical at lower speeds by only allowing air into the engine through half of the 12 inlet ports, ie the engine operates as an 18 valve rather than a 24 valve below engine speeds of 4000RPM.
The problems start when the main transistor in the IMRC box overheats due to a poor contact to its heat sink on the outer housing of the box. This has the result that the 6 butterfly valves then do not open at full power and the engine is starved of mixture. Top speed is then down to 110 MPH in 5th and 0-60 time is well over 10 seconds, that is why the car feels disappointing and unresponsive to drive.
The solution is to repair the IMRC by using a metal screw to secure the transistor to the heat sink instead of the factory fitted plastic white grub screw, which does not provide sufficient heat dispersion. If this does not work, then the transistor has failed and either you will need to replace the transistor or buy a new IMRC box - which will eventually fail the same way. Ford claim ignorance to this problem, as I have been there, they want to fob you off with expensive repairs and diagnostics.
So many people on here have reported this problem and have got rid of their cars over it - such a shame - as the ST24 and other 2.5 V6's are very rapid when the IMRC is functioning correctly. My 2.5 does 0-60 in 8 seconds and has a top end of 135 MPH and its the Ghia X with all the extra weight of the bells and whistles on board. The ST24 will reach 140MPH when running correctly and that is no bull either.
17th Oct 2008, 14:54
I had a shot of my dads ST24, and hit 140 pretty much flat out. These cars are quick for the power they produce, same as any car.
Good solid car. You pick them up for nowt these days.
17th Oct 2008, 15:15
I have a st24 at the moment and I like the car it is OK for the money and reliable.
19th Oct 2008, 18:47
The ST24 is an amazing car. Mine has done just over 140, and I still had a bit more.
20th Oct 2008, 08:30
I've had two ST24s now and the first has put my current one to shame. I've just checked the IMRC and yes its fubared, so a repair is in order. As far as power goes, I had a race with an SLK320; he bottled at 135, at which the ST was still pulling strong, but the engine had only done 39k so wear wasn't an issue. But in reply to the first gents comments, you really can't throw an accurate judgment after 4 weeks, it deffo needs a couple of months to make sure the car is as Mr Ford intended, which means sorting the faults and then thrash the thing to within an inch of its life, and if it holds together you have a good one! :-)
21st Oct 2008, 02:58
I currently have a TVR Griff 500 as my weekend car and a modded sport Clio 172 as my everyday, and let me tell you, these cars are very fast (especially the TVR).
And even still I would not call the Mondeo V6's slow.
I used to have a Mondeo 24v mk1 and it easily did 7.7 seconds to 60 with a decent set off and 140 mph top end, so it's far from slow, and also the V6 Mondeo's aren't about drag light grand prixs, you're missing the point entirely, they're about huge mid range wallop and great motorway performance; Saxo VTSs etc. were nowhere near once I got passed 60, although admittedly to 60 they were more or less equal, but past that, useless.
29th Oct 2008, 04:26
Mondeo V6's of any kind offer fantastic value for money, and are great cars to drive which don't cost the earth to run, have good interiors, cruise effortlessly, handle well and make a fantastic noise.
Can something like an Impreza or Evo do ALL of those things? I think not. Astronomical running costs for something that is not a huge amount better in real world situations.
Do you take wet roundabouts at 60mph every day? Do you do traffic light grand prix's with burnt clutches all day? LOL, thought not.
ST200s are a nice car and look great, and on a decent B-road you would be very surprised by how well they do go.
12th Jan 2009, 17:58
I've driven many performance cars in the sub-200bhp region, and the ST24 would stand up to most of them.
If yours doesn't, yes, you've got a bad one I'm afraid. Or, it might just be the IMRC. If that's faulty, you're looking at a ST24 with no more performance than a 2.0 Mondeo.
They're about £130, plus 30 minutes labour.
And the ST24 has fabulous handling, and is a very comfy car for long journeys.
6th Apr 2009, 04:12
Just bought an ST24 97 R plate with 97,000 on the clocks. Pulls strongly and rides comfortably. I can't believe you could get a motor like this for the money I paid.
22nd Jul 2009, 19:26
Cavalier 2.5 will hammer both ST24 and ST200 while giving a consistant 30mpg. If you don't believe me try racing one, it will inhale the Mondeo and spit it out all over the road. Catch my dust.
25th Feb 2008, 13:36
K&N induction kit will not sort out the moosing, you need to sort out the pipes causing it too.
Also, the VW transporter is quick for a diesel van, but that's all it is.
My Mondeo ST TDCI will out accelerate those rather rapid VW vans, and I previously had an V6, which if used properly was quicker than the Diesel.
As impressive as those vans are, they are VANS. 0-60 is just under 11 seconds. ST24 8ish. Top speed, 120 for the van, 135 for the ST24.
Either you got a total lemon, or you have been fooled by the torque of the van. Its not faster, sorry.