yes, think its called Ford Options or something. I don't think its only on NEW cars.. but im not 100% sure. *if* i keep the ST the full term, it'll be the longest i've ever owned a car lol.

i may look into that option then, seems a good idea? cheers cron

did you do it through ford aswell jjst?

I got £9k for my 56 reg ST a couple of weeks ago at a Mini dealership. They offered me £8800 initially, the 9k was after I'd bartered them up!! I think you always get a worse price if you are trading it in a a different franchise, because eg at mini, they were selling my ST on to the trade as they only have mini's and BMW's on their forecourt. Probably the same at Honda.

doing mine threw ford options 3 and a half years at the end of those 3 years can swap for a new car or pay the final payment and the car is all mine

After a LOT of haggling, Ive managed to get mine up to £9800.
As I stated, its a 56 plate in perf blue with privacy glass and 4500 miles.

Im looking to buy a new Fiat Sedici 1.9 Diesel Eleganza. As I live in Northern Scotland and fly up and down to London EVERY BLOODY WEEKEND (not getting annoying enough), my wife picks me up / drops me off at the airport usually late at night.
Our house is 35 miles from the airport along a lot of dark country lanes.
Its ace in the ST during the summer, but in winter when the snow and ice hits (bring on global warming) the ST is a nightmare.

Anyway, the Sedici is 2 or 4 wheel drive, so we are looking to go down that route. Ive loved the ST, but its a bloody nightmare when its icy!

For the Sedici, its £15500 new, but Fiat are doing a deal where they are offerring £1500 off and free metallic paint. Ive then managed to haggle another £900 off and be offerred £9800 for the ST, so subject to the test drive on Saturday morning, its looking like we are going with the Fiat.

I wouldnt have touched Fiat with a barge pole 3 or 4 years ago, but Ive just bought a new Panda 1.2 dynamic as my "city" car when Im working down in London, and I am very very impressed. Its an absolutely cracking little car, lovely smooth drive, cheap to run and loads of extras as standard spec. Believe it or not, I got the Panda as a delivery mileage pre reg (2007 on a 56 plate) for....wait for it....£4595 - I still cannot believe it, I love the car and it was £3300 cheaper than new!!!!!!

I will let you know how the Sedici was after the test drive.

p.s also tried a Civic 2.2 CDTI sport - nice car but very rattly and plasticy interior.
and a 2.0 Toyota Auris - very very bland but superbly built, although Toyota would only give me £8900 for the ST so I told them to ram it!!

Thats my life story for now!

Regards

Andy

if u going for that fiat u going to feel a massive difference but if that is what u want to buy then thats ur choice! what colour would u go for?

Not sure of the colours name, but its a kind of metallic red, looks very cool.

I know there will be a big difference, but now that Ive done the high revving rollerskate ride/handling thing, I want to go back to softer suspension and relaxed cruising!

Andy

Well,
Have spent a couple of days test driving the Sedici to make sure its the car for me and have ordered a new one.
Its a lovely smooth drive and handles really well. My biggest concern was the handling and I have to say, it was the biggest surprise. The car handles excellently for a taller car. It corners well, with very little body roll. Also, the suspension handles bumps without shattering your spine! Took it upto 100mph (on a private track of course) and could quite easily hold a conversation with the missues!!
I drove the ST back from the airport last night, and Ragged it a bit more than I normally would, as its going. Got to say, I will miss the engine growl and handling when pushing on, but wont miss the engine noise when sitting on a straight road at 70mph.
I will post some pics of the Sedici once it arrives. Its quite a rare beast, so that will be nice - the ST was rare when I bought it 8 months ago, but Ford must have sold a hell of a lot of them this past year, cause Im seeing them everywhere now!
Regards,
Andy

you got a good trade in for your ST imo well done mate ST isn't a practical car for everyone like you say. I only drive to work and back and thats pretty much it for mine - the wife has a big people carrier, so we use that for long journeys / weekends to be honest.

If i was doing a lot of motorway miles I wouldnt have gone for the ST either due to the noise, every now and then its fine, but on a day to day basis I would go for a motorway cruiser.. preferably diesel! hehe.

Cheers Cron,

I have really enjoyed owning the ST.

Around 5 years ago, I owned an M5 until it got vandalised whilst I was staying in Glasgow. I decided there and then that I would not buy another expensive "luxury" car and would stay with the Ford/Vauxhall "blend in" types of car.
After several Focusses and a Fiesta TDCi, I decided to go back along the nippy car route and plumped for the ST. Its been really good fun and totally reliable, but as stated above, I now want something smoother and more economical. I looked at EVERYTHING in the family hatch bracket, but found them all pretty boring - it was then that I saw the Sedici and thought it looked different, with the benefit of intelligent 4WD and great handling. I may well regret it, as apart from the new Panda I bought a couple of weeks agao, Ive never owned a Fiat before!
It could be a mistake, but hopefully it will be fine!
Andy
Here are some pics identical to the car I have ordered - same colour/model etc. What do you all think????

does look nice!! true thats a rare car! only saw one! sure its a nice little car!! hope everything will be find with ur new car!

very nice mate, looks comfy no point tiring yourself out driving the ST if you do a lot of motorway miles, that would definately be better Our Scenic is fantastic for the motorway, nice high driving position, little road noise and automatic so great for traffic jams ehehe.