INTERIOR

Tough and durable, the ST24’s cabin is typical of a Mk2 Mondeo, and shouldn’t be showing much deterioration even at 150,000 miles. Most have been used as company cars and family machines, which means they often have scratched door cards and interior plastics. Dashboards also tend to be rattly.

If you see a particularly tatty interior with bits of plastic broken or hanging off, assume the ST24 has had a hard life – possibly even employed as a minicab or police car (check the history file, if it has one). Although decent trim is available second-hand, a neglected cabin also suggests the car’s mechanical components have also been abused; it’s best to walk away.

All ST24s had basically the same cockpit, but before buying you’ll need to decide whether you can live with the bluey-coloured Alchemy dashboard, trim and half-leather seats of early cars, rather than the charcoal Midnight Black introduced in autumn 1998. Not that there’s anything wrong with Alchemy – indeed, the seats are the same shape – but most people find Midnight Black easier on the eye.

ST24 front seats are firm with deep bolsters, which suffer from wear and scuffs as the miles go by. Leather parts crack, bases collapse, and electric height-adjustment motor mechanisms tend to stop working when they strip their plastic gears; brass cogs are now available for around £20, which cure the problem.

If you’re lucky you may find a late 1999 ST24 with heated front seats (the buttons are above the ashtray). It’s common for the driver’s seat element to be broken, so ensure it gets warm.

It’s vital to check the carpets of any Mk2 Mondeo, particularly in the front footwells. If they feel damp or smell mouldy, rainwater may be entering the cabin through the pollen filter or bulkhead. If so, it’s highly likely the floor underneath will be corroded – and potentially rotten.

Look beneath the rear seat bolsters for rot around the seat belt mounts, and examine the boot carpet, inspecting the floor for rust stains; ST24 saloons and hatchbacks in particular let in rainwater through the perished rear light seals, but careful use of silicone sealant solves any issues.

Finally, although the ST24 is well-equipped, with air conditioning and all-round electric windows as standard, if you want even more luxury look at the 2.5 Ghia X: it boasted more gadgets than the ST24 but the same engine and even the option of RSAP.