Ford Focus ST 2005-2010 buying advice
Discussion
Rusting rear arches is common so check there, also there is some cases of the cylinders cracking but it's not very common and if you're worried it can be prevented for around £500 I think.
The best advice I can give is join the focus stoc website for a small fee, it's got tons of helpful stuff on there ( how to guides and buying guides ect)
Generally though they are pretty good, I had a 09 plate for 2 years and took it from 33k to 63k with Not one issue.
The best advice I can give is join the focus stoc website for a small fee, it's got tons of helpful stuff on there ( how to guides and buying guides ect)
Generally though they are pretty good, I had a 09 plate for 2 years and took it from 33k to 63k with Not one issue.
AdamST said:
Rusting rear arches is common so check there, also there is some cases of the cylinders cracking but it's not very common and if you're worried it can be prevented for around £500 I think.
The best advice I can give is join the focus stoc website for a small fee, it's got tons of helpful stuff on there ( how to guides and buying guides ect)
Generally though they are pretty good, I had a 09 plate for 2 years and took it from 33k to 63k with Not one issue.
Yep, check the free elements of the forum for guidance. The best advice I can give is join the focus stoc website for a small fee, it's got tons of helpful stuff on there ( how to guides and buying guides ect)
Generally though they are pretty good, I had a 09 plate for 2 years and took it from 33k to 63k with Not one issue.
There are common things like the arches, which mine has, plus other inherent issues such as seat bases creaking (not sure if this is just the older ones), oil diaphragm and the like.
I would imagine any problems are any combination of inherent, whether tweaked in any way and the owner (fastidious on the servicing front, sympathetic driver and so on).
Unless a total wrong 'un or abused, they're pretty hardy cars. Mine hasn't been without issue, but did hit 182k today, pretty much all in my hands
.I have experienced several of the common failures that the Focus ST is known to suffer from. Have costings for the fixes listed in my profile garage.
As previously mentioned, www.focusstoc.com is worth checking out. It is worth the £10 or so for paid membership which will give you access to a good knowledge base.
As previously mentioned, www.focusstoc.com is worth checking out. It is worth the £10 or so for paid membership which will give you access to a good knowledge base.
Ye defo worth getting the paid membership. Has helped me out numerous times. I have put 12k on mine since i bought it (2008 Facelift). Nothing major wrong apart from snapping a spring, replacing brakes and sundays job is replacing wishbone bushes. Good cars as long as you don't mind frequent fill ups.
diddles said:
I have experienced several of the common failures that the Focus ST is known to suffer from. Have costings for the fixes listed in my profile garage.
As previously mentioned, www.focusstoc.com is worth checking out. It is worth the £10 or so for paid membership which will give you access to a good knowledge base.
That's rather a lot to spend a year on rubber! That'd last me 50%+ more.As previously mentioned, www.focusstoc.com is worth checking out. It is worth the £10 or so for paid membership which will give you access to a good knowledge base.
Anyhow, shame I have neither the time or sufficient inclination to put up some serious running costs
. Quick and dirty calc suggests double what I paid for the car in fuel alone 
.DukeDickson said:
diddles said:
I have experienced several of the common failures that the Focus ST is known to suffer from. Have costings for the fixes listed in my profile garage.
As previously mentioned, www.focusstoc.com is worth checking out. It is worth the £10 or so for paid membership which will give you access to a good knowledge base.
That's rather a lot to spend a year on rubber! That'd last me 50%+ more.As previously mentioned, www.focusstoc.com is worth checking out. It is worth the £10 or so for paid membership which will give you access to a good knowledge base.
Anyhow, shame I have neither the time or sufficient inclination to put up some serious running costs
. Quick and dirty calc suggests double what I paid for the car in fuel alone .I dont want to think about how much I've spent on super unleaded haha
diddles said:
DukeDickson said:
diddles said:
I have experienced several of the common failures that the Focus ST is known to suffer from. Have costings for the fixes listed in my profile garage.
As previously mentioned, www.focusstoc.com is worth checking out. It is worth the £10 or so for paid membership which will give you access to a good knowledge base.
That's rather a lot to spend a year on rubber! That'd last me 50%+ more.As previously mentioned, www.focusstoc.com is worth checking out. It is worth the £10 or so for paid membership which will give you access to a good knowledge base.
Anyhow, shame I have neither the time or sufficient inclination to put up some serious running costs
. Quick and dirty calc suggests double what I paid for the car in fuel alone .I dont want to think about how much I've spent on super unleaded haha
However, over 9+ years (or about 15 @ normal rate of knots) it probably isn't too tragic.
To add to what's already been said, the bonnet catch mechanism can fail too. I think it's about £80 for a new part.
Try and buy a MP260 upgraded car. Shouldn't effect your insurance, and is a world apart from a standard car. Or if you can find one, an MR290.
Be wary of cars that may have been modified and put back to standard before their sale. If you find one, try and understand how modified it was (as it could have lead a stressful big boost life) and be sure it's been put back together well, without hoses/airbox/ecu falling off.
Try and buy a MP260 upgraded car. Shouldn't effect your insurance, and is a world apart from a standard car. Or if you can find one, an MR290.
Be wary of cars that may have been modified and put back to standard before their sale. If you find one, try and understand how modified it was (as it could have lead a stressful big boost life) and be sure it's been put back together well, without hoses/airbox/ecu falling off.
Rich A said:
To add to what's already been said, the bonnet catch mechanism can fail too. I think it's about £80 for a new part.
Try and buy a MP260 upgraded car. Shouldn't effect your insurance, and is a world apart from a standard car. Or if you can find one, an MR290.
Be wary of cars that may have been modified and put back to standard before their sale. If you find one, try and understand how modified it was (as it could have lead a stressful big boost life) and be sure it's been put back together well, without hoses/airbox/ecu falling off.
That may be with fitting. Mine has died twice and (working on memory, would have to dig out the bills) I think the parts are somewhere near half that. The PITA is getting the bonnet open once it has died.Try and buy a MP260 upgraded car. Shouldn't effect your insurance, and is a world apart from a standard car. Or if you can find one, an MR290.
Be wary of cars that may have been modified and put back to standard before their sale. If you find one, try and understand how modified it was (as it could have lead a stressful big boost life) and be sure it's been put back together well, without hoses/airbox/ecu falling off.
I could reel off a decent list of irritating smaller things after somewhere approaching 80% of Earth to Moon ownership
.Any upgrade on power will potentially affect the insurance, even if a trustworthy manufacturer backed one like Mountune. The only one I'd even consider personally, even if it doesn't have, on the face of it, the biggest numbers.
DukeDickson said:
Any upgrade on power will potentially affect the insurance, even if a trustworthy manufacturer backed one like Mountune. The only one I'd even consider personally, even if it doesn't have, on the face of it, the biggest numbers.
The ST260 upgrade is something of an exception. I have one and there's no difference in insurance compared to the standard car.Hedgeman said:
DukeDickson said:
Any upgrade on power will potentially affect the insurance, even if a trustworthy manufacturer backed one like Mountune. The only one I'd even consider personally, even if it doesn't have, on the face of it, the biggest numbers.
The ST260 upgrade is something of an exception. I have one and there's no difference in insurance compared to the standard car..DukeDickson said:
Hedgeman said:
DukeDickson said:
Any upgrade on power will potentially affect the insurance, even if a trustworthy manufacturer backed one like Mountune. The only one I'd even consider personally, even if it doesn't have, on the face of it, the biggest numbers.
The ST260 upgrade is something of an exception. I have one and there's no difference in insurance compared to the standard car..I'll just add...
- OEM Ronal alloys are made of chocolate
- As mentioned, watch for modified cars returned to standard
- As mentioned, broken seat bases
- Watch out for cheapo aftermarket brake pads and discs (Ford OEM fine for road use)
- Greenlight insure Mountune cars for no extra premium (age / postcode can be an issue)
- Watch out for dubious cosmetic mods
- Check lower wishbone bushes
Watch for peeling clearcoat on orange cars (particularly on the bonnet and bumpers). The orange is pricy if you need paintwork, and you'll need a good painter to ensure colour match. Also, make sure the reverse light works - failure can be the switch rather than the bulb.
That aside, I've had an unmodified '07 for a year and a half, and I love it.
That aside, I've had an unmodified '07 for a year and a half, and I love it.
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