RE: SOTW: Ford Focus ST170
Discussion
I've just sold my st170
Owned it for 2years and did 68k miles in it.
It lost 400 in depreciation
Cost 2 tyres
A new clutch and DMF at 500 imported from the states which I just about changed on the driveway
Imrc broke as many of them do- ford wanted 300 quid but it need a new transistor at 45p which the brother in law soldered in.
Average economy over 68k was 32.2 mpg including 3 track days
So that was a total cost of ownership of just over 20p per mile.
I don't imagine ever getting better value than that!
It was also good to drive- yes it wasn't blindingly fast but it handled as well as anything else I've had as a daily driver- feedback was excellllent, turn in superb and very neutral to slightly tail out on the limit.it was also quiet and a pleasure to drive on the motorway.
The only car I regret selling more was an Audi a8 and I certainly enjoyed the st170 (from an overall ownership proposition) more than my 330d, a 540i sport, and various other incise cars.
My expectation when I bought it was that I'd hate it (only my second ford- the first was truly shockingly dreadful) and only keep it for a few months.
Sure other hot hatches did certain things better but as a whole package I can't imagine a better overall proposition.
Owned it for 2years and did 68k miles in it.
It lost 400 in depreciation
Cost 2 tyres
A new clutch and DMF at 500 imported from the states which I just about changed on the driveway
Imrc broke as many of them do- ford wanted 300 quid but it need a new transistor at 45p which the brother in law soldered in.
Average economy over 68k was 32.2 mpg including 3 track days
So that was a total cost of ownership of just over 20p per mile.
I don't imagine ever getting better value than that!
It was also good to drive- yes it wasn't blindingly fast but it handled as well as anything else I've had as a daily driver- feedback was excellllent, turn in superb and very neutral to slightly tail out on the limit.it was also quiet and a pleasure to drive on the motorway.
The only car I regret selling more was an Audi a8 and I certainly enjoyed the st170 (from an overall ownership proposition) more than my 330d, a 540i sport, and various other incise cars.
My expectation when I bought it was that I'd hate it (only my second ford- the first was truly shockingly dreadful) and only keep it for a few months.
Sure other hot hatches did certain things better but as a whole package I can't imagine a better overall proposition.
PugwasHDJ80 said:
The only car I regret selling more was an Audi a8 and I certainly enjoyed the st170 (from an overall ownership proposition) more than my 330d, a 540i sport, and various other incise cars.
A8 4.2? I see you are experienced! Glad you enjoyed the ST170. The thing that really got me with the first generation Focii (mine included) was the piss poor fuel economy. Mine never really saw more than early 30's. We had a few at work, just the 1.4's and the 1.6's. The fleet manager bought a couple of the 2.0 models. Seemingly no faster than the 1.6 but considerably more thirsty. The 2.0's weren't replaced as they weren't considered good value for money.Baryonyx said:
Seemingly no faster than the 1.6 but considerably more thirsty. The 2.0's weren't replaced as they weren't considered good value for money.
The 2.0 was a fair bit quicker (than the 1.4s and 1.6s I drove) off the mark in and had a bit more grunt (and possibly closer/shorter gearing in an attempt to make it feel quicker?), but the performance/mpg wasn't great. The 1.8 was a better in that respect.Fitting 18" wheels would be a backward step in my opinion.
I'm driving one of the very last ever MK1 Foci, a 1.8 Zetec and whilst I can't comment on the ST specific bits (engine and box mainly) I have to say the rest of the car is right on the money for what it claims to be.
I paid £2K for a 39K miler with FSH, Air Con, Quickclear screen (I've used it already this winter with thick frost!
) It handles brilliantly for a family hatch, is spacious and pretty comfortable for the class.
For those that call them rusty, you realise the oldest ones are 14 years old yes? There are sure to be some rusty examples by now, but then my 12 year old E39 had severe rust in the sills, and the arches and boot lid were all starting to blister as well, I think that most cars are starting to show their age a bit by then. There isn't a spot of rust anywhere on my 2005 model.
For £2K I think it's the best runabout I've ever owned, and I just bought a shiny new laptop with the cash that I saved on this year's insurance renewal
I paid £2K for a 39K miler with FSH, Air Con, Quickclear screen (I've used it already this winter with thick frost!
) It handles brilliantly for a family hatch, is spacious and pretty comfortable for the class.For those that call them rusty, you realise the oldest ones are 14 years old yes? There are sure to be some rusty examples by now, but then my 12 year old E39 had severe rust in the sills, and the arches and boot lid were all starting to blister as well, I think that most cars are starting to show their age a bit by then. There isn't a spot of rust anywhere on my 2005 model.
For £2K I think it's the best runabout I've ever owned, and I just bought a shiny new laptop with the cash that I saved on this year's insurance renewal
hora said:
Even though its slow you think a type S is a better drive and worse its steering-my 2yr old sons car has more feel..
I dont get the dislike. I drive 65bhp and you learn to be smooth and carry speed very quickly
You might want to re-arrange that first sentence, it makes no sense at all!I dont get the dislike. I drive 65bhp and you learn to be smooth and carry speed very quickly
I agree that you learn to carry speed through smooth driving, but the point still stands that if you buy a "hot hatch" you expect it to go like one. If it doesn't perform very well, then decent fuel economy would lessen the blow. The ST does neither. It is one of the nicer hot hatches to drive however, which I have never disputed.
Great SOTW! Always hankered after one of these, they seemed a great compromise between sports and practicality, but I guess thats down to what you've driven.
Never driven an ST170 but I owned a 3 door 1.6 Zetec (with ST170 alloys) from new for over 7 years. Thrashed the b
ks off it, drove it up and down the UK numerous times and got my entire university life in the boot.
Things that went wrong for me:
Sticky Throttle body, cleaned out and good to go again, replacements were expensive at the time
Loose exhaust heatshield,
Passenger window stopped working and passenger door handle was inexplicably stiff.
Air con buggered cos I never used it :-P
Crashed it once quite badly, repaired and still drove like new after!
Replaced it with an E30 320i and instantly regretted it, now i've got an MX5 and couldn't be happier :-D
Would have another or ST of this era again in a heartbeat, reliable, fun to drive, and quite cheap to run and repair. I regularly drive the mk2 and 3 Focuses at work - they're great cars but not quite as sharp to drive as the good old mk1
Never driven an ST170 but I owned a 3 door 1.6 Zetec (with ST170 alloys) from new for over 7 years. Thrashed the b
ks off it, drove it up and down the UK numerous times and got my entire university life in the boot.Things that went wrong for me:
Sticky Throttle body, cleaned out and good to go again, replacements were expensive at the time
Loose exhaust heatshield,
Passenger window stopped working and passenger door handle was inexplicably stiff.
Air con buggered cos I never used it :-P
Crashed it once quite badly, repaired and still drove like new after!
Replaced it with an E30 320i and instantly regretted it, now i've got an MX5 and couldn't be happier :-D
Would have another or ST of this era again in a heartbeat, reliable, fun to drive, and quite cheap to run and repair. I regularly drive the mk2 and 3 Focuses at work - they're great cars but not quite as sharp to drive as the good old mk1
Edited by b3robo on Sunday 25th November 13:38
I had the 2.0 zetec focus mk1, the handling was excellent, made the focus st turbo seem flabby. It had a bit of understeer because of the heavy lump (not aluminium like the 1.6 mk1 focus), but then the later st with the Volvo 5 pot was even worse in that respect! Just shows how all the extra airbags and sound deadening can make later cars a (driving wise) step backward!
To this day the best all round package I've had in a FWD hatch is the ep3 civic type r, it had similarly nice handling to the mk1 focus funnily!
To this day the best all round package I've had in a FWD hatch is the ep3 civic type r, it had similarly nice handling to the mk1 focus funnily!
I had one of these new on an 02 plate & covered 50k+ in 3 years. It was a horrible steer IMO, didn't do what it said on the tin.
In summary it was noisy, unrefined, not very quick - lacking power and torque, poor fuel economy, mediocre handling, cheap build, unreliable with poor dealer support, uncomfortable seats over any distance, and i don't believe it was a Duratec from memory despite the engine cover. Not recommended.
My brothers 2.0 Zetec S Focus appeared to be the better proposition all round
In summary it was noisy, unrefined, not very quick - lacking power and torque, poor fuel economy, mediocre handling, cheap build, unreliable with poor dealer support, uncomfortable seats over any distance, and i don't believe it was a Duratec from memory despite the engine cover. Not recommended.
My brothers 2.0 Zetec S Focus appeared to be the better proposition all round
Andy JB said:
I had one of these new on an 02 plate & covered 50k+ in 3 years. It was a horrible steer IMO, didn't do what it said on the tin.
In summary it was noisy, unrefined, not very quick - lacking power and torque, poor fuel economy, mediocre handling, cheap build, unreliable with poor dealer support, uncomfortable seats over any distance, and i don't believe it was a Duratec from memory despite the engine cover. Not recommended.
My brothers 2.0 Zetec S Focus appeared to be the better proposition all round
They were never Duratec's just badged Zetec's.In summary it was noisy, unrefined, not very quick - lacking power and torque, poor fuel economy, mediocre handling, cheap build, unreliable with poor dealer support, uncomfortable seats over any distance, and i don't believe it was a Duratec from memory despite the engine cover. Not recommended.
My brothers 2.0 Zetec S Focus appeared to be the better proposition all round
Andy JB said:
I had one of these new on an 02 plate & covered 50k+ in 3 years. It was a horrible steer IMO, didn't do what it said on the tin.
In summary it was noisy, unrefined, not very quick - lacking power and torque, poor fuel economy, mediocre handling, cheap build, unreliable with poor dealer support, uncomfortable seats over any distance, and i don't believe it was a Duratec from memory despite the engine cover. Not recommended.
My brothers 2.0 Zetec S Focus appeared to be the better proposition all round
They were never Duratec's just badged Zetec's.In summary it was noisy, unrefined, not very quick - lacking power and torque, poor fuel economy, mediocre handling, cheap build, unreliable with poor dealer support, uncomfortable seats over any distance, and i don't believe it was a Duratec from memory despite the engine cover. Not recommended.
My brothers 2.0 Zetec S Focus appeared to be the better proposition all round
Andy JB said:
I had one of these new on an 02 plate & covered 50k+ in 3 years. It was a horrible steer IMO, didn't do what it said on the tin.
In summary it was noisy, unrefined, not very quick - lacking power and torque, poor fuel economy, mediocre handling, cheap build, unreliable with poor dealer support, uncomfortable seats over any distance, and i don't believe it was a Duratec from memory despite the engine cover. Not recommended.
My brothers 2.0 Zetec S Focus appeared to be the better proposition all round
if it was so bad why the fIn summary it was noisy, unrefined, not very quick - lacking power and torque, poor fuel economy, mediocre handling, cheap build, unreliable with poor dealer support, uncomfortable seats over any distance, and i don't believe it was a Duratec from memory despite the engine cover. Not recommended.
My brothers 2.0 Zetec S Focus appeared to be the better proposition all round
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