RE: SOTW: Ford Focus ST170
Discussion
I test drove one of these new. I found the drive, somewhat dull to be honest.
The 170bhp was pretty much unattainable, in real driving it was more like 120bhp.
Went for something with a whole lot more character in the end. An Alfa 147!
I knew I'd made the right choice when my next door neighbour brought home his ST170 the same day as we bought our 147 home.
His was a company car, and wished he could have the Alfa on looks alone. And then dynamically once he drove the 147.
The 170bhp was pretty much unattainable, in real driving it was more like 120bhp.
Went for something with a whole lot more character in the end. An Alfa 147!
I knew I'd made the right choice when my next door neighbour brought home his ST170 the same day as we bought our 147 home.
His was a company car, and wished he could have the Alfa on looks alone. And then dynamically once he drove the 147.
Beefmeister said:
Forgotten bargains, these. I had an '04 3dr and it must have been one of the good ones, as i felt every one of the 170 horses when driving it. It was a very brisk machine and the handling was a revelation.
My 54plate one was towards the end of the production run and also felt very fit, certainly enough to keep most things with around a bit more power honest in all but a straight drag race. Brilliant ride/handling package but very sensitive to the quality of tyres fitted.
TameRacingDriver said:
Think I'd rather just go for the 2.0-litre version, sounds like there's very little difference in performance, so you may as well have the slightly better fuel economy, insurance costs and probably slightly cheaper purchase price IMO.
Good shout 2.0ESP with a blue fin on is probably a better car.
Almost bought a ST170 estate a few months back to replace my family runaround. The Estate is as rare as hens teeth and a cheap, practical alternative to the hideous MPV's that most people round by me seem to love.
I really like them and they have decent equipment levels as well if you get one with the winter pack (Xenons, Climate, heated screen)
That said pricing for the estate seems to vary widely from about £1200 to £5k for no apparent reason! £2.5k should get you a good one though.
I really like them and they have decent equipment levels as well if you get one with the winter pack (Xenons, Climate, heated screen)
That said pricing for the estate seems to vary widely from about £1200 to £5k for no apparent reason! £2.5k should get you a good one though.
Geoffcapes said:
I test drove one of these new. I found the drive, somewhat dull to be honest.
The 170bhp was pretty much unattainable, in real driving it was more like 120bhp.
Went for something with a whole lot more character in the end. An Alfa 147!
I knew I'd made the right choice when my next door neighbour brought home his ST170 the same day as we bought our 147 home.
His was a company car, and wished he could have the Alfa on looks alone. And then dynamically once he drove the 147.
I had an ST170 for a bit and dynamically it was one of the best cars I've owned (and I've had a few). The handling is fantastic straight out the box, in fact I tracked it a few times.The 170bhp was pretty much unattainable, in real driving it was more like 120bhp.
Went for something with a whole lot more character in the end. An Alfa 147!
I knew I'd made the right choice when my next door neighbour brought home his ST170 the same day as we bought our 147 home.
His was a company car, and wished he could have the Alfa on looks alone. And then dynamically once he drove the 147.
Test drove one of these a couple of years back, seemed to have been well cared for but the gearbox was poor, easily the worse of any car I've driven - imprecise and obstructive. Don't know if this was a characteristic of the ST170s or a fault with this model but that combined with the lethargic feeling engine left me disappointed. Shame as loved the normal Focus, so enjoyable for a family car.
did 100,000 miles in 3 years in my Mk1 Focus 1.8 zetec, great, great car...Never let me down, handled brilliantly, the car was hammered remorseless..
IMO, The Mk1 focus was such a good design, it looked 100x better than the Escort it replaced and still looks fresh today.
Always liked the ST170, nicely understated...but a 3 door would be better...Great Shed
IMO, The Mk1 focus was such a good design, it looked 100x better than the Escort it replaced and still looks fresh today.
Always liked the ST170, nicely understated...but a 3 door would be better...Great Shed
There's little real-world difference between the 2.0 and the ST IMHO (yes, I've driven both). The gearbox in the ST is worse, but the ST looks better (I always liked the alloys) and has nicer seats.
For shed money it's a good purchase but I wouldn't seek one out if a decent 2.0 Ghia was available.
For shed money it's a good purchase but I wouldn't seek one out if a decent 2.0 Ghia was available.
TameRacingDriver said:
Think I'd rather just go for the 2.0-litre version, sounds like there's very little difference in performance, so you may as well have the slightly better fuel economy, insurance costs and probably slightly cheaper purchase price IMO.
The performance is noticeably better in the 170 and the novelty of how long the gears were didn't wear thin (70 in 2nd, 90+ in 3rd, well into ban teritory in 4th) yes they could have fitted a closer box which would have made the car feel quicker but they would have lost the ability of the car to cover distances unstressed. The handling is also a huge step up from a standard Zetec. The chassis mods extended beyond lowered springs to new dampers and revised geometry and much better brakes. The economy does let the ST down badly but at the entry price for one now is forgiveable.
mikeyr said:
BTW did the engine respond well to a remap?
Nope, the engine was already a modified zetec so even the usual exhaust, filter, remap routes are a waste of time and the only way to gain real power is FI or ITBs. Apparently there is a mod using a vernier pulley on one of the cams that will unleash some more power but I don't know how true this is. after having a go in a few of the lesser focus models I was excited when a family member got an ST in 2004.
After having a go it was a big let down. Yes, it still had the excellent handling that the others had shown but the 2 components that were supposed to set the ST apart namely the engine and the gearbox were what let it down.
As others have commented,
the engine - felt no where near 170bhp and what was there only seemed to arrive above 5K rpm.
the gearbox - not as nice to use as the one in the lesser models plus who chose the ratios? Peaky engine + big long gear ratios.
After having a go it was a big let down. Yes, it still had the excellent handling that the others had shown but the 2 components that were supposed to set the ST apart namely the engine and the gearbox were what let it down.
As others have commented,
the engine - felt no where near 170bhp and what was there only seemed to arrive above 5K rpm.
the gearbox - not as nice to use as the one in the lesser models plus who chose the ratios? Peaky engine + big long gear ratios.
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