RE: SOTW: Ford Focus ST170

[will261058]

Older ones are covered in rust these days. IMO the best looking focus was the one before the current model which I think is awful!

[J4CKO]

Basically there are all other Focus models, and the RS, there isnt a halfway house, a "nearly" version, the market knows this hence why and RS is five grand (plus 100 percent RS Tax, so 10k) and these are a few hundred quid.

[Agent Orange]

BeirutTaxi said:

Advert said:

Requires temp sensor easily fixed to make great car

Then fix it?

The fact this 'easy fix' hasn't been corrected gives me no confidence.

Agree. This says to me "Something else has gone on the car, another little niggle but this time I just cannot be arsed to fix it so it's time to move it on."

For the money and as a shed I'd actually rather this Focus 1.8 TDi
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

I think the flaws of the ST170 would annoy me pretty quickly where as the 1.8 TDi would be a cheap, reliable, dull, disposable shed. Therefore ideal. Actually had one as a hire care in Spain about 10 years ago for 2 weeks. Loved it. Back then I was running a Merc, Corrado VR6 and G60, Hartge E30 plus a motorbike. I still considered the Focus fun.

Maybe spend another few hundred to get a TDCi?

[The Obeast]

I had one for a couple of years, but 3 door, I must have had a good one, kept a clio 172 honest in it. mine did look slighty better than than this weeks SOTW (IMHO of course)

[Martin 480 Turbo]

Shed possibly couldn't find a cub 1K Maser this week,
so I am fine with the Hot Hatch theme (again). Nice
looking cars in silver, but an old Ford, still.

(Rated it 3 for having a good color and nice wheels.)

[Agent Orange]

hora said:

Not a chance- a 11yr old diesel on less than average miles with the known issues of turbo and EGR with age???

Not in the market therefore not aware of the problems. My point was more that as a shed I'd prefer a more utilitarian diesel Focus rather than a weak warm hatch.

[Stuart]

I had one of these as a company car. I was pretty chuffed with it at the time - 6spd changer, part leather, alloy pedals, etc etc. Felt pretty quick to me at the time as I'd come out of a 1.8 but the the thing which was disappointing was the 'box. The standard 5spd was as sweet as anything - really slick changes. The ST's 6spd box was decidedly notchy by comparison and it felt like a real step backwards.

Other than that, it was a fine car and the MK1 focus was such a great all round car. I have very fond memories of mine.

[big_boz]

The Obeast said:

, I must have had a good one, kept a clio 172 honest in it.

Behave, either the 172 was broken or it was being driven by a very poor wheel man.

A friend was following me in my sisters 172 cup in his Prodrive RX8 he could barely keep tabs on me, and i consider him to be a better driver than me.

[only1ian]

Saw a nice 2000 volvo c70 t5 coupe with all the toys and sports suspension option, FSH and loads of new parts including a MAF for a grand this week, with tax and test. Would rather have that and be comparing it to the new polestar!

[Escort Si-130]

Maybe because you are a st driver and dont know how to drive. The same things can happen to people wih RWD with the back slipping out also.

mr2j said:

Rear-drive shed next week please. Every time I look at a front-drive car with any performance aspirations I just think about that "ch-ch-ch-ch" sound of tyres slipping and slight sideways shimmy the front end does when you pull away with a bit to much right foot, especially uphill.

[RacingBlue]

Good choice of shed, but you could find far better examples with less issues for the same money.

It's aged really well - I still maintain this is the best looking of all the Focus generations (OK, the interior hasn't aged so well, but for the money, you can't really complain).

[The Obeast]

big_boz said:

Behave, either the 172 was broken or it was being driven by a very poor wheel man.

A friend was following me in my sisters 172 cup in his Prodrive RX8 he could barely keep tabs on me, and i consider him to be a better driver than me.

how did i know someone would question it, I never said hammered it, I never said it left me for dead. I said kept it honest. he couldnt get past my focus when we both gunning it.

and I can't exactly be accused of being a deluded fanboy.

I own a 172 myself now.

Edited by The Obeast on Friday 23 November 10:52

[Escort Si-130]

Did not know it had Cosworth development. I did not really like it, nor the shape of the mk1 Focus. It has far too radical for the replacement of the Escort. Also did not like the pattern along the side of the doors/wheelarch. Which seem to have follow onto the 1 series.
The paintwork colours were boring, true account/dull as dishwater spec.
When I initially heard 6 speed gearbox and 170bhp, it sounded a treat; but it was not even faster than a mk5/6 Escort RS2000.

[TameRacingDriver]

To be fair, the Clio takes 11.5 seconds to get from 60-100 so its not exactly a rocketship itself.

[uncinquesei]

Chrisw666 said:

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.

Ah. I was curious as to why they felt so slow with the extra grunt, it's mostly down to gearing then?
How easy is it to change boxes/ diffs whatever, I wonder...
Still can't believe they're so cheap... Age is a terrible thing.

[big_boz]

The Obeast said:

how did i know someone would question it, I never said hammered it, I never said it left me for dead. I said kept it honest. he couldnt get past my focus when we both gunning it.

I own a 172 myself now.

172 has a different level of performance all together (as you well know). Jenson Button once had to follow me up the A43 when it had road works on it and was down to one lane, he was in a bright yellow 355 i was in a £250 Fiat Panda Bianca (with twin roll back sunroofs), He couldn't get past me either.......

[CampDavid]

Interesting that the GTI-6 is picked one week, followed by Ford's exact copy the week after!

(check the specs, it's identical!)

[The Obeast]

big_boz said:

The Obeast said:

how did i know someone would question it, I never said hammered it, I never said it left me for dead. I said kept it honest. he couldnt get past my focus when we both gunning it.

I own a 172 myself now.

172 has a different level of performance all together (as you well know). Jenson Button once had to follow me up the A43 when it had road works on it and was down to one lane, he was in a bright yellow 355 i was in a £250 Fiat Panda Bianca (with twin roll back sunroofs), He couldn't get past me either.......

Lol! Did having the roofs open aid downforce?

I know people will think different things, but if i was going to come on a car forum and talk out my ass i would choose something a bit more elaborate than saying a ST170 held out against a clio!!

[big_boz]

The Obeast said:

Lol! Did having the roofs open aid downforce?

No, I think Fiat added them to reduce the center of gravity to better aid cornering prowess

[Beefmeister]

The Obeast said:

I had one for a couple of years, but 3 door, I must have had a good one, kept a clio 172 honest in it. mine did look slighty better than than this weeks SOTW (IMHO of course)

With that awful bodykit, very much IYHO i'm afraid...