RE: SOTW: Ford Focus ST170
Discussion
Had a good one of these a few years ago...
There was a lovely recaro interior pack which could be specced.
Great all round car and respectabnle shed!
My engine light wa on pretty much contantly though, 'inlet manifold sensor'
Sorted out the heat shield rattle with a tap weld.
It also ate two alternators in the space of 14months
Handling great,
Needed more power.
Gearing all wrong!
Sadly it met a sudden end one wet night on the lisnarick road.
RIP
There was a lovely recaro interior pack which could be specced.
Great all round car and respectabnle shed!
My engine light wa on pretty much contantly though, 'inlet manifold sensor'
Sorted out the heat shield rattle with a tap weld.
It also ate two alternators in the space of 14months
Handling great,
Needed more power.
Gearing all wrong!
Sadly it met a sudden end one wet night on the lisnarick road.
RIP
Something else to mention is that the ECU limits torque when the engine is cold to prevent damage - the car is noticeably slower until it is properly warmed up.
My thermostat failed last month which meant the car didn't register any engine temp at all and driving it wasn't very enjoyable at all as the torque was constantly limited. Fuel ecomony dropped like a stone too. I think the engine was overfueling in an attempt to warm up, like the choke on old cars.
How many of the people saying how slow it is are basing this on a short test drive?
My thermostat failed last month which meant the car didn't register any engine temp at all and driving it wasn't very enjoyable at all as the torque was constantly limited. Fuel ecomony dropped like a stone too. I think the engine was overfueling in an attempt to warm up, like the choke on old cars.
How many of the people saying how slow it is are basing this on a short test drive?
Escort Si-130 said:
Maybe because you are a s
t driver and dont know how to drive. The same things can happen to people wih RWD with the back slipping out also.
I agree with mr2j. I like the Mk1 Focus and the Pug 306 but I don't think that FWD cars make good performance cars. Now I expect a barrage of abuse from Clio 176 drivers arguing their point but until the likes of Ferrari go front wheel drive for their cars, I'll stick to thinking that RWD is best for a performance car. t 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.
[quote=DStanley1809]I know they are cheap cars now but it still makes me sad to see the car I drive referred to as a shed 
...don't worry about it being call 'a Shed', its really a term of endearment...IMO think of it more like a car that a petrol head would regard as interesting, which can be bought cheaply these days.
...don't worry about it being call 'a Shed', its really a term of endearment...IMO think of it more like a car that a petrol head would regard as interesting, which can be bought cheaply these days.
My grandfather has a 2002 Focus 'Solo' with the 1.6 at about the same mileage. He has doggedly refused to have it serviced and while it sounds terrible and it's not as economical as I always felt it should be, it has never broken down although the trim is horrifically worn. It's still a great drive. My mother wants to trade her 2009 320d for one after driving it!
I had one for over 2 years, it was 100% reliable over the 50000 miles I did in it.
I bought it over a Type R because the Ford was more refined for my long trips between Yorkshire and SW Scotland where the tall gearing was a bonus. Although the ride was quite refined, it certainly didn't have any adverse effect on the handling which I found to be superb, as well as very nicely set up steering.
I must've had one with a better engine as I never found it as lacking as what other posters have said here. It didn't spin as sweetly as a Honda 4 cylinder at high revs but it didn't bother me as it seemed eager enough.
In summary i found it to be a more refined warm hatch, which didn't get shamed by as many cars as some would have you believe, especially on a twisty road.
It makes a big difference if you find ones with the Recaros, premium sound system, xenons and climate control. They feel a bit more "special" that way, and the Recaros are excellent to sit in.
I bought it over a Type R because the Ford was more refined for my long trips between Yorkshire and SW Scotland where the tall gearing was a bonus. Although the ride was quite refined, it certainly didn't have any adverse effect on the handling which I found to be superb, as well as very nicely set up steering.
I must've had one with a better engine as I never found it as lacking as what other posters have said here. It didn't spin as sweetly as a Honda 4 cylinder at high revs but it didn't bother me as it seemed eager enough.
In summary i found it to be a more refined warm hatch, which didn't get shamed by as many cars as some would have you believe, especially on a twisty road.
It makes a big difference if you find ones with the Recaros, premium sound system, xenons and climate control. They feel a bit more "special" that way, and the Recaros are excellent to sit in.
Liked the Focus, hated the ST version. Everything just felt horrible from the gear box to the firm ride and uncomfortable seat position. (Despite being adjustable). Performance was nothing but dissapointing for what it was, as was the car come to think about it. (Being a ford fan and all).
From what remember, they seemed to hold there value really well for a while too. I recall rivals of similar age, performance, etc being much much cheaper.
From what remember, they seemed to hold there value really well for a while too. I recall rivals of similar age, performance, etc being much much cheaper.
Blackpuddin said:
Many consider the 1.6 to be the sweetest Focus of all.
The only Focus I've ever driven was a mk1 1.6, and it wouldn't surprise me. Fantastic drive, although I didn't much like the engine itself or the interior. Those were only minor irritances. I'd happily have one myself, but there are competitors I prefer.I will never, ever understand why people aren't far more transparent about advertising their car. Surely it makes sense to supply a picture of the dent, good or bad? I've sold every car I've owned to the first viewer (most without any haggling), and I put that down to being brutally honest and holding back on nothing, both in the text and in pictures. At least then people know exactly what they are travelling to see, therefore they shouldn't have any surprises and are far more likely to buy the car.
Had a 1.6 LX company car, boy was it good. So good, when i needed a car , I bought a 1.6 Zetec. Boy was I dissapointed. The first one just revved and revved and just did everything better than I hoped. The second one would go at all or seemed to handle as well either. Weird that. First was a Y reg and the second a 51 plate.
Blackpuddin said:
Many consider the 1.6 to be the sweetest Focus of all. Also with the ST look out for the tops of the headlights going yellow. Just UV attacking has now wrecked a lot of them.
Justin S said:
Had a 1.6 LX company car, boy was it good. So good, when i needed a car , I bought a 1.6 Zetec. Boy was I dissapointed. The first one just revved and revved and just did everything better than I hoped. The second one would go at all or seemed to handle as well either. Weird that. First was a Y reg and the second a 51 plate.
Think summat's gone wrong with your quoting there old chap. Blackpuddin said:
Many consider the 1.6 to be the sweetest Focus of all. Also with the ST look out for the tops of the headlights going yellow. Just UV attacking has now wrecked a lot of them.
I'm on my second of these. Both have been very different in terms of performance. I've heard tales of the st170 mapping in the 140's but my second one definitely quicker. Bought it over the clio as felt like a right knob sat in the Renault with it growling away and the st170 was only 2.5k at the time.
Few issues sure - heat shield on mine needs taping but it's been really reliable. Please don't use 'hot hatch' to describe if. It's a warm hatch at best. Just lowered mine slightly after rear spring cracked and gave way and looks even better. Original alloys corroding so will put some 18's on it. Can belt due at 100k. No rust in sight. Just keeps me driving quietly about.
Insurance is 15b or something!? Which is its biggest pitfall. You're paying for way too much over the odds given its actual performance.
Few issues sure - heat shield on mine needs taping but it's been really reliable. Please don't use 'hot hatch' to describe if. It's a warm hatch at best. Just lowered mine slightly after rear spring cracked and gave way and looks even better. Original alloys corroding so will put some 18's on it. Can belt due at 100k. No rust in sight. Just keeps me driving quietly about.
Insurance is 15b or something!? Which is its biggest pitfall. You're paying for way too much over the odds given its actual performance.
Back when I bought my second car (a Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec Ebony, great car), the dealer also had a blue ST170 in stock. I can recall it being about £6000 when my Focus was about £4500. Crazy to think how cheap they are now! It looked amazing and I can recall really lusting after it. After having done many happy miles in my Focus though, I don't think I would fly back to another one.
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