RE: Shed Of The Week: Ford Focus ST170
Discussion
I have one of these and am totally ambivalent about it. my experience is thus:
53/3 door with 75000 miles - 3.5K
now has 107,000 on it, probably worth 1700, tops:
it's not fast (doubt it has 170 bhp in it when new!)
it's comfy (mine has full heated recaros)
tax is 270quid a year
it's band 15 insurance(?)
have replaced imrc, altenator, springs, dampers - other than that, fairly reliable - clutch is on the way out so needs replacing plus drop in a lighter flywheel.
would I buy this shed? Nope.
would I buy another? Nope.
Is it a Duratec? Nope.
53/3 door with 75000 miles - 3.5K
now has 107,000 on it, probably worth 1700, tops:
it's not fast (doubt it has 170 bhp in it when new!)
it's comfy (mine has full heated recaros)
tax is 270quid a year
it's band 15 insurance(?)
have replaced imrc, altenator, springs, dampers - other than that, fairly reliable - clutch is on the way out so needs replacing plus drop in a lighter flywheel.
would I buy this shed? Nope.
would I buy another? Nope.
Is it a Duratec? Nope.
A friend of mine used to have one of these and I've driven it quite a bit.
You do have to drive it. Like.. properly drive it, but once you do, and once you realise that it's not MEANT to be ripyourfaceoff-fast, you can see where Ford are coming from. It has a wonderful chassis and whilst the gearbox has some, erm, interesting ratios, it's still a pleasure to use.
It looks really smart and almost timeless, too.
You do have to drive it. Like.. properly drive it, but once you do, and once you realise that it's not MEANT to be ripyourfaceoff-fast, you can see where Ford are coming from. It has a wonderful chassis and whilst the gearbox has some, erm, interesting ratios, it's still a pleasure to use.
It looks really smart and almost timeless, too.
What is it with Ford and sensors? I had a Sportka for a while (superb little car) that was throwing errors at me for fun, nothing was actually wrong with the car, just various sensors. A Ford main dealer had a good look at it 4 times and couldn't come up with anything, aside from a very expensive sensor replacement.
My Dad is having similar issues with his 2004 Focus, ABS sensor, engine management light...all the diagnostics are fine = faulty sensors.
My Dad is having similar issues with his 2004 Focus, ABS sensor, engine management light...all the diagnostics are fine = faulty sensors.
Both this and the mk6 Fiesta ST with the 150hp 2ltr lump are not worthy of the ST badge! Not that it's the best badge to have!
But you can't blame Ford a 100% because look at the mid-size warm hatch competition at the time...
Astra 2ltr/2.2SRI?
Proton Satira GTI?
Renault Megane 2ltr 134bhp (megane sport didnt come out until much later)
VW Golf Gti (Non turbo 115bhp & Turbo 150bhp even the v6 4mo!)
Leon sport/Cupra 150/180hp
Pug 206 GTi 138bhp - then the later 180bhp
Citroen xsara VTR - even the VTS!
MG ZS/ZR 160/180
sure ive missed a few!
The best of the bunch of that era must be the Civic Type R, Mini Cooper S and Clio 172/182!
It took a Volvo engine to make the Mk2 Focus a worthy ST
But you can't blame Ford a 100% because look at the mid-size warm hatch competition at the time...
Astra 2ltr/2.2SRI?
Proton Satira GTI?
Renault Megane 2ltr 134bhp (megane sport didnt come out until much later)
VW Golf Gti (Non turbo 115bhp & Turbo 150bhp even the v6 4mo!)
Leon sport/Cupra 150/180hp
Pug 206 GTi 138bhp - then the later 180bhp
Citroen xsara VTR - even the VTS!
MG ZS/ZR 160/180
sure ive missed a few!
The best of the bunch of that era must be the Civic Type R, Mini Cooper S and Clio 172/182!
It took a Volvo engine to make the Mk2 Focus a worthy ST
Would make an ok shed I guess, but no more than that. I test drove one about 5 years ago and thought it was highly unappealing; seating position way too high, lacklustre performance, potentially one of the worse dashboard designs in modern history, it basically did nothing for me. Ended up with a Golf v6 4motion - yes the handling was never as good as a focus, but for the same money it brought much better performance (sensible gear ratios too), a fantastic soundtrack, lovely leather recaros and just basically a nicer car to be in.
Funnily enough i ended up searching some examples of these the other day and didn't realise just how cheap they are! But as mentioned the competition blew these out of the market. Even at their low price it doesn't outweigh their lack of performance. You'd happily up your budget to a clio 172/182 for a proper hot hatch and you probably wouldn't be spending that much more for a good one. Someone over the road from me has one and they don't even know it's a performance model. I must say i do like the alloys though
Now please no offence on this, no pictures of Jackie Chan, no comments on Japanese cars and that they are badly made but people, this is a girls car, for girls and if you drive it and are not a girl you have hopes of being one like Bruce Jenner, this is not to offend but my belief! Sorry! So please ponder this before you buy "Women's bargains and numbers ending in 7 are not struck/dividable,"
I thank you!
I thank you!
Now please no offence on this, no pictures of Jackie Chan, no comments on Japanese cars and that they are badly made but people, this is a girls car, for girls and if you drive it and are not a girl you have hopes of being one like Bruce Jenner, this is not to offend but my belief! Sorry! So please ponder this before you buy "Women's bargains and numbers ending in 7 are not struck/dividable,"
I thank you!
I thank you!
Dion20vt said:
Both this and the mk6 Fiesta ST with the 150hp 2ltr lump are not worthy of the ST badge! Not that it's the best badge to have!
But you can't blame Ford a 100% because look at the mid-size warm hatch competition at the time...
Astra 2ltr/2.2SRI?
Proton Satira GTI?
Renault Megane 2ltr 134bhp (megane sport didnt come out until much later)
VW Golf Gti (Non turbo 115bhp & Turbo 150bhp even the v6 4mo!)
Leon sport/Cupra 150/180hp
Pug 206 GTi 138bhp - then the later 180bhp
Citroen xsara VTR - even the VTS!
MG ZS/ZR 160/180
sure ive missed a few!
The best of the bunch of that era must be the Civic Type R, Mini Cooper S and Clio 172/182!
It took a Volvo engine to make the Mk2 Focus a worthy ST
Seat Cupra R was all available.But you can't blame Ford a 100% because look at the mid-size warm hatch competition at the time...
Astra 2ltr/2.2SRI?
Proton Satira GTI?
Renault Megane 2ltr 134bhp (megane sport didnt come out until much later)
VW Golf Gti (Non turbo 115bhp & Turbo 150bhp even the v6 4mo!)
Leon sport/Cupra 150/180hp
Pug 206 GTi 138bhp - then the later 180bhp
Citroen xsara VTR - even the VTS!
MG ZS/ZR 160/180
sure ive missed a few!
The best of the bunch of that era must be the Civic Type R, Mini Cooper S and Clio 172/182!
It took a Volvo engine to make the Mk2 Focus a worthy ST
Howard- said:
A friend of mine used to have one of these and I've driven it quite a bit.
You do have to drive it. Like.. properly drive it, but once you do, and once you realise that it's not MEANT to be ripyourfaceoff-fast, you can see where Ford are coming from. It has a wonderful chassis and whilst the gearbox has some, erm, interesting ratios, it's still a pleasure to use.
It looks really smart and almost timeless, too.
When a car is a bit sYou do have to drive it. Like.. properly drive it, but once you do, and once you realise that it's not MEANT to be ripyourfaceoff-fast, you can see where Ford are coming from. It has a wonderful chassis and whilst the gearbox has some, erm, interesting ratios, it's still a pleasure to use.
It looks really smart and almost timeless, too.
t there is always someone that will say nobody understands it 
This model could have been a fantastic car to equal the likes of a 306 Gti but Ford ballsed it up.
Take a great chassis, lumber it with a fairly dull engine, then add the worst gear ratios to blunt the performance, and to cap it off give it a high seating position that's far too high to be a sporty hatch = game over they created a dud out of a brilliant base car.
Its worth mentioning they did the same with the Sport Ka, that should have been a cracking little car and was dud with a wheezy underpowered and heavy cast iron engine and wheel/tyres/suspension settings so badly chosen it would shake your back teeth out.
Take a great chassis, lumber it with a fairly dull engine, then add the worst gear ratios to blunt the performance, and to cap it off give it a high seating position that's far too high to be a sporty hatch = game over they created a dud out of a brilliant base car.
Its worth mentioning they did the same with the Sport Ka, that should have been a cracking little car and was dud with a wheezy underpowered and heavy cast iron engine and wheel/tyres/suspension settings so badly chosen it would shake your back teeth out.
soad said:
Howard- said:
It looks really smart and almost timeless, too.
I'll agree with that. 
'Sometimes the ugliest oysters hold the best pearls. That's rubbish, obviously, but you get the drift.' - I choked on my Shreddies when I read that, what a great piece of ancient wisdom.
I had one for a couple of years. The engine light was on constantly, the 2000rpm rattle present, was very thirsty, the odd tyre size meant expensive rubber compared to its rivals, and was quoted £900 for a new exhaust given there is a catalytic converter in the stainless manifold. BUT I LOVED IT.... you learn its character and keeping the revs up made it feel reasonably quick. It was fun and understated in a Q car way. At that price I could be tempted again !
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