Discussion
AnimalBob said:
Been running one of these for just over 4 years now, gone from 60k to just over 110k now. I've quite enjoyed the car really, other than the usual "common faults" that pop up from time to time. I really need to replace the sump on mine which has corroded and beginning to leak oil, you need to get the Cat off to get access but the bolts on mine are far too badly rusted now. Debating if I should stump up the money to fix it and get a new clutch or sell up and move on. I think I'll miss it once it's gone though...
Anyway, here's mine up in the lake district not long after I bought her.
Always liked them in blue.Anyway, here's mine up in the lake district not long after I bought her.
The sump's easy enough. Soak the cat bolts the night before with WD40 or de block oil (innotec stuff) and wire brush the death out of them..then soak again before attempting to slacken. Then just a case of removing sump bolts etc...I had mine done in about an hour and a half.
My only experience of these is effortlessly keeping up with one that was desperately trying to show me up in my big 4 speed auto Jaguar XJ6 on a windy B road. The Focus was nowhere near able to get away on the straights and was no better on the bends, having to use the entire road and looking as sloppy as hell doing it. I always assumed that one was knackered and/or driven by a cretin but I seem to read really mixed things about them on here. I'll put in on the "must try if I get a chance" list as normally I love a quick Ford 
I've always had a ST170 soft spot ever since I had mine.
Not by far the quickest hot hatch around (I'd go "warm" as opposed to hot)-the engine feels really flaccid low down and doesn't really open up when revved. I improved mine a little with a remap, improved induction and a decat-at least it revved and felt willing-quick enough for a 19 year old. A mate had a Powerworks converted supercharged one which was much better!
However, handling wise when set up properly it was sublime. Mine had eccentric top mounts & Eibach springs, with more camber at the front dialled in it was a seriously good handling car. Loads of feel, predictable yet utterly stable at 140mph on the continent. I loved the subtle but smart looks as well-mine had the Xenon pack on Moondust silver paint, I split the headlamps and painted the surrounds black-it was a good looking car.
Her indoors' mother now has it, and has utterly ruined it by chucking dogs and stuff at it. Makes me sad every time I see it
Not by far the quickest hot hatch around (I'd go "warm" as opposed to hot)-the engine feels really flaccid low down and doesn't really open up when revved. I improved mine a little with a remap, improved induction and a decat-at least it revved and felt willing-quick enough for a 19 year old. A mate had a Powerworks converted supercharged one which was much better!
However, handling wise when set up properly it was sublime. Mine had eccentric top mounts & Eibach springs, with more camber at the front dialled in it was a seriously good handling car. Loads of feel, predictable yet utterly stable at 140mph on the continent. I loved the subtle but smart looks as well-mine had the Xenon pack on Moondust silver paint, I split the headlamps and painted the surrounds black-it was a good looking car.
Her indoors' mother now has it, and has utterly ruined it by chucking dogs and stuff at it. Makes me sad every time I see it
Steve93 said:
Always liked them in blue.
The sump's easy enough. Soak the cat bolts the night before with WD40 or de block oil (innotec stuff) and wire brush the death out of them..then soak again before attempting to slacken. Then just a case of removing sump bolts etc...I had mine done in about an hour and a half.
Cheers Steve, maybe I just need to man up and get stuck into it. I'll have a little play over the weekend and see if I can get the bolts to loosen up.The sump's easy enough. Soak the cat bolts the night before with WD40 or de block oil (innotec stuff) and wire brush the death out of them..then soak again before attempting to slacken. Then just a case of removing sump bolts etc...I had mine done in about an hour and a half.
dme123 said:
My only experience of these is effortlessly keeping up with one that was desperately trying to show me up in my big 4 speed auto Jaguar XJ6 on a windy B road. The Focus was nowhere near able to get away on the straights and was no better on the bends, having to use the entire road and looking as sloppy as hell doing it. I always assumed that one was knackered and/or driven by a cretin but I seem to read really mixed things about them on here. I'll put in on the "must try if I get a chance" list as normally I love a quick Ford
it's not a fast car by any stretch of the imagination. I'm enjoying it because it's a totally different beast from the 9-3...I can push this car more to the limit than I can with the 9-3 and still be at sensible speeds.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff