Ford Focus ST170
Discussion
I found myself in the position to get a second car so decided on the ST170. I'd always liked them but missed having one from new so after looking at the prices thought I'd get one now 
I have a company van but can't use it for myself, we have a main car so this is for me as I work shifts and the GF doesn't! It'll be used as a runaround, dog and bike transport and to keep some miles off the main car.
I found this 83,000 mile example on ebay, £1400 bought it along with 12 months MOT
The front tyres were a bit shonky so I've had some Maxxis put on. £142 for the pair, mainly an experiment to see what cheap tyres are like...so far, I'm impressed!
It's now also had oil and filter, timing belt, aux belt, plugs, and all new discs, pads and fluid. It won't do all that much mileage so I painted the calipers in an attempt to hold off corrosion.
The eagle eyed will have noticed the odd black mirror on the offside! It took another blow shortly after I got it cracking the glass and making the whole thing even more wobbly than it already was! A new pattern one was sourced from ebay for £24. I actually quite liked it in black so I decided to try vinyl wrapping and did both mirror covers in carbon, film was a tenner.
I've also added a LHD reverse light with red bulb in place of the fog light to balance the rear end. And a Rusteze sticker cos I'm childish like that!
That's it for now as my insurance (long story involving expired NCB and Co. van) won't let me mod it, I may move to a mod friendly Co. for year 2. I might do a trackday, not sure yet! Would probably benefit from getting the geo checked too.
I've been really pleased with it so far, makes a nice noise, goes well without being too fast, even the GF likes it!
Bob
I have a company van but can't use it for myself, we have a main car so this is for me as I work shifts and the GF doesn't! It'll be used as a runaround, dog and bike transport and to keep some miles off the main car.I found this 83,000 mile example on ebay, £1400 bought it along with 12 months MOT
The front tyres were a bit shonky so I've had some Maxxis put on. £142 for the pair, mainly an experiment to see what cheap tyres are like...so far, I'm impressed!
It's now also had oil and filter, timing belt, aux belt, plugs, and all new discs, pads and fluid. It won't do all that much mileage so I painted the calipers in an attempt to hold off corrosion.
The eagle eyed will have noticed the odd black mirror on the offside! It took another blow shortly after I got it cracking the glass and making the whole thing even more wobbly than it already was! A new pattern one was sourced from ebay for £24. I actually quite liked it in black so I decided to try vinyl wrapping and did both mirror covers in carbon, film was a tenner.
I've also added a LHD reverse light with red bulb in place of the fog light to balance the rear end. And a Rusteze sticker cos I'm childish like that!
That's it for now as my insurance (long story involving expired NCB and Co. van) won't let me mod it, I may move to a mod friendly Co. for year 2. I might do a trackday, not sure yet! Would probably benefit from getting the geo checked too.
I've been really pleased with it so far, makes a nice noise, goes well without being too fast, even the GF likes it!
Bob
Edited by BOBTEE on Thursday 28th May 13:01
Edited by BOBTEE on Thursday 28th May 13:03
Great cars and just done a set of front and rear discs on my mates ST170 estate. Not as quick as you think, but they do handle good. VED is the same as the ST 225, which is a downer. Watch out for rust on the sills ( mate has some starting) and the usual door bottoms and bootlid. He needs some new hub centres for his, not sure if they are the same as the Mondeos or specific.
Nice car!
They are good value now and they go quite well for what they are.
My dad's had his 2002 st170 since it was a year old, it's capri blue,3 door, xenons. Now on 130,000 miles and never had any major problems, still on the original clutch as well. Although it's no comparison to my brothers mk1 RS.
Regards,
Matt
They are good value now and they go quite well for what they are.
My dad's had his 2002 st170 since it was a year old, it's capri blue,3 door, xenons. Now on 130,000 miles and never had any major problems, still on the original clutch as well. Although it's no comparison to my brothers mk1 RS.
Regards,
Matt
I had heard about them never being as powerful as claimed and generally lacking in power. I've previously had a 1.6 zetec and after that an ST2 (225). I knew this would have a good chassis and I've done the going fast thing so I'm happy enough with this. It's not slow but you do have to get it up the rev range and keep it there or it seems to bog a bit.
I like the blue but I thought it might look like an RS wannabe, plus our Kuga is virtually the same blue! I really like the dark grey too but this came up at the right time, place and money.
As for the Maxxis tyres, just gave them a test...much better, even in the damp than the, admittedly old and knackered, Goodyear F1s! Will have to see how they age.
As for the Maxxis tyres, just gave them a test...much better, even in the damp than the, admittedly old and knackered, Goodyear F1s! Will have to see how they age.
I had one of these- went from 80k to 150k in miles, and was the cheapest motoring i've ever had.
The DMF will go at some point- around 110k for me. I imported one from the states for £300
You might find the inlet manifold runner control (IMRC) stops working. This controls the lenght of the inlet manifold- its a very clever thing. The control box is in the engine bay- they cost about £300, but its a small transistor that cost me 50p from Maplin! you just need to find someone who can solder it on.
Other than that you should have happy motoring.
They aren't a "hot" hatch, but they have a useful turn of speed and go round corners very well!
The DMF will go at some point- around 110k for me. I imported one from the states for £300
You might find the inlet manifold runner control (IMRC) stops working. This controls the lenght of the inlet manifold- its a very clever thing. The control box is in the engine bay- they cost about £300, but its a small transistor that cost me 50p from Maplin! you just need to find someone who can solder it on.
Other than that you should have happy motoring.
They aren't a "hot" hatch, but they have a useful turn of speed and go round corners very well!
My brother in law bought one of these new in 2004 and let me have a drive of it, it was one of those rare occasions when you get in a car and everything is in the right place and works in the right way, I was impressed, great handling with a reasonable turn of speed.
A typical well thought out Ford "hot" product and my first was a Cortina GT in 1967.
He still has it although as he's not very well at the moment it's not on the road, I've told him that if he ever wants to sell it I would like first refusal so maybe one day I'll join the club, it's in the same silver as well and will only need a little tlc to bring it up to a good standard.
A typical well thought out Ford "hot" product and my first was a Cortina GT in 1967.
He still has it although as he's not very well at the moment it's not on the road, I've told him that if he ever wants to sell it I would like first refusal so maybe one day I'll join the club, it's in the same silver as well and will only need a little tlc to bring it up to a good standard.
I've been reading up on the manifold runner thing, gonna have a look at it some time. There's no management lights on but the lack of low down torque makes me wonder if it's working or not. Apparently there's a cam that breaks too. I am a mechanic though so I probably won't ever get round to it!
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff