2016 Ford Focus ST-3

Highlights

• That Tangerine Scream colour looks ace
• Good history and great condition for the mileage
• Mountune MR300 upgrades boost it to a reputed 300hp
• Bilstein B14 coilovers
• Still looks largely standard spec from the outside
• Fulsome ST-3 spec with optional winter pack

Overview

There are many things that scream “Bid, bid, and bid again” about this 2016 Ford Focus ST-3. So let’s talk you through them.

Firstly, the colour. It’ll be sure to brighten up any dull day and get you noticed. And its official name was Tangerine Scream – see, we said it was screaming at you and we weren’t lying. It’s not a hue for those of a meek and mild disposition, true, but it looks ace and set off perfectly by those 19-inch black alloys.

Okay, so what’s the next reason to bid for this example? Well, let’s go for the front seats. Those Recaros don’t just look the part, they’ll support all your parts properly. There have been past fast Fords with Recaro seats that didn’t do a good a job of holding you tight in bends, but these ones aren’t like that. They’re the real deal, and real comfortable.

Next? Easy one, this. It’s a 2016 model. That means it’s the facelift version that brought a whole host of improvements. Most noticeably the interior, which no longer had more buttons than the flight deck of the Space Shuttle. This post-facelift car’s interior is far better resolved than the earlier models, and comes with a more modern infotainment system, too. And a special shout out to the pod of auxiliary dials Ford popped on the top of the dashboard – come on, dials are just great, aren’t they? Even more so when they have red needles.

The next item on the why-to-buy list was going to be the mechanical improvements the facelift brought about back in the day – retuned EPAS and stiffer suspension etc. – but as you can see this car’s had some nice modifications to take things even further. It has a Mountune MR300 remap with all the hardware to go with it – alloy intercooler, sports cat (road legal), induction kit and more – and all of that is said to bump up the rated output from 250hp and 266lb ft to 300hp and 347lb ft. Then there’s the suspension. How does a set of Bilstein coilovers sound? Yep, sounded good to us, too.

So, if you fancy a car that was always respected highly in its day, with a few respectful upgrades for today, then you know what you need to do: bid, bid, and bid again.

Documents

• V5 present
• Three owners (declared new at first registration)
• MOT’d until 18th August 2024
• 120,269 miles at the time it was photographed
• x2 keys and book pack included
• Invoices, inspection sheets and receipts detailing servicing and maintenance
• Service book with the following entries:
  • 31.08.16 at 12,917 (no stamp)
  • 22.07.17 at 25,617 (no stamp)
  • 02.08.17 at 37,325 (no stamp)
  • 13.01.18 at 50,447 (no stamp)
  • 31.08.18 at 62,622 (no stamp)
  • 20.02.20 at 81,365 (stamped)
  • 23.01.21 at 86,327 (stamped)
  • 29.09.21 at 91,208 (stamped)
  • 19.08.22 at 102,350(no stamp)
  • 06.04.23 at 110,259 (stamped)
  • 15.09.23 at 115,850 (stamped)

 Interior

• ST-3 spec including dual-zone climate control, Sync infotainment system with navigation, Sony sound system, leather Recaro seats, power front seats, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, heated windscreen, cruise control, voice activation
• Additional upgrades include ST-branded carbon gear knob and Mountune infotainment software update
• The interior is described as in ‘generally excellent condition,’ and that’s backed up by the pictures
• Some light signs of use to driver’s seat bolster and some patination to the leather steering wheel trim. Otherwise, the leather looks tip-top
• No visible damage to the infotainment screen, dashboard or centre console
• Overall, the interior’s worn incredibly well for the car’s age and mileage
• Luggage area looks clean and tidy with only signs of light wear and tear on the trim
• There’s a bit of wear on the clutch pedal rubber, but the rest of the pedals look tidy and so do the carpets and over mats
• All interior features reported to work correctly, other than the rear parking sensors – they produce no sound but the rear camera works fine

 Exterior

• ST-3 spec adds the rear tailgate spoiler, more aggressive bumpers front and rear and the honeycomb black grille with ST badge
• The Tangerine Scream paintwork and black 19-inch wheels look the part for a fast Ford
• Overall, judging by the pics, we reckon this Focus ST-3 is looking sharp for its miles and years
• Additions include a set of mud flaps, wind deflectors on the front windows, smoked rear light lenses and Mountune windscreen shade band and a Mountune badge at the rear
• Front end has been PPF protected
• There’s some pitting and scuffs showing on the black front splitter
• Small stone chip on one of the A pillars
• You can also see some stone chips on the windscreen. These are described as small, which we take to mean they’re acceptable for an MOT
• The wheels look generally good, but there is evidence of marks on at least three of these. This is limited to the very edge of the rim rather than the spokes, and has mostly been touched in with black paint
• The underside of the car looks tidy in the pictures and the owner says there’s no visible corrosion or rust

 Mechanical

• 2.0-litre Ecoboost four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with six-speed manual gearbox
• Mountune MR300 package includes Mountune’s intercooler, ECU remap, induction kit, downpipe and sports cat (road legal). This car also has a custom exhaust with three-inch twin rear pipes – hung off a Dreamscience downpipe hangar
• The Mountune upgrades have been on this car for three years and the owner reports no issues, saying that it’s ‘mechanically sound; engine and turbo is in excellent condition and performs well’
• We’re told it’s recently had a new clutch and flywheel
• EBC Yellowstuff brake pads with EBC discs (drilled at the front)
• Bilstein B14 coilover suspension kit
• Eibach 20mm spacers
• Whiteline endlinks
• We’re told that the auto headlight levelling system intermittently displays a fault but the headlights are working
• There’s a set of Uniroyal Rainsport 5 tyres all round – renowned for their wet-weather performance. According to the invoices included, two were replaced in February 2023 and the other two in March 2022
• An all-wheel alignment was carried out in March 2022 – a report is included

Summary

We know how the world loves a fast Ford – and when it comes to some of the classics, it’s prepared to pay big bucks for them. Well, this Mk3 Ford Focus ST isn’t going to cost you mega money but these cars still drive the way a proper fast Ford should.

In standard form we’re talking quick steering and a very playful chassis set-up delivering lots of off-throttle rotation. And with this car's set of Bilstein coilovers, the handling should be even better.

Of course, that’s not all that’s been improved. It also has a healthy power upgrade thanks to the Mountune additions, which rate it at 300hp – a decent amount for a hot hatch, even by today’s standards.

Yes, it’s passed 100,000 miles, but as a testament to how Ford built its cars in 2016, you’d be hard-pressed to discern that from looking at it or sitting in it. There’s plenty of history to prove it’s been cared for over those miles, too. So what are you waiting for? Bid, bid, and bid again… 

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately.

The seller is located in Kingswinford, West Midlands.