Focus ST170...buying advice.
Discussion
Kinda have to agree with FWDRacer on this.
They're competent cars, but the ST170 never set the world alight. In typical Ford fashion it doesn't have enough grunt for the handling, and the "tuning" options are pretty limited.
Watch the specs - standard is half leather, but the full leather is a (relatively) desirable option. Watch for rust on the bottom of the doors (!) and make sure that it idles correctly from cold. I have a vague recollection there was a recall on the early cars to do with the brakes, so might be worth checking that (could have been a TSB actually). Other than that, the usual "boy racer" type abuse.
What's the budget? I'd be tempted by another Fiesta ST....
They're competent cars, but the ST170 never set the world alight. In typical Ford fashion it doesn't have enough grunt for the handling, and the "tuning" options are pretty limited.
Watch the specs - standard is half leather, but the full leather is a (relatively) desirable option. Watch for rust on the bottom of the doors (!) and make sure that it idles correctly from cold. I have a vague recollection there was a recall on the early cars to do with the brakes, so might be worth checking that (could have been a TSB actually). Other than that, the usual "boy racer" type abuse.
What's the budget? I'd be tempted by another Fiesta ST....
I loved mine but had a later one with most of the ECU issues sorted and found it fantastic.
I'd agree with another Fiesta ST unless you are wanting to do a bit more long distance driving, then the focus is a better car. But your money would be better spent on a Fiesta with some light work that was giving 160-190bhp.
I'd agree with another Fiesta ST unless you are wanting to do a bit more long distance driving, then the focus is a better car. But your money would be better spent on a Fiesta with some light work that was giving 160-190bhp.
I bought one in February as an impending baby meant I had to trade in my MX-5 for something with rear seats. I didn't have much of a budget so Civic Type-R's et al were out of my price range anyway. However my old man's Focus seemed well-built so I thought I'd give the ST170 a punt and road-tested one for sale local to me.
It feels like a grown-up hot hatch and is certainly a fair bit faster than the MX-5 was. The brakes are excellent, the Getrag 6-speed gearbox has stupid ratios (1&2 very long, 3/4/5/6 ridiculously close together). Handles pretty well but inevitably feels more ponderous than the '5. It still has a brisk turn of speed though. Very practical and seems to be nailed together very well.
Issues are mostly just small annoyances on these cars. The exhaust heat shield often rattles (mine does this, drives me crazy). My interior front reading light won't stay in properly, and that's about it.
Reviews put it below the Type-R's and the 172/182's of this world but to be honest, it's a different type of car. This is a Q-car hot hatch for people who don't want to be labelled boy racers.
It feels like a grown-up hot hatch and is certainly a fair bit faster than the MX-5 was. The brakes are excellent, the Getrag 6-speed gearbox has stupid ratios (1&2 very long, 3/4/5/6 ridiculously close together). Handles pretty well but inevitably feels more ponderous than the '5. It still has a brisk turn of speed though. Very practical and seems to be nailed together very well.
Issues are mostly just small annoyances on these cars. The exhaust heat shield often rattles (mine does this, drives me crazy). My interior front reading light won't stay in properly, and that's about it.
Reviews put it below the Type-R's and the 172/182's of this world but to be honest, it's a different type of car. This is a Q-car hot hatch for people who don't want to be labelled boy racers.
if u do want to buy one and check one out theres a few things to be aware of that are normal for st170s
metallic scraping sound when starting/switchin off, this is the dual tract inlet manifold reverting from position to another
the brakes are under servod so there isnt great braking from cold (holding the engine at around 1500 rpm for a 30sec-1 minute sorts it)
misfire at around 1500 rpm (cured by ecu re flash from ford bbut helps to put new plugs in, shud have already had the re flash tho if your looking at one with up to 90k)
metallic scraping sound when starting/switchin off, this is the dual tract inlet manifold reverting from position to another
the brakes are under servod so there isnt great braking from cold (holding the engine at around 1500 rpm for a 30sec-1 minute sorts it)
misfire at around 1500 rpm (cured by ecu re flash from ford bbut helps to put new plugs in, shud have already had the re flash tho if your looking at one with up to 90k)
If you've owned a Fiesta ST then why go for such a high mileage car? I picked up a 27k mile 53 plate(04) a few months ago for £4800.
As everyone else has mentioned, they aren't a hot hatch: warm would be a better way of describing it. But they are pretty good value for money in my opinion. I know there are a few issues as mentioned above, but in my opinion they are still very reliable cars. I had a 1.8 Focus a while ago and I never had to spend a penny on it in 30k miles other than general servicing!
They also handle very well, are comfy cars to be in, and still look great now despite the age of the design.
As everyone else has mentioned, they aren't a hot hatch: warm would be a better way of describing it. But they are pretty good value for money in my opinion. I know there are a few issues as mentioned above, but in my opinion they are still very reliable cars. I had a 1.8 Focus a while ago and I never had to spend a penny on it in 30k miles other than general servicing!
They also handle very well, are comfy cars to be in, and still look great now despite the age of the design.
I used to work for ford main dealer and drove loads of these. In my opinion they are terrible.
They arent very quick and you get loads of problems with them mainly being Lambda probes going up the swanny weekly, cat. converters and the brackets for them snapping and also the inlet manifold butterfly has a hissy fit and makes terrible noises on start up and ign off.
If you want that shape Focus I would recommend a 1.8 or 2.0 zetec. Both come with rear discs and have a lot less to go wrong than the ST170.
Better still drive it to JAMsport and get a supercharger thrown on it!!
They arent very quick and you get loads of problems with them mainly being Lambda probes going up the swanny weekly, cat. converters and the brackets for them snapping and also the inlet manifold butterfly has a hissy fit and makes terrible noises on start up and ign off.
If you want that shape Focus I would recommend a 1.8 or 2.0 zetec. Both come with rear discs and have a lot less to go wrong than the ST170.
Better still drive it to JAMsport and get a supercharger thrown on it!!
The manifold butterfly is an easy fix....it's the plastic bracket on the side. The lug that the cable from the actuator clips onto snaps off, causing nasty noises and general s
te running. Think it was about £14.
It's if the cable snaps you're screwed....doesn't come seperate, only with actuator. £170 + vat.
Otherwise Tony, only things I'm aware of are cambelt needs checking (uses different bits to the regular 2.0 Zetec and I'm informed let go earlier on the whole), heater motor; the flap at the bottom of the windscreen leaks water onto it, causing it to short....common on all mk1 Focus', Getrag 6 speed box is weaker than you'd think and is not cheap to replace. Also a PITA to remove as it's fairly sizable...whining gives the game away that it's not long for the world). Discs cost more than regular Focus, but use the same pads. Rear trailing arm bushes go more than boggo Focus' (and the arms only fit ST170 & RS).
Everything else, you probably already know.
te running. Think it was about £14. It's if the cable snaps you're screwed....doesn't come seperate, only with actuator. £170 + vat.
Otherwise Tony, only things I'm aware of are cambelt needs checking (uses different bits to the regular 2.0 Zetec and I'm informed let go earlier on the whole), heater motor; the flap at the bottom of the windscreen leaks water onto it, causing it to short....common on all mk1 Focus', Getrag 6 speed box is weaker than you'd think and is not cheap to replace. Also a PITA to remove as it's fairly sizable...whining gives the game away that it's not long for the world). Discs cost more than regular Focus, but use the same pads. Rear trailing arm bushes go more than boggo Focus' (and the arms only fit ST170 & RS).
Everything else, you probably already know.
Edited by Kitchski on Wednesday 6th May 23:44
Oh yeah....catalyst. It's a stainless two piece system in the downpipe, using a pre-cat. Not cheap, even with my discount (still around £300) and I'm told not available a/m. They might only fail due to a faulty lambda, but I've done about 5 this year, and thats more than Fiestas and Mondeos!
Gassing Station | Ford | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff