Am I being boring going from 1.6 Focus to an ST170?

[dontfollowme]

Recently my 2001 Focus was written off and now I am faced with buying a new car. I have a budget of £5K and I think I have decided on an ST170. It seems to provide a good mix of performance/economy/practicality. There also seems to be a good range of used examples.

Should I be looking at anything else? I have thought about the following and decided against them:

ST220 - Really do not need the space and at 29 I am not sure I am ready to be a Mondeo man.
Civic Type R - Too thirsty
E46 3 Series - Seem leggy for my budget and I'm concerned over fuel consumption
Subaru Impreza 2.0T WRX - Cannot handle the insurance premium/fuel consumption
Clio 182 - I do some long trips to Europe and I'm not sure how comfortable one would be.

My key requirements are:
At least as fun to drive as my old focus/ a bit quicker
Practicality
Capable of long motorway journeys
Reasonable fuel consumption - I do less than 10K a year so I don't think a diesel is needed.

This will also be the first time I buy a car privately which I am a bit nervous about.

[H_Kan]

Re the fuel economy, I don't think St170's are meant to be that good on the juice. E46's aren't known for being thirsty so I'd certainly look into that.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

This 325ci looks good for the money and if you prefer a saloon then they are even better priced

Failing that, they are a bit bigger, but the e39 5 series represents great value for money and 5k would buy you a very nice petrol model.

[morgrp]

My choices:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1799584.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1805813.htm

Engine is reliable, capable of over 40mpg on a run and great performer

Both cars are comfy, practical and good looking in my opinion...

[poing]

Have you considered a Focus TDCi, it's very quick and good on fuel. Had one as a hire car and it was faster cross country than the 2.0 petrol I had before it.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1800762.htm

[Martin_Hx]

morgrp said:

My choices:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1799584.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1805813.htm

Engine is reliable, capable of over 40mpg on a run and great performer

Both cars are comfy, practical and good looking in my opinion...

Good shouts

Own a Civic and the economy isn't that bad unless you are really giving it some, but its no motorway machine, altho its ok for the odd trip here and there !

[Steameh]

Martin_Hx said:

morgrp said:

My choices:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1799584.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1805813.htm

Engine is reliable, capable of over 40mpg on a run and great performer

Both cars are comfy, practical and good looking in my opinion...

Good shouts

Own a Civic and the economy isn't that bad unless you are really giving it some, but its no motorway machine, altho its ok for the odd trip here and there !

I agree, the civic really isnt that bad for economy, I am running a 330ci at the moment and the civic was slightly better overall. However, on the motorway its a bit of a chore. 2 460mile round trips put me off the civic as a viable option, which is why I changed for a 330ci. Ironically the 330ci does nothing to excite me whatsoever, so that is for sale now too.

[Ry_B]

The Civic Type R is no more thirsty than my brothers Clio sport was...

[Ry_B]

morgrp said:

My choices:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1799584.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1805813.htm

Engine is reliable, capable of over 40mpg on a run and great performer

Both cars are comfy, practical and good looking in my opinion...

Fun to drive = rules out most modern VAG, including the Leon and Octavia

[useyourdellusion]

Ry_B said:

morgrp said:

My choices:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1799584.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1805813.htm

Engine is reliable, capable of over 40mpg on a run and great performer

Both cars are comfy, practical and good looking in my opinion...

Fun to drive = rules out most modern VAG, including the Leon and Octavia

I thought the Octavia VRS had a good reputation in that department.

[t84]

Get the ST170 with both option packs, lovely cars

[dylan0451]

poing said:

Have you considered a Focus TDCi, it's very quick and good on fuel. Had one as a hire car and it was faster cross country than the 2.0 petrol I had before it.

[Hell27]

Here's a few I'd consider:

Audi S3

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1778494.htm

BMW 330ci

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1785739.htm

Mazda RX8 (well it will be thirsty, but brilliant car)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1758055.htm

Mini Cooper S

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1771300.htm

Of the 4, my money would be on the Mini or the Mazda.

[Old Gregg]

Ry_B said:

The Civic Type R is no more thirsty than my brothers Clio sport was...

Yep, the K20 isn't half bad when you're not thraping it. Into the 30's on a decent run.

[useyourdellusion]

Re: The 330ci being referred to as possibly thirsty.

My manual version did an indicated 26mpg around town and 36mpg at a steady 80mph on the motorway, so they're not too bad really, considering the size of the engine.

[oversteerxj12]

Come on mate, moving from a focus............to a focus?

£5k will buy you a proper car dude, as in RWD with 200+bhp.
330ci was a good call, or how about an e36 m3? Yeah ins/fuel is a slug but just spend £3k on one and put the rest to the running costs. Trust me it will be worth it! I got a quote off lancaster for an e36 m3 cab about a month ago, when I was 29, for less than £900 which isn't all that bad I don't reckon. I had one a few years ago and they are superb all-rounders. You'll re-coup on the running costs over a couple of years anyway as the focus will depreciate by probably £2k, whereas m3s/330ci are as cheap as they ever will be.

Edited by oversteerxj12 on Sunday 20th June 15:03

[300bhp/ton]

There is nothing wrong with an ST170 IMO.

But considering the points highlighted below, should practicality and economy really be factors?

dontfollowme said:

Recently my 2001 Focus was written off and now I am faced with buying a new car. I have a budget of £5K and I think I have decided on an ST170. It seems to provide a good mix of performance/economy/practicality. There also seems to be a good range of used examples.

Should I be looking at anything else? I have thought about the following and decided against them:

ST220 - Really do not need the space and at 29 I am not sure I am ready to be a Mondeo man.
Civic Type R - Too thirsty
E46 3 Series - Seem leggy for my budget and I'm concerned over fuel consumption
Subaru Impreza 2.0T WRX - Cannot handle the insurance premium/fuel consumption
Clio 182 - I do some long trips to Europe and I'm not sure how comfortable one would be.

My key requirements are:
At least as fun to drive as my old focus/ a bit quicker
Practicality
Capable of long motorway journeys
Reasonable fuel consumption - I do less than 10K a year so I don't think a diesel is needed.

This will also be the first time I buy a car privately which I am a bit nervous about.

As in how many miles month do you do? And how much money to you have to cover them in? Is the difference between 25mpg and 30mpg going to actually be noticeable?

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Sunday 20th June 15:26

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Sunday 20th June 15:27

[Beyond Rational]

300bhp/ton said:

There is nothing wrong with an ST170 IMO.

But considering the points highlighted below, should practicality and economy really be factors?

dontfollowme said:

Recently my 2001 Focus was written off and now I am faced with buying a new car. I have a budget of £5K and I think I have decided on an ST170. It seems to provide a good mix of performance/economy/practicality. There also seems to be a good range of used examples.

Should I be looking at anything else? I have thought about the following and decided against them:

ST220 - Really do not need the space and at 29 I am not sure I am ready to be a Mondeo man.
Civic Type R - Too thirsty
E46 3 Series - Seem leggy for my budget and I'm concerned over fuel consumption
Subaru Impreza 2.0T WRX - Cannot handle the insurance premium/fuel consumption
Clio 182 - I do some long trips to Europe and I'm not sure how comfortable one would be.

My key requirements are:
At least as fun to drive as my old focus/ a bit quicker
Practicality
Capable of long motorway journeys
Reasonable fuel consumption - I do less than 10K a year so I don't think a diesel is needed.

This will also be the first time I buy a car privately which I am a bit nervous about.

As in how many miles month do you do? And how much money to you have to cover them in? Is the difference between 25mpg and 30mpg going to actually be noticeable?

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Sunday 20th June 15:26

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Sunday 20th June 15:27

Is this the point where the Camaro gets mentioned?

[dontfollowme]

300bhp/ton said:

There is nothing wrong with an ST170 IMO.

But considering the points highlighted below, should practicality and economy really be factors?

dontfollowme said:

Recently my 2001 Focus was written off and now I am faced with buying a new car. I have a budget of £5K and I think I have decided on an ST170. It seems to provide a good mix of performance/economy/practicality. There also seems to be a good range of used examples.

Should I be looking at anything else? I have thought about the following and decided against them:

ST220 - Really do not need the space and at 29 I am not sure I am ready to be a Mondeo man.
Civic Type R - Too thirsty
E46 3 Series - Seem leggy for my budget and I'm concerned over fuel consumption
Subaru Impreza 2.0T WRX - Cannot handle the insurance premium/fuel consumption
Clio 182 - I do some long trips to Europe and I'm not sure how comfortable one would be.

My key requirements are:
At least as fun to drive as my old focus/ a bit quicker
Practicality
Capable of long motorway journeys
Reasonable fuel consumption - I do less than 10K a year so I don't think a diesel is needed.

This will also be the first time I buy a car privately which I am a bit nervous about.

As in how many miles month do you do? And how much money to you have to cover them in? Is the difference between 25mpg and 30mpg going to actually be noticeable?

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Sunday 20th June 15:26

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Sunday 20th June 15:27

I liked the fact my old focus had good range when cruising at decent motorway speeds. Also petrol prices only seem to be heading one way.

Used ST170s for my budget do not have mega miles on either. My Focus felt scruffy after 77K.

I definitely had some different cars to think about though.

[EDLT]

If you do 10,000 miles per year and petrol is 113.9p (it is where I buy it at the moment) then a 25mpg car would cost £345.70 more per year in petrol than a 30mpg car.

Edited by EDLT on Sunday 20th June 16:14

[JackR6]

I made the exact same change nearly two years ago. I went from the 1.6 focus to the st170 as I liked the practicality and drive of my 1.6 so figured the st170 would still have the great chassis just with more power. The st170 is very much an underated car, yes its not the fastest in a straight line and the driving position is a little high but show it a back road and it really comes good. Its confidence inspiring with lots of feel and at the same time is playful with lots of lift off oversteer if thats your thing. The thing i really like about it is it manages to be a really good back road blaster but also a fine motorway cruiser, I have driven mine 1500miles through europe and 400miles and back to conrnwall which it was comfy and quiet, 70mph is 2800rpm in 6th.

I have been looking at changing it recently so thought id try the civic type r, how dissapointed i was. I like a revvy engine having ridden bikes for the last 7 years but in a car in my opinion it doesnt work, yes its fun when your in the mood but when you just want to overtake on the motorway or make smooth progress its useless. I also felt the steering lacked the feel and composure of the focus on a back road, yes its quicker and the driving position is very good but I dont think it offers nearly as good value as the ST170.

Ive had my car nearly two years and in that time its only cost servicing and tyres, although it does suffer from the common poor finnish on the wheels which need re-doing. MPG wise it is rather poor, I get about 28-30mpg purely around town and b roads.



I say do it!!