RE: Shed Of The Week: Ford Focus ST170
Discussion
Hmmm... I actually thought the Focus ST170 was much better than this, and I didn't even know they did a 5 door version.
Reading this and all the posts above does make it sound all "meh". Still the performance is quite OK and I reckon the handling would put a smile on my face. As long as it's not too easy to steal it's definitely a decent hack-o-shed for thrashing around in on cheaper Third party insurance.
Reading this and all the posts above does make it sound all "meh". Still the performance is quite OK and I reckon the handling would put a smile on my face. As long as it's not too easy to steal it's definitely a decent hack-o-shed for thrashing around in on cheaper Third party insurance.
I recall taking one of these out when they were first released, with my Dad and a mechanic from the local Ford dealer (as the sales chap was too busy). Gave it a proper hammering around the local lanes and came away impressed, albeit not as impressed as the Clio Cup which seemed far more 'trick' at the time. Ended up in BMW 323! Either way, not a bad shed.
abitlikefiennes said:
Me too. Until you get inside that is.
'Sometimes the ugliest oysters hold the best pearls. That's rubbish, obviously, but you get the drift.' - I choked on my Shreddies when I read that, what a great piece of ancient wisdom.
Are we looking at the same car? Westerners must have a different idea of timeless beauty then Asians! but then again you consider Julia Roberts sexy!'Sometimes the ugliest oysters hold the best pearls. That's rubbish, obviously, but you get the drift.' - I choked on my Shreddies when I read that, what a great piece of ancient wisdom.
FWDRacer said:
Worst set of gear ratios attached to a production car in the last 15 years. 6-Sp porridge stirring gearbox is a horrendous contraption.
Ford Puma gearbox. So right. This. So wrong. How Ford, how?
PS Sit on it rather than in it, the seats are woeful too
Shed school report 4/10 - must concentrate more in class...
You obviously have not driven a manual W202 c-class Merc. I've owned one and driven an ST170. The merc makes the St look good. Still wouldn't have the focus ST - I had a focus TDdi from new as a company car in 2000 and despite the old Diesel engine it was great - how Ford could stuff up the mk1 ST I have no idea? Maybe the limited power was to try and keep insurance low?Ford Puma gearbox. So right. This. So wrong. How Ford, how?
PS Sit on it rather than in it, the seats are woeful too
Shed school report 4/10 - must concentrate more in class...
QuantumTokoloshi said:
Dion20vt said:
Both this and the mk6 Fiesta ST with the 150hp 2ltr lump are not worthy of the ST badge! Not that it's the best badge to have!
But you can't blame Ford a 100% because look at the mid-size warm hatch competition at the time...
Astra 2ltr/2.2SRI?
Proton Satira GTI?
Renault Megane 2ltr 134bhp (megane sport didnt come out until much later)
VW Golf Gti (Non turbo 115bhp & Turbo 150bhp even the v6 4mo!)
Leon sport/Cupra 150/180hp
Pug 206 GTi 138bhp - then the later 180bhp
Citroen xsara VTR - even the VTS!
MG ZS/ZR 160/180
sure ive missed a few!
The best of the bunch of that era must be the Civic Type R, Mini Cooper S and Clio 172/182!
It took a Volvo engine to make the Mk2 Focus a worthy ST
Seat Cupra R was all available.But you can't blame Ford a 100% because look at the mid-size warm hatch competition at the time...
Astra 2ltr/2.2SRI?
Proton Satira GTI?
Renault Megane 2ltr 134bhp (megane sport didnt come out until much later)
VW Golf Gti (Non turbo 115bhp & Turbo 150bhp even the v6 4mo!)
Leon sport/Cupra 150/180hp
Pug 206 GTi 138bhp - then the later 180bhp
Citroen xsara VTR - even the VTS!
MG ZS/ZR 160/180
sure ive missed a few!
The best of the bunch of that era must be the Civic Type R, Mini Cooper S and Clio 172/182!
It took a Volvo engine to make the Mk2 Focus a worthy ST
Happyjap said:
abitlikefiennes said:
Me too. Until you get inside that is.
'Sometimes the ugliest oysters hold the best pearls. That's rubbish, obviously, but you get the drift.' - I choked on my Shreddies when I read that, what a great piece of ancient wisdom.
Are we looking at the same car? Westerners must have a different idea of timeless beauty then Asians! but then again you consider Julia Roberts sexy!'Sometimes the ugliest oysters hold the best pearls. That's rubbish, obviously, but you get the drift.' - I choked on my Shreddies when I read that, what a great piece of ancient wisdom.
The interior dates the car terribly. It's so 90's. See also: X-Files; Jeff Banks; Girl Power; Hooch; Reebok Pump; Mark & Lard on Radio 1; Laser Tag and Global Hypercolour T-shirts.
Edited by abitlikefiennes on Friday 29th May 16:54
I've got one at the moment, totally agree with everyone about the gearbox - it's crap and rubbish around town. However, it is my first car (I was a bit late to the driving game - spent too long been a poor student!) and it's certainly a lot better than a 1.2 Corsa. I like mine, but I wouldn't recommend it to someone else. Insurance wasn't too bad, though I'm 25 and I've got a decent job so I think that helped.
Forgetting what is under the bonnet for a moment just look at how good it looks all these years on.
Sharp
Simple
Suave
It looks better than the current Focus which looks like an Aston Martin in drag at the front and something with two star fishes clinging to it's sides at the back. Or maybe it doesn't, I have not seen this weeks face lift.
How many times have Ford changed the look of the Focus over the years and still not made it as nice looking as the original? Is it 20 or 25 or 100 ?
Vauxhall with the Astra have far less changes and you can actually see a progression that is slightly thought out and better looking. Ford just throw a new look at it randomly. In the old days we had cars that were "Friday afternoon" cars due to build quality. Ford has a Focus design department that is constantly "Friday afternoon" Can they not take at least one Friday off and spare us?
PS Mini are following the same path with a new car that has a hernia added to it's face this month
Sharp
Simple
Suave
It looks better than the current Focus which looks like an Aston Martin in drag at the front and something with two star fishes clinging to it's sides at the back. Or maybe it doesn't, I have not seen this weeks face lift.
How many times have Ford changed the look of the Focus over the years and still not made it as nice looking as the original? Is it 20 or 25 or 100 ?
Vauxhall with the Astra have far less changes and you can actually see a progression that is slightly thought out and better looking. Ford just throw a new look at it randomly. In the old days we had cars that were "Friday afternoon" cars due to build quality. Ford has a Focus design department that is constantly "Friday afternoon" Can they not take at least one Friday off and spare us?
PS Mini are following the same path with a new car that has a hernia added to it's face this month
Edited by Gandahar on Friday 29th May 18:40
Know what?
I'd rather have the old jiffer I bought 3 months ago, an Audi A4 1.8T sport quattro, 1 driver from new, absolutely mega history, stunning condition £400. £400! And 3 spares thrown in as well.
Still drives well, even after...248k. In fact, it still feels tight, a tribute to its original build quality and its subsequent no-expense-spared maintenance. It makes all the difference really, doesn't it?
Perhaps Ford should have shuffled over to the Audi plant to see how to make a car that feels bomb proof......
I'd rather have the old jiffer I bought 3 months ago, an Audi A4 1.8T sport quattro, 1 driver from new, absolutely mega history, stunning condition £400. £400! And 3 spares thrown in as well.
Still drives well, even after...248k. In fact, it still feels tight, a tribute to its original build quality and its subsequent no-expense-spared maintenance. It makes all the difference really, doesn't it?
Perhaps Ford should have shuffled over to the Audi plant to see how to make a car that feels bomb proof......
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