Focus ST...yes or no?
Discussion
Hi looking to get one this week hopefully, anything I should look out for? Also got any advice on owning a turbo car? Never had one and been told about warming it up and letting it cool properly after a drive. Thanks in advance!
Also another classic mini coming soon to the classifieds!!
Also another classic mini coming soon to the classifieds!!
I had an ST2 (from new) good points:
- Fast enough on public roads (although i would recommend the Mountune upgrade.
- Comfortable.
- Spacious, i got a kingsize matress in the bike of mine with the seats down.
- Looks (although this is my opinion.
- Pretty good to drive.
- Sound.
In 20k+ miles from new nothing went wrong at all and all it needed was two front tyres.
Look on the Focus ST owners club and you will find all you need to know regarding common faults, etc.
Bad points:
-I averaged around 22-25mpg in the time i had my car although i have a pretty heavy right foot and i live in London (The Mountune kit makes little to no difference to overall fuel consumption).
- The front end can be a little heavy over bumps or when braking hard.
If you can live with the fuel consumption then there isn't much else to fault them on. I would have another and would have kept mine if it wasn't for the urge to get a more powerful, rwd, two seater which says it all really.
- Fast enough on public roads (although i would recommend the Mountune upgrade.
- Comfortable.
- Spacious, i got a kingsize matress in the bike of mine with the seats down.
- Looks (although this is my opinion.
- Pretty good to drive.
- Sound.
In 20k+ miles from new nothing went wrong at all and all it needed was two front tyres.
Look on the Focus ST owners club and you will find all you need to know regarding common faults, etc.
Bad points:
-I averaged around 22-25mpg in the time i had my car although i have a pretty heavy right foot and i live in London (The Mountune kit makes little to no difference to overall fuel consumption).
- The front end can be a little heavy over bumps or when braking hard.
If you can live with the fuel consumption then there isn't much else to fault them on. I would have another and would have kept mine if it wasn't for the urge to get a more powerful, rwd, two seater which says it all really.
Froomee said:
I had an ST2 (from new) good points:
- Fast enough on public roads (although i would recommend the Mountune upgrade.
- Comfortable.
- Spacious, i got a kingsize matress in the bike of mine with the seats down.
- Looks (although this is my opinion.
- Pretty good to drive.
- Sound.
In 20k+ miles from new nothing went wrong at all and all it needed was two front tyres.
Look on the Focus ST owners club and you will find all you need to know regarding common faults, etc.
Bad points:
-I averaged around 22-25mpg in the time i had my car although i have a pretty heavy right foot and i live in London (The Mountune kit makes little to no difference to overall fuel consumption).
- The front end can be a little heavy over bumps or when braking hard.
If you can live with the fuel consumption then there isn't much else to fault them on. I would have another and would have kept mine if it wasn't for the urge to get a more powerful, rwd, two seater which says it all really.
Sums up what I would say about the ST I had. I would add the engine is smooth and very refined for a hot hatch. I had an ST3, preferred leather heated recaro seats over the 2 tone cloth.- Fast enough on public roads (although i would recommend the Mountune upgrade.
- Comfortable.
- Spacious, i got a kingsize matress in the bike of mine with the seats down.
- Looks (although this is my opinion.
- Pretty good to drive.
- Sound.
In 20k+ miles from new nothing went wrong at all and all it needed was two front tyres.
Look on the Focus ST owners club and you will find all you need to know regarding common faults, etc.
Bad points:
-I averaged around 22-25mpg in the time i had my car although i have a pretty heavy right foot and i live in London (The Mountune kit makes little to no difference to overall fuel consumption).
- The front end can be a little heavy over bumps or when braking hard.
If you can live with the fuel consumption then there isn't much else to fault them on. I would have another and would have kept mine if it wasn't for the urge to get a more powerful, rwd, two seater which says it all really.
My wife has an ST3 (pre-facelift) and we both love it.
I like:
- Very comfy heated leather Recaro seats
- 5cyl noise
- Mid-range go
- Looks (ours is a black 5dr)
I don't like:
- Front wheel drive!
- Fuel consumption
- Feels slightly cheap inside (bar seats) vs my BMW e36
On balance we would buy again no question. My wife may put up more of a fight for an orange 3dr though!
I like:
- Very comfy heated leather Recaro seats
- 5cyl noise
- Mid-range go
- Looks (ours is a black 5dr)
I don't like:
- Front wheel drive!
- Fuel consumption
- Feels slightly cheap inside (bar seats) vs my BMW e36
On balance we would buy again no question. My wife may put up more of a fight for an orange 3dr though!
Had mine for over two years now, love it, heavy on the fuel, but I didn't buy it for frugality.
2007 ST, things to check/ask.
- Has the oil filter diaphragm housing been changed? If it's not been changed and it breaks it'll need replacing, if you boost it too much when it's broken, you'll suck the oil through the camshaft oil seals, so they'll need changing at some point. I got mine from Volvo as it was £60 cheaper than Ford, and changed it myself in a morning.
- Have the front bushes been changed? All of them go sooner or later, when mine was recently replaced with polyurethane bushes, the front wishbone bushes which were supposed to be oil filled were bone dry.
- Has the alternator been changed? Mine hasn't went yet, but I imagine it will go some day like alot of Mk.2 Focus and ST alternators have already gone.
Other than that, great cars, easy and cheap to mod and release some extra power if you so need. Alot of scaremongering about cracked liners if you push it too hard, some can be due to pushing for too high a BHP figure, others can be just bad luck, mines an 07 supposedly one of the weaker ones, and has been running over 300 BHP without problem for quite a while now.
2007 ST, things to check/ask.
- Has the oil filter diaphragm housing been changed? If it's not been changed and it breaks it'll need replacing, if you boost it too much when it's broken, you'll suck the oil through the camshaft oil seals, so they'll need changing at some point. I got mine from Volvo as it was £60 cheaper than Ford, and changed it myself in a morning.
- Have the front bushes been changed? All of them go sooner or later, when mine was recently replaced with polyurethane bushes, the front wishbone bushes which were supposed to be oil filled were bone dry.
- Has the alternator been changed? Mine hasn't went yet, but I imagine it will go some day like alot of Mk.2 Focus and ST alternators have already gone.
Other than that, great cars, easy and cheap to mod and release some extra power if you so need. Alot of scaremongering about cracked liners if you push it too hard, some can be due to pushing for too high a BHP figure, others can be just bad luck, mines an 07 supposedly one of the weaker ones, and has been running over 300 BHP without problem for quite a while now.
A relative has had two now (pre-facelift ST1 and post-facelift ST3), and put up over 120k miles between them with no serious issues
However, one thing I found with them is that I just couldn't get comfortable, as the seat was way too high even in its lowest setting. I am tall though, so not sure if it's just me
However, one thing I found with them is that I just couldn't get comfortable, as the seat was way too high even in its lowest setting. I am tall though, so not sure if it's just me
cagedmini said:
Hi looking to get one this week hopefully, anything I should look out for? Also got any advice on owning a turbo car? Never had one and been told about warming it up and letting it cool properly after a drive. Thanks in advance!
Also another classic mini coming soon to the classifieds!!
+1 to this. Always left turbos cool for a few minutes before switching off ignition when I had them, but I'm pretty sure 99% of people don't bother anymoreAlso another classic mini coming soon to the classifieds!!
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