st170 focus, talk me out of it!
st170 focus, talk me out of it!
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Discussion

A500leroy

Original Poster:

8,242 posts

145 months

Sunday 9th April 2023
quotequote all
Ok so ive come across one on my travels.

2003
100k miles
3dr
6 owners
12mths mot
imperial blue
needs alloys refurbing
sills on both sides show signs of rust marks at both ends
NSR wheel arch starting to bubble.
RFL £360

But everything is original, no silly air fliters/exhausts or mods of any kind.

Up for £2750.


Tell me its going to be a ruiness heap of rust that will empty my bank account and not a sweet fun modern classic.

Fast_Eddie85

29 posts

124 months

Sunday 9th April 2023
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I had one... looked great inside and out but it was by far the biggest disappointment I've ever owned, handled crap and needed a fuel pump despite only having 20k miles on it . I might have been unlucky and had a lemon.

I only kept it for 3 months, got shot of it. Traded it in for an RX-8 and that never let me down except in the snow and when I turned the engine off before it got up to temp bangheadbiglaugh

Xcore

1,487 posts

117 months

Sunday 9th April 2023
quotequote all
That would be up for £500 pre covid with the rusty sills, Save another grand and buy a mk2 st with the 5 pot.

bangerhoarder

780 posts

95 months

Sunday 9th April 2023
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Hugely overpriced. Engine and gearbox are not that well thought of (ratios, I believe, rather than inherent issues). Not quick enough. Look good still though, but for that money I’d want a really tidy one!

InitialDave

14,932 posts

146 months

Sunday 9th April 2023
quotequote all
A500leroy said:
sills on both sides show signs of rust marks at both ends
I think it's overpriced, but if you're still after it, check this carefully - I've seen early Focus sills that looked like they "may" be rusty, and in reality had holes I could put my hand through, having rusted out from behind while the stonechip remained intact.

MuscleSedan

1,614 posts

202 months

Sunday 9th April 2023
quotequote all
Xcore said:
That would be up for £500 pre covid with the rusty sills
Agree, first thing I thought. Mint ones will command good money, anything else won't. I've had several tidy ones that have been around a grands worth.

ruggedscotty

5,969 posts

236 months

Sunday 9th April 2023
quotequote all
Fast_Eddie85 said:
I had one... looked great inside and out but it was by far the biggest disappointment I've ever owned, handled crap and needed a fuel pump despite only having 20k miles on it . I might have been unlucky and had a lemon.

I only kept it for 3 months, got shot of it. Traded it in for an RX-8 and that never let me down except in the snow and when I turned the engine off before it got up to temp bangheadbiglaugh
back when launched they handled way better than anything on the market. may have changed by now, but what ever was said handling was top drawer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WVGMFbd9Jk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8_YO_dQA38

https://www.focusstoc.com/threads/everything-about...

https://www.evo.co.uk/ford/focus/st170

too much money....


Roboticarm

1,660 posts

88 months

Sunday 9th April 2023
quotequote all
MuscleSedan said:
Xcore said:
That would be up for £500 pre covid with the rusty sills
Agree, first thing I thought. Mint ones will command good money, anything else won't. I've had several tidy ones that have been around a grands worth.
Yup, £500 car for nearly 3 grand. No thanks

I drove and st170 a few times when they were new, guy in the office had it as a company car... Just wasn't very quick and the throttle felt disconnected to the engine in a way most fly by wires don't.
Tbf though it handled well and the interior was a nice place to be

Roboticarm

1,660 posts

88 months

Sunday 9th April 2023
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Try the size down, the fiesta st 150 was better on every measurable way other than size

stevemcs

10,172 posts

120 months

Monday 10th April 2023
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Needs to have Recaros and xenon for that price. It’s not the fastest but if you like it go for it.

Don Roque

18,266 posts

186 months

Monday 10th April 2023
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That price is just ridiculous. My brother had one and sold it for less and it wasn't a rusted heap like the one you've seen. I thought it was quite nice but the engine was a bit rough and it wasn't really that powerful or revvy. Imagine an ST170 with a K20 in it...

Jamescrs

6,255 posts

92 months

Monday 10th April 2023
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I remember driving one when they were new and even then the power was dissapointing, I would struggle to recommend it and I've always been a Ford fan so.in theory it ahould be right up my street.

I've owned the Fiesta ST 150 and the Mk2 Focus ST and I'd say go for either of those instead.

A500leroy

Original Poster:

8,242 posts

145 months

Monday 10th April 2023
quotequote all
Thanks chaps well and truely talked round!

SWoll

22,546 posts

285 months

Monday 10th April 2023
quotequote all
Some of the comments on here do make me chuckle. Has anyone actually spent time looking at how much cars cost at the moment?

Not for a second saying you should buy this ST170 OP, but the days of cheap, fun, non ratty cars are dead and gone. As an example good luck finding a well kept, not intergalactic mileage MK2 Focus ST for much under £5k.


Monkeylegend

28,894 posts

258 months

Monday 10th April 2023
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Agreed, there are several on both PH and Auto Trader asking well in excess of the one OP is talking about.

s m

24,392 posts

230 months

Monday 10th April 2023
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If an ST170 is running as it should ( inlet manifold runners/EML light issues sorted ) it’s pretty much on the money performance wise for power and weight as evidenced by timed tests in mags like EVO etc
Friend had a 306 GTI-6 and replaced it with an ST170 as a fun daily - they both weigh the same, roughly same power and both handle really well if suspension/tyres all good. Gearing is slightly long on the ST170 off the mark ……but otherwise, roughly same top speed and same acceleration to a ton. Both of them need the engine working

Drive Blind

5,739 posts

204 months

Monday 10th April 2023
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I wanted to like the ST170 but it was ruined by the gearbox IMO



s m

24,392 posts

230 months

Monday 10th April 2023
quotequote all
Drive Blind said:
I wanted to like the ST170 but it was ruined by the gearbox IMO
Pretty much the same as the late R53 Cooper S box ( 6-speed )

eddietiv1

250 posts

245 months

Monday 10th April 2023
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I purchased one about 4 years ago in great condition, it was as thirsty as my tvr and the gearing was just ridiculous, sold it about 4 weeks later, not a patch on something like a clio 172.

MuscleSedan

1,614 posts

202 months

Saturday 15th April 2023
quotequote all
SWoll said:
Some of the comments on here do make me chuckle. Has anyone actually spent time looking at how much cars cost at the moment?

Not for a second saying you should buy this ST170 OP, but the days of cheap, fun, non ratty cars are dead and gone. As an example good luck finding a well kept, not intergalactic mileage MK2 Focus ST for much under £5k.

Monkeylegend said:
Agreed, there are several on both PH and Auto Trader asking well in excess of the one OP is talking about.
Always plenty of ST170s advertised on places like Facebook Marketplace for £1k - £2k fitting the description of the one the OP describes.

Maybe one to watch in the future, but they aren't particularly rare or valuable right now.

The Mk 2 ST is a much nicer car to live with, well worth going for over the earlier car.