My Focus ST-2 (and my last car, 1 Series)
Discussion
Hi all, Ive been lurking here for a long while, but only recently plucked up the courage to share my cars here. Apologies, might be a bit pic heavy.
A very quick driving history for you, Ive always been mad into my cars but could never afford to get in one! Planets aligned a couple of years back I finally got my test sorted and picked up a license at 20 (first try, 1 minor
).
My first car was the car I learned to drive in and was a gift for free from a family friend, an E30 316i Touring Lux. I dont have any pics of my one, so heres a stock but exactly how it looked.
Man that car was an experience. Taught me all about clutch control as the clutch was well knackered on top of Beemers having a high bite anyway. Also taught me the wonders of going sideways at the slightest provocation. I recall a vivid drive to the butty shop one day at work after it had been hailing, I pulled out as slowly and sensibly as I could only to find myself pulling on to the main road distinctly sideways. That was an experience. I loved how classic it was, but it was a little slow and the fuel consumption was pretty shocking considering the sub-100 horses at my command. I dont think Ive driven anything really as pure a drivers car as that since, though. I got bored within about 3 months and decided to look for something a little newer to celebrate my first ever annual bonus.
I looked around the local stealers and auto trader/pistonheads ads for something to call out to me. I considered an A3 2.0 as my dad had one and it was a fairly safe bet. I drove his and found the seating position a little high (especially coming from an E30) and the brakes werent right at all. Plus the interior is a little cold. The search continued, until one day I was looking around a dealer lot and saw this..
Excuse the awful photo. I saw it sat there right in the middle of the lot on a sunny day, in full Msport trim and looking perfect. It called out to me and I had to have it. Less than a week later it was mine. A 118d, low miles, 1 owner and it was perfect nick. Wonderful.
I set about making it mine before long. I kept it simple with DEPO headlights and BMW Performance grills.
I then made the fatal mistake of really getting involved with one of the owners clubs
It was always 'just one more bit' to really make it mine and make it unique. I ended up getting the 208M alloys and Pirelli P Zero tires which transformed the handling, and a BMW Performance exhaust system because it looked gorgeous.
(I had the exhaust moved in about an inch after this pic was taken, it stuck out a little too far)
Then I took her to Santa Pod with the club! (Photos stolen from some of the other guys, I didnt take any pics of my own car..)
I didnt win many races, but it was an absolutely fantastic day, one I hope to repeat soon! I booked her in for a remap the week after and transformed the car. It was magnificent. 190bhp and 301lbs/ft.
In the end though I needed a little more performance and as perfect as the BM was, Id have to let it go to get something a bit more 'asbo'.
A few final photos..
And the last photo I ever took of it.. That was an entertaining week
She left me having had the best of every part, no expense spared, top brand everything. As well as front end respray to rid the stonechips and a rear end rearspray to tidy some dodgy spots. I never got tired of being 'the red BMW' and she stood out everywhere and never let me down. Id still have her now if I could fund 2 cars.
Sorry for the pic overload.. Will continue in next post.
A very quick driving history for you, Ive always been mad into my cars but could never afford to get in one! Planets aligned a couple of years back I finally got my test sorted and picked up a license at 20 (first try, 1 minor
).My first car was the car I learned to drive in and was a gift for free from a family friend, an E30 316i Touring Lux. I dont have any pics of my one, so heres a stock but exactly how it looked.
Man that car was an experience. Taught me all about clutch control as the clutch was well knackered on top of Beemers having a high bite anyway. Also taught me the wonders of going sideways at the slightest provocation. I recall a vivid drive to the butty shop one day at work after it had been hailing, I pulled out as slowly and sensibly as I could only to find myself pulling on to the main road distinctly sideways. That was an experience. I loved how classic it was, but it was a little slow and the fuel consumption was pretty shocking considering the sub-100 horses at my command. I dont think Ive driven anything really as pure a drivers car as that since, though. I got bored within about 3 months and decided to look for something a little newer to celebrate my first ever annual bonus.
I looked around the local stealers and auto trader/pistonheads ads for something to call out to me. I considered an A3 2.0 as my dad had one and it was a fairly safe bet. I drove his and found the seating position a little high (especially coming from an E30) and the brakes werent right at all. Plus the interior is a little cold. The search continued, until one day I was looking around a dealer lot and saw this..
Excuse the awful photo. I saw it sat there right in the middle of the lot on a sunny day, in full Msport trim and looking perfect. It called out to me and I had to have it. Less than a week later it was mine. A 118d, low miles, 1 owner and it was perfect nick. Wonderful.
I set about making it mine before long. I kept it simple with DEPO headlights and BMW Performance grills.
I then made the fatal mistake of really getting involved with one of the owners clubs
It was always 'just one more bit' to really make it mine and make it unique. I ended up getting the 208M alloys and Pirelli P Zero tires which transformed the handling, and a BMW Performance exhaust system because it looked gorgeous.(I had the exhaust moved in about an inch after this pic was taken, it stuck out a little too far)
Then I took her to Santa Pod with the club! (Photos stolen from some of the other guys, I didnt take any pics of my own car..)
I didnt win many races, but it was an absolutely fantastic day, one I hope to repeat soon! I booked her in for a remap the week after and transformed the car. It was magnificent. 190bhp and 301lbs/ft.
In the end though I needed a little more performance and as perfect as the BM was, Id have to let it go to get something a bit more 'asbo'.
A few final photos..
And the last photo I ever took of it.. That was an entertaining week
She left me having had the best of every part, no expense spared, top brand everything. As well as front end respray to rid the stonechips and a rear end rearspray to tidy some dodgy spots. I never got tired of being 'the red BMW' and she stood out everywhere and never let me down. Id still have her now if I could fund 2 cars.
Sorry for the pic overload.. Will continue in next post.
Edited by Falsey on Sunday 19th May 13:50
Edited by Falsey on Sunday 19th May 14:22
So, the search for a new car was on. I looked for months, 2009 WRX S PPP (too high on the insurance, but kicking myself now looking at how the prices have gone up), R32 Golf new and old, 330ci E46, S13 200sx.. The list goes on and on.
So again I ended up going round the stealers looking for something to catch my eye. I went into BMW and they flat out ignored me, despite me arriving in a BMW, so that soured me on buying from them. I tried a Clio Cup 200(?) but the Recaros gave me back ache and it didnt feel very fast at all. Also, I know the situation at Renault UK isnt great but they really really wanted to sell that thing, I got like £1500 off and a load of extras chucked in and I wasnt particularly interested.
Then I ended up seeing an ST at a dealer and thought I may as well have a go. Was never a fan of the ST and the thought of dropping from the BMW with leather and electric everything to a 'Ford' was something I didnt really fancy. As soon as I started it up and heard the burbles and pops I was in love. It was a done deal and I was smitten. Unfortunately that one had a few issues despite looking nice, and a deal was never sorted.
I looked around some more and ended up looking at a colorado red model. Ive never explicitly looked for a red car, but they seem to be the one that catches my gaze every time. I had my pay bonus come through in April and it was mine.
Here she is on day one;
I never ever ever get tired of the noise. Its intoxicating. That 5 pot rumble and the exhaust pops and the turbo whistles..
Less than a month in though and I was a bit 'used to' the power. I went out looking for something that was a bit more mental than the BM, and this was quicker, sure, but not mental. A workmate of mine is good friends with a guy from a mobile mapping service, and a few emails later he was at work sorting my car out.
My god, the power. Its something else. It borders on scary. Its exactly what I wanted. I took her out for an aimless drive and ended up in north Wales. I also ended up with a cracked windscreen, which was nice.
Looking mucky;
And thats pretty much how she stands as it is. Long term plans are for a catback exhaust system, cold air induction, plasti-dipping the front grills so they are black instead of grey, and that should do me. I had it valeted yesterday and the front wing looks a little flat, so I think Ill have a full detail done to bring the red back to life.
Next weekend its off for a dyno run, so Ill see what its actually pulling instead of just 'its fast'. It better be good considering the eye watering fuel consumption.
So again I ended up going round the stealers looking for something to catch my eye. I went into BMW and they flat out ignored me, despite me arriving in a BMW, so that soured me on buying from them. I tried a Clio Cup 200(?) but the Recaros gave me back ache and it didnt feel very fast at all. Also, I know the situation at Renault UK isnt great but they really really wanted to sell that thing, I got like £1500 off and a load of extras chucked in and I wasnt particularly interested.
Then I ended up seeing an ST at a dealer and thought I may as well have a go. Was never a fan of the ST and the thought of dropping from the BMW with leather and electric everything to a 'Ford' was something I didnt really fancy. As soon as I started it up and heard the burbles and pops I was in love. It was a done deal and I was smitten. Unfortunately that one had a few issues despite looking nice, and a deal was never sorted.
I looked around some more and ended up looking at a colorado red model. Ive never explicitly looked for a red car, but they seem to be the one that catches my gaze every time. I had my pay bonus come through in April and it was mine.
Here she is on day one;
I never ever ever get tired of the noise. Its intoxicating. That 5 pot rumble and the exhaust pops and the turbo whistles..
Less than a month in though and I was a bit 'used to' the power. I went out looking for something that was a bit more mental than the BM, and this was quicker, sure, but not mental. A workmate of mine is good friends with a guy from a mobile mapping service, and a few emails later he was at work sorting my car out.
My god, the power. Its something else. It borders on scary. Its exactly what I wanted. I took her out for an aimless drive and ended up in north Wales. I also ended up with a cracked windscreen, which was nice.
Looking mucky;
And thats pretty much how she stands as it is. Long term plans are for a catback exhaust system, cold air induction, plasti-dipping the front grills so they are black instead of grey, and that should do me. I had it valeted yesterday and the front wing looks a little flat, so I think Ill have a full detail done to bring the red back to life.
Next weekend its off for a dyno run, so Ill see what its actually pulling instead of just 'its fast'. It better be good considering the eye watering fuel consumption.
So Ive had it just over a month now and Im liking it. I dont know if I love it as much as I did the Beemer, but its certainly more exciting.
There are a lot of rattles and creaks and the build quality is nowhere near the BM. The speakers buzz the door card a bit too which is really annoying. Fast though..
Who knows what Ill get next year.. I could be a grown up and go for a Boxster S or Z4M (insurance permitting) or I could be mental again and fulfil a dream with a WRX STI or Skyline R32. Time will tell.
Cat likes the current one though.
I hope that wasnt too many pictures, I can get carried away. Looking forward to all of your comments, but go easy on the new guy.
I think Ill get hold of a Pistonheads sticker soon and Id love to attend a regular meet or something near here (Wirral), but no idea where they are etc.
There are a lot of rattles and creaks and the build quality is nowhere near the BM. The speakers buzz the door card a bit too which is really annoying. Fast though..
Who knows what Ill get next year.. I could be a grown up and go for a Boxster S or Z4M (insurance permitting) or I could be mental again and fulfil a dream with a WRX STI or Skyline R32. Time will tell.
Cat likes the current one though.
I hope that wasnt too many pictures, I can get carried away. Looking forward to all of your comments, but go easy on the new guy.
I think Ill get hold of a Pistonheads sticker soon and Id love to attend a regular meet or something near here (Wirral), but no idea where they are etc.
Nice cars OP but especially the ST looks just like mine (nearly) be careful now your on the very slippery modding slope i joined focusstoc.com not long after I bought my ST and like you said about your BMW forum there is always "just one more mod"
Seeing as you like pics Here's a couple off mine
but especially the ST looks just like mine (nearly) be careful now your on the very slippery modding slope i joined focusstoc.com not long after I bought my ST and like you said about your BMW forum there is always "just one more mod" Seeing as you like pics
Here's a couple off mine
Falsey said:
Cheers guys.
googleowl, did you buy those black front grills and fog surrounds or paint them yourself?
Yeah I painted them myself with that plasti-dip stuff and to be honest if I did it again I'd do it properly with primer and matte black paint etc as even though the plasti-dip is a good finish when you get stone chips if you don't touch them up again straight away then the wind turbulence from driving starts to peel it off googleowl, did you buy those black front grills and fog surrounds or paint them yourself?
and ends up a mission to re do I did do the rear fog surrounds as well with the plasti-dip but didn't like the black at the back with no other black bits so I peeled it off and went a different route
A few people called the dyno 'heartbreaker' and the the fellas running it did warn that it was a harsh one, but it produced 240bhp and 265lb/ft. Just needs intake and exhaust and should be seeing much more impressive figures when it can breathe!
Got a good video of it trying to climb off the dyno. They didnt expect it to be as torquey as it was.
Got a good video of it trying to climb off the dyno. They didnt expect it to be as torquey as it was.
Falsey said:
A few people called the dyno 'heartbreaker' and the the fellas running it did warn that it was a harsh one, but it produced 240bhp and 265lb/ft. Just needs intake and exhaust and should be seeing much more impressive figures when it can breathe!
Got a good video of it trying to climb off the dyno. They didnt expect it to be as torquey as it was.
An intercooler will probably be more beneficial than the intake. They're cheap if you go for a second hand one on focusstoc.co.uk and really help on warm days, that's why the dyno run might not seem as high as you expected.Got a good video of it trying to climb off the dyno. They didnt expect it to be as torquey as it was.
IIRC, the Mountune MP260 kit comprises of a K&N panel filter, remap & intercooler. That takes power to 260ps and 295lb-ft. We had a Mountune ST3 for sale a few months back, and it felt very quick! With this in mind, I'd second the previous poster who mentioned an intercooler be a worthwhile investment.
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