New daily driver - Mk3 Focus ST
Discussion
Hi all,
No real interesting back story on this one. Being an Essex lad in my 20's, I'm a big fan of hot hatches and I've been driving an Abarth Grande Punto daily for the past 6 years. I recently have found myself married so with all that expense behind me I figured I would perhaps start perusing the classifieds (not that I haven't been in the run up to the big day
). I was undecided in what I wanted - do I keep the Abarth as a daily and get something a bit mental for the weekends, or should I get a new daily? I had bought a Saxo VTS as a project at the end of 2015 with the intention of having a track car, however it turned out to be a proper lemon and I got rid at the beginning of the year.
After much deliberation I decided to get a new daily driver, and I'll be keeping the Abarth with the intention of doing a few track days in that. My criteria was fairly simple - it needed to look nice, be reasonably pokey and I wanted something with a few mod cons on it too. Many different cars were considered, including Mk6 Golf GTI's, Skoda Octavia VRS's, Leon Cupra R's and Audi S3's, however in the end I settled on the 'boring' Ford!
I finally picked up my new daily driver this week so here is a few pictures!
It is a 2012 Ford Focus ST3 with just about every conceivable optional extra on it! Its a single owner car and was owned by an affluent older gent who apparently just used it as a general runaround as he had much more exciting machinery in the garage. Its been very well cared for with full Ford service history, 4 matching Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres and is just in general very good nick!
In the few days I've had it, I've become very enamored with it and I'm still in the process of working out all the toys it has on it! In a nutshell it has Sunroof, Sat Nav, Sony DAB Radio, Powerfold Mirrors, Style Pack (illuminated door sills and red calipers), Cruise control, bluetooth and probably a few things I've forgotten. Being an ST3 it has the standard toys too - Xenon headlamps, keyless entry/start, heated leathers.
Being a Mk3 it has the all important 2.0l Ecoboost Turbo-charged engine and I must say I'm very impressed with the performance.
I'll keep this thread updated with any bits and bobs I do to it
Thanks,
Ant
No real interesting back story on this one. Being an Essex lad in my 20's, I'm a big fan of hot hatches and I've been driving an Abarth Grande Punto daily for the past 6 years. I recently have found myself married so with all that expense behind me I figured I would perhaps start perusing the classifieds (not that I haven't been in the run up to the big day
). I was undecided in what I wanted - do I keep the Abarth as a daily and get something a bit mental for the weekends, or should I get a new daily? I had bought a Saxo VTS as a project at the end of 2015 with the intention of having a track car, however it turned out to be a proper lemon and I got rid at the beginning of the year.After much deliberation I decided to get a new daily driver, and I'll be keeping the Abarth with the intention of doing a few track days in that. My criteria was fairly simple - it needed to look nice, be reasonably pokey and I wanted something with a few mod cons on it too. Many different cars were considered, including Mk6 Golf GTI's, Skoda Octavia VRS's, Leon Cupra R's and Audi S3's, however in the end I settled on the 'boring' Ford!
I finally picked up my new daily driver this week so here is a few pictures!
It is a 2012 Ford Focus ST3 with just about every conceivable optional extra on it! Its a single owner car and was owned by an affluent older gent who apparently just used it as a general runaround as he had much more exciting machinery in the garage. Its been very well cared for with full Ford service history, 4 matching Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres and is just in general very good nick!
In the few days I've had it, I've become very enamored with it and I'm still in the process of working out all the toys it has on it! In a nutshell it has Sunroof, Sat Nav, Sony DAB Radio, Powerfold Mirrors, Style Pack (illuminated door sills and red calipers), Cruise control, bluetooth and probably a few things I've forgotten. Being an ST3 it has the standard toys too - Xenon headlamps, keyless entry/start, heated leathers.
Being a Mk3 it has the all important 2.0l Ecoboost Turbo-charged engine and I must say I'm very impressed with the performance.
I'll keep this thread updated with any bits and bobs I do to it
Thanks,
Ant
Spantney said:
Being a Mk3 it has the all important 2.0l Ecoboost Turbo-charged engine
Not me though, I think it is a pretty good engine.
It's good to find one that has been 'owned' and cherished rather than leased, I agree.
So thumbs up... Best colour too!
Hub said:
Some would say the 2.5 5 cylinder in the mk2 is the all important one!
Not me though, I think it is a pretty good engine.
It's good to find one that has been 'owned' and cherished rather than leased, I agree.
So thumbs up... Best colour too!
I originally had looked to buy a Mk2.5 ST with the 5 pot, and mountuned ones were in budget but the horror stories of cracked liners ultimately made me push the budget a little to get the Mk3. Dont worry as I still get a 5 cylinder fix with my T5 Volvo Not me though, I think it is a pretty good engine.
It's good to find one that has been 'owned' and cherished rather than leased, I agree.
So thumbs up... Best colour too!
Do love the colour, I wasnt quite brave enough to have a tangerine scream one
Thanks
cb1965 said:
Got to admit that looks really smart, great colour and wheel combo and I hadn't really appreciated quite what a nice shape they are.
One thing though, the shut line between the bonnet and the bumper looks huge or is that just an optical illusion?
Thanks very much One thing though, the shut line between the bonnet and the bumper looks huge or is that just an optical illusion?
The bonnet shut line is there by design (an odd one) and apparently can be reduced by adjusting the bonnet stops.
Stunning car, nearly bought one but ultimately fell in love with the Fiesta ST, this'll be next though no doubt once I've had my fun.
Top tip - there's a very hidden (or rather very unobvious) menu that enables speed camera warnings in the sat nav somewhere.
Well done for finding one that's been looked after, and in the right colour and spec too!
Top tip - there's a very hidden (or rather very unobvious) menu that enables speed camera warnings in the sat nav somewhere.
Well done for finding one that's been looked after, and in the right colour and spec too!
The bonnet panel gap is hilarious on the pre-facelift cars, made worse by it being not black, although I really like the blue.
They are good fun though, I bought one as a cheap runaround last September, coming from a Mustang GT they are polar opposites to each other, dare I say the ST is more fun, the noise aside!
Mountune goodies invalidate warranty here or I would be going with MP275 packkage, mods so far limited to spacers
They are good fun though, I bought one as a cheap runaround last September, coming from a Mustang GT they are polar opposites to each other, dare I say the ST is more fun, the noise aside!
Mountune goodies invalidate warranty here or I would be going with MP275 packkage, mods so far limited to spacers
ScoobyChris said:
The ST-3 is a great car. I've had mine (albeit the slow Race Red ) for 18 months and have really enjoyed my time with it and it's been very reliable and cheap to run. Going at the end of the month though to make way for a new 1-series!
Chris
Glad you have enjoyed your time with yours and that it has been pain free...I certainly hope my ownership experience is the same! Hopefully you are replacing the Focus with a 135i ) for 18 months and have really enjoyed my time with it and it's been very reliable and cheap to run. Going at the end of the month though to make way for a new 1-series!Chris
_Nathan_ said:
Pretty sure it is only a problem when over 350bhp+
I know they are more prone when modded, but I had read stories of standard ones failing too (there was one on here recently IIRC?).Ahbefive said:
Get the block mod done for £600 and its not a problem.
Yeah I had contemplated doing that but my sensible/boring hat said just get a Mk3.abucd4 said:
Stunning car, nearly bought one but ultimately fell in love with the Fiesta ST, this'll be next though no doubt once I've had my fun.
Top tip - there's a very hidden (or rather very unobvious) menu that enables speed camera warnings in the sat nav somewhere.
Well done for finding one that's been looked after, and in the right colour and spec too!
I did actually go to a dealer to test drive a different Focus ST before I bought this one and they had a lovely Fiesta ST for similar money as the focus, which I did consider. In the end the big sister for the Fezza won out, I already have a 3 door hot hatch in the form of my Abarth and fancied something with a couple more doors.Top tip - there's a very hidden (or rather very unobvious) menu that enables speed camera warnings in the sat nav somewhere.
Well done for finding one that's been looked after, and in the right colour and spec too!
Thanks for the tip, I'll see if I can find that menu tonight! And thankyou, I'm really pleased with the colour, spec and condition too
MissChief said:
Very nice indeed. The ST was just outside my budget so I got the next best one down. A 1.6 Ecoboost 182. So far, other than an errant door seal on the bottom of the front passenger door it's been faultless.
Nice, even with 182bhp I bet you it shifts along nicely! Glad to hear you have had a good ownership experience too dxbtiger said:
The bonnet panel gap is hilarious on the pre-facelift cars, made worse by it being not black, although I really like the blue.
They are good fun though, I bought one as a cheap runaround last September, coming from a Mustang GT they are polar opposites to each other, dare I say the ST is more fun, the noise aside!
Mountune goodies invalidate warranty here or I would be going with MP275 packkage, mods so far limited to spacers
I'm so thrilled with the car, the bonnet gap which I thought was ridiculous when they first came out, I'm really not bothered by! I will see if I can make it slightly less noticeable by adjusting the bonnet stops when I get a moment but its not making me lose any sleep They are good fun though, I bought one as a cheap runaround last September, coming from a Mustang GT they are polar opposites to each other, dare I say the ST is more fun, the noise aside!
Mountune goodies invalidate warranty here or I would be going with MP275 packkage, mods so far limited to spacers
I've already started looking at some Mountune goodies. I'll probably take the plunge when my insurance renewal comes up later in the year!
Mike1990 said:
Really like these, great purchase, i was looking at them the other day LOL, Spirit Blue of course and fill it full of Mountune goodies. MP275/MR300, LSD, Springs etc....
Thanks! The blue is lovely, as I said before I wasn't quite brave enough for ASBO Orange! abucd4 said:
Stunning car, nearly bought one but ultimately fell in love with the Fiesta ST, this'll be next though no doubt once I've had my fun.
Top tip - there's a very hidden (or rather very unobvious) menu that enables speed camera warnings in the sat nav somewhere.
Well done for finding one that's been looked after, and in the right colour and spec too!
I assume you know this from your fiesta? If so I'd wish I'd known this 2 years earlier as it's going back at the end of the month Top tip - there's a very hidden (or rather very unobvious) menu that enables speed camera warnings in the sat nav somewhere.
Well done for finding one that's been looked after, and in the right colour and spec too!
Very nice! I owned a MK3 hatch (a red one - the fastest colour!) and now I have a facelifted ST estate in primer grey.
Couple of things to watch for:
1. The illuminated sill plates have a habit of going faulty, mine did and they blew the fuse under the glovebox. The same fuse that covers EVERY switch on the drivers door card as well as a fair amount of the dash lights. I ended up disconnecting mine, easily done by pulling the door rubber up revealing the cable which can be unplugged in seconds.
2. The SYNC system can hang, I had my MK3 for 2.5 years and the SYNC system hung approx 4 or 5 times during that time. Solved my pulling a fuse under the glovebox. The fuses under the glovebox are a PAIN to get to. Might have been solved by a software update now though.
3. Dealers. I am 45 and I have had probably a dozen cars since I passed my test 27+ years ago. I have yet to visit a dealer belonging to a specific manufacturer that is more incompetent than Ford dealers. If you get a good one then well done, you've found the needle in the haystack. I've found a specific guy at one dealer that I now can trust with my car, but I had to wade through some utter tripe before I found the guy.
The bonnet gap can be adjusted by winding down the rubber bungs on the slam panel, but it only takes away a small amount of the gap before the bonnet ends up hitting the headlights, so tread carefully and don't expect a complete fix on this.
Other than the above - good cars, practical, fast, not expensive to maintain and reasonably comfortable. I recommend the Mountune kit, my MK3 ST hatch didn't have it but my newer facelifted ST estate (both Petrol) has the 275 kit on it and it makes a fair difference.
I'd also recommend signing up for the Focus ST Owners Club forums, wealth of knowledge on there and there's an excellent chance if you encounter a problem or want to make a modification to your car someone on there has already done it or fixed it. Mods can sometimes be a bit over-officious but generally a handy place to have in your favourites.
Couple of things to watch for:
1. The illuminated sill plates have a habit of going faulty, mine did and they blew the fuse under the glovebox. The same fuse that covers EVERY switch on the drivers door card as well as a fair amount of the dash lights. I ended up disconnecting mine, easily done by pulling the door rubber up revealing the cable which can be unplugged in seconds.
2. The SYNC system can hang, I had my MK3 for 2.5 years and the SYNC system hung approx 4 or 5 times during that time. Solved my pulling a fuse under the glovebox. The fuses under the glovebox are a PAIN to get to. Might have been solved by a software update now though.
3. Dealers. I am 45 and I have had probably a dozen cars since I passed my test 27+ years ago. I have yet to visit a dealer belonging to a specific manufacturer that is more incompetent than Ford dealers. If you get a good one then well done, you've found the needle in the haystack. I've found a specific guy at one dealer that I now can trust with my car, but I had to wade through some utter tripe before I found the guy.
The bonnet gap can be adjusted by winding down the rubber bungs on the slam panel, but it only takes away a small amount of the gap before the bonnet ends up hitting the headlights, so tread carefully and don't expect a complete fix on this.
Other than the above - good cars, practical, fast, not expensive to maintain and reasonably comfortable. I recommend the Mountune kit, my MK3 ST hatch didn't have it but my newer facelifted ST estate (both Petrol) has the 275 kit on it and it makes a fair difference.
I'd also recommend signing up for the Focus ST Owners Club forums, wealth of knowledge on there and there's an excellent chance if you encounter a problem or want to make a modification to your car someone on there has already done it or fixed it. Mods can sometimes be a bit over-officious but generally a handy place to have in your favourites.
oobster said:
Very nice! I owned a MK3 hatch (a red one - the fastest colour!) and now I have a facelifted ST estate in primer grey.
Couple of things to watch for:
1. The illuminated sill plates have a habit of going faulty, mine did and they blew the fuse under the glovebox. The same fuse that covers EVERY switch on the drivers door card as well as a fair amount of the dash lights. I ended up disconnecting mine, easily done by pulling the door rubber up revealing the cable which can be unplugged in seconds.
2. The SYNC system can hang, I had my MK3 for 2.5 years and the SYNC system hung approx 4 or 5 times during that time. Solved my pulling a fuse under the glovebox. The fuses under the glovebox are a PAIN to get to. Might have been solved by a software update now though.
3. Dealers. I am 45 and I have had probably a dozen cars since I passed my test 27+ years ago. I have yet to visit a dealer belonging to a specific manufacturer that is more incompetent than Ford dealers. If you get a good one then well done, you've found the needle in the haystack. I've found a specific guy at one dealer that I now can trust with my car, but I had to wade through some utter tripe before I found the guy.
The bonnet gap can be adjusted by winding down the rubber bungs on the slam panel, but it only takes away a small amount of the gap before the bonnet ends up hitting the headlights, so tread carefully and don't expect a complete fix on this.
Other than the above - good cars, practical, fast, not expensive to maintain and reasonably comfortable. I recommend the Mountune kit, my MK3 ST hatch didn't have it but my newer facelifted ST estate (both Petrol) has the 275 kit on it and it makes a fair difference.
I'd also recommend signing up for the Focus ST Owners Club forums, wealth of knowledge on there and there's an excellent chance if you encounter a problem or want to make a modification to your car someone on there has already done it or fixed it. Mods can sometimes be a bit over-officious but generally a handy place to have in your favourites.
Thanks for that awesome reply Oobster. I actually remember the thread on your red one! Red is the fastest colour but I couldn't have 2 red cars Couple of things to watch for:
1. The illuminated sill plates have a habit of going faulty, mine did and they blew the fuse under the glovebox. The same fuse that covers EVERY switch on the drivers door card as well as a fair amount of the dash lights. I ended up disconnecting mine, easily done by pulling the door rubber up revealing the cable which can be unplugged in seconds.
2. The SYNC system can hang, I had my MK3 for 2.5 years and the SYNC system hung approx 4 or 5 times during that time. Solved my pulling a fuse under the glovebox. The fuses under the glovebox are a PAIN to get to. Might have been solved by a software update now though.
3. Dealers. I am 45 and I have had probably a dozen cars since I passed my test 27+ years ago. I have yet to visit a dealer belonging to a specific manufacturer that is more incompetent than Ford dealers. If you get a good one then well done, you've found the needle in the haystack. I've found a specific guy at one dealer that I now can trust with my car, but I had to wade through some utter tripe before I found the guy.
The bonnet gap can be adjusted by winding down the rubber bungs on the slam panel, but it only takes away a small amount of the gap before the bonnet ends up hitting the headlights, so tread carefully and don't expect a complete fix on this.
Other than the above - good cars, practical, fast, not expensive to maintain and reasonably comfortable. I recommend the Mountune kit, my MK3 ST hatch didn't have it but my newer facelifted ST estate (both Petrol) has the 275 kit on it and it makes a fair difference.
I'd also recommend signing up for the Focus ST Owners Club forums, wealth of knowledge on there and there's an excellent chance if you encounter a problem or want to make a modification to your car someone on there has already done it or fixed it. Mods can sometimes be a bit over-officious but generally a handy place to have in your favourites.
The drivers side illuminated door sill was replaced before I picked up the car as I noticed it was dead when I initially test drove the car.
Fingers crossed perhaps the SYNC issue could be software related and maybe able to be fixed with a software update? I was going to see if I could get updated SYNC/NAV software at some point. If it does hang I'll do what you suggested though, thanks.
A few mates of mine have had fords for years and our local main dealer does seem to be relatively well spoken of locally but only time will tell I guess. I've not had great experiences with the Abarth dealership network hence why I either do the work myself now or take it to my local Italian car specialist.
Will definitely be signing up to STOC
abucd4 said:
HJMS123 said:
I assume you know this from your fiesta? If so I'd wish I'd known this 2 years earlier as it's going back at the end of the month
Yeah I only found out a couple of weeks ago on the FiestaSTOC forum, very few others knew either, but I suppose the nav is a rare option.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff