Ford Focus ST170
Discussion
Hi all, I came on here ages ago looking for a Puma replacement for not a lot of money and ended up settling on an ST170. I was prepared for disappointment after reading a lot of reviews that said they weren't that fast and coming from a Puma, most cars are going to feel dull.
Well, either I got a good one or i'm easily pleased because I was pleasantly surprised taking it out for a test run. Yes, you have to wring its neck but I'm more than happy to do that. Once you hit 5K you can feel the variable timing kick it up a notch and it just keeps surging to 7k and beyond.
So, onto the details. It's a 2004 model in imperial blue and 3 doors (the best combo in my opinion next to magnum grey). Had done 67k miles and was pretty much immaculate apart from a small amount of rust on the rear arches and the cam belt needed changing. It had Xenons fitted but it didn't leave the factory with them and came with an original set which I swapped back come MOT time.
I ended up taking it to Donington last November for a run around the GP circuit and had great fun. Very stable, lots of front end grip, but you can tease the rear a little with the throttle, and the always on ESP lets you have a little fun before it brings in the reins.
I found on the track day that in a straight line vs a Fiesta ST150 I was gently pulling away, but they seem to have so much more grip available!
It's running a powerflow straight through backbox which isn't too noisy, I swapped out the DMF for a TTV racing steel flywheel, it pulls so much better in the lows and mids by comparison, H&R 35mm springs and running yellowstuff front pads. I drive it pretty much daily and it is comfy enough to commute in and do long hauls, and it's plenty fun on an empty back road to open it up (70mph in 2nd gear if you take it all the way!)
A little video of the track day as well:
https://youtu.be/pwPKS5tx0tc
Thanks for reading
Well, either I got a good one or i'm easily pleased because I was pleasantly surprised taking it out for a test run. Yes, you have to wring its neck but I'm more than happy to do that. Once you hit 5K you can feel the variable timing kick it up a notch and it just keeps surging to 7k and beyond.
So, onto the details. It's a 2004 model in imperial blue and 3 doors (the best combo in my opinion next to magnum grey). Had done 67k miles and was pretty much immaculate apart from a small amount of rust on the rear arches and the cam belt needed changing. It had Xenons fitted but it didn't leave the factory with them and came with an original set which I swapped back come MOT time.
I ended up taking it to Donington last November for a run around the GP circuit and had great fun. Very stable, lots of front end grip, but you can tease the rear a little with the throttle, and the always on ESP lets you have a little fun before it brings in the reins.
I found on the track day that in a straight line vs a Fiesta ST150 I was gently pulling away, but they seem to have so much more grip available!
It's running a powerflow straight through backbox which isn't too noisy, I swapped out the DMF for a TTV racing steel flywheel, it pulls so much better in the lows and mids by comparison, H&R 35mm springs and running yellowstuff front pads. I drive it pretty much daily and it is comfy enough to commute in and do long hauls, and it's plenty fun on an empty back road to open it up (70mph in 2nd gear if you take it all the way!)
A little video of the track day as well:
https://youtu.be/pwPKS5tx0tc
Thanks for reading
Piginapoke said:
Is that non standard badging on the side?
I don't think it's standard off the top of my head, I've only ever seen it on a few when I've been out and about. stargazer30 said:
When I had mine many years ago, I found one of the best mods was an underdrive pulley. It makes them rev much easier. Starts to feel more like a type r than a focus ??
I have heard about this back from when I had a 1.8 Focus as well - is it a big job? Mitch_TCF said:
Lovely looking ST170 mate!! Always liked these cars, own a Fiesta ST150 myself.
Cheers! I did have my eye on getting an ST150 but it was just slightly out of range of what I could spend at the time. Rapid little things!shalmaneser said:
I always really liked the look of these. The wheels espeically, and the mk1 focus shape still looks very crisp.
Could you fit a lower ration box in there? That seems to be the main complaint with them!
I'm not sure what else would fit. It's a bit of a weird one, 1st 2nd and 6th feel very long, but 3rd, 4th and 5th are quite close. With enough room you'll be doing 115 at the top end of 4th, so it does feel like it all needs to be a bit shorter to make the most out of the engine.Could you fit a lower ration box in there? That seems to be the main complaint with them!
Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:
Great cars. I suspect the ‘not fast’ criticisms at the time were more to do with some of its rivals being around 200bhp (civic type r for eg) rather than a case of too slow.
Why swap xenons over for regular bulbs though?
You're probably right, not to mention the Clio 172 having roughly the same power but carrying 200kg less. Apparently it would've been an MOT fail as you need either headlight washers or self levelling suspension if you have Xenon lights fitted. Plus I prefer how the standard light housing is a bit darker compared to the almost "lexus" style XenonsWhy swap xenons over for regular bulbs though?
I think the st170 is good car my dad owned one for 13 years and it was a really reliable and fun car and if it wasn't for the clutch going which had covered 140k then he would still own it. Yours looks to be a good one and with regards to the xenons I think you will be ok as plenty of the mk1 focus rs owners use them with no issues with the mot also its not a straightforward swap I don't think as I know with the mk1 focus rs some of the wiring in the plugs have to be swap round so go from standard headlights to xenons so I'm not sure if you would need to do the same.
Great looking car OP. 
The first generation Focus was, and still is, the best looking model IMHO.
Back in 2003 I got a good deal on a Seat Leon Cupra, but if that hadn't happened an ST170 would have been an option.
Although I now know a 325ti would have been the right answer as I've had one for 3 years!
The first generation Focus was, and still is, the best looking model IMHO.
Back in 2003 I got a good deal on a Seat Leon Cupra, but if that hadn't happened an ST170 would have been an option.
Although I now know a 325ti would have been the right answer as I've had one for 3 years!
Poynter87 said:
I think the st170 is good car my dad owned one for 13 years and it was a really reliable and fun car and if it wasn't for the clutch going which had covered 140k then he would still own it. Yours looks to be a good one and with regards to the xenons I think you will be ok as plenty of the mk1 focus rs owners use them with no issues with the mot also its not a straightforward swap I don't think as I know with the mk1 focus rs some of the wiring in the plugs have to be swap round so go from standard headlights to xenons so I'm not sure if you would need to do the same.
I've already changed them over, was a straight swap! I spoke to my old man and the MOT guys where he works have said it would be a fail if it had xenons without the washers or suspension! Mr Tidy said:
Great looking car OP.
The first generation Focus was, and still is, the best looking model IMHO.
Back in 2003 I got a good deal on a Seat Leon Cupra, but if that hadn't happened an ST170 would have been an option.
Although I now know a 325ti would have been the right answer as I've had one for 3 years!
Thanks! I think I agree with you there, I just wish it had the 2.5 5 pot sometimes... I do quite like the Leon's, my brother had a 2007 FR petrol, I never drove it but the passenger rides I had it felt pretty nimble, short gears and it just loves to pull. The first generation Focus was, and still is, the best looking model IMHO.
Back in 2003 I got a good deal on a Seat Leon Cupra, but if that hadn't happened an ST170 would have been an option.
Although I now know a 325ti would have been the right answer as I've had one for 3 years!
I've never really given those BM's a thought to be honest, seems like a good motor!
Fury556 said:
Poynter87 said:
I think the st170 is good car my dad owned one for 13 years and it was a really reliable and fun car and if it wasn't for the clutch going which had covered 140k then he would still own it. Yours looks to be a good one and with regards to the xenons I think you will be ok as plenty of the mk1 focus rs owners use them with no issues with the mot also its not a straightforward swap I don't think as I know with the mk1 focus rs some of the wiring in the plugs have to be swap round so go from standard headlights to xenons so I'm not sure if you would need to do the same.
I've already changed them over, was a straight swap! I spoke to my old man and the MOT guys where he works have said it would be a fail if it had xenons without the washers or suspension! That's fair enough just strange how all the rs lads get away with it, anyway there is no point risk to NG a failure for the sake of a simple swap and I'm not a fan of the looks of the xenons which is why I put the dark st170 headlights in mine.
Nice car! I had one of these for a few years in the same colour. I took mine from 65K up to 130K before it started getting very rusty and I sold it on.
The steering is great, lots of fun on an empty b-road, makes my Impreza feel like a bus in comparison. A lot of people complain about the gearing, but I found the 2nd gear to 70mph thing kind of fun.
Just a shame about the rust and IMRC failures.
The stickers on the side were fitted to Australian spec cars as standard.
Enjoy!
The steering is great, lots of fun on an empty b-road, makes my Impreza feel like a bus in comparison. A lot of people complain about the gearing, but I found the 2nd gear to 70mph thing kind of fun.
Just a shame about the rust and IMRC failures.
The stickers on the side were fitted to Australian spec cars as standard.
Enjoy!
I had one a few years ago. Good fun to drive, good styling and a decent level spec. However, mine had the engine management light on pretty much the whole time i owned it. As I remember the inlet manifold runner control was one culprit (replaced twice in the space of a year), the cat failed and blocked the exhaust and it also went through a few lambda sensors.
I still see the car around Cambridge, so it's good to know it's still running.
But when the EML was off, it was a good car.
I still see the car around Cambridge, so it's good to know it's still running.
But when the EML was off, it was a good car.
Cambs_Stuart said:
I had one a few years ago. Good fun to drive, good styling and a decent level spec. However, mine had the engine management light on pretty much the whole time i owned it. As I remember the inlet manifold runner control was one culprit (replaced twice in the space of a year), the cat failed and blocked the exhaust and it also went through a few lambda sensors.
I still see the car around Cambridge, so it's good to know it's still running.
But when the EML was off, it was a good car.
Yup, I've heard of people just taking the EML bulb out before!I still see the car around Cambridge, so it's good to know it's still running.
But when the EML was off, it was a good car.
Cambs_Stuart said:
I had one a few years ago. Good fun to drive, good styling and a decent level spec. However, mine had the engine management light on pretty much the whole time i owned it. As I remember the inlet manifold runner control was one culprit (replaced twice in the space of a year), the cat failed and blocked the exhaust and it also went through a few lambda sensors.
I still see the car around Cambridge, so it's good to know it's still running.
But when the EML was off, it was a good car.
Yup, mine has the EML permanently on at the moment - I have a used IMRC box I need to get around to fitting one day and I think it might need an o2 sensor soon. I still see the car around Cambridge, so it's good to know it's still running.
But when the EML was off, it was a good car.
It's going in for it's MOT tomorrow, 2 new rear tyres and the fronts need balancing as I'm getting feedback at motorway speed. After that it needs an oil change and then I'll be looking at my next track day!
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