RE: Ford Focus ST170: Spotted
Discussion
j4r4lly said:
Sure, the 328i was full of leather, had tons more power and that lovely smooth straight six motor, but overall it felt like a car from an earlier era (the Focus Mk1 arrived in 1998 and was a massive leap forward from the Escort) and the ride and handling didn’t match the Focus. It really was that good.
CAR Magazine absolutely slated the last iteration of the Escort as it had a less sophisticated and cheaper to make rear axle that they thought was a retrograde step compared to the 1980 Escort MK3.This is an interesting one because back when they were new, I had two different ST170's on demo back to back and then a Honda Civic Type R. So all three cars were below 2k miles and very fresh.
Funnily enough I remember driving them too.
On a positive side, I felt the ST170 actually had slightly more precise steering than the Civic Type R. That stood out for me. The Civic felt slightly more vague..
The stereo always sounded pretty good too and the leather seats one had felt nice.
However, I felt I could never sit low enough in it. It felt quite 'on-stilts' inside the car compared to the Type R.
The Engine.. I have to be honest, the engine was an utter disappointment and night to day compared to the Type R.
It revved but it felt very uncomfortable up in the area where it allegedly made power and there really wasn't that much of it. It was also quite thirsty.
The Type R's engine was utterly frantic and great fun by comparison, though it tempted me way too much to drive everywhere like I stole it.
In a nutshell. The ST.... Typical Ford with a pretty decent suspension & chassis. Made mostly pointless by a very underwhelming engine. There are much better ways to spend over 4k
Funnily enough I remember driving them too.
On a positive side, I felt the ST170 actually had slightly more precise steering than the Civic Type R. That stood out for me. The Civic felt slightly more vague..
The stereo always sounded pretty good too and the leather seats one had felt nice.
However, I felt I could never sit low enough in it. It felt quite 'on-stilts' inside the car compared to the Type R.
The Engine.. I have to be honest, the engine was an utter disappointment and night to day compared to the Type R.
It revved but it felt very uncomfortable up in the area where it allegedly made power and there really wasn't that much of it. It was also quite thirsty.
The Type R's engine was utterly frantic and great fun by comparison, though it tempted me way too much to drive everywhere like I stole it.
In a nutshell. The ST.... Typical Ford with a pretty decent suspension & chassis. Made mostly pointless by a very underwhelming engine. There are much better ways to spend over 4k
The two things I remember about mine when I was a few years old in the backseat was the smell and the sound of it. Can't really describe the smell, but I'm hoping to get it recreated with mine. The exhaust I remember being deep, not overly loud either. Still the same today, it's on the same exhaust, now starting to blow. The exhaust note is pretty much spot on, it sounds brilliant if you have it in a gear too high with the revs low. I'd love to try the estate, on paper it seems quite lethargic though
aaron_2000 said:
otolith said:
The-Wanderer said:
As somebody else said, if it was a Honda VTEC, people would be creaming themselves about the engine. And I've had two S2000's so I know an engine that needs to be revved to get anywhere...
I think there's a difference between an engine that needs to be revved to get anywhere (e.g. the MX-5 1.8) and one where the joy of the thing is in doing so.In any case, the Focus doesn't particularly demand or support high revs. It's actually got a similar power curve up to the point where it runs out of puff.
I had a Civic from new in 2002, and loved it. Having owned a number of substantially faster cars since then, I drove one a year or two back, and it felt slow.
It seemed to me that these were prone to the induction tract problems and other engine running niggled etc once they’d gone out of warranty - plus the tall gears didn’t help off the mark
When they were new the all out performance never seemed too bad ( 0-100 in just over 20 seconds and over 130 max ) - hot on the heels of the 306 GTI-6 etc
They were I always up against it though being compared mostly to more powerful and/or lighter stuff because of their price new
When they were new the all out performance never seemed too bad ( 0-100 in just over 20 seconds and over 130 max ) - hot on the heels of the 306 GTI-6 etc
They were I always up against it though being compared mostly to more powerful and/or lighter stuff because of their price new
Still to this day my ST170 was the best car I ever owned. My mate has it now so still get drive it now and again.
No it wasn’t the quickest thing in the world nor the most frugal but the reliability was great and the chassis is one of the best FWD chassis’ I’ve ever driven. I did everything from commuting, long cross country drives, mad dashes to and from the airport, back road bashing and trackdays. It took everything in its stride and never once complained. They are Very versatile cars and punch well above their weight on track too. The only annoying thing was after about 5 balls out laps of silverstone, the brakes picked up some wild vibration! Fine once cooled down though.
Mine was Capri blue(extremely rare) with the comfort pack. I only sold it as I needed something bigger.
With value for money they are very hard to beat! 4 and a bit grand is taking the piss a bit though.
No it wasn’t the quickest thing in the world nor the most frugal but the reliability was great and the chassis is one of the best FWD chassis’ I’ve ever driven. I did everything from commuting, long cross country drives, mad dashes to and from the airport, back road bashing and trackdays. It took everything in its stride and never once complained. They are Very versatile cars and punch well above their weight on track too. The only annoying thing was after about 5 balls out laps of silverstone, the brakes picked up some wild vibration! Fine once cooled down though.
Mine was Capri blue(extremely rare) with the comfort pack. I only sold it as I needed something bigger.
With value for money they are very hard to beat! 4 and a bit grand is taking the piss a bit though.
I had one for a few months and had mixed feelings on it
On the few days it worked right and on a dry clear road it was ace fun (even the gearbox shift was great once you had the knack for it) the rest of the time it was a pain with the fuel pump packing in a total of 3 times and the EML being constantly on (lambda). The exhaust someone had fitted before I owned it sounded great though
a nice rasp and not too farty like a Honda...think Twin cam Escort
Sold it to someone to scrap and fit the engine to a mk1 Fiesta
On the few days it worked right and on a dry clear road it was ace fun (even the gearbox shift was great once you had the knack for it) the rest of the time it was a pain with the fuel pump packing in a total of 3 times and the EML being constantly on (lambda). The exhaust someone had fitted before I owned it sounded great though
a nice rasp and not too farty like a Honda...think Twin cam Escort Sold it to someone to scrap and fit the engine to a mk1 Fiesta
NGK210 said:
From the same era, the Fiesta ST had the same engine but developed only 150bhp. Why? Because the Focus had a different airbox / filter, which pumped up the BHPs to 170. Yeah, right, absoluuuuutely! That's all it takes to 'find' 20bhp - a different air filter
Exhaust also: http://www.pumaspeed.co.uk/product-Fiesta-ST150-Po...I’ve got one at the moment-featured in Modern Classics a year or so ago. It’s a 62k mile minter.
As said, the chassis is sublime, the engine out of the box isn’t. A remap, K&N Typhoon, Scorpion exhaust and exhaust cam vernier pulley to alter the timing slightly (retard by 6-8 degrees) changes the character of the engine-the flat spot has gone totally and it pulls sweetly all the way through to the (raised) limiter now. Dyno’d at 180bhp.
It’s never going to be the quickest thing in the world, but as a subtle, grown up hot hatch of the early 00’s I love it-I bought it as a nostalgia trip as I had one back in 2006 as my first “performance” car, aged 19.
I did consider selling it but prices are pretty low at the moment so I think I’m going to hold onto it, certainly for a year or two.
As said, the chassis is sublime, the engine out of the box isn’t. A remap, K&N Typhoon, Scorpion exhaust and exhaust cam vernier pulley to alter the timing slightly (retard by 6-8 degrees) changes the character of the engine-the flat spot has gone totally and it pulls sweetly all the way through to the (raised) limiter now. Dyno’d at 180bhp.
It’s never going to be the quickest thing in the world, but as a subtle, grown up hot hatch of the early 00’s I love it-I bought it as a nostalgia trip as I had one back in 2006 as my first “performance” car, aged 19.
I did consider selling it but prices are pretty low at the moment so I think I’m going to hold onto it, certainly for a year or two.
NGK210 said:
From the same era, the Fiesta ST had the same engine but developed only 150bhp. Why? Because the Focus had a different airbox / filter, which pumped up the BHPs to 170. Yeah, right, absoluuuuutely! That's all it takes to 'find' 20bhp - a different air filter
Completely different engine 
itcaptainslow said:
I’ve got one at the moment-featured in Modern Classics a year or so ago. It’s a 62k mile minter.
As said, the chassis is sublime, the engine out of the box isn’t. A remap, K&N Typhoon, Scorpion exhaust and exhaust cam vernier pulley to alter the timing slightly (retard by 6-8 degrees) changes the character of the engine-the flat spot has gone totally and it pulls sweetly all the way through to the (raised) limiter now. Dyno’d at 180bhp.
It’s never going to be the quickest thing in the world, but as a subtle, grown up hot hatch of the early 00’s I love it-I bought it as a nostalgia trip as I had one back in 2006 as my first “performance” car, aged 19.
I did consider selling it but prices are pretty low at the moment so I think I’m going to hold onto it, certainly for a year or two.
I remember yours, think you told me about the upcoming issue on my thread a while ago. Don't want to hijack the thread, but how much louder is your Scorpion? As said, the chassis is sublime, the engine out of the box isn’t. A remap, K&N Typhoon, Scorpion exhaust and exhaust cam vernier pulley to alter the timing slightly (retard by 6-8 degrees) changes the character of the engine-the flat spot has gone totally and it pulls sweetly all the way through to the (raised) limiter now. Dyno’d at 180bhp.
It’s never going to be the quickest thing in the world, but as a subtle, grown up hot hatch of the early 00’s I love it-I bought it as a nostalgia trip as I had one back in 2006 as my first “performance” car, aged 19.
I did consider selling it but prices are pretty low at the moment so I think I’m going to hold onto it, certainly for a year or two.
aaron_2000 said:
itcaptainslow said:
I’ve got one at the moment-featured in Modern Classics a year or so ago. It’s a 62k mile minter.
As said, the chassis is sublime, the engine out of the box isn’t. A remap, K&N Typhoon, Scorpion exhaust and exhaust cam vernier pulley to alter the timing slightly (retard by 6-8 degrees) changes the character of the engine-the flat spot has gone totally and it pulls sweetly all the way through to the (raised) limiter now. Dyno’d at 180bhp.
It’s never going to be the quickest thing in the world, but as a subtle, grown up hot hatch of the early 00’s I love it-I bought it as a nostalgia trip as I had one back in 2006 as my first “performance” car, aged 19.
I did consider selling it but prices are pretty low at the moment so I think I’m going to hold onto it, certainly for a year or two.
I remember yours, think you told me about the upcoming issue on my thread a while ago. Don't want to hijack the thread, but how much louder is your Scorpion? As said, the chassis is sublime, the engine out of the box isn’t. A remap, K&N Typhoon, Scorpion exhaust and exhaust cam vernier pulley to alter the timing slightly (retard by 6-8 degrees) changes the character of the engine-the flat spot has gone totally and it pulls sweetly all the way through to the (raised) limiter now. Dyno’d at 180bhp.
It’s never going to be the quickest thing in the world, but as a subtle, grown up hot hatch of the early 00’s I love it-I bought it as a nostalgia trip as I had one back in 2006 as my first “performance” car, aged 19.
I did consider selling it but prices are pretty low at the moment so I think I’m going to hold onto it, certainly for a year or two.
If you want loud, decat it. My first ST170 had one that I fitted with a standard exhaust (the standard manifold apparently flows brilliantly) and it sounded mega
itcaptainslow said:
aaron_2000 said:
itcaptainslow said:
I’ve got one at the moment-featured in Modern Classics a year or so ago. It’s a 62k mile minter.
As said, the chassis is sublime, the engine out of the box isn’t. A remap, K&N Typhoon, Scorpion exhaust and exhaust cam vernier pulley to alter the timing slightly (retard by 6-8 degrees) changes the character of the engine-the flat spot has gone totally and it pulls sweetly all the way through to the (raised) limiter now. Dyno’d at 180bhp.
It’s never going to be the quickest thing in the world, but as a subtle, grown up hot hatch of the early 00’s I love it-I bought it as a nostalgia trip as I had one back in 2006 as my first “performance” car, aged 19.
I did consider selling it but prices are pretty low at the moment so I think I’m going to hold onto it, certainly for a year or two.
I remember yours, think you told me about the upcoming issue on my thread a while ago. Don't want to hijack the thread, but how much louder is your Scorpion? As said, the chassis is sublime, the engine out of the box isn’t. A remap, K&N Typhoon, Scorpion exhaust and exhaust cam vernier pulley to alter the timing slightly (retard by 6-8 degrees) changes the character of the engine-the flat spot has gone totally and it pulls sweetly all the way through to the (raised) limiter now. Dyno’d at 180bhp.
It’s never going to be the quickest thing in the world, but as a subtle, grown up hot hatch of the early 00’s I love it-I bought it as a nostalgia trip as I had one back in 2006 as my first “performance” car, aged 19.
I did consider selling it but prices are pretty low at the moment so I think I’m going to hold onto it, certainly for a year or two.
If you want loud, decat it. My first ST170 had one that I fitted with a standard exhaust (the standard manifold apparently flows brilliantly) and it sounded mega
soad said:
NGK210 said:
From the same era, the Fiesta ST had the same engine but developed only 150bhp. Why? Because the Focus had a different airbox / filter, which pumped up the BHPs to 170. Yeah, right, absoluuuuutely! That's all it takes to 'find' 20bhp - a different air filter
Exhaust also: http://www.pumaspeed.co.uk/product-Fiesta-ST150-Po...Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff