RE: Ford Focus ST (Mk2) | Shed Buying Guide

[Justin S]

One car I wish I hadnt let go. Was running around 300 bhp .Clutch hated power increases but the RS clutch is a direct swop. Was a fab car and in Sea Grey and 4 doors , pretty much went under the radar. Wasnt an everyday car , so fuel useage wasnt an issue. Shame to go, but the next owner must have had a big wallet as put 40k miles on it the following 3 years on the mot check. There does seem an increase to local chavs now getting hold of them and turning them into midnight fart wagons with nuclear explosions on the main a road near me. One eve has a 'noise' style number plate............. shame but expected........

[A1VDY]

p4cks said:

A shed?!

Cheapest one I can find has 143,000 miles and is £2,500 which is certainly not a 'shed'.

I've had one and currently have a fiesta ST which we use as our site runabout. Can assure you they ARE sheds. They're a very average car at best with p1ss poor build quality. Can't fault the reliabity though..

[Water Fairy]

The problem is that when decent cars like this become affordable to the 'yoof' they get savaged and it spoils the image for those who just want a nice, tidy, respectable example and value for money.

There are quite a few examples near me that unfortunately fit the stereotype and that's a shame; and I say this as an E46 coupe owner.

[Fermit and Sexy Sarah]

A1VDY said:

p1ss poor build quality.

You must have had a Friday afternoon car. Nothing on mine over 2 years squeaked, rattled, fell off, broke.

[s m]

Thats What She Said said:

One of (if not probably) the best cars I've ever owned. But, man, she loved a drink.

Later 4-pot ones were more frugal.....but you lost the lovely noise

Edited by s m on Sunday 23 February 22:05

[DukeDickson]

Thats What She Said said:

One of (if not probably) the best cars I've ever owned. But, man, she loved a drink.

Mine did ok, for a big, old, inefficient engine. Averaged about 27 in mostly crappy traffic & could see high 30's on a not trying run. Which was only about 10% worse than the Civic R it replaced, though a fair bit worse than the replacement.
Still going too @ 240k, it would seem, the majority of which I did. Looks like it has done a hefty amount in the last 12 months, so now probably doing run into the ground shed duty.

[RichardDastardly]

This was a well written guide.

Still loving mine after 4 years and 50k miles. No plans to replace it...despite the 23mpg average and the ridiculously capable depreciated Golf Rs out there these days.

[j4r4lly]

Water Fairy said:

The problem is that when decent cars like this become affordable to the 'yoof' they get savaged and it spoils the image for those who just want a nice, tidy, respectable example and value for money.

There are quite a few examples near me that unfortunately fit the stereotype and that's a shame; and I say this as an E46 coupe owner.

Unfortunately it happens to lots of cars, with the Capri being one of the prime examples. It wasn't so long ago that the V6 versions had fallen into the same hands and with the cars being worth next to nothing they had a poor reputation. A few years down the line the Capri has emerged from rehab as a car that's once again seen as desirable and the values have increased making them worth looking after.

I had an ST-3 Focus 5-door in blue with the white side stripes as a company car for a while and absolutely loved it, especially as someone else was paying the fuel bills! It was just such a fabulous all rounder. Comfortable (mine had the big leather adjustable heated Recaros') quick, really well built and the character of the the engine was amazing. I really missed it when it was gone. Definitely future classics.

[Podie]

I had a Mk2.5 ST-3 in Electric Orange for 6 years - bloody brilliant car.

Had the entire Mountune catalogue thrown at it (MR310, Clubsport suspension, brakes, wheels, Quaife diff, RS clutch) and it was a brilliant car. Exhaust wasn't comedy loud and made a lovely burble.

Reliable, quick enough and comfortable. Serviced and cosseted, I still miss it.

Find a good, enthusiast owned one and you wont be disappointed - but there are plenty of poorly modified examples about.

[KarlMac]

Had a 2010 ST and did some basic fettling with it. Drivetrain was fantastic but the body it was put into was God awful. The interior of mine fell to bits over the 3 years I had it from new and the bumpers never matched the bodywork colour.

I'd probably go for a C30 T5 it you can find one instead.

[Podie]

KarlMac said:

Had a 2010 ST and did some basic fettling with it. Drivetrain was fantastic but the body it was put into was God awful. The interior of mine fell to bits over the 3 years I had it from new and the bumpers never matched the bodywork colour.

I'd probably go for a C30 T5 it you can find one instead.

Complete tangent, but you took a corking photo of mine at a Sunday Service (Prodrive)... sadly was on it's winter wheels at the time though.

[Jon_S_Rally]

Turbobanana said:

Why are these so thirsty?

I owned an S Max with the same engine in the same (standard) state of tune. Around town I got 24mpg driven hard on a 4 mile commute. On longer runs I got over 30.

I think the S-MAX had longer gearing which might have helped. Same was true of the 2.5T Mondeo I think.

Water Fairy said:

The problem is that when decent cars like this become affordable to the 'yoof' they get savaged and it spoils the image for those who just want a nice, tidy, respectable example and value for money.

There are quite a few examples near me that unfortunately fit the stereotype and that's a shame; and I say this as an E46 coupe owner.

I would suggest that worrying about what other people think of your car is more of a reflection on you than a few people who choose to modify/drive their cars in a way you don't approve of. I can guarantee that most people wouldn't even know what car it is, or even care within five seconds of it passing.

[Turbobanana]

A1VDY said:

I've had one and currently have a fiesta ST which we use as our site runabout. Can assure you they ARE sheds. They're a very average car at best with p1ss poor build quality. Can't fault the reliabity though..

Surely it doesn't matter what the build quality is like, as long as it keeps going. Enjoy your build quality while you await the AA.

[alangla]

Total Drivin said:

I've just purchased 4 new tyres for mine.



Cost around £100 plus a full tank when we arrived Yorkshire > Cornwall loaded to the knackers. I wasn't fatigued in the slightest very good mile munchers.

Tyres are surprisingly cheap for these. I couldn't get Michelins for a reasonable price, but I've done the fronts & rears with Goodyear Eagle F1s from the fast-fit company that everyone on here hates. Can't fault them either on price, way they did the fit or anything else. Even got a free night in a hotel with the front pair!

[Jamescrs]

I do wonder what those complaining about bad build quality and bits falling off are actually doing to their cars?

I had one myself which I sold with just over 100k on the clock and nothing fell off nor did the interior fall apart.
My wife had a Mk2 Focus albeit with a 1.6 petrol engine but that aside nothing fell off that or broke either we traded that in at about 70k miles, I found the interiors to be very robust albeit not the most luxurious of place to sit.

[rev-erend]

Think Clarkson called the RS an ASBO and not the ST.

Always loved the ST but not owned one. I did have the RS which was great but I'm sure you guys with tuned cars understand the traction issues before the summer arrives.

Great cars though.

[Podie]

rev-erend said:

Think Clarkson called the RS an ASBO and not the ST.

You sure?

[s m]

rev-erend said:

Think Clarkson called the RS an ASBO and not the ST.

.

He definitely tagged the ST as the ASBO as well

https://youtu.be/TeXr50LNJfM

[rev-erend]

Fair do's..

[KarlMac]

Podie said:

Complete tangent, but you took a corking photo of mine at a Sunday Service (Prodrive)... sadly was on it's winter wheels at the time though.

Was it this one?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/147154182@N05/329956...

I really liked it on the TDs and it made me miss mine!