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

[Podie]

Chrismawa said:

I'm on the lookout for a new car and its between a MK5 Golf GTI or a MK2 Focus ST. I was all for the ST until I started reading online about some of the horror stories.I have found a low mileage low owners car but its other end of country so all I'd be able to do is to judge it by photos and videos. So now I'm back to the drawing board and not sure.

Google any car and it'll will have horror stories.

[thebigmacmoomin]

Chrismawa said:

I'm on the lookout for a new car and its between a MK5 Golf GTI or a MK2 Focus ST. I was all for the ST until I started reading online about some of the horror stories.I have found a low mileage low owners car but its other end of country so all I'd be able to do is to judge it by photos and videos. So now I'm back to the drawing board and not sure.

What are these horror stories? It will all be down to how the car is driven and looked after. I never drive it hard from cold & serviced every 12 months, even if its only done under 3k miles in that time.

I had my '2007' ST3 for 4 years & have had my '2010' for 5.5 years with no issues at all. Just the normal servicing and cam-belt done 6 month / 70k miles early. I have had water ingress in the footwell's and boot but that's all been fixed.

[Chrismawa]

Fair enough I agree most cars have their issues. The randomness and the ability for the liners to crack even on standard cars was a bit worrying.

[treeroy]

the fuel economy really undermines the mk2 Focus ST. the whole point of a hot hatch is to be useful every day as well as fun/loud/fast etc.
low 20s mpg kind of makes it irrelevant as an every day only car.

[768]

Should I not be driving mine daily?

[Chrismawa]

Seems like there isn't any non barried or clean standard examples (~£5k) in the North East.

[Xenoous]

Chrismawa said:

I'm on the lookout for a new car and its between a MK5 Golf GTI or a MK2 Focus ST. I was all for the ST until I started reading online about some of the horror stories.I have found a low mileage low owners car but its other end of country so all I'd be able to do is to judge it by photos and videos. So now I'm back to the drawing board and not sure.

I've run my ST as a daily for 6 years now. It's on 87k miles, running in the region of 280bhp. In that time I've had my clutch replaced (flywheel was knocking) and instrument cluster was repaired. Other than that, mechanically it's been faultless. Not bad for a modified, 14 year old rust bucket.

I can't tell you that it'd be reliable if you went out and got one, but I can tell you it'd be a hoot. That engine makes every start up, every drive an event.

Every car has horror stories. If you do you research, and buy from someone who doesn't wear their baseball cap backwards, I'm sure you'll be fine.

[Jester86]

I loved mine. The only reason I sold was due to a commute of over 100 miles a day with a new job vs the 30 I was doing. The rubbish thing was the job didn't work out after 7 months. So I sold it for a diesel for no real reason.

AX06 EOH where are you!?

[Chrismawa]

Xenoous said:

I've run my ST as a daily for 6 years now. It's on 87k miles, running in the region of 280bhp. In that time I've had my clutch replaced (flywheel was knocking) and instrument cluster was repaired. Other than that, mechanically it's been faultless. Not bad for a modified, 14 year old rust bucket.

I can't tell you that it'd be reliable if you went out and got one, but I can tell you it'd be a hoot. That engine makes every start up, every drive an event.

Every car has horror stories. If you do you research, and buy from someone who doesn't wear their baseball cap backwards, I'm sure you'll be fine.

Yeah I had a 56 plate PFL for 6 months before i purchased my house. It was great although I bought that without really any knowledge on their issues. I've now moved into a position where I am going to commute to work by train so I've canceled the diesel i was going to buy and would like to get back into a MK2 ST. Quite appropriate timing for this guide and thread.

[RyanTank]

treeroy said:

the fuel economy really undermines the mk2 Focus ST. the whole point of a hot hatch is to be useful every day as well as fun/loud/fast etc.
low 20s mpg kind of makes it irrelevant as an every day only car.

It all depends on your situation and commute. My 3ltr Legacy is coping perfectly when needed on my daily <3mile commute, its only returning 9mpg but I was probably getting not far off that from the 3 series it replaced.

having moved closer to work recently was the reason I was hoping to replace the BMW with an ST.

Chrismawa said:

Seems like there isn't any non barried or clean standard examples (~£5k) in the North East.

Not limited to the north East! noticed the gulf in prices for them too, most around £5k are ropey, then its £9k+ for anything decent.
I sat down and worked it out that during my search for one I used up close to £600 in fuel/inspections/day insurance etc just to view cars that were exactly opposite to advertised mostly

[thebigmacmoomin]

Chrismawa said:

Fair enough I agree most cars have their issues. The randomness and the ability for the liners to crack even on standard cars was a bit worrying.

Agree, it does seem random but that can be said about every car. People always said that the pre-facelift would suffer with clutch slip with just a remap, mine had a remap and it didn't slip.

[thebigmacmoomin]

treeroy said:

the fuel economy really undermines the mk2 Focus ST. the whole point of a hot hatch is to be useful every day as well as fun/loud/fast etc.
low 20s mpg kind of makes it irrelevant as an every day only car.

The last tank I got around town was about 18.5mpg. Its usually about 20 / 21 but using the air con a bit more in winter kills the mpg. But then, who is buying one and considering mpg. If you were, you would buy a Mk3 ST or a Golf.

[thebigmacmoomin]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

My wing badges and centre caps are a bit tatty now aswell. Got the white cracks.

[thebigmacmoomin]

KarlMac said:

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

If you want cruise control with the 2.5L, you had to go Volvo as Ford didn't even have it as an option.

[Fermit and Sexy Sarah]

thebigmacmoomin said:

Agree, it does seem random but that can be said about every car. People always said that the pre-facelift would suffer with clutch slip with just a remap, mine had a remap and it didn't slip.

Mine did, was mapped to 280bhp. An easy resolve mind, as the RS clutch is a straight swap, and they are good for 400bhp.

And RE the barried examples, sure there are plenty, but plenty which are standard, or visually so. I've been keeping an eye on them and prices, and ideally would like one which has had a remap AND the RS clutch done, will save me an immediate expense. The only visual mod I care for is the addition of RS bonnet vents, anything else spoils their look IMO.

[768]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

In 12 years also, I had the clutch go at 115k miles (mine's all standard), which think's ok given the way I treat it. And a driveshaft some time before that. And the heated windscreen has stopped working on both sides, not sure why - the relay was gone so the switch didn't come on but I've replaced that and it's still not working. Not the end of the world.

And because it's just a Ford Focus, none of the parts and labour costs are really life changing amounts.

[LOBOTOMIZER]

Thanks to all who replied to my post.

Getting back to the ST, my thought are it’s a fab car!! I love driving it and I’m having trouble finding a suitable replacement for it. The sound, the handling, how it looks and it’s my daily commute car, it’s super fun and reliable.

Only problem I have and I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced a loud bang or pop when you close one of the front windows?

My drivers side one nearly gave me a heart attack a few days ago and now if I close it fully it pops every time, to the point where it sounds/feels like there’s too much pressure pushing up and the window might explode.

Wondering if it’s an alignment issue?!

[Fermit and Sexy Sarah]

Nope, never experienced that, it's just you

[RyanTank]

sounds like it could be the window regulator. either the motor has gone so its not hitting the stop point, or the runner has gone. quite easy to replace and loads of tutorials on youtube.

or try re setting the stop points as in this vid - https://youtu.be/3-sRKOHJr7s?t=37