RE: Ford Focus ST (Mk3) | PH Used Buying Guide

[jamiem555]

I've had 2. Had an ST-2 in 2012 and really liked it. I bought a 3.5 ST-3 in 2016 brand new and I've still got it now. Only regret was not waiting for the Sync 3 but the deal was too good to turn down. Mine had the turbo pipe split and that was replaced under warranty. Services are cheap as mentioned and I had mine MOT'd and a major service for £240 ish. I've been doing big miles in mine recently and its a good place to be.

[HazzaT]

Lurked here for a while, decided to post as I'd like to throw my 2p in!
I've owned my 63 plate car for 18 months and am actually in the process of changing to a Mk8 Fiesta with the performance pack.

The Focus is a very nice car to drive and has an effortless way of accelerating (once you're in 3rd), and I've found it really comfortable. Never really gelled with it though, it's got a very vague feeling front end which makes B-road driving less enjoyable than it should be.
Basicallly every common problem with these cars has affected mine as well, including a weird problem with the steering that I couldn't diagnose.
Honestly the new Fiesta ST is far sharper, still comfortable enough and didn't feel any slower. I imagine it is slower but you'd need to be going past licence losing speed for it to be a significant gap.

[drmotorsport]

Not sure about the cambelt references. I'm pretty sure as based on the Duratec chain driven engine, the Ecoboost doesn't need any attention in that department - maybe i'll get an interesting surprise in a few miles! Otherwise it's been a reliable and fun bit of kit in the last year i've had my 2012 ST.

Edited by drmotorsport on Monday 6th July 14:17

Edited by drmotorsport on Monday 6th July 14:18

[MyV10BarksAndBites]

Never liked the looks of these and even tho they do drive well, I personally look at these as a real step down from the Mk2... No five pot, worse (but more modern) styling... Hate the back and really dislike the front...

[HazzaT]

MyV10BarksAndBites said:

Never liked the looks of these and even tho they do drive well, I personally look at these as a real step down from the Mk2... No five pot, worse (but more modern) styling... Hate the back and really dislike the front...

I fully expect the Mk2 mafia to descend on me here, but I'm not sure I agree. The Mk2 is a good car but the only reason people think the engine is good is becsuse it's a 5 pot in a Focus. As standard it's thirsty, not particularly powerful and not particularly reliable either. Sure it's 'better' at taking big power mods but you need the block mod, RS clutch and stronger driveshafts at which point can you really argue that it's better? The 2l ecoboost isn't perfect but out the box it's a responsive, strong-feeling engine that does exactly what you ask of it

[dukebox9reg]

Surprised your quoting the weight less than 1400kg when both the mk2 and mk3 are known to be porky compared to the MBQ cars and especially the new Astra.

All Kerb....
car.info - 1437kg – 1461kg
Parkers - 1437kg
Ford website themselves 1437kg Hatch, 1461kg Estate

Think you need to tweak your source for weights

Edited by dukebox9reg on Monday 6th July 15:30

[NGK210]

Jamescrs said:

...there's probably faster hot hatches for the money ...

For the money – definitely not

Faster, maybe, but they have some fundamental reliability issues and / or design flaws:

Civic Type-R – a huge gamble because some cars have multiple and very expensive gearbox issues, but some cars don’t. Honda denies any problems. Also overheat during hot weather.

Hyundai i30N – umm... a huge gamble because some cars have very expensive gearbox issues – 5th and 6th gear lockout – but some cars don’t. Hyundai denies any problems.

Golf R (Mk7) – expensive to replace engine-cooling thingy repeatedly fails; expensive to replace clutch and DMF can’t cope with OEM torque; sunroofs rattle and leak; infotainment gremlins; inlet valves become caked in sludge because of crap DI design; wheels fragile (buckle and crack); Mk7 GTI sibling ranked 6th in Honest John’s ‘Top 10: Least reliable cars’:
https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/honest-john-satisfact...

Edited by NGK210 on Monday 6th July 17:43

[HazzaT]

NGK210 said:

For the money – definitely not

Faster, maybe, but they have some fundamental reliability issues and / or design flaws:

Civic Type-R – a huge gamble because some cars have multiple and very expensive gearbox issues, but some cars don’t. Honda denies any problems. Also overheat during hot weather.

Hyundai i30N – umm... a huge gamble because some cars have very expensive gearbox issues – 5th and 6th gear lockout – but some cars don’t. Hyundai denies any problems.

Golf R (Mk7) – expensive to replace engine-cooling thingy repeatedly fails; expensive to replace clutch and DMF can’t cope with OEM torque; sunroofs rattle and leak; infotainment gremlins; inlet valves become caked in sludge because of crap DI design; wheels fragile (buckle and crack); Mk7 GTI sibling now in Honest John’s top 10 worst list.

So does the Focus to be fair, radiators like to spring leaks and there have been documented steering rack problems. Engines have gone bang as well.

[mike150]

Ive had lots of fast cars and 8 Focus's from the MK1 as I used to work for Ford.

I bought a new ST Focus in 2016 after having a 2013 Zetec S from new that I really liked ........ Naturally I imagined it would be better than the S.......please heed the following 2 big flaws with the ST Focus.

The suspension is great for fast driving but far too stiffly damped for slow or normal driving. The handling is terrible due to the poor ESP and traction control making the torque steer unpredictable verging on dangerous. These 2 issues mean its not great for normal driving or fast driving. I sold mine after 3 months.

Since 2016 similar cars I've had are a 2015 Audi S3, a 2018 RS3, a 2016 Golf R and a 2016 Golf GTI all far far better IMO.

[NGK210]

HazzaT said:

So does the Focus to be fair, radiators like to spring leaks and there have been documented steering rack problems. Engines have gone bang as well.

Sure, but IIRC the ST’s problems have been identified, upgraded and replaced, invariably under warranty.

Whereas the Civic Type-R gearbox issue, for example, is an ongoing 5-year saga, Honda refuses to acknowledge a problem and will not honour warranty claims, and if you replace your £5k + labour gearbox the problem may repeat because the design hasn’t been upgraded / rectified.

Edited by NGK210 on Monday 6th July 18:03

[stargazer30]

I have a 17 plate Mk3.5 Focus ST. It replaced a Mk7 Fiesta ST. You'd think them both being same generation and both fast fords, the focus would be just a bigger car and more of the same. You'd be wrong, they are quite different.

The fiesta ST was a ton of fun and for some reason its a car you just want to drive like you stole it. Its rear end can be a little tail happy for a FWD, but for a FWD it can get off the line pretty quick and can get all the power down from 2nd upwards even with a remap. Harsh suspension but that's to be expected from a small hot hatch I guess.

When I traded it and got the focus I was initially disappointed. It felt slower and you just can't chuck it round a corner (well actually you can but its just not fun). Its a car you really need to drive differently. After owning it several months I prefer the focus now. Its a nicer place to sit, gets you from A to B with no drama and its comfy on broken roads compared to the fiesta. It doesn't feel quick but look at the speedo and its as quick as my old mapped Fiesta ST. The only two bad points I'd give it is that even with good tyres you can forget booting it 1st and 2nd and even in 3rd WOT is only possible on a dry warm day. 2nd is that the engine failing stories are concerning. Lower mileage stock cars having piston failures is not good and it doesn't seem to be limited to earlier cars either.

I should mention I've had 3x Mk2 Focus STs over the years too and even though folks bash the Focus Mk3 and tend to prefer the Mk2 I disagree. The Mk2 handled like a boat compared to the Mk3 and had really really crap MPG for 220bhp. The Mk3 is still crap MPG wise but a good +5mpg less crap Plus on the mk3.5 with its amplified symposer the engine note is still pretty nice. Not as good as the old 5pot but better than most 2L turbos.

[Zetec-S]

mike150 said:

The suspension is great for fast driving but far too stiffly damped for slow or normal driving. The handling is terrible due to the poor ESP and traction control making the torque steer unpredictable verging on dangerous. These 2 issues mean its not great for normal driving or fast driving. I sold mine after 3 months.

Out of interest, did you have 18" or 19" wheels on yours? Mine is on 18's and the ride is fine, I think a few people have picked up on this from what I can tell from the specialist forums. It does have a tendancy to torque steer, but nothing too bad. And since putting PS4's on the handling has improved considerably.

mike150 said:

Since 2016 similar cars I've had are a 2015 Audi S3, a 2018 RS3, a 2016 Golf R and a 2016 Golf GTI all far far better IMO.

Other than the Golf GTI, none of those are really in the same class though, so I'd expect them to be better.

[Nyloc20]

mike150 said:

Ive had lots of fast cars and 8 Focus's from the MK1 as I used to work for Ford.

I bought a new ST Focus in 2016 after having a 2013 Zetec S from new that I really liked ........ Naturally I imagined it would be better than the S.......please heed the following 2 big flaws with the ST Focus.

The suspension is great for fast driving but far too stiffly damped for slow or normal driving. The handling is terrible due to the poor ESP and traction control making the torque steer unpredictable verging on dangerous. These 2 issues mean its not great for normal driving or fast driving. I sold mine after 3 months.

Since 2016 similar cars I've had are a 2015 Audi S3, a 2018 RS3, a 2016 Golf R and a 2016 Golf GTI all far far better IMO.

I'm surprised to read some of your comments but fair enough if that's how you found it. I've probably read every road test and group test for the Mk3 and can't recall seeing a reference to the poor handling. I do agree about the stiff suspension but I don't find it extreme.
The numbers they'll sold must indicate plenty of happy customers.

[HazzaT]

Nyloc20 said:

I'm surprised to read some of your comments but fair enough if that's how you found it. I've probably read every road test and group test for the Mk3 and can't recall seeing a reference to the poor handling. I do agree about the stiff suspension but I don't find it extreme.
The numbers they'll sold must indicate plenty of happy customers.

In my experience of owning the car I think I'd call the handling competent rather than 'good', I've never really enjoyed the experience of hustling it through corners. It'll do it but for me the selling point of the car's performance is the mid-range shove.

[99t]

mike150 said:

The handling is terrible due to the poor ESP and traction control making the torque steer unpredictable verging on dangerous

Unless you've driven a 2002 Saab 9-3 Aero, you've really not experienced potentially dangerous torque steer!!

The Focus, even with more power than standard, is a fluffy little kitten by comparison in the dangerous stakes!!

[Deep Thought]

Nyloc20 said:

I'm surprised to read some of your comments but fair enough if that's how you found it. I've probably read every road test and group test for the Mk3 and can't recall seeing a reference to the poor handling. I do agree about the stiff suspension but I don't find it extreme.
The numbers they'll sold must indicate plenty of happy customers.

I bought a 2013 one last year. Black ST-2 with the performance(?) pack that gets you the darker wheels and red calipers.

I just couldnt warm to it. No doubt the Recaro (branded?) seat was very good in its own right but i couldnt ever find the right driving position. Every time i got in i adjusted something. Drove well enough and handled well enough but i never bonded with it.

Sold it after 3 months.

[martin12345]

99t said:

mike150 said:

The handling is terrible due to the poor ESP and traction control making the torque steer unpredictable verging on dangerous

Unless you've driven a 2002 Saab 9-3 Aero, you've really not experienced potentially dangerous torque steer!!

The Focus, even with more power than standard, is a fluffy little kitten by comparison in the dangerous stakes!!

I'll see your SAAB and raise you a Montego Turbo.
No need for the steering wheel if turning right, just use the throttle !!

[mike150]

Zetec-S said:

mike150 said:

The suspension is great for fast driving but far too stiffly damped for slow or normal driving. The handling is terrible due to the poor ESP and traction control making the torque steer unpredictable verging on dangerous. These 2 issues mean its not great for normal driving or fast driving. I sold mine after 3 months.

Out of interest, did you have 18" or 19" wheels on yours? Mine is on 18's and the ride is fine, I think a few people have picked up on this from what I can tell from the specialist forums. It does have a tendancy to torque steer, but nothing too bad. And since putting PS4's on the handling has improved considerably.

mike150 said:

Since 2016 similar cars I've had are a 2015 Audi S3, a 2018 RS3, a 2016 Golf R and a 2016 Golf GTI all far far better IMO.

Other than the Golf GTI, none of those are really in the same class though, so I'd expect them to be better.

It was on the 18" wheels.

[Zad]

I like that metallic orange tangerine scream WAY more than I should do at my age

[oobster]

I had a stealth grey estate ST-3 facelift petrol from new with the Mountune upgrade, only issue I had during the ownership was a headlight replaced under warranty due to the swivel/auto level thing not working.

Focus_ST_11-09-2016-18 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr

It was my 2nd MK3 ST, i'd previously owned a red hatchback ST-3 petrol and it was, initially, a nightmare car. Broke down twice within the first few weeks of ownership, both times recovered back to the dealer, 1st time fault wrongly diagnosed, 2nd time I was on my way home from the dealer after being told 'it's supposed to cut out going round roundabouts, that's the traction control kicking in' and when I argued that I was told 'it cut out because you were low on fuel'. I knew it to be bks.

After 2nd breakdown they fault was correctly diagnosed - wiring rubbing off the gearbox on cornering and had bared the wires down to the copper conductor.

The gap between the front bumper and the bonnet on my pre-facelift hatch was large enough to allow pets and small children to slide through.

Focus ST-3 10th Dec 2012 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr

I only got rid of the grey facelifted estate to upgrade to the MK3 RS.

I would recommend a facelifted ST-3, especially with the Mountune upgrade.