Ford Focus ST170
Discussion
LOVE these. I've had mine for over 6 years and 40k miles now.
I replaced the common failure parts early in my ownership and touch wood, it has been as reliable as a sewing machine since.
They are one of those cars that don't excel at anything but are good at everything.
Changing the IMRC solenoid is a t
t of a job, I replaced mine with a new one(£250!
) and it has been fine for 30k miles. Doing the cambelt/waterpump is easy and an afternoons work but there are 2 different kits for these(1 kit has one idler, the other has 2) so make sure you know which one you have beforehand.
You can fit the IB5(I think) box which apparently transforms the car. It's something I've wanted to try but I do like the flexibility of the 6 speed.
Great cars, yours looks like a decent one too!
I replaced the common failure parts early in my ownership and touch wood, it has been as reliable as a sewing machine since.
They are one of those cars that don't excel at anything but are good at everything.
Changing the IMRC solenoid is a t
t of a job, I replaced mine with a new one(£250! ) and it has been fine for 30k miles. Doing the cambelt/waterpump is easy and an afternoons work but there are 2 different kits for these(1 kit has one idler, the other has 2) so make sure you know which one you have beforehand.You can fit the IB5(I think) box which apparently transforms the car. It's something I've wanted to try but I do like the flexibility of the 6 speed.
Great cars, yours looks like a decent one too!
Edited by AdamIndy on Thursday 23 November 16:35
The one in mine looks to have been bodged before - the spring that sits on the cam had some kind of adhesive crap all over it and the spring had popped out. I chemical metalled it, but it's back again. Everything else in the system looks ok, so I'll swap the box out at some point!
It went in for its MOT last Friday and passed (After 4 new tyres went on), got an advisory for brake pipes corroded so they'll probably want doing next time around. Picked up an oil filter as well while I was there and gave it a bath as a treat for doing so well!
I'm not convinced with the new tyres - they're just some cheapo Nexen things that were lying around my dad's place so I got them pretty cheap. The old fronts were on the limit, but were Contactsport 2's and these nexen's don't seem half as grippy. Maybe they need some more miles to get scrubbed in, maybe i'm just hopelessly optimistic!
Also, I asked to have the fronts balanced as I was getting feedback at motorway speed. Turns out one of the wheels has a pretty bad buckle
it's been moved to the rear and the car feels amazing by comparison, but it wants replacing. I was thinking about buying a "cheap" set off ebay as I'd already kerbed a couple and wanted to refurb a set myself, so looks like I'll be doing that at somepoint, or perhaps having it done because the ST wheels look a nightmare to prep...
It went in for its MOT last Friday and passed (After 4 new tyres went on), got an advisory for brake pipes corroded so they'll probably want doing next time around. Picked up an oil filter as well while I was there and gave it a bath as a treat for doing so well!
I'm not convinced with the new tyres - they're just some cheapo Nexen things that were lying around my dad's place so I got them pretty cheap. The old fronts were on the limit, but were Contactsport 2's and these nexen's don't seem half as grippy. Maybe they need some more miles to get scrubbed in, maybe i'm just hopelessly optimistic!
Also, I asked to have the fronts balanced as I was getting feedback at motorway speed. Turns out one of the wheels has a pretty bad buckle
it's been moved to the rear and the car feels amazing by comparison, but it wants replacing. I was thinking about buying a "cheap" set off ebay as I'd already kerbed a couple and wanted to refurb a set myself, so looks like I'll be doing that at somepoint, or perhaps having it done because the ST wheels look a nightmare to prep...Had mine since September, it's my first legal to drive car. Not a bad car for a 17 year old 
only paid £550, passed MOT first time with only tyres as advisories (On Nankang NS2R's now anyway). 104k on the clock, what makes mine special is the history. My dad owned it new from 2003-2005, he traded it in for a 225 Leon for 2 reasons 1.) It refused to rev over 4K 2.) The suspension just bottomed out on every small bump. I remember going to test drive it after our 2000 Turbo was stolen, have some very good memories in it. I found it when I was on holiday, messaged the guy and told him the history, he offered to keep it for me until I came back. Test drove it to make sure the 2 issues it had new were gone, they are. Drove it home from Leeds to Liverpool that day. It was up for £700, he did it for £550 and drove infront of me to a petrol station on the way home. The guy was an interior upholsterer which I guess explains how the interior looks like it did 14 years ago. Overall I'm very happy, I have some big plans. Going to sort all the arches out, and a small piece of rust on the boot. Going to fix the panel gap on the front wing from where it was reversed into in 2004, wheels refurb, Miltek exhaust, Piper Cross induction system and some small odd jobs. Couldn't be happier, alot of family were shocked to see it again. Only gripes are the fuel economy which is poor (in the 20s), the seating position is quite high, although it does make it much easier to see out of I guess. Looking forward to the years of ownership. I plan on putting a private plate on before I sell it so I can keep the current reg for all my future cars. I'll set up my own thread when I start doing the work on it, probably send it in to RCOTW next year too.
Boot isn't mismatched, it's the lighting in the driveway, does it to every car
only paid £550, passed MOT first time with only tyres as advisories (On Nankang NS2R's now anyway). 104k on the clock, what makes mine special is the history. My dad owned it new from 2003-2005, he traded it in for a 225 Leon for 2 reasons 1.) It refused to rev over 4K 2.) The suspension just bottomed out on every small bump. I remember going to test drive it after our 2000 Turbo was stolen, have some very good memories in it. I found it when I was on holiday, messaged the guy and told him the history, he offered to keep it for me until I came back. Test drove it to make sure the 2 issues it had new were gone, they are. Drove it home from Leeds to Liverpool that day. It was up for £700, he did it for £550 and drove infront of me to a petrol station on the way home. The guy was an interior upholsterer which I guess explains how the interior looks like it did 14 years ago. Overall I'm very happy, I have some big plans. Going to sort all the arches out, and a small piece of rust on the boot. Going to fix the panel gap on the front wing from where it was reversed into in 2004, wheels refurb, Miltek exhaust, Piper Cross induction system and some small odd jobs. Couldn't be happier, alot of family were shocked to see it again. Only gripes are the fuel economy which is poor (in the 20s), the seating position is quite high, although it does make it much easier to see out of I guess. Looking forward to the years of ownership. I plan on putting a private plate on before I sell it so I can keep the current reg for all my future cars. I'll set up my own thread when I start doing the work on it, probably send it in to RCOTW next year too. Boot isn't mismatched, it's the lighting in the driveway, does it to every car
itcaptainslow said:
You've done well to insure that aged 17-I had my first one at 19 eleven years ago (you do the maths!) and paid around £1500 for the pleasure of being covered for a year!
I found it odd the way insurance works. I found out a Leon 225 was £2500 to insure, just couldn't afford to buy one or I would in a flash. Gotta say I'm enjoying it alot (not the fuel economy). Had my first encounter with the lift off oversteer I heard about on them. Blipped it down to second on a good bit of road I like, felt the rear starting to come out, nothing uncontrolled, feels like a well set up chassis, I'd love to have a go in a MK1 RS. wst said:
That era of Ford's really grown on me lately. A Focus ST170 or RS, and Mondeo ST220 Estate, in a matching blue, would be a fantastic complementary pair for the driveway.
Still dirt cheap too, I tried looking around for ST220 quotes with no success. Such a nice sounding engine, remember they got a good write up too. Love a bit of history! Looks very clean, and yeah, I just about managed to install a 1.8 petrol focus when I was that age!
My brother had a 2005 Mondeo ST diesel in imperial blue for a while, it did look good with some BBS alloys, although it was reasonably quick and handled well, he couldn't help but compare it to the 172 Clio he had before and found it to be a little too dull. I imagine a V6 would help make it a bit more interesting!
My brother had a 2005 Mondeo ST diesel in imperial blue for a while, it did look good with some BBS alloys, although it was reasonably quick and handled well, he couldn't help but compare it to the 172 Clio he had before and found it to be a little too dull. I imagine a V6 would help make it a bit more interesting!
Yep soft sport for these. My first 'proper' car at the age of 22. Owned it for 4 years. Magnum gray 3 door. Was great to drive but the lack of power let it down and needed to have it's neck rung to get anywhere fast. My ST170 was fully kitted out with heated leather Recaros, climate control, cd changer etc. Great wee car. Only issues I had was the intake manifold solenoid throwing it;s hand in and the oil sump becoming porous.
I upgraded to the MK2 FRS and that was something else entirely. Quickly forgot about the ST,
I upgraded to the MK2 FRS and that was something else entirely. Quickly forgot about the ST,
aaron_2000 said:
itcaptainslow said:
Um, Modern Classics... 
I didn't read it properly Weird to think the Focus is a modern classic nowI also can’t believe how dainty it looks parked next to a 2017 car!
itcaptainslow said:
I also can’t believe how dainty it looks parked next to a 2017 car!
Got pictures of it in the driveway 14 years ago, looks like a normal sized car. Same driveway 14 years later, it looks narrow and Fiesta sized. It's weird. Pretty sure it's the same size as a new Fiesta now? Hey guys ,
I’m 25 years of age and recently purchased a 2002 st17 , this is my second car iv only been driving a year . My first car was a Ford ka 2006 model with 30 thousand miles on the clock .
My st170 I purchased has 140 thousand miles on the clock but is in proper decent Nick for the age , and certainly has 10x the grunt as the ka
Guys was this a right decision purchasing this with the mileage also what problems should I look out for .
I’m 25 years of age and recently purchased a 2002 st17 , this is my second car iv only been driving a year . My first car was a Ford ka 2006 model with 30 thousand miles on the clock .
My st170 I purchased has 140 thousand miles on the clock but is in proper decent Nick for the age , and certainly has 10x the grunt as the ka
Guys was this a right decision purchasing this with the mileage also what problems should I look out for .
I think generally speaking the engine's in these are pretty solid apart from the IMRC. I think main concern is rust. Mine has been beaten pretty badly on the front and rear arches. I've got a pair of pattern wings to be painted and put on at some point. It's also worth checking inside the rear arches under the boot liner as that can take a beating as well. The sumps rust well on these as well, so always good to make sure it's in decent shape and not leaking.
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