Focus ST3 Project

[JonLock]

So ive been a member on here a while and not posted in like a year so thought id start over invloving my old cars and my present.

So my first REAL car i bought just before my 19th birthday and had to store it for 3 months before i could get insured on me 19th this was a killer!

So it was a ph1 172 clio sport low millage owned by an old boy who put a stainless system and a panel filter on it aswell as ph2 rear lights and left it in his garge barely using it, perfect! it was also 1 of 99 iceburg silvers ph1 172s registered in the uk.

When i first got it





This was me pride and joy for 2 years proepr decent car i spent alot of time an work on the car doing all the work myself.

Spec
rare 16" OZ f1s refurbed
yellow sfs silcon hoses
lowered 30mm
ph2 side strips
s/s exhaust
ph2 rear lights
ali radiator
tv dvd head unit
itg panel filter
polished inlet and painted mani and phelum (sp)?!
and few other bits

so just before i sold









For my 21st bday i wanted to get a bigger more grown up car so i looked over lots of possible cars but i settles a few weeks after me 21st for a R32 (diamond black 52k miles).

Totally standard i only changed a few things new number plates, black badges, uprated cuppra R top mounts and i did the 'flapper mod' in the exhaust aswell as a full machine polish and detail.

It also came with the full leathers and sunroof which is quite a rare combo.









So i had this bout 8 months when my brother decided he wanted to sell me his ST3 due to having to fund his business and therefore he gave it to me for a stupidly low price as he wanted me to have it and it was alot newer than the R and had very low millage

This already had a K&N gen II induction set up and the alloys had been refurbed in shadow chrome when i got it





then i added the vynl lip under the front grill and painted the tacky looking chrome ST side badges matt black







I then added the LHD reversing light to make it look more even on the back







i also added a custom mp3 set up in the ash tray that full hides away





i was worried that with the K&N filter being down at the front wheel arch it wasnt gettin enuff air so i cut a whole in the grill and ran some ducting up to the filter





Blue flame cat back and miltek decat came next











My custom boot install is being bulit by me at the moment and a double din dvd sat nav sterio will be going in soon ish then ill leave it until the suer where a new I/C remap and poss rs clutch will be fitted and the mountune inlet looks pretty decent but abit pricey! so who nos.

Sorry bout the essay! i cnt be assed to read it back so im sure theres mistakes!

Cheers and ill update it as i go

[Somnophore]

Have you got rich parents or are you an accountant or something?

[al1991]

Nice cars, especially at that age.

Does the rear fog on the ST3 still work then, just with the clear lens?

[MattyB_]

Somnophore said:

Have you got rich parents or are you an accountant or something?

Why? Because he had an R32 at 21? None of the above mentioned cars are fantastically expensive for someone in full-time employment on an average wage.

Nice cars, but R32 -> Focus is a bit of a downgrade, isn't it?

[JonLock]

Somnophore said:

Have you got rich parents or are you an accountant or something?

Nope i have funded all my cars myself as said there not exactly ferraris but there nice for my age i guess but i work hard for what i have, im a mechanical/electronic engineerer for a satalite comms company

[JonLock]

al1991 said:

Nice cars, especially at that age.

Does the rear fog on the ST3 still work then, just with the clear lens?

yes mate just put a red bulb in and works fine as a rear fog

[JonLock]

MattyB_ said:

Somnophore said:

Have you got rich parents or are you an accountant or something?

Why? Because he had an R32 at 21? None of the above mentioned cars are fantastically expensive for someone in full-time employment on an average wage.

Nice cars, but R32 -> Focus is a bit of a downgrade, isn't it?

In some ways yea but the r32 needed ££££s spent inorder to achieve any more power other than the odd 10 bhp the focus for about 1500 quid you can nearly achieve the 300 bhop mark. The focus was newer less miles and i was given it at a price i cudnt turn down, i wasnt looking to sell the R but it just made sense when i was offered the focus. Pluss apart from the noise the R was abit dull to drive heavy n lumbersum althoguht the 4x4 haldex system was fun in the snow and for take off. Focus is more chuckable and more exciting to drive but thats my opinion im sure the R32 boys will say diff.

[_Batty_]

any details on the hidden MP3 player?
looks ace

[JonLock]

_Batty_ said:

any details on the hidden MP3 player?
looks ace

what you wanna know mate? the ash tray pulls out so i made and bent a peice of sheet ally and tapped it and drilled holes into the bottom of ash tray and two counter sink screws to hold it in place, piece of velcoro on back so i can take the mp3 out to chrage upload etc. and ran the wires up to the aux port in the glove box, so i had to extend the aux cable and hide it away behind the plastics

[_Batty_]

JonLock said:

_Batty_ said:

any details on the hidden MP3 player?
looks ace

what you wanna know mate? the ash tray pulls out so i made and bent a peice of sheet ally and tapped it and drilled holes into the bottom of ash tray and two counter sink screws to hold it in place, piece of velcoro on back so i can take the mp3 out to chrage upload etc. and ran the wires up to the aux port in the glove box, so i had to extend the aux cable and hide it away behind the plastics

ah, so it links with your standard unit? where did you get it from?
looks good for my Megane 225

[JonLock]

yea it links through standard unit, currys few months back, the new ipod mini would looks the nuts in there tho im alittle tempted by it!

[DannyVTS]

So you've had my favourite RSClio in my favourite colour

My favourite Mk4 Golf.

And my favourite colour in the ST's

Very nice

[RobCrezz]

JonLock said:

MattyB_ said:

Somnophore said:

Have you got rich parents or are you an accountant or something?

Why? Because he had an R32 at 21? None of the above mentioned cars are fantastically expensive for someone in full-time employment on an average wage.

Nice cars, but R32 -> Focus is a bit of a downgrade, isn't it?

In some ways yea but the r32 needed ££££s spent inorder to achieve any more power other than the odd 10 bhp the focus for about 1500 quid you can nearly achieve the 300 bhop mark. The focus was newer less miles and i was given it at a price i cudnt turn down, i wasnt looking to sell the R but it just made sense when i was offered the focus. Pluss apart from the noise the R was abit dull to drive heavy n lumbersum althoguht the 4x4 haldex system was fun in the snow and for take off. Focus is more chuckable and more exciting to drive but thats my opinion im sure the R32 boys will say diff.

You made the right choice IMO. The R32 is a nice car, but the Focus is a better drive.

[al1991]

JonLock said:

al1991 said:

Nice cars, especially at that age.

Does the rear fog on the ST3 still work then, just with the clear lens?

yes mate just put a red bulb in and works fine as a rear fog

Very neat little mod

[snorkel sucker]

Id be doing the performance upgrades to the focus before the ICE install chap!!

Anyone who thinks that going from an R32 to an ST is a downgrade is mistaken. The ST is a very capable machine and, with the mods the OP has done to the exhaust system, it will sound every bit as good as the R32

If you havent already done so, id upgrade the brakes, even if its a simple pad+fluid change. They are ok, but not brilliant

[soad]

Nice progression car-wise. All good motors

[JonLock]

snorkel sucker said:

Id be doing the performance upgrades to the focus before the ICE install chap!!

Anyone who thinks that going from an R32 to an ST is a downgrade is mistaken. The ST is a very capable machine and, with the mods the OP has done to the exhaust system, it will sound every bit as good as the R32

If you havent already done so, id upgrade the brakes, even if its a simple pad+fluid change. They are ok, but not brilliant

It does sound pretty awesome specialy when it spools up sounds like a rally car from behind! i have all the audio equipemant sat in the garage so not biggy and all the materials sat at work so me and a mate just roll it in after work hours do abit n go home. Its just going to be a simple raised floor hidden amp and the sub sunk in to the floor so its flush.

The only problem with all the power on the st is once u hit the 280-290 bhp makr its veery common for clutch slip to occur so im holding back alittle till summer then ill consider the RS diff and clutch all can be put in for around 1600 i believe

[rb5230]

MattyB_ said:

Nice cars, but R32 -> Focus is a bit of a downgrade, isn't it?

i can tell you have never driven both, or probably either in fact.

unless of course your wink smiley was insinuating you were joking.

[thebigmacmoomin]

I like the shadow chroming of the wheels.

Must paint my wing badges too some time. Will do mine sea grey and leave the st bit red.

[Elskeggso]

Pretty smart, all three of them. I like the MP3 player in the Focus!