SSS MK2 or MK2 Focus ST?

[Total Drivin]

Hi new member.

Budget is around 5k for the car.

Had my licence since Feb this year although I have held my full bike licence 10 years (I am 27) so bikes have been my only form of transport in all that time. I am no stranger to the road.

This will be my first car I know they are totally different but this is the two I have narrowed it down to and I am torn between both.

Pros for ST:
Bigger engine.
Bigger car (I have a 3 year old daughter and another early next year) although my wife has an insignia and my car will most likely just be used as the family bus at weekends.

Cons for ST:
Higher tax band.
Big appetite for fuel and front tyres from what I have read online.
Older.
More miles my 5k budget will get me into a 10 year old example with 80 - 100K on the clock.
Insurance costs more but only by roughly £30 a month.

Pros for Swift sport:
My 5K budget will get me into a 6/7 year old car with much less mileage than the ST.
Cheaper tax £155 vs £315 for the ST.
Cheaper insurance see above.
Better on fuel.

Cons for Swift sport:
Tiny boot in comparison to the ST (I'll struggle to get a travel system for the new born in the boot).
A lot noiser and less refined from what I have seen on YT videos.
Dog slow compared to the ST.

What would you get and why? I'm leaning more towards the ST I grew up with fords.

I'm looking to buy at the end of the month I can't face another winter commuting on the bike and it will be nice to take my daughters out at the weekend so we aren't stuck in all day when my wife is at work.

Thanks.

[Fermit and Sarah]

Total Drivin said:

Hi new member.

Budget is around 5k for the car.

Had my licence since Feb this year although I have held my full bike licence 10 years (I am 27) so bikes have been my only form of transport in all that time. I am no stranger to the road.

This will be my first car I know they are totally different but this is the two I have narrowed it down to and I am torn between both.

Pros for ST:
Bigger engine.
Bigger car (I have a 3 year old daughter and another early next year) although my wife has an insignia and my car will most likely just be used as the family bus at weekends.

Cons for ST:
Higher tax band.
Big appetite for fuel and front tyres from what I have read online.
Older.
More miles my 5k budget will get me into a 10 year old example with 80 - 100K on the clock.
Insurance costs more but only by roughly £30 a month.

Pros for Swift sport:
My 5K budget will get me into a 6/7 year old car with much less mileage than the ST.
Cheaper tax £155 vs £315 for the ST.
Cheaper insurance see above.
Better on fuel.

Cons for Swift sport:
Tiny boot in comparison to the ST (I'll struggle to get a travel system for the new born in the boot).
A lot noiser and less refined from what I have seen on YT videos.
Dog slow compared to the ST.

What would you get and why? I'm leaning more towards the ST I grew up with fords.

I'm looking to buy at the end of the month I can't face another winter commuting on the bike and it will be nice to take my daughters out at the weekend so we aren't stuck in all day when my wife is at work.

Thanks.

They're both good cars, but they're very different. The ST is worth the money for the engine note alone, and it's a fair bit faster than the swift.

The Swift is a great car in its own right, very fun to drive according to the knew few people I know who have them.

My ST averaged 19mg, although it was re-mapped and I drove it fairly hard.

Remaps are available from £300 for the ST, taking them to anywhere between 260-280 bhp, depending who you use. Clutch life shall be lessened if you go this route though, at which point it is worth dropping in a higher rated RS clutch in.

Drive them both, and see which you warm to is all I can suggest. Both great cars IMO.

[Shiv_P]

I have a stock 2009 5dr ST, current fuel average is 26.77mpg in mixed driving. Only had it 2 months mind

[pb8g09]

Could you not get the Swift and then swap cars with your missus on the weekend so she goes to work in it whilst you take the Insignia for bus duties?

Saving your bike for when you have an urge to go fast in the summer?..

[ZX10R NIN]

Go for the ST I really enjoyed mine the engine alone wins the battle get an ST-3 & you won't worry about it being older:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I averaged around 27mpg with mine, the Swifts are good cars but IMO not a patch on the ST, there also a bit of chore on a long run & if it's a fun N/A car you want I'd be looking at a Clio RS or Type R GT.

[Total Drivin]

Thanks for the replies. After much debate with myself I have decided the Focus FL preferably in ST3 flavour is the one for me.

Now it's just a case of finding a good one. Hopefully I will be buying this weekend depending on work failing that it will deffintly be next weekend.

Anyway this one caught my eye in particular.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

I've not seen another one with as many toys and the mileage doesn't really put me off. Seller has decided to blank out the number plate though so I can't check the MOT history.

Next one is this.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

Slightly over budget but he might be persuaded to let it go for 5k cash?

This is one of my favourites being a 5 door.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

Was originally up for £6500 then £6200 and now £6000. I'm hoping he's going to get frustrated and just accept my 5k cash offer.

This ST2 has is also on my list.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

Not leather I know but I think I could live with cloth seats. This one has been for sale for a number of weeks and was reduced by £500 last Friday.

Finally there's this also an ST2.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

Description looks fairy decent.

Which would you pencil in to look at and why?

[ZX10R NIN]

The link to first one isn't working but the second one looks very good.

[Total Drivin]

First link was a 142K ST3 with lots of history up for 3750 IIRC. Advert is gone so I assume someone got a bargain.

Anyway made some calls today the silver 3 door ST2 has no service history the best they would take is £3450. That one is near the bottom of my list for the moment.

Made an offer of 5500 to the private seller of the silver ST3 5 door assuming it isn't a dog upon viewing. See if he gets back to me.

The dealer with the black 3 door ST3 (2nd link) won't take less than £5700 (which I could stretch) to it has already been reduced from £6495 apparently.

Might go to look at the black st3 on Saturday.

[ZX10R NIN]

A stage 2 will be something along the lines of a remap intercooler (a very worthwhile addition even on the standard car) but bear in mind if the clutch hasn't been changed then it'll need doing soon also check when the cambelt & water pump were changed.

[Total Drivin]

I'm going to look at the silver ST2 3 door tomorrow.

Phoned the dealer asked if it has any service history which it doesn't. Asked if it had matching tyres and told it has evergreen on the front (ditch finders?) and a different matching pair on the rear.

However it looks very clean in the pictures and the MOT history looks good (better than most I have looked at actually with FSH) having only failed one in the past 7 years on work discs in April 2016. This years in February went through with no advisories.

Gave me the old oh well other people are interested and will be coming tomorrow which was complete bull. Car has been for sale now for a good 6/7 weeks.

Is there anything I need to look at in particular when I go to view it? Other than checking the fluids etc.

[GreatGranny]

TBH no history at all would worry me unless it was silly cheap.

Yes I would be ok with the odd missed or late service or else proof that work has been done by the owner.

Unfortunately they are relatively expensive cars to run so some owners may scrimp on servicing etc...

You need to be patient and not rush into a purchase you may regret.
It's not winter yet and weather is pretty mild so commuting by bike should be ok for the next week or 2.

[Hammy98]

The blue one with the black roof looks lovely... I'd be all over that provided the history checks out.

[ZX10R NIN]

Hi OP, I'm glad you got sorted & you seem to have landed a sweet ST. Do you know what the stage2 consisted of?

I'm guessing a cat back exhaust was part of the package as you mentioned the noise.

[Total Drivin]

Definitely not the standard exhaust. I'm not entirely sure exactly what the upgrades are I only briefly scanned the paperwork.

The dealer was white noise in one ear and out of the other as soon as I seen it my eyes lit up and when I got my arse in the drivers seat I knew I was having it that was before the test drive.

Previous owner had it 3 years almost and the other had it since new. (Most others I was looking at were 3/4 previous owners) just had new rear pads and serviced only a few K ago and a twelve month MOT. The pictures do it no justice looks much better in person with the black roof.

Only bad points are no global closure and it only comes with one key but not a deal breaker.

Overall it's a very nice and I am very pleased with it.

What child seats fit well with the MK2 ST3? I like the look of the recaro young sport it will match the seats.

Also I'm under no delusions that the local pond life won't try to take my very cool new car given half a chance so I am looking at security devices.

[ZX10R NIN]

Get a steering lock that'll deter most as it's to much hassle.