Focus ST170 - any good?
Discussion
Not tracked one but taken my own very quickly on quiet roads. Not a huge amount of power compared to a lot of cars but its chassis can shame more expensive and much faster machinery with the right tyres.
It felt so good at most speeds and gripped so well I am sure it would make you smile on a track. Good oversteer/4 wheel drifts available too.
It felt so good at most speeds and gripped so well I am sure it would make you smile on a track. Good oversteer/4 wheel drifts available too.
Refinement is great, the standard seats are very good and the recaros fitted to some are better, IMO it is a nicer car to sit in than any other focus from that era. Suspension is not too harsh but upgraded from the zetec enough to make a huge difference, and the 6 speed box is very leggy allowing for easy crusing and .95 leptons in 3rd gear should sir wish to seek out the redline 
Woefully underpowered IMO and never produced a consistent 170BHP from the factory. If you do get one, get a later one which fixes a few things, one of which is the longer accelerator cable that runs over the bonnet and back up to the throttle body. I would also get one with the climate pack that includes heated front windscreen and xenons 
. Gearbox is too tall which IMO is it's Achilles hill. Not much power over the 2.0L for the extra hike in insurance group.
A couple were knocking around with about 300BHP down via a turbo and the charger route on FFOC a few years ago.
I would be looking at a Clio Sport if size is not a concern? Even a Civic Type R if you do need the size
. Gearbox is too tall which IMO is it's Achilles hill. Not much power over the 2.0L for the extra hike in insurance group.A couple were knocking around with about 300BHP down via a turbo and the charger route on FFOC a few years ago.
I would be looking at a Clio Sport if size is not a concern? Even a Civic Type R if you do need the size
UncappedTag said:
I would be looking at a Clio Sport if size is not a concern? Even a Civic Type R if you do need the size
From what I can remember the Clio and CTR are both a rather different prospect in terms of refinement? More fun cross country I'm sure, but what makes a Focus so hard to replace is the fact it marries warm hatch dynamics with almost barge-like refinement. In terms of FWD hatchbacks (i.e. ignoring the jump to 3 series coupes and the like) the next step up power-wise with a sensible price and some degree of comfort is probably the mk2 ST. It's another very complete car and they can't be much more than a late, low mileage ST170 these days?
ST's are fabulous. Run one myself on a 55 plate, ST3. If you want to seat 4 people with all the trimmings, leather, air-con, great luggage space, electric everything and a reliable 5 pot burble that will tootle round town like Miss Daisy or open up into a real market beating hot hatch, get one.
You won't regret it.
You won't regret it.
Simon Bags said:
ST's are fabulous. Run one myself on a 55 plate, ST3. If you want to seat 4 people with all the trimmings, leather, air-con, great luggage space, electric everything and a reliable 5 pot burble that will tootle round town like Miss Daisy or open up into a real market beating hot hatch, get one.
You won't regret it.
He is talking about the MK1 You won't regret it.
UncappedTag said:
Simon Bags said:
ST's are fabulous. Run one myself on a 55 plate, ST3. If you want to seat 4 people with all the trimmings, leather, air-con, great luggage space, electric everything and a reliable 5 pot burble that will tootle round town like Miss Daisy or open up into a real market beating hot hatch, get one.
You won't regret it.
He is talking about the MK1 You won't regret it.
Edited by Gareth350 on Thursday 22 October 14:27
UncappedTag said:
Simon Bags said:
ST's are fabulous. Run one myself on a 55 plate, ST3. If you want to seat 4 people with all the trimmings, leather, air-con, great luggage space, electric everything and a reliable 5 pot burble that will tootle round town like Miss Daisy or open up into a real market beating hot hatch, get one.
You won't regret it.
He is talking about the MK1 You won't regret it.
Honestly the ST170 is the most complete car i've ever owned.
Mine puts out a healthy 172bhp, so must've been one of the good ones, but with the xenons, heated front screen and full climate control, its got all the toys you'd need, plus is plenty quick enough, and handles like a dream.
The handling is so direct, so feelsome, i never tire of driving it.
I think its quite telling that after driving Gallardos, Porkers, Ferraris and the like, the ST170 never feels too slow, and frankly the steering is a revelation after a lot of so-called 'supercars'.
Incidentally, mines up for sale (see profile)... :thumup:
Mine puts out a healthy 172bhp, so must've been one of the good ones, but with the xenons, heated front screen and full climate control, its got all the toys you'd need, plus is plenty quick enough, and handles like a dream.
The handling is so direct, so feelsome, i never tire of driving it.
I think its quite telling that after driving Gallardos, Porkers, Ferraris and the like, the ST170 never feels too slow, and frankly the steering is a revelation after a lot of so-called 'supercars'.
Incidentally, mines up for sale (see profile)... :thumup:
Edited by Beefmeister on Friday 23 October 10:43
Well I've picked one up (actually the only one I was considering). It's a 52 plate in metallic grey with only 43k on the clock. Has Xenons, climate, etc. Got the car for a very good price from a friend.
Great car and fantastic fun to drive (as noted by the previous poster). Also, it doesn't seem underpowered to me, you just need to keep the car in the right rev range to extract the power. I forgot how much fun hot (or warm, depending on your viewpoint) hatches can be!
Great car and fantastic fun to drive (as noted by the previous poster). Also, it doesn't seem underpowered to me, you just need to keep the car in the right rev range to extract the power. I forgot how much fun hot (or warm, depending on your viewpoint) hatches can be!
Beefmeister said:
Honestly the ST170 is the most complete car i've ever owned.
Mine puts out a healthy 172bhp, so must've been one of the good ones, but with the xenons, heated front screen and full climate control, its got all the toys you'd need, plus is plenty quick enough, and handles like a dream.
The handling is so direct, so feelsome, i never tire of driving it.
I think its quite telling that after driving Gallardos, Porkers, Ferraris and the like, the ST170 never feels too slow, and frankly the steering is a revelation after a lot of so-called 'supercars'.
Incidentally, mines up for sale (see profile)... :thumup:
if it had the recaro leather i would probably be coming to buy it as i think it could be the sensible car for me over the imprezas etc i was considering.Mine puts out a healthy 172bhp, so must've been one of the good ones, but with the xenons, heated front screen and full climate control, its got all the toys you'd need, plus is plenty quick enough, and handles like a dream.
The handling is so direct, so feelsome, i never tire of driving it.
I think its quite telling that after driving Gallardos, Porkers, Ferraris and the like, the ST170 never feels too slow, and frankly the steering is a revelation after a lot of so-called 'supercars'.
Incidentally, mines up for sale (see profile)... :thumup:
Edited by Beefmeister on Friday 23 October 10:43
rsstman said:
Beefmeister said:
Honestly the ST170 is the most complete car i've ever owned.
Mine puts out a healthy 172bhp, so must've been one of the good ones, but with the xenons, heated front screen and full climate control, its got all the toys you'd need, plus is plenty quick enough, and handles like a dream.
The handling is so direct, so feelsome, i never tire of driving it.
I think its quite telling that after driving Gallardos, Porkers, Ferraris and the like, the ST170 never feels too slow, and frankly the steering is a revelation after a lot of so-called 'supercars'.
Incidentally, mines up for sale (see profile)... :thumup:
if it had the recaro leather i would probably be coming to buy it as i think it could be the sensible car for me over the imprezas etc i was considering.Mine puts out a healthy 172bhp, so must've been one of the good ones, but with the xenons, heated front screen and full climate control, its got all the toys you'd need, plus is plenty quick enough, and handles like a dream.
The handling is so direct, so feelsome, i never tire of driving it.
I think its quite telling that after driving Gallardos, Porkers, Ferraris and the like, the ST170 never feels too slow, and frankly the steering is a revelation after a lot of so-called 'supercars'.
Incidentally, mines up for sale (see profile)... :thumup:
Edited by Beefmeister on Friday 23 October 10:43
I was thinking the same as you when i was looking for mine, and after driving one with leather i decided that xenons were more important, after all the 1/2 leather seats are very nice and add a bit of colour to the interior...
Great car.
Owned on for 5 years now and on the right day it's as good as any car I have driven. Fantastic fun and the handling is superb. Yes underpowered but it's a rev friendly engine.
Throttle cable is a bit of a pain but I have got that used to the vibration now lol. Watch out for a faulty inlet manifold solenoid (loud clunking noice when driving) and pourous oil sump. Not sure if they are common but I had these faults anyway.
I have an 02 plate in Gun Metal grey with all the toys and upgrades. Will miss her when she goes next year
Owned on for 5 years now and on the right day it's as good as any car I have driven. Fantastic fun and the handling is superb. Yes underpowered but it's a rev friendly engine.
Throttle cable is a bit of a pain but I have got that used to the vibration now lol. Watch out for a faulty inlet manifold solenoid (loud clunking noice when driving) and pourous oil sump. Not sure if they are common but I had these faults anyway.
I have an 02 plate in Gun Metal grey with all the toys and upgrades. Will miss her when she goes next year
rsstman said:
Beefmeister said:
Honestly the ST170 is the most complete car i've ever owned.
Mine puts out a healthy 172bhp, so must've been one of the good ones, but with the xenons, heated front screen and full climate control, its got all the toys you'd need, plus is plenty quick enough, and handles like a dream.
The handling is so direct, so feelsome, i never tire of driving it.
I think its quite telling that after driving Gallardos, Porkers, Ferraris and the like, the ST170 never feels too slow, and frankly the steering is a revelation after a lot of so-called 'supercars'.
Incidentally, mines up for sale (see profile)... :thumup:
if it had the recaro leather i would probably be coming to buy it as i think it could be the sensible car for me over the imprezas etc i was considering.Mine puts out a healthy 172bhp, so must've been one of the good ones, but with the xenons, heated front screen and full climate control, its got all the toys you'd need, plus is plenty quick enough, and handles like a dream.
The handling is so direct, so feelsome, i never tire of driving it.
I think its quite telling that after driving Gallardos, Porkers, Ferraris and the like, the ST170 never feels too slow, and frankly the steering is a revelation after a lot of so-called 'supercars'.
Incidentally, mines up for sale (see profile)... :thumup:
Edited by Beefmeister on Friday 23 October 10:43
The leather seats in my current Focus (a bog standard 1.6 but with one of the many special edition trims) are absurdly comfortable. That and the refinement are my favourite things about it. If I could get something that pleasant to cruise in, but with a slightly more aggresive setup and a bit more poke I'd be happy.
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