A few Focus ST Questions
Discussion
As i am looking at getting one to replace the st170 i have a few questions regarding the Focus st(2008 model).
Are there any faults issues that they have or to look out for?
How much does it cost to fill the tank and what sort of mileage distance wise should i roughly get out of a tank?
Is it possible and easy to convert the lights for driving abroad?
Are there any faults issues that they have or to look out for?
How much does it cost to fill the tank and what sort of mileage distance wise should i roughly get out of a tank?
Is it possible and easy to convert the lights for driving abroad?
TPS said:
As i am looking at getting one to replace the st170 i have a few questions regarding the Focus st(2008 model).
Are there any faults issues that they have or to look out for?
How much does it cost to fill the tank and what sort of mileage distance wise should i roughly get out of a tank?
Is it possible and easy to convert the lights for driving abroad?
First off, join focusstoc.com although it's been down for a few days for a software update this site has been going since before the current ST was launched and there is likely to be a thread on just about every aspect of owning one.Are there any faults issues that they have or to look out for?
How much does it cost to fill the tank and what sort of mileage distance wise should i roughly get out of a tank?
Is it possible and easy to convert the lights for driving abroad?
Fuel tank is small, which makes the poor fuel economy feel worse. I think it cost about £50 at current prices if you run it into the red. According to the onboard computer I get about 24mpg on short urban commute, 28mpg normal driving on mixed roads and maybe 32-34 if you really concentrate on the motorway. If you hooning, sub 20s are it. I did a trackday and averaged 9mpg including the drive there and back. No matter how gentle you are, you wont see much more than about 320 miles from a full tank, usually less than 300.
The lights. Is 2008 a facelift model? If it is I can't comment as I've got the pre-facelift. On my car you remove the headlight, take the back off and flick a lever to stop the headlights dazzling on coming drivers abroad. This has the unfortunate effect of rendering the lights near useless.
blueST said:
Fuel tank is small, which makes the poor fuel economy feel worse. I think it cost about £50 at current prices if you run it into the red.
It's not THAT small - 55 litres, from memory? I generally get around 300 miles from a tank on a usual weekly commute - lots of stop-start traffic and I usually get around 25-26 mpg. It's possible to see 35-ish on a steady motorway run, but you'll never get anywhere that unless you resist the temptation to flex the right foot.
Mine is 3 years old today, of which I've had it for two, and it's been flawless (other than being a bit thirsty!). Fingers crossed it stays that way for its MOT tomorrow....
blueST said:
No matter how gentle you are, you wont see much more than about 320 miles from a full tank, usually less than 300.
Lurking Lawyer said:
blueST said:
Fuel tank is small, which makes the poor fuel economy feel worse. I think it cost about £50 at current prices if you run it into the red.
The lights. Is 2008 a facelift model? If it is I can't comment as I've got the pre-facelift. On my car you remove the headlight, take the back off and flick a lever to stop the headlights dazzling on coming drivers abroad. This has the unfortunate effect of rendering the lights near useless
It's not THAT small - 55 litres, from memory? The lights. Is 2008 a facelift model? If it is I can't comment as I've got the pre-facelift. On my car you remove the headlight, take the back off and flick a lever to stop the headlights dazzling on coming drivers abroad. This has the unfortunate effect of rendering the lights near useless
I generally get around 300 miles from a tank on a usual weekly commute - lots of stop-start traffic and I usually get around 25-26 mpg. It's possible to see 35-ish on a steady motorway run, but you'll never get anywhere that unless you resist the temptation to flex the right foot.
Mine is 3 years old today, of which I've had it for two, and it's been flawless (other than being a bit thirsty!). Fingers crossed it stays that way for its MOT tomorrow....
Yes the lights are the face lifted model ones but im hoping its just a case of flicking a lever inside the lights.
Many thanks for the quick replies.
Lurking Lawyer said:
blueST said:
Fuel tank is small, which makes the poor fuel economy feel worse. I think it cost about £50 at current prices if you run it into the red.
It's not THAT small - 55 litres, from memory? I'm sure you'll be fine for the MOT, mine passed no problems.
Lurking Lawyer said:
blueST said:
Fuel tank is small, which makes the poor fuel economy feel worse. I think it cost about £50 at current prices if you run it into the red.
It's not THAT small - 55 litres, from memory? I generally get around 300 miles from a tank on a usual weekly commute - lots of stop-start traffic and I usually get around 25-26 mpg. It's possible to see 35-ish on a steady motorway run, but you'll never get anywhere that unless you resist the temptation to flex the right foot.
Mine is 3 years old today, of which I've had it for two, and it's been flawless (other than being a bit thirsty!). Fingers crossed it stays that way for its MOT tomorrow....
blueST said:
Lurking Lawyer said:
blueST said:
Fuel tank is small, which makes the poor fuel economy feel worse. I think it cost about £50 at current prices if you run it into the red.
It's not THAT small - 55 litres, from memory? I'm sure you'll be fine for the MOT, mine passed no problems.
Mine sailed through the MOT as well.
ETA - Faults/Issues -- There will be much more info on the OC, but a couple of irritations for me (as opposed to stop the thing working failures) are the creaking seats and occasionally rattly speakers. The latter I suspect just need a proper fitting or something to dampen the vibes (mine seems to come for a couple of months and then disappear for 5 or 6
). The seats are a warranty fix while the interior is still covered - had mine done just before 12 months old and they're now creaking again sometimes. An irritant rather than a problem & the temporary fix is, I suppose, to crank up the stereo, if the speakers aren't rattling.
Edited by ClintonB on Saturday 6th March 11:08
Lurking Lawyer said:
Mine is 3 years old today, of which I've had it for two, and it's been flawless (other than being a bit thirsty!). Fingers crossed it stays that way for its MOT tomorrow....
It passed without issue, although the dealer advised I come back in another 5,000 miles (so at around 35,000 miles) as the front and rear pads both want changing around then - they quoted around £230 to do it.There was a nice blue RS on the forecourt as I waited to pick my car up. Very striking - although I can't honestly say that I'd be willing to pay the best part of £30K for a car that isn't a great deal more impressive performance-wise to a tuned ST, especially when there are far more interesting things (albeit a few years old rather than new) that you could get for the same price....
Lurking Lawyer said:
Lurking Lawyer said:
Mine is 3 years old today, of which I've had it for two, and it's been flawless (other than being a bit thirsty!). Fingers crossed it stays that way for its MOT tomorrow....
It passed without issue, although the dealer advised I come back in another 5,000 miles (so at around 35,000 miles) as the front and rear pads both want changing around then - they quoted around £230 to do it.There was a nice blue RS on the forecourt as I waited to pick my car up. Very striking - although I can't honestly say that I'd be willing to pay the best part of £30K for a car that isn't a great deal more impressive performance-wise to a tuned ST, especially when there are far more interesting things (albeit a few years old rather than new) that you could get for the same price....
). Fronts lasted 52k on mine (although discs were done as well) and the rears are still original @ 64k. £230 sounds a bit pricey for a pads only change as I paid a nip under £200 for the pads/discs.I'd kinda agree on the RS front (although this probably RS owners wrath time!). Personally I struggle to see the value when for £16k you can have a lightly used Mountune ST (that's pretty much as quick in a straight line & stealthier) and a good slice of change left over for a proper weekend toy.
However, each to their own.
I did wonder if it was just the dealer spinning me a line and trying to generate some more business, because the car hasn't had a great deal of hardcore use - since my daughter came along a couple of years ago, the days of driving just for the fun of it seem to be long gone and so it really only gets used on the daily commute and up and down the motorway to see parents. So no "enthusiastic" use and I don't think I have a particularly heavy left foot....
Hmmm. I'll have to give the pads a check myself and see.
I suppose you can tune an ST all you want but it still won't be an RS - but for my money, a tuned one is near enough to mean it would be plain daft to pay the cost to change. I also can't help but think that the RS is a bit too "look at me!", with the pumped up arches and so forth. As I said above, striking - but I can't help but think it's trying just a bit too hard.
Still, if someone was to offer me a straight swap for a white one tomorrow, I probably wouldn't say no
Hmmm. I'll have to give the pads a check myself and see.
I suppose you can tune an ST all you want but it still won't be an RS - but for my money, a tuned one is near enough to mean it would be plain daft to pay the cost to change. I also can't help but think that the RS is a bit too "look at me!", with the pumped up arches and so forth. As I said above, striking - but I can't help but think it's trying just a bit too hard.
Still, if someone was to offer me a straight swap for a white one tomorrow, I probably wouldn't say no
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