Focus ST 170? sorry if its a repeat!
Discussion
Hello all Ford guys and gals,
Im due to start my first working ford ownership (had a capri 2.8i resto project that went really wrong, but at least i drove it 40 miles) I needed to trade up from my eco box 58 plate Citroen C1 as i just got married and want to start a family and i wanted something bigger, my old dear decided she wanted it, and i wasnt fussed what i bought after. Ive always liked her ST170 she had it since it was 6 months old (54 plate) and shes only done 35k on it. So weve decided a swap they are worth nigh on exactly the same money. Im well happy with the prospect of it but just wanted some rounded opinions on it. Nothing too harsh please as its a convienient swap so im not really going to get another car, but pointer would be nice and warnings of any common problems.
Cheers guys
Mark
Im due to start my first working ford ownership (had a capri 2.8i resto project that went really wrong, but at least i drove it 40 miles) I needed to trade up from my eco box 58 plate Citroen C1 as i just got married and want to start a family and i wanted something bigger, my old dear decided she wanted it, and i wasnt fussed what i bought after. Ive always liked her ST170 she had it since it was 6 months old (54 plate) and shes only done 35k on it. So weve decided a swap they are worth nigh on exactly the same money. Im well happy with the prospect of it but just wanted some rounded opinions on it. Nothing too harsh please as its a convienient swap so im not really going to get another car, but pointer would be nice and warnings of any common problems.
Cheers guys
Mark
The idea of a practical, comfortable Focus with more poke and rather more sporting handling always seemed great. I have to say though, I was a tiny bit dissapointed when I finally drove one recently.
In isolation I'd probably have been quite impressed, but the step up from the (extremely competent) base models wasn't really enough to justify almost twice the insurance premium and allegedly much lower MPG I didn't think. Performance can be deceptive and it may well be quite a rapid car, but it certainly didn't feel that quick, and I suspect most reasonably hot hatches of its generation - the Clio 182, Civic Type R etc - would eat it for breakfast. Okay, some might argue they're closer to the mk1 Focus RS, but the same generation (bubble shaped) Fiesta Zetec S and the later Fiesta ST150 are also warm-rather-than-hot hatches, yet they feel quite feisty.
So, I was a little dissapointed - not a bad car by any stretch of the imagination, but an unexceptional one. And while the idea of a normal Focus with a bit more kit and a little more poke might sound like the grown up's hot hatch, reports of sub-30 mpg and bafflingly high insurance premiums dent its 'sensible' appeal.
In isolation I'd probably have been quite impressed, but the step up from the (extremely competent) base models wasn't really enough to justify almost twice the insurance premium and allegedly much lower MPG I didn't think. Performance can be deceptive and it may well be quite a rapid car, but it certainly didn't feel that quick, and I suspect most reasonably hot hatches of its generation - the Clio 182, Civic Type R etc - would eat it for breakfast. Okay, some might argue they're closer to the mk1 Focus RS, but the same generation (bubble shaped) Fiesta Zetec S and the later Fiesta ST150 are also warm-rather-than-hot hatches, yet they feel quite feisty.
So, I was a little dissapointed - not a bad car by any stretch of the imagination, but an unexceptional one. And while the idea of a normal Focus with a bit more kit and a little more poke might sound like the grown up's hot hatch, reports of sub-30 mpg and bafflingly high insurance premiums dent its 'sensible' appeal.
Had an st170 & was a very good car, things to watch for are clutch & flywheel issues (can appear at very low miles others do 100k without an issue) the varible inlet track sticking/ breaking up (can ruin the engine) cambelts letting go early, catalytic convertors failing.
Its unlikly you will have all these faults the only thing i would be careful of is they need to be driven hard occasionally to prevent the manifold fault.
They are a good strong car that with minimal matainance & tlc will be a good reliable car
Performance wise mine was on a par with civic tyrpe r cooper 's' etc
Its unlikly you will have all these faults the only thing i would be careful of is they need to be driven hard occasionally to prevent the manifold fault.
They are a good strong car that with minimal matainance & tlc will be a good reliable car
Performance wise mine was on a par with civic tyrpe r cooper 's' etc
neiljohnson said:
Had an st170 & was a very good car, things to watch for are clutch & flywheel issues (can appear at very low miles others do 100k without an issue) the varible inlet track sticking/ breaking up (can ruin the engine) cambelts letting go early, catalytic convertors failing.
Its unlikly you will have all these faults the only thing i would be careful of is they need to be driven hard occasionally to prevent the manifold fault.
They are a good strong car that with minimal matainance & tlc will be a good reliable car
Performance wise mine was on a par with civic tyrpe r cooper 's' etc
I have a feeling yours wasn't quite standard!Its unlikly you will have all these faults the only thing i would be careful of is they need to be driven hard occasionally to prevent the manifold fault.
They are a good strong car that with minimal matainance & tlc will be a good reliable car
Performance wise mine was on a par with civic tyrpe r cooper 's' etc
Team 17 said:
neiljohnson said:
Had an st170 & was a very good car, things to watch for are clutch & flywheel issues (can appear at very low miles others do 100k without an issue) the varible inlet track sticking/ breaking up (can ruin the engine) cambelts letting go early, catalytic convertors failing.
Its unlikly you will have all these faults the only thing i would be careful of is they need to be driven hard occasionally to prevent the manifold fault.
They are a good strong car that with minimal matainance & tlc will be a good reliable car
Performance wise mine was on a par with civic tyrpe r cooper 's' etc
I have a feeling yours wasn't quite standard!Its unlikly you will have all these faults the only thing i would be careful of is they need to be driven hard occasionally to prevent the manifold fault.
They are a good strong car that with minimal matainance & tlc will be a good reliable car
Performance wise mine was on a par with civic tyrpe r cooper 's' etc
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