Ford focus build quality
Discussion
Looking at a ~2003 ST170- how reliable are they likely to prove? as much as anything else? or do fords still made dodgy rusty buckets of nails (my first car was a 995cc Y reg (the old one) fiesta with 4 gears, one wing mirror, engine blew up slightly before the car fell apart from rust- haven't owned a ford since!)
MIssus wants a small car, i want something a bit more intersting but interestingly can turn the focus into a kit car in a year or two- just need to make sure it wont' cost a fortune to maintain in the meantime!
MIssus wants a small car, i want something a bit more intersting but interestingly can turn the focus into a kit car in a year or two- just need to make sure it wont' cost a fortune to maintain in the meantime!
I owned an X reg focus 1.8 a few years ago as a daily run around and to hammer some miles on it as Id just started a job and didnt want to put miles on my other car.
Bought it with 70k on the clock and it still drove like new (no slack in anything) everything worked and there wasnt a spot of rust.
Put 35k on it in a year (including a dash into Germany) and all I did was change the oil at the intervals and put 2 new front tyres on it. It was still driving like new after then and still not a jot of rust.
Sold it as it needed a cambelt and I couldnt be bothered to get it done.
In short its been the best car I ever owned for reliability and I wouldnt hesitiate to recommend one.
Bought it with 70k on the clock and it still drove like new (no slack in anything) everything worked and there wasnt a spot of rust.
Put 35k on it in a year (including a dash into Germany) and all I did was change the oil at the intervals and put 2 new front tyres on it. It was still driving like new after then and still not a jot of rust.
Sold it as it needed a cambelt and I couldnt be bothered to get it done.
In short its been the best car I ever owned for reliability and I wouldnt hesitiate to recommend one.
I've had 2 focus's (focuses, foci?), a 2.0 Zetec and an ST170. Both were very reliable. Only problems on the 2.0 were both rear wheel bearings needed replacing around 60k. Otherwise just normal servicing.
The ST170 suffered from a dodgy CD changer and a heated seat failed, but otherwise fine.
Sold it needing a service (including discs and pads) and a new clutch (which may have involved a new dual mass flywheel).
The ST170 suffered from a dodgy CD changer and a heated seat failed, but otherwise fine.
Sold it needing a service (including discs and pads) and a new clutch (which may have involved a new dual mass flywheel).
mat205125 said:
Not built as well as a contempory Golf .... That is a massive compliment to the Focus IMO
I'd say it's every bit as well built as a mkIV Golf, if not better. Ok the interior doesn't have the 'quality feel' of the Golf, but when it comes to the important bits it's just as solid.I used to own an ST170 and currently have a Mk4 Golf, there are far more squeaks and rattles in the Golf than there ever were in the Focus and the VW has covered less miles.
As for the ST170, superb handling with massive amount of grip, only things I didn't really like about them were the seating position was too high and the engine lacked a bit of grunt at low revs.
As for the ST170, superb handling with massive amount of grip, only things I didn't really like about them were the seating position was too high and the engine lacked a bit of grunt at low revs.
Edited by Gun on Friday 2nd July 10:42
mnkiboy said:
mat205125 said:
Not built as well as a contempory Golf .... That is a massive compliment to the Focus IMO
I'd say it's every bit as well built as a mkIV Golf, if not better. Ok the interior doesn't have the 'quality feel' of the Golf, but when it comes to the important bits it's just as solid.LuS1fer said:
My mate has an ST170 and loves it and it seems to be lasting well. I have a Mondeo where the weatherstrip at the bottom of the doors has already fallen off and the cheap plastic clips don't engender nuch faith in longevity.
I think we covered that in the Ford forum? Same clips on my 14 year old Mondeo seem to be just fine, if your kids are scrapping the feet on the door bottoms day in day out then any door seal will come off.OP, of what i have hear the ST170 isn't the best, IIRC the front downpipe can ground out on bumpy roads, fuel consumption is heavy for the performance given.
mnkiboy said:
mat205125 said:
Not built as well as a contempory Golf .... That is a massive compliment to the Focus IMO
I'd say it's every bit as well built as a mkIV Golf, if not better. Ok the interior doesn't have the 'quality feel' of the Golf, but when it comes to the important bits it's just as solid.in contrast my good friends ford focus has never been washed in 3 years, i don’t even think he has changed the oil in 25k and it has sailed thru the mot's (its a v reg @85k)
also
wasn’t it the first car to be given a top score on the German TUV test? i also remember clarkson owned one as a 'station/nanny car' and commented it was the most reliable car he had ever owned or experienced
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/jeremy_cl...
"It was so good, in fact, that I bought one — a simple, normal, 1.6 five-door. It’s our station car, our tool. It’s what we leave in unlit railway car parks for a week and give to the nanny when she’s going clubbing. And after four years I can tell you two things. I still find it enormous fun to drive. And it has never gone wrong"
"It was so good, in fact, that I bought one — a simple, normal, 1.6 five-door. It’s our station car, our tool. It’s what we leave in unlit railway car parks for a week and give to the nanny when she’s going clubbing. And after four years I can tell you two things. I still find it enormous fun to drive. And it has never gone wrong"
I've got one, it's a 52 plate/105K miles and it's still fun to drive and nothing is falling off or rattling. In fact I took my old dear out in it yesterday and she commented on how good it was, which is much more of a testament to the car than to me, as I rarely look after anything.
In terms of faults, the clutch went at about 75K miles, which cost a fair whack due to the dual-mass fly wheel also needing replacement. The alternator also went at about 80K, but that was fairly cheap.
Nothing else major that I can think of.
Servicing and breaks etc I do myself as there is nothing overly complicated about it.
It is fairly thirsty if you've a heavy right foot, but driving normally it's not so bad.
In terms of faults, the clutch went at about 75K miles, which cost a fair whack due to the dual-mass fly wheel also needing replacement. The alternator also went at about 80K, but that was fairly cheap.
Nothing else major that I can think of.
Servicing and breaks etc I do myself as there is nothing overly complicated about it.
It is fairly thirsty if you've a heavy right foot, but driving normally it's not so bad.
Edited by bishbash on Friday 2nd July 11:00
I did about 120k in a 1.8. Only think that ever went wrong was the speedo sensor (£40) and a few anti-roll drop links (£10). Was still on its original clutch, exhaust, and battery when I sold it.
The biggest annoyance with it was rust on the hatch. Not covered under Fords worthless anti-corrosion warranty as "its just surface rust".
The biggest annoyance with it was rust on the hatch. Not covered under Fords worthless anti-corrosion warranty as "its just surface rust".
mr_fibuli said:
I did about 120k in a 1.8. Only think that ever went wrong was the speedo sensor (£40) and a few anti-roll drop links (£10). Was still on its original clutch, exhaust, and battery when I sold it.
The biggest annoyance with it was rust on the hatch. Not covered under Fords worthless anti-corrosion warranty as "its just surface rust".
More like the well know clinched flange problem or rubbing trim problem The biggest annoyance with it was rust on the hatch. Not covered under Fords worthless anti-corrosion warranty as "its just surface rust".
Dave_ST220 said:
LuS1fer said:
My mate has an ST170 and loves it and it seems to be lasting well. I have a Mondeo where the weatherstrip at the bottom of the doors has already fallen off and the cheap plastic clips don't engender nuch faith in longevity.
I think we covered that in the Ford forum? Same clips on my 14 year old Mondeo seem to be just fine, if your kids are scrapping the feet on the door bottoms day in day out then any door seal will come off.Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff