Ford Focus ST

Bill Turnip · 29 Dec 2022 at 22:57

So, on Christmas Day, I decided to write off my car on an A road. Aquaplane at 70mph, straight into the central reservation. Boo.

Plus side is once I can sort out insurances and loans etc., I get to go car shopping. We were looking at getting a similar Honda Civic, but pushing the budget a little further gets us in the realms of the Ford Focus ST. I've always loved the idea of this car - does anyone here have any experience with it, any points to watch out for, or particularly enjoy?

I'm looking at a 69 plate with about 10k miles on it, so age related issues shouldn't be a current issue, but good to know about if anyone can help?

rodenal · 30 Dec 2022 at 00:04

My 2012 focus ST was one of the best cars I've owned considering it was a family car, a "fun" car, work car etc....however I really don't think I'd pay the premium that something with only 10k miles would bring in the current market. They're great cars, but not remotely special to warrant an inflated price.

They're also very much a 2012 era car, even with sync 3 etc, so again need to be valued appropriately against newer competition

Bill Turnip · 30 Dec 2022 at 00:12

Thanks for the response - as mentioned, previous car was a Civic (1 litre, but top trim spec) which myself and Mrs Turnip both enjoyed, but the possibility of getting something a little spicier is tempting.

The cost is a very fair point, but we're being forced into getting a new car, so an outlay is inevitable. It would be approaching a £4k uplift from a top end 1 litre civic to an ST of similar age and mileage (mileage actually 4k better in the ST) , but we can stretch to it if necessary (may be the last time we are potentially able before we have to consider little turnips) and it would work as a day to day work car, as well as something a little more interesting than standard.

Did you have any issues with your 2012 that we would need to consider?

RanxZy · 30 Dec 2022 at 02:24

If you are going with the recent 2020 model with low mileage there should very little to worry about in terms of issues. Other than the usual due diligence required when purchasing any used car.

From experience with the standard focus MK4 these cars are very well put together and drive great, I can only imagine the ST is exceptional to drive.

The ST comes with an outrageous amount of features as standard, just would not bother turning on the lane keeping stuff it comes with.

This will probably make manual lovers sick, but the modern auto on the MK4 Focus changes gears seamlessly. Only a bit clunky when going from reverse and drive.

chaparral · 30 Dec 2022 at 02:36

Bill Turnip said:
any points to watch out for, or particularly enjoy?

It might be just me but the mk3.5 Focus ST seems to be fairly heavy on fuel (I no idea what the newer mk4 ST is like)

Might be worth while checking to see roughly what MPG owners are getting with todays crazy fuel prices

My own mk3.5 focus ST does about 18mpg in guernsey, But that increases to around 30mpg on the motorway in the uk

Bill Turnip · 30 Dec 2022 at 07:05

RanxZy said:
The ST comes with an outrageous amount of features as standard, just would not bother turning on the lane keeping stuff it comes with.

This will probably make manual lovers sick, but the modern auto on the MK4 Focus changes gears seamlessly. Only a bit clunky when going from reverse and drive.

Good to know. Previous Civic had all the bells and whistles, trim wise I think they're very similar. I'd be turning the lane keeping stuff as well (it's a very strange safety feature that feels like someone else is grabbing the wheel), but would definitely be looking at a manual.

chaparral said:
Might be worth while checking to see roughly what MPG owners are getting with todays crazy fuel prices

Been looking at this, one long term tester seemed to be getting around 28, 30. Coming from a car doing a real life 42 that will hurt a bit, but it's fairly doable. It shouldn't be an extra 50% in fuel costs, but that's what we're calculating it on - We're lucky in that we don't sit around in traffic jams often at all.

rodenal said:
They're also very much a 2012 era car, even with sync 3 etc, so again need to be valued appropriately against newer competition

Forgot to ask, any specific recommendation of modern competition?

theone8181 · 30 Dec 2022 at 12:27

My wife had a 62 plate st, and I echo the poor mpg. She enjoyed it, and went to a newer fiesta st mainly as I had a bigger car. I found it fun to drive.

Howard · 30 Dec 2022 at 12:55

'69 plate will be the mk4, not the mk3 that started in 2012. I have a facelift mk3 and I love it, but I haven't had much experience with the mk4. @Janesy B has one, he will be able to advise more.

rodenal · 30 Dec 2022 at 18:12

Somehow I completely missed the age side of things - likewise I've zero experience of the new one, never even been in the equivalent cooking focus.

If buying a MK4 I wouldn't rule out an auto (as stupid as it sounds given the type of car) if it's a car you'll use every day and to commute in etc

Bill Turnip · 30 Dec 2022 at 20:19

Thank you all for your help - unfortunately, we've been working out costs of car, fuel, additional costs and it's just going to end up being a shade too expensive going to the ST. Thought we'd be OK, but realised mortgage would go up partway through the loan and potentially stuff us

.

Janesy B · 13 Jan 2023 at 00:32

Bill Turnip said:
Thank you all for your help - unfortunately, we've been working out costs of car, fuel, additional costs and it's just going to end up being a shade too expensive going to the ST. Thought we'd be OK, but realised mortgage would go up partway through the loan and potentially stuff us .

If you're still pondering - I have a 69 plate performance pack car, bought on 5k, now on 12k miles. I average 32 MPG with mixed driving, it'll do 40-45 on a flat motorway at 70 but plummets the second you start 'urban' driving. Parts and servicing are very reasonable £229 for a minor service, £299 for a major service which is every 3rd year. Everything I've spent on it in the last year has been an upgrade other than a set of tyres which was £550.

Not much to look out for, usual trim rattles with Fords. Avoid obviously modified and previously mapped cars, clutches start to slip with people 'stage 2' them, mainly because that takes the car from 280ps to about 360ps.

Performance pack adds track mode, launch control, ambient lighting and auto rev matching on downshifts.

rodenal said:
Somehow I completely missed the age side of things - likewise I've zero experience of the new one, never even been in the equivalent cooking focus.

If buying a MK4 I wouldn't rule out an auto (as stupid as it sounds given the type of car) if it's a car you'll use every day and to commute in etc

The Auto is a bit crap, it's slower and holds gears what you don't want it to and doesn't hold when you do want it to.

Bill Turnip · 13 Jan 2023 at 08:22

@Janesy B thabk you for that, exactly the information I was looking for. Unfortunately we've had to ditch the idea of the ST just because the repayments, whilst fine now, could shaft us when the mortgage goes up.

However, it means we keep our old loan which is paid off much more quickly, and I'm really interested in picking the ford up at that point, so it's much appreciated.