anyone own a st 170?

Shady89 · 28 Jun 2012 at 23:50

I currently own a 2000 1.4 ford focus its my first car but i did a quote on a st 170 and it didnt work out too bad to say only 1 year no claims.

just wondered what your thoughts are on them?

handle well?

fast? ( compared to my 1.4 i hope so lol)

you get the picture

pepsilol · 28 Jun 2012 at 23:52

Seems like a natural upgrade with still sensible running costs. It will feel a lot faster to you aswell. Handles just like your current Focus. If you like your current Focus with the only complaint being power, then I would go for it.

Shady89 · 28 Jun 2012 at 23:56

thanks for quick reply , surely they handle better? must have uprated brakes/suspension compared to my basic model?

i dont think my focus handles that well , it leans abit in corners lol.

but the st 170 is lower and bigger wheels so that probably helps abit.

Dogbreath · 29 Jun 2012 at 00:13

It will certainly be a lot quicker than your 1.4, but they aren't particularly quick for a "hot hatch", and were overshadowed by the Clio 172, CTR etc. They also have dual mass flywheels and can suffer expensive faults with the inlet manifold.

jamoor · 29 Jun 2012 at 00:16

Handle well - yes
Fast - not hugely but acceptable.

Janesy B · 29 Jun 2012 at 00:25

Dogbreath said:
It will certainly be a lot quicker than your 1.4, but they aren't particularly quick for a "hot hatch", and were overshadowed by the Clio 172, CTR etc. They also have dual mass flywheels and can suffer expensive faults with the inlet manifold.

Would one of those faults include the inlet completely popping off? My old man had one for a few months and when he went to start it, it stalled and when I opened the bonnet I found myself having to reattach the inlet manifold. The exhaust seems to rot out, cat heat shield falls off, 30mpg on a run, dials stopped working in the cold one morning and it developed a misfire and needed all the plug leads replacing. Then you have problems with the variable intake system. Hilariously unreliable compared to the normal Focus. Look elsewhere.

Brookert · 29 Jun 2012 at 01:30

Janesy B said:
Would one of those faults include the inlet completely popping off? My old man had one for a few months and when he went to start it, it stalled and when I opened the bonnet I found myself having to reattach the inlet manifold. The exhaust seems to rot out, cat heat shield falls off, 30mpg on a run, dials stopped working in the cold one morning and it developed a misfire and needed all the plug leads replacing. Then you have problems with the variable intake system. Hilariously unreliable compared to the normal Focus. Look elsewhere.

I would have to agree, st170's just don't deliver compared to the risk and low mpg.

Shady89 · 29 Jun 2012 at 06:15

ouch i thought it would be reliable etc being a ford , there just cheap compared to other nice cars , pick one up with 60k on it for like 1400 quid ( iam only a young lad and got a lil girl recentley)

type r to insure 9.8k for year
st 170 2.5k for year.

gumpy321 · 29 Jun 2012 at 06:43

2.5k to insure an a least 7 year old car? Ouch.

233 · 29 Jun 2012 at 06:55

Family man

Wants a bit more grunt than his current focus

Have you looked at a pokey mondeo? Christ even a 130bhp diesel mondy would be a big performance jump more so with a quick remap

Take the time to look at them as you will prObsbly find a fast mondeo ala 2l tubby or v6 will be just as reasonable to insure as the focus and you can get some epic vfm from them

Shady89 · 29 Jun 2012 at 07:02

Delta12 said:
Family man

Wants a bit more grunt than his current focus

Have you looked at a pokey mondeo? Christ even a 130bhp diesel mondy would be a big performance jump more so with a quick remap

Take the time to look at them as you will prObsbly find a fast mondeo ala 2l tubby or v6 will be just as reasonable to insure as the focus and you can get some epic vfm from them

thanks for info , ill have to have a good look.

and my 1.4 was 2400 to insure for my first years driving , its expensive now for young drivers

paradigm · 29 Jun 2012 at 07:24

Shady89 said:
thanks for info , ill have to have a good look.

and my 1.4 was 2400 to insure for my first years driving , its expensive now for young drivers

Depends on your postcode tbh.

Next door neighbour has just passed his test, and his insurance on a 1.2 Corsa is only* £1400. Oddly, 11 years ago when I got my first car, a 1.2 Corsa, it was £1400 to insure.

*Obviously £1400 is expensive, but it's not £2k+ like most people seem to suggest.

Rybo89 · 29 Jun 2012 at 07:27

Save up for another year and get a Fiesta ST, superior compared to the old Focus ST. Im young with a family and it was a very fun reliable suitable car. Also i bet it is cheaper to insure with not being as much of a chavs car.

Shady89 · 29 Jun 2012 at 07:34

paradigm said:
Depends on your postcode tbh.

Next door neighbour has just passed his test, and his insurance on a 1.2 Corsa is only* £1400. Oddly, 11 years ago when I got my first car, a 1.2 Corsa, it was £1400 to insure.

*Obviously £1400 is expensive, but it's not £2k+ like most people seem to suggest.

maybe so but i bet hes got a family member on the policy.

iam 22 and mine only drops to like £1500 with a year no claims.

paradigm · 29 Jun 2012 at 07:39

Shady89 said:
maybe so but i bet hes got a family member on the policy.

He has, yes, but he is the main driver, his parents are just named on the policy.

Nothing stops you doing that either.

danza · 29 Jun 2012 at 07:40

Rybo89 said:
Save up for another year and get a Fiesta ST, superior compared to the old Focus ST. Im young with a family and it was a very fun reliable suitable car. Also i bet it is cheaper to insure with not being as much of a chavs car.

I'd be quite amazed if the Fiesta ST was cheaper than the ST170, as around here it IS a chav wagon. There are loads with turbos/superchargers/massive exhausts and rally car mudflaps. On the other hand, there are hardly any 170s.

Rybo89 · 29 Jun 2012 at 07:45

danza said:
I'd be quite amazed if the Fiesta ST was cheaper than the ST170, as around here it IS a chav wagon. There are loads with turbos/superchargers/massive exhausts and rally car mudflaps. On the other hand, there are hardly any 170s.

Prob my old one going around

No but seriously, it is the other way round here. I have never seen a chavvy chav in a Fiesta ST, maybe 1.4 fiestas.

Also OP im guessing you will be 23 soon, wait till then and get some new quotes, bet you will save around £300+.

Shady89 · 29 Jun 2012 at 07:55

Rybo89 said:
Prob my old one going around

No but seriously, it is the other way round here. I have never seen a chavvy chav in a Fiesta ST, maybe 1.4 fiestas.

Also OP im guessing you will be 23 soon, wait till then and get some new quotes, bet you will save around £300+.

well in Nov i am so not 2 far away , btw i aint wanting one to do up lol.

I wouldn't dream of wasting my money doing a car up , just want something that looks nice and has some poke but is cheap to buy too :S

Rybo89 · 29 Jun 2012 at 08:03

See how much a 172/182 comes out at? Fun nippy cars and silly cheap.

Howard · 29 Jun 2012 at 08:14

Contrary to the unreliability claims, a close friend of mine has owned an ST170 for about two years now and the only thing that has gone wrong so far was the thermostat IIRC. I've driven it a couple of times too, it's absolutely brilliant to drive with a sublime chassis that is so controllable and really communicates with the driver. It's not what I'd call a slow car either, although, granted, you have to work it hard through the revs but then the same applies to the Clios and Type-Rs.

I think it's a fantastic car personally and shows that you don't need a 250bhp turbocharged engine in order to have fun in a 'normal hatchback'. I'd definitely own one over a Clio 1*2.

The suspension is slightly lower and stiffer than the normal Focus offerings, with IIRC a thicker ARB too. It certainly feels different.

Oh and most modern cars have dual-mass flywheels