Ford Focus ST170 - Thoughts and advice

schnipps

schnipps

schnipps

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
5,381
Hi,
Have been looking to change my P plate primera for a while now and the only thing that takes my fancy is the st170 for price/looks etc in the braket in looking at. I am looking at 52 plate 2002 examples with around 30-35k on the clock. Does anyone have any first hand experience of these? Is there anything to watch for, anything that I should be aware of. I havnet driven one yet but I will in the next month or so. Im in no rush to change cars so will wait for a descent one.

Is there anything else in the same braket that I should be looking at?
 
R3DBuLL said:
How about one of the clio sports????

They're in that bracket, just a little smaller :)
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a little!! lol, i tried sitting in the back of mine today and it wasnt happening!

The focus is a good replacement for the primera.
 
Insurance - for some inane reason it's a group 15 car to insure so be prepared for a bit of a hike in your premiums.
 
panthro said:
a little!! lol, i tried sitting in the back of mine today and it wasnt happening!

The focus is a good replacement for the primera.
Click to expand...

Haha! haven't tryed siiting in the back of mine yet to see what it's like. Only picked mine up on Sunday though :D

Will have to get pics for you all :)
 
Go over to ffoc and they'll be able to answer any questions you have. Be aware that the early cars had a few problems, all of these should have been rectified now.

Goliath said:
Insurance - for some inane reason it's a group 15 car to insure so be prepared for a bit of a hike in your premiums.
Click to expand...

iirc every mk1 Focus bar the ST and RS is in groups 6 to 8. The ST in group 15, the RS in group 16. Suppose when it was built the insurance companies viewed it as a high risk like the RS. Its got lots of non standard Focus bits, including that rather unique engine ;).
 
The biggest thing with the ST170 is that it doesn't feel 'special' in the way many other hot hatches do. I tried one, and it's nice enough, but it just feels like a faster focus... It's up to you whether that's what you want or not.

It's not a bad car, but on the flip side it's not a great one either.
 
Seriously, look at getting a Seat Leon Cupra/ Cupra R (if you can find a cheap one) instead!

Superior (IMO) handling (or equal at worst)
Quicker in a straight line (0-60)
Cheaper for the equivelent car
Better looking if you get a post- face lift model
Better equipped
And not every man and his dog has one! :)

I tried one and I wasn't very impressed at all for the money.
 
The Focus 2.0 insurance is pathetic.

Focus 2.0 Zetec ESP: Group 8
Focus 2.0 ST170: Group 15
Focus 2.0 RS: Group 16.

IMHO the 2.0 Zetec is far too low a group, as is the RS. The ST170 is about right.
 
I considered one a while back and am glad I decided against it!

Pro's:
Good Styling, Appealing looks
Excellent handling round the twisties!
Average level of equipment

Cons:
Lacks any real 'punch'
Uninspiring to drive
Tuning Limited (unless you spend big £££)

All in all not a bad car but theres so many better things you can get!
Decided to stick with my escort GTi and plonked a 2L mondy engine in for a bit of fun ;)
 
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