ST170s

[Asimo]

Are these the ones with the Volvo 5 cylinder engine? (I know nothing about modern Fords that aren't Transits.)

[cort16]

No it was the later ones that got the 5 cylinder engines and about an extra 50 bhp

[SiC]

And sound a million times better/more antisocial ... If you're into that sort of thing.

[Pete-M]

I had an ST170 for a year or so. Nice car, reasonably quick, excellent handling, poor on fuel (22 mpg around town, maybe 30 on a run).

 

They are very spec dependant. Basic spec ones aren't that good, top spec ones are nice cars. The minimum spec to have is climate and xenon lights, the best spec is full leather Recaros + climate + xenon.

 

I'd have another, but it would have to be top spec. The standard seats in them aren't good, they have decent bolsters but sit too high and aren't that comfy.

[greengartside]

I remember finding one on Autotrader to tempt Supernaut with a while ago.

 

Autoexpress confirms that there was one, must be rockinghorse shit now though...

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/ford/focus/15362/ford-focus-st170-estate

EA52 XMM is still very much alive and well. Recently passed the MOT and lives in Lankytim’s parish.

[RichL]

The 'Custom Pack' cars are the best with the leather Recaros, climate control and big stereo with a subwoofer in the boot.

 

Needs to be in Imperial Blue with Xenons for ultimate spec win

[PiperCub]

A now retired colleague had one for years, he did high mileage every year and to be fair, he had remarkably few issues. He got over 200K out of it before he sold it on.

 

The xenon headlamps are a good call too as the standard ones aren't too great along with heated screen if you can.

 

Overall he rated it but as other have said, it does like to drink a bit disproportionately to its performance.

 

Will doubtless be venerated by the blue oval brigade soon and prices will rise accordingly.

[fordperv]

Fiesta ST might not be a bad shout either, 150bhp. Shit ride on those stupid wheels though.

I don't get why they are so blooming slow though, I've driven a few standard and one with the uprated inlet, cams etc and ecu modified and even that was crap

[vaughant]

Good cars and everything stated above is spot on.

 

I can remember a full carpark of them when they first came out in Ford with people hooning them everywhere then you saw them driving in slower and slower and after 9 months they've all moved into the dervs instead as they were a bit thirsty.

 

I took one to pieces in my old garage as it had been hit so hard it was bent up by the bulkhead.

 

Not hard to work on at all, all very straightforward and even then it was 8 years old and no sign of major rot unlike the festers which could bubble up after only a few years.

 

Good car for under a grand and much less headache than the Clio's, they have all sorts of stupid issues and are a lot harder to work on.

[sierraman]

From what I recall the timing belt on the Clio was a big ball ache and hence expensive. The one my mate had used to go through crank sensors all the time for some inexplicable reason. Great car but id imagine it would drive you fucking mad on a daily basis.

 

Have you thought about an MG ZS?

[They_all_do_that_sir]

I think now is the time to get a standard one, or more Realistically a barried one you can return to standard and squirrel away somewhere dry.

 

Fast fords seem to languish around at low value until you wake up one morning to find them mostly scrapped with the survivors worth a fortune.....

 

Yes the proper RS models are the real investment but anything fast ford seems to appreciate dramatically once they get thin on the ground.

 

Case in point escort Rs2000 Mk5 - proper cheap for ages and ages but worth proper money now.

 

I think what happens is the proper halo cars get unobtainable money wise so people start paying dollar for the equivalent warm hatch. I.e mk1 focus RS starts going daft cosworth money then the ST170 becomes an attractive second choice....

 

Sent from my F3211 using Tapatalk

[nacho man]

I had one for a year or so and I really liked it, nice every day car, I found it alright on juice. They handle great and have enough power to have a laugh. I really liked mine and I also think they look good. 

[dome]

I've no experience of the Focus but have of some of the other contenders.

 

Clio 172/182s can be had for under a grand. They are great fun but WILL break. They can also be challenging to work on.

 

Civic Type Rs go like fuck but most have been barried. You'd also need to spend nigh on £2k to buy one that's not a wreck, unless you ask me very nicely

 

A Corolla or Celica T-Sport is a leftfield choice. The Corolla is pretty bland but the Celica is a nice wee car.They both come with a 1.8 190 bhp engine that won't stop reving til you're over 8000rpm. Best of all you can sell it to me once you're done so I can stick the engine into the MR2

[loserone]

 

 a 1.8 190 bhp engine that won't stop reving til you're over 8000rpm. Best of all you can sell it to me once you're done so I can stick the engine into the MR2

 

 

I think you've nailed it there, dome.

[mk2_craig]

Had a six year old one in 2010 for a few months and actually made money on it. Same script as most posts above - didn't feel lightning fast, EML on regularly (prob something to do with de cat pipe being fitted though) and prev owner had to do the faulty intake thing. Nice enough otherwise, though mine had none of the luxuries, think a 2.0 Ghia would be more my thing really.

 

I replaced it with a 1990 Sierra 2.0 Ghia.

 

I still have a brand new "cheater cable" thing which I think is to fool the ECU into thinking there is still a catalyst fitted, if anybody wants it?

[DVee8]

T-Sport you say.How does 600 sound?

\

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Corolla-1-8-T-Sport-LADY-OWNER-15-YEARS/153079959983?hash=item23a446d1af:g:yyIAAOSw91hbNkEw

 

[Jim Bell]

T-Sport you say.How does 600 sound?

\

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Corolla-1-8-T-Sport-LADY-OWNER-15-YEARS/153079959983?hash=item23a446d1af:g:yyIAAOSw91hbNkEw

 

 

 

Fuck me thats cheap.

 

202k miles. Its come a long way.

 

Verdict: probably wouldnt, but thankfully I dont have to decide because I've already bought something.

[Lacquer Peel]

Good luck JB! I feel guilty for making you take the bus to work.

[AnthonyG]

What sort of price do the Mk2 STs start at now? I assume they came out a couple of years after the standard ones so youngest would be 2006?

 

I have a suspicion they are hit with the highest road tax band, a 2.5 petrol engine would be a good Climate Improver*

[Jim Bell]

What sort of price do the Mk2 STs start at now? I assume they came out a couple of years after the standard ones so youngest would be 2006?

 

I have a suspicion they are hit with the highest road tax band, a 2.5 petrol engine would be a good Climate Improver*

 

£2500-3000 ish?

[AnthonyG]

Ah right, I thought the £450 a year road tax might have contributed to catastrophic depreciation but maybe not.

[Jim Bell]

Doesnt seem to have.  They seem to be selling well enough man.

[cort16]

I was disappointed Ford didn't follow in Peugeot's foot steps and call the new Focus ST Diesel the STD.

[dome]

I've already bought something.

Japanese and brown?

[loserone]

Good luck JB! I feel guilty for making you take the bus to work.

You feel bad? You only gave him some money, did you not see the cyber bullying I subjected him to just for owning a passat?

[rantingYoof]

What sort of price do the Mk2 STs start at now? I assume they came out a couple of years after the standard ones so youngest would be 2006?

 

I have a suspicion they are hit with the highest road tax band, a 2.5 petrol engine would be a good Climate Improver*

 

They're sneaking into my daily Autotrader search result list now, which stretches up to £3.5k. A lot of salvaged ones, some spares, and the odd black one running with high miles.

 

The 2.5T engine is a funny one...it generally falls into the lower tax band if it's a manual and the higher if it's an automatic. This is definitely the case with the Mk2 S80, at least. It's the lower band in the Mk4 Mondeo, V50/S40 T5.

 

Early models (particularly the Focus STs and early Mondeo 2.5Ts) suffered from split/cracked liners, which are thinner due to the engine essentially being a bored out 2.3 from early T5s. This was sorted from around 2008 onwards.

[Jim Bell]

Japanese and brown?

Well theres the collection thread spoiled.

[1duck]

 

I've no experience of the Focus but have of some of the other contenders.

 

Clio 172/182s can be had for under a grand. They are great fun but WILL break. They can also be challenging to work on.

 

Civic Type Rs go like fuck but most have been barried. You'd also need to spend nigh on £2k to buy one that's not a wreck, unless you ask me very nicely

 

A Corolla or Celica T-Sport is a leftfield choice. The Corolla is pretty bland but the Celica is a nice wee car.They both come with a 1.8 190 bhp engine that won't stop reving til you're over 8000rpm. Best of all you can sell it to me once you're done so I can stick the engine into the MR2

 

 

For under a grand, i'd aim for a honda 2.0 type S, not a fast car...more a mild hatch. They come with five doors and none of the kudos of a type R. I've seen them for as little as 600 quid with about 130k on the clock.

 

If i really wanted something to hoon about in, i'd just get a cheap RX8 or mx5 drive the first until the engine dies or the second until it fails its mot on corrosion as it will inevitably do.

[dome]

Well theres the collection thread spoiled.

I was referring to the dinner the night before and poo colour afterwards.

[Jim Bell]

I was referring to the dinner the night before and poo colour afterwards.

 

Your score is one out of a possible two.