Ford Focus ST170

I had an ST170. Great going car, but if it's been modified (lowered, sub, amp, etc) then it shouts that's its been trashed and abused.

Always buy a bog stock ST170 with the leather recaro's... they're quick enough as standard, but they also drink fuel like nobody's business.. Mine did 24mpg, 30 at best on a long run. Don't even think about commuting stop start work in an ST170. You'll be lucky to get 17mpg... You have been warned. That's why I got rid of mine. It drank fuel......

They handle beautifully, quiet inside, the recaros are brilliant, and if buying, don't buy one that's been modded by a chav....

WALK AWAY FROM the Fiat Coupe 20v turbo. The turbo's break, and cost a grand to replace. Clutches don't last any time more than 6 months, cost £400 a pop each time, and you've to physically remove the engine from the car to change a clutch, the access to it is basically a joke....

I refuse to work on them now - too much hassle..

[Stu]

You didn't tell me the Focus was white.
Get the Golf & some money
That's a classy blue.

Dont know a lot about cars but have had my own bad share of luck so would stick with a reliable one with a good rep - I would go for the VW - they are very reliable and made well!!

113,000 miles...thats alot of travelling. I think you can find a better example

[dirtydog]

Originally Posted by jimmy4237

WALK AWAY FROM the Fiat Coupe 20v turbo. The turbo's break, and cost a grand to replace. Clutches don't last any time more than 6 months, cost £400 a pop each time, and you've to physically remove the engine from the car to change a clutch, the access to it is basically a joke....

I refuse to work on them now - too much hassle..

Yeah I didn't even consider the Coupe, heard too many bad things about them.

Originally Posted by Stu

You didn't tell me the Focus was white.
Get the Golf & some money
That's a classy blue.

The ST is is silver just the light makes it look white.
I'm not convinced by the blue of the Golf

Originally Posted by MrsT

Dont know a lot about cars but have had my own bad share of luck so would stick with a reliable one with a good rep - I would go for the VW - they are very reliable and made well!!

I'm now on my 6th Ford and have had no major reliability issues with any of them, well nonew that were the cars fault anyway.

Originally Posted by Alpinestarhero

113,000 miles...thats alot of travelling. I think you can find a better example

I know I can find a better one but that all depends on the Tornado selling

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Don't want the sub

As far as im aware the sub is built in as standard from the factory, just turn bass down or unwire it if you were to choose that car and not want the sub.

Slightly off topic... Disks, pads, bushes will all wear out at some point in time on all cars (no smart alec comments please about vehicles with drum brakes) and it annoys me when people base their opinion of a vehicle on the basis of the condition of one they once saw.

Also just because a car has been modified doesn't mean that it's been badly treated. If it's been done well (which doesn't necessarily mean tastefully) then someone has gone to the time, effort and expense to modify the vehicle. It doesn't seem logical to me to assume that they will then maltreat it on the road. On the flip side - I wouldn't touch a badly modified car with a barge pole as that would tend indicate someone who hasn't taken care of the vehicle.

Back to the topic - I'd bring it all down to money. What realistically is your vehicle worth and what are the two vehicles being offered worth (or could be worth) then factor in a guess on depreciation (depending on how long you intend to keep it) and running costs. Then if the heart doesn't make a decision I'd go with the head.

[dirtydog]

Well my Tornado is worth about £4k and i've seen standard STs with similar mileage advertised for £3k and the golf is probably worth about £3.5k

Stay away from the Focus IMO! Mine (only a standard 1. is always breaking (though not terminally, it is just a shed). I think I have been spoiled by owning an old '87 E30 for 5 years. It makes me unable to understand why that can go through 5 MOTs with me needing barely anything, yet the Focus has now been through 3 MOTs and needed tons of work (most of which I have done myself luckily). And the E30 was 12-17 years old, whereas the Focus is 8-11 years old. Awful cars. Look OK though.

[rowdy]

Originally Posted by 2mths

Slightly off topic... Disks, pads, bushes will all wear out at some point in time on all cars (no smart alec comments please about vehicles with drum brakes) and it annoys me when people base their opinion of a vehicle on the basis of the condition of one they once saw.

Also just because a car has been modified doesn't mean that it's been badly treated. If it's been done well (which doesn't necessarily mean tastefully) then someone has gone to the time, effort and expense to modify the vehicle. It doesn't seem logical to me to assume that they will then maltreat it on the road. On the flip side - I wouldn't touch a badly modified car with a barge pole as that would tend indicate someone who hasn't taken care of the vehicle.

Back to the topic - I'd bring it all down to money. What realistically is your vehicle worth and what are the two vehicles being offered worth (or could be worth) then factor in a guess on depreciation (depending on how long you intend to keep it) and running costs. Then if the heart doesn't make a decision I'd go with the head.

It might annoy you but then it wasn't you that askled the question, I was only giving an honest opinion of one that I had test driven, of course this may have been a friday afternoon car, or an accident repaired so may not be representative of all st's. I am aware that brake pads, discs etc need replacing but was more concerned about knackered bearings when the car had only covered 30 something thousand miles, and the cheap looking body panels (again may have been because of accident damage).

Dirtydog, as regards to other hot hatches, skoda fabia vRS or octavia vRS get my vote.