2003 Focus tdci Ghia to 2004 Focus ST 170 good or bad idea

Gavman84

Hi Guys. My mechanic is selling a ST 170 2004 with 63k miles on it NCT to 2014. I have Focus Ghia saloon 1.8 115 tdci at moment with 115k miles on it. Would it be good idea to change? What are they like to drive much trouble and how heavy on petrol etc? I do about 15k a year up and down to Waterford once a week. This is the car: http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2888090 My own car needs nothing done and has NCT to April 2013. Thinking if I could get 2-2.5 for my own then get other car for maybe 3800 cost to change would be small enough?
Thanks in advance
Gav

johnos1984

Haven't looked at the car link provided but I imagine they are a lovely car to drive and a good ownership experience if you can stomach the fuel costs

Gavman84

Ya I spend about 140 on diesel a month at the moment. Wonder what it would cost on petrol in this!

johnos1984

Gavman84 wrote: »

Ya I spend about 140 on diesel a month at the moment. Wonder what it would cost on petrol in this!

Depends what your priorities are.

I wouldn't be surprised if it cost another €100 or so extra in petrol but if you can afford it why not

I'm fairly sure someone here has one so they will give you a better idea but I've seen mid to late 20's referred to before for MPG

bigroad

Why was the clutch changed.

Gavman84

I have not spoken to him yet about the car but will ask about clutch alright. What could I get the car for ye think? Anyone on here own one or had one before? A lot depends on getting my own sold if I was to go for it.

166man

I reckon that, as nice a car as the Focus ST170 is you might regret changing from your diesel at that annual mileage. I mean 15k miles in a car not known for fuel economy is gonna cost you over that period. If the cost isn't a major issue then definitely go for it.:)

EPM

It's a NA 2 litre petrol, it's not going to be as good as the diesel but Cork-Waterford driven sensibly should return mid-30s quite easily. There's no motorway bar a 5 mile stretch and your average speed will be pretty low as a result. You'll notice a difference but nothing too drastic.

Gavman84

166man wrote: »

I reckon that, as nice a car as the Focus ST170 is you might regret changing from your diesel at that annual mileage. I mean 15k miles in a car not known for fuel economy is gonna cost you over that period. If the cost isn't a major issue then definitely go for it.:)

Ya I reckon you are prob right I mean it would probably end up costing a good bit more in fuel over a year! Maybe I should hold off til annual mileage comes down for a car like this...

bazz26

In fairness the ST has 170bhp, not exactly supercar performance so fuel economy from it is not going to be in supercar territory either. If you are only spending €140 a month on diesel at the moment then you are not doing a huge amount of mileage. Yes the ST will use more fuel and it will be a shock to the system coming from an oil burner but I don't think it will be a massive difference at 15k miles per year.

It looks well looked after, being owned by a mechanic which is a big bonus in my books. If you can afford the extra fuel bills and the car is geniune then I think you should go for it.

maidhc

Gavman84 wrote: »

Hi Guys. My mechanic is selling a ST 170 2004 with 63k miles on it NCT to 2014. I have Focus Ghia saloon 1.8 115 tdci at moment with 115k miles on it. Would it be good idea to change?

On a rational level, no it wouldn't. Your car has very modest miles, and the 1.8 TDCi is a good one. The ST won't be that much quicker in reality, and will be a fair bit thirstier. The usual "diesel v. petrol" debate doesn't apply here because you already have a diesel!

pred racer

bazz26 wrote: »

In fairness the ST has 170bhp, not exactly supercar performance so fuel economy from it is not going to be in supercar territory either. If you are only spending €140 a month on diesel at the moment then you are not doing a huge amount of mileage. Yes the ST will use more fuel and it will be a shock to the system coming from an oil burner but I don't think it will be a massive difference at 15k miles per year.

It looks well looked after, being owned by a mechanic which is a big bonus in my books. If you can afford the extra fuel bills and the car is geniune then I think you should go for it.

I wouldnt agree that being owned by a mechanic is a bonus. Did you ever hear the phrase "the blacksmiths horse is never shod" all the mechanics i know just drive whatever they have handy, and their missus is normally driving some heap with bits hanging off it.
This guy could be different;)

JoeA3

Those ST170's are a nice car, understated compared to the MK2 ST. They're also pretty rare, and any time I see one it always looks to be in pristine condition - i.e. owned by an enthusiast, and this one is no exception! It looks well.

I'd imagine that car was originally a UK car... the likes of the recaros and the climate control would have been very pricey options on the few irish cars that sold and if memory serves, were standard on UK cars.

STForSale

Had an ST170 for nearly 3 years.
They are a rare sight on Irish roads, most are UK imports, I brought mine in in 2007.

In terms of trim that one is pretty standard.
There was a comfort pack that had digital climate, quick clear windscreen and xenons and a custom pack that had full leather heated seats and an upgraded stereo.
Doesn't look like that one has either.

Car was 100% reliable over the time I had it and outside of normal servicing the only bill I had was for a handbrake cable.

Unless you like spending all you money on Petrol (and some people around here seem to) I wouldn't. Given you mileage and what you'd be spending at the minute I'd expect you fuel bills to double.

I generally got about 300 miles from a tank, 350 on a good run.
With a 55 Litre tank your looking ar roughly 25 - 29 MPG.

If you have any specific questions you want to ask shout.

Gavman84

STForSale wrote: »

Had an ST170 for nearly 3 years.
They are a rare sight on Irish roads, most are UK imports, I brought mine in in 2007.

In terms of trim that one is pretty standard.
There was a comfort pack that had digital climate, quick clear windscreen and xenons and a custom pack that had full leather heated seats and an upgraded stereo.
Doesn't look like that one has either.

Car was 100% reliable over the time I had it and outside of normal servicing the only bill I had was for a handbrake cable.

Unless you like spending all you money on Petrol (and some people around here seem to) I wouldn't. Given you mileage and what you'd be spending at the minute I'd expect you fuel bills to double.

I generally got about 300 miles from a tank, 350 on a good run.
With a 55 Litre tank your looking ar roughly 25 - 29 MPG.

If you have any specific questions you want to ask shout.

ya looks like i might regret it considering the mileage I'm doing not sure doubling fuel costs would be good idea. have my own car remapped too so i guess not too much quicker either as you say. get 55 mpg at the moment.

166man

To go from a 55mpg diesel to a 30mpg petrol is gonna cost you OP. Even at that mileage it's gonna be an expensive change. I wouldn't bother to be honest, keep the car you know and trust and unless petrol costs aren't an issue then I wouldn't change. Nice car the ST170 though..

EPM

Looking at it logically. You do 15k miles a year, so that's 1250 per month.

If the diesel does 50mpg, that's 25 gallons required.
25*4.54*€1.539 = €174 per month.

If the petrol does 32mpg, that's 39 gallons required.
39*4.54*€1.529 = €270 per month.

Change fuel prices to suit, I'm just plucking the petrol one from the air but it gives an idea.

STForSale

I'd expect the difference to be more.
I never achieved an average of 32MPG from a tank in 3 years of ownership.
Expect 25MPG, anything more is a bonus.

50*4.54*€1.55 = €351 will be a far more realistic figure.

Where I fuel up Diesel is cheaper than unleaded although I'm not sure if this is the case for the OP.

The guy who bought mine asked what the MPG figures where.
I told him if fuel economy was his priority he was looking at the wrong car.

I changed to an 230BHP MKV Gti and and found it to be more economical, albeit only slightly.

EPM

How did it do on long spins? I based that on a journey that seems to make up most of the OP's mileage.

Rowley Birkin QC

You could go for this as a compromise.

JoeA3

STForSale wrote: »

I'd expect the difference to be more.
I never achieved an average of 32MPG from a tank in 3 years of ownership.
Expect 25MPG, anything more is a bonus.

50*4.54*€1.55 = €351 will be a far more realistic figure.

Where I fuel up Diesel is cheaper than unleaded although I'm not sure if this is the case for the OP.

The guy who bought mine asked what the MPG figures where.
I told him if fuel economy was his priority he was looking at the wrong car.

I changed to an 230BHP MKV Gti and and found it to be more economical, albeit only slightly.

I also changed from a MKV GTI to a diesel last year (MK6 GTD). I didn't realise how much I was actually saving on fuel now until I spent a few minutes just now with my limited Excel skills :pac:

Based on 20k kms per year, I am currently spending about €825 less on fuel per annum. I didn't think it was as much as that!

dar83

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

You could go for this as a compromise

an LX TDCi? With what an ST engine and interior in it? Hmmmmm...

Why did he fork out for the front bodykit and not get the rear one?!

Gavman84

ya where i fill up diesel is cheaper by few cent. last time was 1.48 i think for diesel. insurance would also go up a bit i imagine!

STForSale

JoeA3 wrote: »

I also changed from a MKV GTI to a diesel last year (MK6 GTD). I didn't realise how much I was actually saving on fuel now until I spent a few minutes just now with my limited Excel skills :pac:

Based on 20k kms per year, I am currently spending about €825 less on fuel per annum. I didn't think it was as much as that!

Glad you said spending less and not saving money.
The real excel experts would be straight in to tell you that cost to change and depreciation blah blah blah

STForSale

EPM wrote: »

How did it do on long spins? I based that on a journey that seems to make up most of the OP's mileage.

The 350 Miles to a tank I quoted was the best I every got and was on a run from Kildare to Derry.

I'm sure if you drove like a nun 30's is doable but if that's the plan why bother?

JoeA3

STForSale wrote: »

Glad you said spending less and not saving money.
The real excel experts would be straight in to tell you that cost to change and depreciation blah blah blah

Haha yeah, I'm all too aware of the overall depreciation costs I've inflicted on myself. I also didn't mention the much lower road tax. I'll have made an overall profit in no time!!

EPM

STForSale wrote: »

The 350 Miles to a tank I quoted was the best I every got and was on a run from Kildare to Derry.

I'm sure if you drove like a nun 30's is doable but if that's the plan why bother?

My point was the majority of the OP's driving is a long run and that it might be a viable option.

STForSale

JoeA3 wrote: »

Haha yeah, I'm all too aware of the overall depreciation costs I've inflicted on myself. I also didn't mention the much lower road tax. I'll have made an overall profit in no time!!

Who are you kiddin.
Everybody knows the lower motor tax is offset by the inevitable catastrophic failure......

JoeA3

STForSale wrote: »

Who are you kiddin.
Everybody knows the lower motor tax is offset by the inevitable catastrophic failure......

Yeah any day now I expect the injectors to pop through the bonnet

Alanstrainor

The st170 is on.my short list of cars, they're rare here though...