Ford Focus ST

ILikeBoats

Hi knowledgeable people

I'm toying with the idea of buying a Focus ST2 or ST3.

Having never owned a hot hatch before, is there anything outside of the usual car servicing and maintenance that would need to be considered?

Thanks

Henry Ford III

Insurance might be an issue? Apart from that they are quite easy to live with day to day.

ILikeBoats

It was a diesel version I was looking at, 2.0L TDCI was reasonable enough in the quotes I got for insurance. Tax is also reasonable.

Might just go test drive it and get a better idea of the spec level

Blazer

ILikeBoats wrote: »

It was a diesel version I was looking at, 2.0L TDCI was reasonable enough in the quotes I got for insurance. Tax is also reasonable.

Might just go test drive it and get a better idea of the spec level

Didn’t realize they had a diesel version now.
Same engine is in the s-max I’m looking tomorrow so it’s nothing special compared to the real st2 ie petrol.
But from all the reviews I’ve read of the engine it seems to be all good. Plenty of poke and around 56mpg on the smax so imagine focus would be better.

GavRedKing

I'm not sure if Ford Ireland brought in any ST3s to Ireland but you have a wealth of options if you searched up north or in England regarding the ST3.

ILikeBoats

Yeah was thinking that from the Ford.ie website, they only sell st2s.
The car I'm looking at is advertised as st3. It has the full leather seats which come with st3 as well as sat nav, ambient light, parking sensors.
Any other ways to tell?
How would you know if its an import?

I might go see it on Thursday, I'll ask!

https://m.carzone.ie/used-cars/Ford/Focus-ST-3-TDCI/158124111323762

bazz26

Given the spec is very unlikely to be an original Irish car. UK speed dials will have mph and kph on them, Irish car would only have kph. The service history should also tell you.

ILikeBoats

Blazer wrote: »

Didn’t realize they had a diesel version now.
Same engine is in the s-max I’m looking tomorrow so it’s nothing special compared to the real st2 ie petrol.
But from all the reviews I’ve read of the engine it seems to be all good. Plenty of poke and around 56mpg on the smax so imagine focus would be better.

It's factory tuned apparently to get it up to 185hp from the standard tdci.
Would love the petrol myself but good ol Irish tax and insurance come into then. This seems like a happy medium between fun and economy.

ILikeBoats

bazz26 wrote: »

Given the spec is very unlikely to be an original Irish car. UK speed dials will have mph and kph on them, Irish car would only have kph. The service history should also tell you.

Yeah, funny how there's no dash pics. I'll ring and ask tomorrow. He already said it has full service history, surprised he didn't mention it

GavRedKing

ILikeBoats wrote: »

Yeah was thinking that from the Ford.ie website, they only sell st2s.
The car I'm looking at is advertised as st3. It has the full leather seats which come with st3 as well as sat nav, ambient light, parking sensors.
Any other ways to tell?
How would you know if its an import?

I might go see it on Thursday, I'll ask!

https://m.carzone.ie/used-cars/Ford/Focus-ST-3-TDCI/158124111323762

The leather seats do look better than the half leather/cloth options in the "normal" ST cars IMO, if they were an option on the ST1/2 I'd have gone for them in my Fiesta.

The only way to know is it imported to ask the dealer but I'd say its 100% an import, nothing wrong with that as long as the car is mechanically sound. Do a quick search online too for simialr year/spec and check if theres a saving to be made going about importing one yourself over what youd' pay here, if the price difference was negligible, I'd buy just buy here TBH.

It doesnt suit everyone to take time off work and drive up north or the UK but I done it years back for a Celica and it was a good journey back on the ferry.

ILikeBoats

I'd be relying on a trade in so don't think that buying up north is feasible, so would be a lot handier just to buy here.
But looking at Used Cars NI, most STs are ST3 trim, and the trim does have a nice few extras compared to the ST2. Just goes back to the annoying spec levels the Irish market gets.

The car I'm looking at is also up on done deal also and the Greenlight thing says "This vehicle has a recognised UK/NI registration plate. However, we cannot currently verify ownership of this vehicle in the UK."
So, yeah, definitely an import.

Wondering now is the price inclusive of VRT! Will ring after lunch and find out.

Rattlehead_ie

@ILikeBoats,
Give me a shout if you have any questions I imported my ST-3 last year and if you need help.
VRT for me last yr with import was just under the 4k mark. Still made the car easy cheaper with the full spec I got

ILikeBoats

Rattlehead_ie wrote: »

@ILikeBoats,
Give me a shout if you have any questions I imported my ST-3 last year and if you need help.
VRT for me last yr with import was just under the 4k mark. Still made the car easy cheaper with the full spec I got

Oh great, thanks. Appreciate that.

How do you like yours? Any complaints?

GavRedKing

ILikeBoats wrote: »

I'd be relying on a trade in so don't think that buying up north is feasible, so would be a lot handier just to buy here.
But looking at Used Cars NI, most STs are ST3 trim, and the trim does have a nice few extras compared to the ST2. Just goes back to the annoying spec levels the Irish market gets.

The car I'm looking at is also up on done deal also and the Greenlight thing says "This vehicle has a recognised UK/NI registration plate. However, we cannot currently verify ownership of this vehicle in the UK."
So, yeah, definitely an import.

Wondering now is the price inclusive of VRT! Will ring after lunch and find out.

Ya, in the UK market its mainly ST2s or ST3s. It would be a rare find to get an ST1 I'd guess. I also think the ST3s got climate control as standard where as everything else in the range just got A/C with climate control as an option.

If the trade in is the route you're going down might as well stay in the south so, makes it far easier to shift the car you have.

Given theres a new Focus on the horizon, if you did want to go up north or the across the water in a few months, any ST3s in the old body shape might drop by a few pound in the main ford dealers too.

Rattlehead_ie

ILikeBoats wrote: »

Oh great, thanks. Appreciate that.

How do you like yours? Any complaints?

NONE!
I love the car. I have just put myself in the car and drove for a good hour or two. I modified the ECU on mine and its 222BHP. Completely solid, but as I would expect from the Duratec engine in it. There is some slight internal cabin rattle in some cases. I fixed a lot of it, just loose screws but put some music on and you wont hear a thing.

ILikeBoats

It is a UK reg and the price is inclusive of VRT.

Blazer

ILikeBoats wrote: »

It's factory tuned apparently to get it up to 185hp from the standard tdci.
Would love the petrol myself but good ol Irish tax and insurance come into then. This seems like a happy medium between fun and economy.

Yeah I drove the smax today. It’s the 180hp 2l liter same as the st2 and it’s zippy enough in an smax which is a big car. I’m coming from a 3 litre BMW though so a bit biased but overall I was happy with the engine.

ILikeBoats

I just took it for a test drive. I am in love. It is gorgeous.

Bit of a snag though....he sold it this morning

Interesting garage, they import all the cars, all high spec, said the only Irish cars they sell are the trade ins. Nice selection there. He will hopefully be getting another ST3 in.

Blazer

how about bringing in one from the UK?

newmember2

Rattlehead_ie wrote: »

... There is some slight internal cabin rattle in some cases...

You sure it wasn't all in your head? :pac:

ILikeBoats

Blazer wrote: »

how about bringing in one from the UK?

Relying on the trade in

bazz26

Check with some dealers up North too, some of them will take southern reg trade ins if they have a trader down here who will buy it from them.

https://www.usedcarsni.com/2016-Ford-Focus-ST-3-185BHP-2-0-TDCi-ST-3-Navigation-5dr-30-ROAD-TAX-UPGRADED-ALLOYS-PRIVACY-GLASS-SYNC-2-WITH-SAT-NAV-REAR-VIEW-CAMERA-RECARO-LEATHER-HEATED-SEATS-196695959?search_type=1&make=7&fuel_type=2&age_from=2016&price_from=0&user_type=2%7C4&model=908&trans_type=1&age_to=0&price_to=0&mileage_to=0&keywords=185bhp&location%5B%5D=0&car_class=

https://www.usedcarsni.com/2016-Ford-Focus-2-0-TDCi-185-ST-3-5dr-208100482?make=7&model=908&search_type=1&age_from=2016&age_to=0&car_class=&fuel_type=2&keywords=st&location[]=0&mileage_to=0&pagepc0=2&price_from=0&price_to=0&trans_type=1&user_type=2%7C4

https://www.usedcarsni.com/2016-Ford-Focus-2-0-TDCi-185-ST-3-5dr-209685505?make=7&model=908&search_type=1&age_from=2016&age_to=0&car_class=&fuel_type=2&keywords=st&location[]=0&mileage_to=0&pagepc0=2&price_from=0&price_to=0&trans_type=1&user_type=2%7C4

ILikeBoats

Thanks Baz

I was going to say sure they'd get cheaper better spec'd trade ins up there but if it's going to a southern trader then that would work out well for everyone!

I will enquire!

bazz26

Yep, very unlikely they will reregister it up there and more likely they will sell it to a dealer down here. Downside is that you will probably get the trade value of it up there but worth comparing against what it will cost to change down here anyway.

Rattlehead_ie

Hartwell Ford Dunstable is where I got mine. Great to deal with and as helpful and clued in as you could get re Ford's etc.....sneaky fcker put an RS beside mine they day i picked the ST up....was so tempted.
Could you sell your old one privately?

ILikeBoats

Rattlehead_ie wrote: »

Hartwell Ford Dunstable is where I got mine. Great to deal with and as helpful and clued in as you could get re Ford's etc.....sneaky fcker put an RS beside mine they day i picked the ST up....was so tempted.
Could you sell your old one privately?

I probably could but I need the car for work so a seamless change from one to the other would be necessary. I suppose with enough organisation it could be done. Is your ST for sale in Cork?


The few garages I talked to up north said they will take the Irish reg no problem. Waiting on a value to see is it worth it.

At the end of the day, I have a car and I'm in no rush so can play the waiting game. Even though I'd kill to have it now ðŸ˜

Rattlehead_ie

HAHA, I know what you mean, want it NOW NOW NOW!
God no, mine aint for sale, still love it and still have a few mods planned for it
Pics in Motor Thread.

On selling the car. I sold mind after Id bought the ST. I valued it up and was better to sell it here in Ireland, but thats cause of the car it was, fairly bog standard. See what they value it at for trade-in Vs carzone etc here.

ILikeBoats

It's a stunner!
Similar to one on Carzone.

Unfortunately I don't have the capital to buy one car without selling the other!

I'll figure it out. I'm too in love with the ST now to not get one

ILikeBoats

Just to follow up on this.

I found a gorgeous and spotless ST which I bought eventually. Got a nice discount and nice trade in so was happy on that side of things.
There isn't a mark on the car, low mileage and the previous owner filled it with all the gadgets.

It is great fun to drive, gives me the punch I was looking for.

I'm a happy man