Ford Focus 2.0 ST 170 3dr Review

Watch this item
Ford Focus 2.0 ST 170 3dr
4.1 stars
Average rating for this product is: 4.1 out of 5

From 17 ratings and 25 reviews

Thumb up 84% of users recommend this product

Rate it Now:

Click on the stars above to rate this product:

Tweet This Item


kingoftheroad's Review of Ford Focus 2.0 ST 170 3dr

21st Jun 2005

Overall Rating

2 stars
  • Value for money
    2 stars
  • Length of ownership
    2 months
  • Performance
    3.5 stars
  • Reliability
    2.5 stars
  • Year Manufactured
    2002
  • Doors
    3
  • Practicality
    3 stars
Good Points

Handling, Erm That's about it.


Bad Points

The engine, steering, gearbox, ride.


General Comments

The Focus ST170 is overrated and over valued. There are better cars out there. It doesn't sit firmly between a ordinary 2 litre Focus and a RS. The engine produces good power high up in the rev range but has flat spots from about 2000 rpm up to 4500. Generally unrefined lump. Returns good MPG. Gearbox changes are far from slick although ratios are good. Sixth could of been longer. Handling is stiff but ride is over harsh. Steering is too easily affected by road surface. Seats are terrible and impossible to get a good position. Overall usual Ford rubbish.

Remember - all reviews on Review Centre express the reviewer's opinion, not necessarily ours.
If you disagree with a review then please let us know by writing a review of your own or adding a comment.

Tweet This Review

On average, people found this review not helpful

How helpful did you find this review?


Members' Comments onkingoftheroad's Review

  • crootons on 7th Jul 2005

    Why buy a Ford and then slag it off? If you don’t like fords buy something different...I don’t understand you people who have such a downer on Fords, are you all just vehicle snobs? You want to try running a car on a tight budget you would soon stop slagging Fords off then....

  • Davva007 on 14th Feb 2006

    Sounds like someone who can't afford the ST and has a 1.4 CL wannabe.

  • crootons on 17th Feb 2006

    no escort mk6 rs2000 which i think is a great car...

  • zharca Rank: 2nd Lieutenant on 6th Oct 2006

    I strongly suggest this is not from an ST170 owner.

    "The engine produces good power high up in the rev range, but has flat spots from about 2000 rpm up to 4500. Generally unrefined lump."
    Sheer nonsense. If the car's behaving like that, get PCM updates done.

    "Sixth could of been longer."
    Well, it's pulling over 25mph/1000rpm which is pretty tall for a 1300kg 2-litre. That's into 4 figures for a 4000rpm cruise. The gear change of the Getrag box is definitely clunkier than the stock Ford 5-speed. Dunno if mine loosened up after 40k or if I just got use to it.

    "Handling is stiff but ride is over harsh. Steering is too easily affected by road surface."
    If you've only driven a second-hand example then maybe (1) the tyre choice is wrong - I was talked into a set of Yokohamas for mine, which ruined the ride and made it tramline badly. Returning to Michelin's transformed it. (2) Make sure it's tracked properly and that the garage really can set up all 4 wheels accurately. All Focus's are sensitive to this and it needs doing regularly.

    "Seats are terrible and impossible to get a good position."
    If you really don't like the standard ones, there's a leather Recarro option.