Allan

iTrader: (1)

I hope you've already printed this off, if not perhaps you could tipex (sp) out this next bit

Now I don't regard myself as having race car driver type skills, but I can usually get the job done when required. A recent play with a ST170 left me having to get pretty serious to dispatch him in my std UK turbo, it was not as easy as I had thought it was going to be.

Still rather have the Scooby though, the ST170 has no soul.

Allan

Ang.C

Found
On
Roadside
Dead

DaveBlueRA

It a ford.....







Enough said

Mad Gypsy

Drag race him, then chin him!

Mad Gypsy

Be sure to tell him he has bought a new shape XR3i

vindaloo

Try these.....

"If I had to compromise, maybe I might consider the Focus....but they're sooo lethargic!"
"ST170, is that the one that's crying out for a proper engine"
"ST170, no! You should have got the supercharged 1.8 or 2.0 (bolt on). Now that's a fun car!"
"Couldn't daddy afford to insure you in a proper car?"

I'm sure there's more....

Vindaloo.

NACRO

ST170 is a good car like all Focii (LOL). Just look at the figures it does 0-60, 0-100 and you'll see that it is in the supermini league when it comes to speed. A contender against an Impreza? No.

logiclee

I'm a bit more objective than most on here.

The Focus is a warm hatch, that's what it is marketed at, that's just what it is. I would even say if your after a warm hatch, something a bit quicker and more sporty than a normal hatch its probably the best one on sale. Its high asking price is a sticking point but whoever pays full list for a Ford. (Unless its an RS). Buy a nearly new or second hand and its a steal.

The guys talking crap though if he thinks its anything more than a warm hatch. Its not even a hot hatch and certainly not a sports or performance car.

Can't see why there is all the Ford bashing, they are probably the best driving, handling, range of mainstream cars available (Fiesta, Puma, Focus, Mondeo). They are well built now days but the dealers are still crap.

Not a Ford owner myself but drive hire cars all the time, if I get a Ford I'm a lot happier than getting a Vauxhall, Nissan, Toyota, Peugeot etc.

Lee

Scooby96

bollox - mondeao st220 as quick as a wrx - no where near matey

CTRnutter

should have bought a Civic Type R !! even that could fart on an ST170 and blow it away,

Boyakasha

iTrader: (2)

I'm with you CTR having owned the iVTEC beast

Duck_Pond

Why shout about having 170 bhp? My 91 Celica had 158, years ago. Some of the better diesels have more than that these days.

ST170. Maybe the "HI" between the "S" and "T" was considered too long to write across the boot lid.

chrisp

MY03 ST220 226PS weighes 1494kgs (4 door ford figures)

MY03 WRX 223PS weighes 1395kgs


Take out the drivetrain losses :

FWD drivetrain losses typically 20%
AWD drivetrain losses typically 35%

MY03 ST220 181PS weighes 1494kgs (4 door ford figures)

MY03 WRX 145PS weighes 1395kgs

Power to weight @ wheels PS/1000kgs

ST220 = 121PS

WRX = 104PS

So do you think a WRX with less power at the wheels is quicker when rolling against an ST220.

Of course I maybe wrong with the drivetrain losses but FWD is always going to have a better power at wheels with same output.

chrisp

The ST170 using the same figures :

MY03 ST170 - 173PS (1283kgs)

After losses 20%

= 138PS

Power to weight PS/1000kgs

= 108PS

chrisp

Lucky mines an old RA

280PS (1240kgs)

Take off 35%

182PS

PTW@W

147PS

Nexuas

offer to race him round a corner.

jasey

I wouldn't do that if I were you - offer to race him in a straight line - you'll be less embarrased !

Chicken Man

They did the XR3 and the RS turbo....

Then the XR3i and the newer RS turbo...

Then the RS 2000 and the cossie....

The Focus RS and if I'm hearing right, soon the Focus Cosworth...

Doesn't that make the ST170 the equivalent of the humble (but really tappy and ****) 1.4 CVH?!?!?!?



CM

SJ_Skyline

Colin,

Just tell him to p1ss off

Rich

chrisp

Funny how the maths I posted has been brushed under the carpet .

Scoob99

iTrader: (1)

PMSL...Thanks lads

Allan

iTrader: (1)

Chris,
I'm not surprised at your figures, that's why I couldn't leave him easy.

Colonel Mullet

Excellent posts Chrisp - in the real world there will be a lot less between these two cars than some people think. Comparing power figures and 0-60s is just rubbish between a 4WD and FWD car but your approximated power-to-weight figures give a much better picture.

If I were the original poster, I would want to know just how good (or mad) a driver Mr Focus was before I challenged him to a race as ultimately this will determine who 'wins'.

Speaking as someone who was comprehensively and embarrasingly out-driven in my UK scoob by a V6 Mondeo Estate (not even an ST220), I know all about the perils of underestimating the blue oval. And yes, that was 'in the twisties'.

chrisp

Lee I was just pointing out to people that a comment like these cars are crap doesnt tell the whole story either . Yes I am thinking of buying an ST170 to replace my zetec and yes I could get a scoob but why buy 2 scoobs one fast and one not so fast .

The whole reason for my for the Focus is that its cheap to run 36mpg on average my RA does 17-20mpg my old 98UK did 23mpg. Does not attract unwanted attention and blends nicely. Servicing 100 quid a year.

Also an ST220 would give a "newage" WRX a serious problem. As I pointed out 226PS, 3 litre engine and no lag and less transmission losses these car should not be dismissed, go and drive one your eyes maybe opened a little.

I like scoobs owned 2 of them for 5 years but 223PS doesnt cut it anymore with me. 300+ is required to keep the legend alive.

chrisp

Yep should have said in my last post I agreed with you Lee. They are aimed a different markets. I would buy a WRX before an ST170 but I cant afford to own two scoobs the run costs woudl be horrendous.

The other possibility for me is a 2.0 Ghia Focus slightly slower than an ST170, but better spec half the insurance as you said similar performance upto higher rpms. I have seen a nice magnum grey 5 door ST170 though and nowhere near the 16K. They are being brought for nearer 12-13K, from the right dealer at the right price.

The ST220 coment wasnt aimed at you Lee it was aimed at the gusy who believe because it has a blue oval is possibly be any good against their WRX LOL. I am a guilty as anyone as I was surprised and had that view until I looked at one.

My Dad has a V6 2.5 Ghia X and its a fantastic car, every toy and the phase fully loaded doesnt do it justice.



[Edited by chrisp - 8/2/2003 4:04:59 PM]

logiclee

Chris.

If you are after the Focus as a second car have you tried a TDCi?

I get to drive them a lot and in 99% of driving they are quicker than the 2.0 petrol. In 99% of situations you can't tell its a diesel either. I did 1000miles in a week in one and managed 55mpg. According to the speedo and rev counter top gear is about 31mph/1000rpm but its still pulls hard in top on the motorway. Around 175lbft of torque but with an overboost facility that comes in when you put your foot down giving 200lbft of torque from 1900rpm.

Some of the Ford Direct places are selling 6month old TDCi Ghia's with full leather, climate, parking sensors, Xenon lights, multi cd etc. etc. for around £12500

LX, Zetec TDCi insurance group 6
Ghia TDCi group 7.
Don't look at 0-60 etc just go and drive one.

Lee


[Edited by logiclee - 8/2/2003 5:18:28 PM]

Toonman1

Five Scoobies since 07 April '94 and one Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec. I know which car was a heap of junk and literally fell to bits, and it wasn't any of the Subarus! Lousy manufacturer, lousy car, lousy dealers. Thank heavens for a lease company who cared and let us out of the deal early without penalty.

Unfortunately, my College hired a Focus 1.6 Zetec for me to take to Liverpool recently. Even my Wife commented on how tinny the thing felt, and she only moved it on the drive.

Slow? Wow! 3rd gear up hills on the Motorway to keep up with the flow, and crap fuel consumption really - 29mpg overall during the week I had it. For God's sake, even I get better than that driving our 03 GX Sportswagon, and it's no Nissan Micra when it comes to using fuel!

Oh yes, the Ford started to fall to bits - trim on the interior driver's door handle came off and dropped onto the road as I opened the door, the ash tray wouldn't go back after I'd cleaned it out, the remote radio controls failed, the glove box lid rattled, the rear hatch squeaked, the AC was so inadequate, it had to be faulty and there was a clonk from the rear suspension. All this on an 03 Focus with less than 2.5K miles on the clock...

The worst bit is, I'll probably get another one of these pathetic excuses for a car when I return to Liverpool at the end of the Summer. I suppose I could take one of our Subarus, but that'd be silly...

Cheers

logiclee

Toonman,

I think we can have bad experiences with any manufacturer. I agree that Ford dealers are crap.

I can't say I have had many problems with the Focus's I have driven. The 1.8 has got to be the absolute minimum engine spec though.

I owned a 2.0 Zetec ESP for a year back in 1999 didn't have any problems with it over 20000 miles. My workmate with the ST170 had a X plate 2000 Focus 2.0Zetec ESP from new after driving mine. He sold it to another workmate when he bought the ST170. The X reg car has done 58,000miles now and only problem has been a leaking Power Steering pump which was replaced under warranty. Last year one of our engineers bought a Civic TypeR and ended up rejecting it because of constant faults, just goes to show.

I suspect chrisp has been happy with his if he's thinking of having another.

Cheers
Lee

Toonman1

I agree Lee, you can have all kinds of bad cars, although of the 20+ new cars I've owned since 1984, I've only had 3 that really gave problems - the Focus, a Seat Leon Cupra (total heap of crap) and a Citroen ZX Volcane (despite 2 other Volcanes and a 16V being totally reliable).

The 5 Scoobs have been spot on, despite 25K pa mileages, and I've got to say so were the other 2 Jap cars we owned - Nissan Micras!

Cheers

Baby

I owned a st170 for a year that was enough,nice handling and interior but nowhere near fast enough in a straight line.I traded mine in for a sti8 i know which one gives a cheekey grin on my face when im driving it.