Ford released an ECU update, BUG7 or summat. A lot of people were then having problems with their DS units. DS have now resolved this so there's nothing to worry about.

 

Blimey mate - heavy foot!! I get about 260-280 miles out of 60 quids VPower! (not hanging about - trips reads 22-23mpg - thats on DSCi).

 

That's about 7mpg less than I get in my enthusiastically driven remapped mk5 Golf....so in comparison that doesn't seem to be too bad for a blown 5pot engine but then when you think about it 22mpg is a bit scary for a 'family' hatch lol

MPG is the sole reason I didnt get one over my Golf - I get whatever the taxman deems appropriate per mile for business miles (currently 12p) and I would just have been losing to much money with the chavvy Focus

 

i had a st3 focus was a great car done a few mods had it chipped,miltek exhaust,k&n panel filter went very well 2 reasons i got rid 1st i wanted another scoobysti bigtime & 2 reason the brakes on the st were CR*P if you brake really hard at speed the car would weave side to side very scary stuff the 1 st time.
if i ever fell out of love with scooby's(which i will not) i would get another focus st without thinking about it good all rounder car still the best hot hatch on the road today imoa

 

1 of the Girls i worked with had 1, she had a few problems with the front end(tracking etc nothing serious but a few trips to the dealers)
She did put it in a hedge after too lol,
But she did say it was tacky inside, looked nice but actually was very poor feel using day to day wise,
Obviously the MPG was bad but thats well known with this engine period,
Ive been having a look at a Black ST3 in a local garage, its 1 of those cars that`s got a lot of little finishing touches the more you look at it but its just doesnt inspire me to go and buy(like the new scoob if im honest)
I have to say the alfa 147 would be my choice just to be different and I like a gamble lol

Go take the short list for a good test drive is all id say, and search the equivalent forums and see if they have any little quirks, that said all cars have little issues.

Brett

 

I don't know about the ST3, but focuses are fantastic cars. Amazingly reliable even when maintainance in neglected. Great handling cars as well. Chassis is perfectly balanced and they are great to throw around...much more fun to drive than any subaru on the road.

An ST3 would blow away most standard scooby's through the twisties as well(in the dry).

 

Im assuming your comparing it to a WRX (which ive never driven) but compared to an STI an ST definately wouldnt blow it away or get even remotely close in the wet! and this is from someone who is a massive fan of the ST (i would take one anyday over the new STI)

Mark

 

Hence I said in the dry. Probs a better designed chassis than the scooby tbh though. The 4wd saves it.

Theres different kinds of twisties though - Some roads I know that are really tight with tricky cambers round about here would be driven quicker in one of the new fwd hot hatches. Scoobies have got grip, but they dont handle amazingly as standard, and can be quite cumbersome at times.

Focus's are alot more nimble and change direction better, so I reckon it would take a series of tights bends more quickly.

 

It's not used a great deal, so when I do get out in it I like to make good progress and generally have it singing as often as I can

I worked out today that even though the MPG is bad, I would always want a performance car and if I didn't buy the ST I would probably have bought a VXR or a Golf. Even if the VXR or the Golf can get 30mpg in my hands, it would only save me £400 a year and for that amount I much prefer the ST and its 5 pot magic (and its cheaper servicing, insurance etc (than the Golf)).

 

OK. Can anyone recommend a Ford Dealer in the North Cheshire, South Lancs area? One that will do an unaccompained test drive so I can take the kids would be nice too.

Steve

 

I bought mine from Rufus Carr in Clitheroe and when testing mine he just gave me the keys and told me to bring it back whenever I liked.

They are also supposed to be good for servicing, and they are an approved Code:Red supplier as well (mods and maps).

They are mid Lancs though so may be too far (A59/Ribble Valley)

 

Polar Ford on the A34 Bypass were very helpful, however we bought our Galaxy from one in Derby, a Ford Direct year old one, it was immaculate, the one at Polar turned up minus the ESP so we cancelled it and ended up with a better spec, so dont be afraid to try one at a dealers and let them source a Ford Direct car from the dealer network, you can reject it if its not right.

 

Unless you are p/exing, look at private.

I have a 56 plate ST2 and love it. Second owner, with Bluefin giving same as DS so not really much difference between either remap to be honest, and made the front tyres last 10,000 miles which,l for a FWD car with 275bhp going through was quite good.

Fuel consumptions is appalling - before and after the Bluefin I was on 22mpg and although my drive to work is a back road blast, so the car gets used, I do get about 220 out of a tank of 95 petrol.

Mine also has a few options which makes it nicer, but you know what I love about this car over the Golf and Astra - standard bi-xenons. Bloody amazing light from them on both dipped and main beam, and I don;t think I would ever want to go back to standard headlights. Brilliant...

Andy

 

In regards engine management issues, there have never been any. The BUG7 update was for a number of things, but was also overcome by tuners quickly as well. Given the engine is the Volvo unit that's been going for a few years, all problems are well and truly eradicated.

Main, common issues are

Squeaky drivers seat ( I have this)
Moving drivers seat (I had this - fixed under warranty)
Seat position too high (nothing you can do about this)
Desire for frequent re-fuelling (ahhhggg)
Power steering pump replacement (under warranty)

 

Thanks for the input. Car purchases are on hold for the moment as we've just booked Disneyland for Christmas.

We would have to PX our A3 as my wife uses her car for work and there can't be a break in ownership. Unless of course, I wait till a 2 week school holiday (she's a teacher) and we are lucky to sell it and find a replacement in that timescale.

Plus the lure of an A4 Convertible is inexplicably strong

Steve

 

If you must get an a4 cab then fair dos...but you might look a bit ghey

You can get decent mpg out of the ST if you cruise off boost quite easily but it is boring.

I just did an 70mph motorway cruise at 33mpg for 2 hours then left M'way and got it down to 18 on the 5 mile stretch home...