Mk1 Focus 2.0 Zetec - wow
17 September 2011, 07:39 AM
#1
Mk1 Focus 2.0 Zetec - wow
Just bought one, and am mightily impressed 
Fitted decent 215/45/17's, a set of brakes from Ian Godspeed, plus a 4 wheel alignment
The Chassis is brilliant.
It's the MK1 Focus so you get lift off oversteer
the MK2 was made to handle safer so you don't get that. It's a Zetec which has the firmer 'sports' suspension. Turn-in is sharp and precise, the car's weight feels balanced front to rear, and the overall feel is one of compliant agility with a good fun factor
Engine could do with a big blower on it though
Problem now is it's got me wondering what an ST is like
Fitted decent 215/45/17's, a set of brakes from Ian Godspeed, plus a 4 wheel alignment
The Chassis is brilliant.
It's the MK1 Focus so you get lift off oversteer
the MK2 was made to handle safer so you don't get that. It's a Zetec which has the firmer 'sports' suspension. Turn-in is sharp and precise, the car's weight feels balanced front to rear, and the overall feel is one of compliant agility with a good fun factorEngine could do with a big blower on it though
Problem now is it's got me wondering what an ST is like
17 September 2011, 08:18 AM
#2
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The focus is all about how it handles. The 1.6, 1.8, 2.0 and 2.0 ST are all much the same.
I had the 1.8 a few years and now recently picked up a 2004 1.6 and there no difference in speed whatsoever. Sure, the 2.0 and 2.0 ST will be a bit quicker top end but for general driving, there is sod all difference, just the MPG!
Great cars that are generally very reliable too. Don't bother chasing power, it isn't worth it. Just enjoy how it drives.
I had the 1.8 a few years and now recently picked up a 2004 1.6 and there no difference in speed whatsoever. Sure, the 2.0 and 2.0 ST will be a bit quicker top end but for general driving, there is sod all difference, just the MPG!
Great cars that are generally very reliable too. Don't bother chasing power, it isn't worth it. Just enjoy how it drives.
Last edited by Gear Head; 17 September 2011 at 08:20 AM.
17 September 2011, 11:52 AM
#5
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I have so much fun driving the wifes mk1 1.6, its an absolute blast for a standard shopping trolley car.
The mk1 ST is a piece of crap really, it does nothing to exploit the excellent chassis, is nowhere near powerful enough and certainly doesnt feel like 170bhp. The 2.0 zetecs are 136bhp iirc and you can barely tell the difference when jumping to the 170bhp ST. Also the 2.0 is much more tuneable than the ST
The mk1 ST is a piece of crap really, it does nothing to exploit the excellent chassis, is nowhere near powerful enough and certainly doesnt feel like 170bhp. The 2.0 zetecs are 136bhp iirc and you can barely tell the difference when jumping to the 170bhp ST. Also the 2.0 is much more tuneable than the ST
17 September 2011, 12:25 PM
#6
Seems the general consensus with the ST170. Similar 2.0 performance but with dire mpg
The MK2 225bhp must be worth a try? Can't you get a superchips taking things to 255/273ft?
I think the weight increased a bit with the MK2 though - 1495Kg's
The MK2 225bhp must be worth a try? Can't you get a superchips taking things to 255/273ft?
I think the weight increased a bit with the MK2 though - 1495Kg's
17 September 2011, 12:30 PM
#7
I find that all fords from that era wether its the focus, fiesta, puma or even the ka very, very nice to drive
Everything just feels right, the gearbox is percise, steering sharp, handling easy and predictable, even the pedals feel nice, shame they rust so badly !
Heres one I had many years ago, I miss that car
Everything just feels right, the gearbox is percise, steering sharp, handling easy and predictable, even the pedals feel nice, shame they rust so badly !
Heres one I had many years ago, I miss that car
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17 September 2011, 12:34 PM
#8
I find that all fords from that era wether its the focus, fiesta, puma or even the ka very, very nice to drive
Everything just feels right, the gearbox is percise, steering sharp, handling easy and predictable, even the pedals feel nice, shame they rust so badly !
Heres one I had many years ago, I miss that car
Everything just feels right, the gearbox is percise, steering sharp, handling easy and predictable, even the pedals feel nice, shame they rust so badly !
Heres one I had many years ago, I miss that car
17 September 2011, 12:58 PM
#9
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My mum and dad used to have a 2.0 ESP focus. Absolutely brilliant car. Was comfortable, easy to drive, good on fuel and didn't go wrong once. Would highly recommend one to anyone.
I've owned a few fords and have always found that the standard stereo / speakers in them are bloody brilliant.
I've owned a few fords and have always found that the standard stereo / speakers in them are bloody brilliant.
17 September 2011, 08:08 PM
#16
Recently had a 347bhp ST in work[big mods] and tbho it was just plain dangerous to drive with a mammoth amount of torque steer in lower gears ie 1-2-3 and even felt twitchy in 4th under WOT.
Although it was a hoot given that danger
That said it was quite sedate when driven normally and did go round the corners nicely too so with sensible power would probably make a nice drive.
The focus mk1 in general is widely known to be the best handling car within its category of cars,and with running a mechanical/bodyshop I've been lucky enough to have driven most cars and would agree that it is a good drivers car.
Although it was a hoot given that danger
That said it was quite sedate when driven normally and did go round the corners nicely too so with sensible power would probably make a nice drive.
The focus mk1 in general is widely known to be the best handling car within its category of cars,and with running a mechanical/bodyshop I've been lucky enough to have driven most cars and would agree that it is a good drivers car.
18 September 2011, 03:22 PM
#18
Slightly isn't the word lol,completely would be more like it.
The mk1 RS isn't very good at all I feel,Ford didn't get the diff right and is very twitchy when under WOT and trying to steer but it does seem to have been sorted on the mk2 version.
The mk1 RS isn't very good at all I feel,Ford didn't get the diff right and is very twitchy when under WOT and trying to steer but it does seem to have been sorted on the mk2 version.
18 September 2011, 05:32 PM
#25
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Just bought one, and am mightily impressed
Fitted decent 215/45/17's, a set of brakes from Ian Godspeed, plus a 4 wheel alignment
The Chassis is brilliant.
It's the MK1 Focus so you get lift off oversteer the MK2 was made to handle safer so you don't get that. It's a Zetec which has the firmer 'sports' suspension. Turn-in is sharp and precise, the car's weight feels balanced front to rear, and the overall feel is one of compliant agility with a good fun factor
Engine could do with a big blower on it though
Problem now is it's got me wondering what an ST is like
Fitted decent 215/45/17's, a set of brakes from Ian Godspeed, plus a 4 wheel alignment
The Chassis is brilliant.
It's the MK1 Focus so you get lift off oversteer
the MK2 was made to handle safer so you don't get that. It's a Zetec which has the firmer 'sports' suspension. Turn-in is sharp and precise, the car's weight feels balanced front to rear, and the overall feel is one of compliant agility with a good fun factorEngine could do with a big blower on it though
Problem now is it's got me wondering what an ST is like
http://forums.focaljet.com/forced-in...x-charger.html
I can't find a decent kit for it, it's all one-off, bespoke-er-y.
ISTR there was a Jackson racing kit and Power Engineering tried a JR supercharger for a while. Not efficient though, rootes type rather than centrifugal or spiral.
J.
18 September 2011, 07:51 PM
#26
I wonder if Rotrex do a kit?
http://forums.focaljet.com/forced-in...x-charger.html
I can't find a decent kit for it, it's all one-off, bespoke-er-y.
ISTR there was a Jackson racing kit and Power Engineering tried a JR supercharger for a while. Not efficient though, rootes type rather than centrifugal or spiral.
J.
http://forums.focaljet.com/forced-in...x-charger.html
I can't find a decent kit for it, it's all one-off, bespoke-er-y.
ISTR there was a Jackson racing kit and Power Engineering tried a JR supercharger for a while. Not efficient though, rootes type rather than centrifugal or spiral.
J.
Don't know how much all that would cost though as you're talking stronger bottom end needed.
There's a mod'd 320bhp ST down the road from me up for sale at the minute...
18 September 2011, 08:40 PM
#27
i'd have another one tomorrow if i had the money.
18 September 2011, 08:46 PM
#28
Are you mad? I loved my mk1 focus RS. THE best looking car i have owned and the most fun. The only time the diff was a problem was trying to get it off the line. It was great down the lanes once you learnt to trail brake. it would out corner the scooby while both on stock suspension.
i'd have another one tomorrow if i had the money.
i'd have another one tomorrow if i had the money.
Don't get me wrong once like you said you learn its tendencies its good but it just doesn't inspire you to want to straight off the bat like say a subaru does
18 September 2011, 09:08 PM
#29
Having to learn to drive it[unless your very experienced already] does not make for a good drivers car imho,should be able to more or less be able to jump in and feel at home which the RS focus mk1 just does not do I'm afraid.
Don't get me wrong once like you said you learn its tendencies its good but it just doesn't inspire you to want to straight off the bat like say a subaru does
Don't get me wrong once like you said you learn its tendencies its good but it just doesn't inspire you to want to straight off the bat like say a subaru does