Does anyone out there have one of these?

I'm trying to research some of the engine features:

1. Is the aluminium cylinder block fitted with cast/steel bore liners, or
are the bores plated (e.g. Nikasil)?

2. How easy/expensive is a cam belt change?

3. Does the engine have a dual-mass flywheel?

4. What sort of mpg is obtainable under normal driving conditions?

5. Does the engine run OK on 95RON, or does it need super-unleaded
(99RON)?

Any general comments about the car (good or bad) appreciated.
--
Mike
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"mlv" <mike.safetycatchvincent (AT) jet (DOT) uk> wrote

The new and current ST or the previous ST170??

In any case, the answers are:
5cyl ST
ST170
1) Plated
Dry Liners cast in.
2) Limited room, Care needed~£200.
Circa £160, again limited room.
3) Yes
Yes
4) 23-27mpg
25-30mpg
5) Ok, but max power on 99.
Reasonable, 99 preferred.


Hope this helps.

Tim..

Sorry , I should have made that clear. The latest Focus ST1, ST2, ST3 (5
cylinder turbo)

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately my newsreader lost all the formatting
of your columns, making it difficult to be sure which answer applied to the
5 cyl. ST and which applied to the ST170.

Please can you confirm that these are the answers applicable to the 5 cyl.
Focus ST1, ST2, ST3?

Focus 5 cyl. ST

1. Aluminium cylinder block fitted with dry liners, cast in.

2. Cam belt change - circa £160, limited access.

3. Dual-mass flywheel - Yes

4. Average 25 - 30 mpg

5. Engine runs reasonably on 95RON, but prefers 99RON.

How do you get hold of this sort of information? Is there a Website
anywhere that gives detailed technical information of this type?

Maybe you could answer some additional questions?

Does the ST have a traditional throttle cable, or is it 'fly-by-wire'?

Two Ford Main Dealer salesmen have independently assured me that the Focus
ST2 is fitted with a limited slip differential. I'm not convinced as it is
not mentioned in any Ford brochure or Focus ST review that I have read. I
think it just has an Electronic Stability Programme. Can you confirm
whether Ford fit a LSD to the ST2?

I see that Ford offer a Wolf performance upgrade and Superchips UK offer a
Bluefin performance upgrade. Neither are cheap and I think that at 300bhp,
the Wolf upgrade is probably a bit over-the-top. Is the Superchips Bluefin
upgrade worthwhile, or have Ford got things more or less right with the
standard ST?

Thanks
--
Mike
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"mlv" <mike.safetycatchvincent (AT) jet (DOT) uk> wrote

1) Yes
2) Circa £200 at your local good independant- more at Ford dealer
3) Yes
4) Yes
5) Yes.

I used to work for Ford R&D and still have close contacts there now.

Fly by wire. Nearly ALL new cars are FBW nowadays.

No LSD - its all done electronically via braking individual wheels and
regulating engine torque.

The max you will get from the 5 cylinder from just a remap is around
255-260hp. The Bluefin /superchips is the best option.

Stock intercooler especially, turbo and downpipe are the limiting factors,
anything much over 300hp and especially 400nm and the rods bend. This motor
is not designed to be a high blow unit. (0.6bar as stock)

Hope this helps.

Tim..

Thanks Tim - excellent information.

If only Ford Main Dealers knew a little more about the cars they are
selling!
--
Mike
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"mlv" <mike.safetycatchvincent (AT) jet (DOT) uk> wrote

I'm aware you never asked if you should buy one, but they're really not all
that fantastic. I've driven two, one new, one used. Both were Fords, which
would explain why I felt the way I did about them after the half-hour drive.
I really don't think it passes the 'briefcase' test.

"gm" <g@m.com> wrote


That sounds like it didn't pass your test, though.

On the other hand, the five cylinder model has enough go and handling
abilities to be a good hot hatch, but also has the other Focus attributes,
so it's a great car, too.

--
The DervMan
www.dervman.com

"DervMan" <thedervman (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

I agree, and if I had a spare £16 or so k, i'd have one today! (not in
orange though)

Tim.

gm wrote:
It's one of the cars on my list. I'm looking for a sporty hatch that
doesn't upset 'Golden' Brown (Prime Minister in waiting) too much.

I test drove one last week. It only had 300 miles on the clock, so was
still tight. Must admit, I did enjoy the handling and performance. The
6-speed cogbox was pretty slick too (although any cogbox would appear slick
compared with the harsh, 'agricultural' transmission in my current vehicle).

By 'Both were Fords' do you mean as opposed to being Volvos with the same
(T5) engine (i.e the V50)?

I would have liked a longer test drive. In fact, I would like to have done
my usual 'to and from work' 50 mile journey in it to establish whether I
could live with one.

The fact that the ST had an instrument that I thought was long extinct, the
oil pressure gauge, almost convinced me to buy one ;-)

I don't know whether there are any reliability issues, but on the face of
it, the Focus ST2 seems good value for money, although possibly with the
usual Ford 'lead balloon' depreciation.
--
Mike
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"mlv" <mike.safetycatchvincent (AT) jet (DOT) uk> wrote

Then you might want to consider something with a chunky diesel engine
instead of a chunky petrol engine, especially since carbon dioxide is the
only pollutant known to man.

<g>

Aie I should say!

No, probably that the poster doesn't like Fords.

Absolutely.

Perhaps. Years on, higher performance Fords retain their value much better
than the ordinary models, providing you look after it of course.

--
The DervMan
www.dervman.com