2004 FORD FOCUS ST170
Used car addict Keith looks back at his best – and worst – classic buys. This week, a Ford Focus that he sold to a friend in need…
WHY DID YOU WANT ONE?
It was midway through the second (or was it third?) lockdown of 2020 that I realised that I’d made it through much of the year without buying a car of any sort. Given that I’d been confined to barracks for much of that, I should have been able to forgive myself for this misdemeanour, but my addiction was really starting to trouble me by the middle of autumn and I was getting itchy feet in anticipation of buying something new and interesting. As it happens, the answer to my prayers came at an industry event when I bumped into fellow car journalist and lover of old cars, Tom Barnard. We got chatting about his latest purchase – a Ford Focus ST170 – which because of a change in circumstances was no longer needed. He mentioned that it could be for sale, I counteracted with a price and before I knew it, we were careering towards a deal that neither one of us was expecting to do that day.
WAS IT A JOY – OR A NIGHTMARE – TO LIVE WITH?
I headed down to Tom’s place to pick the car up a few weeks later. Weirdly, I’d bought another couple of cars in the intervening weeks so I didn’t really want or need the Focus; I was suffering from buyer’s remorse before I’d even driven it! Still, it was looking sparkly when I arrived at his place and none of the niggles he mentioned – instruments that didn’t illuminate properly and air-con that only worked on one setting – really bothered me… I just wanted to get into the thing and drive it. And so drive it I did and the trek home soon washed away any lingering regrets about me buying a car that I didn’t really need; instead I concentrated on its many, many good points.
WHAT’S YOUR ABIDING MEMORY OF IT?
It was an absolute honey to drive – a fact that rather surprised me given how lukewarm contemporary road tests were about it. It was quick, revved all the way round to 7500rpm (the variable valve timing worked a treat) and had steering to die for. You could pivot into a bend like a true hot hatch great and have real confidence in it whatever the road surface. In short, I was blown away. I managed a few long trips in it during my time with it and returned home grinning from ear to ear every time – quite something considering that this silver five-door example looked so similar to a standard Focus. You could really surprise other drivers with it. So, you’re probably wondering why I sold it on. Frankly, so am I. But sell it I did when a London-based friend got in touch asking if I had a ULEZ-compliant car for sale, knowing that he would give it a good home while flying the flag for modern classic cars in a capital city that seems hell-bent on getting rid of all of its interesting and affordable cars. And so it has proved… even if it’s left me scanning the classifieds in search of another.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS FOR BUYING ONE?
The Ford Focus MkI is a rugged and reliable car that was tolerably well screwed together but the ST170 does suffer from a few niggles over and above those that you’d find on lesser examples of the breed. The 2.0-litre engine is fundamentally strong and will last indefinitely if you keep on top of regular oil and cambelt changes but the variable valve timing can be problematic, as can the inlet manifold as the air flaps inside fail, preventing it from breathing properly. They’re also susceptible to failed exhaust lambda sensors – all of which will give you an engine light and rough running. Aside from that, they’re all good on the mechanical side. The biggest issue is under-the-surface corrosion – the sills and engine subframe are the biggest worries, so take a long, hard look at the MoT history of any example you happen to be perusing if you want to head off any potentially expensive issues in the future.