2002 Ford Focus ST170 from UK and Ireland - Comments

The gear linkage cable snapped after 2 weeks of ownership. Car taken to ford repair center, then I had to beg, and wait 3 hours for a courtesy car.

Inlet manifold module cable snapped (ford cables are weak!) waited 2 weeks for the part, got a loan car much easier this time.

At same time a light came on in the dash so they rebooted and upgraded the cars software. Runs like a dream now!

Forgetting the initial problems, this is a very nice car to own. It is comfortable on long journeys due to its supple ride quality, and down country lanes is impreza or evo quick due to its awesome handling and grip. The chassis balance is staggering.

The cars gearbox is an absolute joy, smooth, precise and well weighted with a mechanical feel. The ratios are wide for a 6 speed box, but that's never a problem.

One line for the steering. It's like a Porsche, what more can I say.

Ignore the 170 (actually 172bhp), it drives more like 185! I have timed 0-60 in just under 7 seconds, and 17 seconds to 100mph! very good indeed, power above 5000 rpm to the 7200 cut out is very good, a bit like a vtec!

The look of the car is understated, meaning it looks sporty, without shouting "I'm an idiot, and wanna race" it has the advantage of being a bit of a stealth machine.

The interior is comfy with all the kit I want, or even need, and is well screwed together with a very good sound system.

Consumption is about 330 miles to a mixed driving style tank full of unleaded, but super unleaded makes it a bit more nippy!

I recommend this car to anyone with a £10k budget for a fast yet practical car without being uncomfortable. I LOVE THIS CAR.

This car has been timed at 8.6sec to 60mph and 24.3sec to 100mph! Slow if you ask me..

I like your overblown claims though! lol.

Who got 24.6 seconds for the 100 mph sprint???

Evo magazine got 8.2 and 23.2 seconds in 2002.

But when they retested the car a few months ago, they got 8.0 seconds to 60mph and 20.8 seconds to 100 mph.

It's a lovely car, but it really should be quicker. The standard 2.0 develops nearly 40PS less, and has a 5 speed 'box yet is only a second slower to 60.

In terms of handling, and especially in terms of feel, I personally think it's a far better car than the Civic Type-R, but why Ford didn't make it quicker I'll never know. It's not like it's even insurance friendly.

Focus ST170 nothing, but problems. Firstly 2 water leaks to front windscreen then Inlet manifold broke, next problem was rear brake discs distorted at 8000 miles (not covered).Lastly the car went in yesterday for a alternator tensioner and the dealer found that the power steering pump was broken, Crank main oil seal was leaking and the drive shaft oil seal was gone, lucky this was all covered under guarantee, but not so good as the car has only covered 12000 miles.

Slow. nice dash though, best thing about it.

This car is the best hot hatch to date. would wipe the floor with a type-r. I raced my pal in a brand new lotus exige and demolished him round brands hatch. very quick must be around 5 sec 0-60 had 168mph on straight and was only at 4000rpm. amazing. r34 move over.

Listen, the Focus ST170 is a slow car. The official performance figures are: 0-60 8.4 seconds and a top speed of 134mph. Now compare these figures with say a Nissan Primera GT, which has only 150 bhp: 0-60 8.5 seconds, top speed 135+. I think you can see what I'm getting at. My mate has got one of these Nissan's and to be honest with you it would wipe the floor with the Focus, even though it has 20bhp less and weighs more than a cruise liner.

Don't bother with these overrated, underpowered buzz boxes.

Save yourself a packet and buy yourself a Rover 220GSi-Turbo: 197BHP as standard. Almost as quick as a new Honda Civic Type-R; book figures are almost identical.

A good example can be picked up for around the £2000 mark and they are slowly becoming rarities, meaning appreciation is likely to set in.

One thing is for sure, it will absolutely trounce all over this pathetic Essex boy Ford.

Not bad for a 12 year old car.

"down country lanes is impreza or evo quick due to its awesome handling and grip." and steers like a porsche. Maybe a non turbo subaru is getting closer to the mark. Let's leave evos and porsches out of this. If a focus had anything on an evo...I'd be thinking something like this "shame on you Mitsubishi!" But its not the case. Evos will crank like few other turbo 4 bangs out there, and cornering is so rock solid and rigid it'll make you grate your teeth out. As for the porsche comparison... how can a front wheel drive car with uni joints and baby size tyres compare to the massive road holding and torque of a porsche's rear end. Have you ever seen a 295mm tyre - they're scary - and you can power slide in a porsche and an evo. Have fun with you Focus ST170, they're probably great value for money if your into the boy racer thing.LOL.

Lot of intelligent debate here guys. In a straight 0-60 I've timed my ST170 at 7.8secs - quick, but not fast. Plenty of low down torque though for a 10-60 type run. As for the handling, I've never had a problem seeing off Type-R's or BMW's (bar M's), but I wouldn't bother playing with Evo's or Porsche's for any length of time. Happy?

Dude, don't mind the haters out there. Offical time was 0-60 in 7.9secs and as was said - not lightning quick, but quick enough and the handling & chassis has been praised by EVO, Topgear and probably every other road test out there.

Official time 0-62 is 7.9 seconds.

As fast as an imprezza or a porsche eh? Funny that, I tested one of these a week after I drove a P-1 and I know which I'd put my money on...

ST170 is still a good car though. Quick for the money and it is a capable handler. Not sure I'd favour it over an Octavia VRS though in terms of performance.

Just one word here, I've owned my 170 for 6months from new and its already having problems, with seals leaking, lights failing, cover plates rusting, noisey enging when idle. but its good on fuel, looks nice, handles well, but my old saab turbo would have made this car look stupid when you go on about performance. My advice - buy a golf GTI.

I thought they stopped making the st170 in 2004/05?

Yeah they did mines a late54plate with 5k on the clock which is nothing, but still all these problems what does that say about this pile of junk. I got blown away yesterday by an 1.9tdi skoda rs embarrasing or what, these st170 cars are slow so I wish people would be honest and just accept the fact that they bought a boring slow unreliable ford. and sad to say I'm one of them.