Is A Mk2 Focus ST CHEAP THRILLS? Or BIG BILLS? 

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I dont understand some people in the comments saying wouldnt get one because of the image, if you like the car just get one what does it matter what other people think.

Twingo RS133? Come do a review of mine with Clio running gear 😂 my daughter loves it

These are getting a rare sight on the roads now :(

Genuine question, not a criticism.. why don't you like modifications? As you know when cars are designed there are so many factors they have to take into account like, comfort, economy, performance, reliability, efficiency, competitiveness, different fuel qualities ect. So buying a car that you like then modifying it to be exactly how you like it just makes soo much sense. Also modified insurance is dirt cheap 😉

First

Unfortunately, these have dropped into chav territory, a bit like Impreza's did in the early 2000's. The issue these have, is that they don't have the WRC heritage that the Impreza did, and while Impreza's are now rising in value for unmolested standard examples, these will never be 'sought after'. The image of the stereotypical owner is ingrained in the cars dna, and it can never be removed. This is the thing that forever separates true future classics from the dross that will be forgotten resting in scrapyards. If a car needs to be modified to be interesting, it wasn't that good in the first place. Cars which are just perfect as standard, are the ones which will be remembered and soar in value when they get to 'classic' status. Spending 19 large on a car only worth 2, doesn't make any sense, because you can get a much better car for 21 grand, which is standard. I 'get' that some people just love a certain car, I know somebody obsessed with the Triumph Acclaim, and owns 3 of the 100 left on the roads in the UK. He will spend every spare penny he has restoring them, and that is to be admired. But just because he loves them, and there are not many left, it doesn't make them desirable or valuable. The Focus ST is the same.

Thank you for reviewing my Dadcar 🙏 Glad you enjoyed it and left a smile on your face 😊 Hope it inspires other Dads to consider interesting cars, and owners of the rival hot hatches to come forward with their cars for a review 💪

The council estate Ferrari. Great cars but do come with that image. But in 10+ years time when all the crap ones have gone then they will become desirable. Just look back at all the old fast Fords.

Hey Ben if going to compare hot hatchs like the focus MK2 st, I'd say golf Mk5/6 GT TDI/GTI, civic type R, and maybe a Renault Mégane sport from the era. Would all be worth a look.

The combination of Volvo engine and Ford chassis is really a match made in heaven. There are other options though if you don't want the chavvy reputation or cheap interior. The Volvo C30 is essentially the same as the ST but only 3 door, small boot due to the tighter coupe shape, and only 2 seats in the back. More like an Audi TT or Peugeot RCZ but with a more GT vibe and better accomodation in the rear. Or you can have the S40 which is 5 door with a saloon bodyshape, bit more practical but loses little dynamically over the ST/C30, or you can go full practicality with the V50 with an estate boot, albeit a smaller one than the 'big' volvos, but handles way better than those Volvos still. There's the C70 too but not sure why you'd buy that. Whatever flavour you choose, when set up right they should handle 300bhp with no issues whatsoever, I will happily put down full throttle in 2nd with 316bhp, 384lbft without a LSD and not spin the tyres. Even gets off the line very well in 1st if you know how to launch a car properly. They're a bit soft and wallowy as standard with a tendency to understeer but that's easily rectified with a stiffer rear anti roll bar and some springs. Really play with them and they're silly. Quite entertaining competing at sprints/hillclimbs and beating most of the tintops in a Volvo with a full leather interior and a baby seat in the back. Mine's off the road at the moment as I'm putting together a forged engine with a big Holset for it, but it should still handle 500bhp without struggling to put the power down.

Well iam from South Afrika and a dad off 4 boys and we are bussy rebuilding a st225 that was scrap and it is going to look perfek if it is redone short still some parts but it is almost done.

What a car, still in my top 3 of my favourites nearly 20 years on. So much fun. Had one new when I was younger in orange! Luckily it had leather seats so not a crazy orange interior as well 😂

I've a s3 8p DSG and I have to say love the thing to bit its a stage 1 and smiles for miles.

Would love to see a DAZA engined rs3 on here for hot hatch category- think post 2017?

I remember these well as the turbo nutters choice when it comes to hothatches. It's a car totally defined by its 2.5t engine. Way more interesting than a golf GTI.

Eldest son bought a white 09 ST two years ago it now runs 330 brake, Rs spoiler, lowline kit rear diffuser and white fifteen52 turbomacs, im ex back in the day subaru blobeye sti but had so much fun driving it i sold my cayenne to buy a Focus Rs..... Youngest son is getting an ST when hes done with his mk2 1.6 zetec....... They're fantastic cars 👍🏻

This has brought back some memories. My very first performance car was a 5 door MK2 ST-3 in performance blue, bought new in 2007. Had for 5 and a half years (tuned for 4 of those), very dependable and enjoyable car. The only problem I had was it attracted a lot of idiots, compared to my current C7 RS6 which seems to fly under the radar. Had a MK2 RS after the ST but was short lived - the ST still holds a place in my heart.

Hi, fantastic review. Could you perhaps look at an M135i/40i F20 generation. I have a LCI manual M135i 5 door as my daily. My wife has a Cupra Formentor and we are expecting our 2nd child later in the year. Been thinking of swapping the M135i for something bigger like a Stelvio/X3M40i/Macan or even an Audi RS6 Avant but i still love the m135i and its been super reliable. I buy my cars outright so not sure if spending a further 20-30k to swap cars for more boot space is worth it or should i just keep the m135i and place a roof basket to increase cargo space.

I've daily driven one since 2012. I brought my son home from hospital in it in 2016. It's been faultless except for steering rack. Great car that is cheap to tune.

This will always be my favourite st model because of the Volvo engine

I've got a blue 06 one too, had it almost a year for £5400 81k miles and I've had no problems. It went through a small phase where the clutch would slip in 5th or 6th but it doesn't do it anymore. Running about 295bhp, hoping to get rs clutch soon. I average 18.3mpg, nearly all Urban driving though

I must be the oldest ST owner in Britain!😂😂 At 55 I have an ST3, bought it brand new in 2006, 5 door blue Never made any modification what so ever, still serviced by Ford every year for18 years and every bill for everything, As a car for daily use it is fantastic, never broken down and the only repairs were a broken alternator and power steering fluid loss due to running over a block of wood in the road Not one bit of rust, still on the original brakes Overall a quality car in every sense

Always liked these, just wish they did them with cruise control which is a deal breaker for me as a daily due to my drive to work 😥 cruise allows me to use my r53 as a daily and get decent mpg out of it on the commute (37 to 40, weather depending) and not have to buy a dirty diesel

I have a MK7.5 Golf R Estate. Really fun, fast, daily for me with plenty of room in the boot too. Not exactly a hot hatch but it’s not too far away. The Focus St is interesting because of that 2.5ltr 5 cylinder.

The mk2 focus is just such a good car ford got it absolutely right. My best friend has a mk2 1.8 focus and despite being a regular model it drives very well and is pretty quick due to the fact its a 1.8L so on the larger side for a small hatchback.

would love to see you review a 1 series coupe! I’m in love with the N54/N55 135i currently and i’m looking to get one myself :)

"Plastic City FC" 😂

Prefer the mk3 mondeo st220 myself great cars for less than £5k

My local car detailer has a young family, and he has a Focus ST in the same colour, but he has kept his standard.

Megane RS265. Bargain hot hatch that is still practical as a 2nd family car even as a 3d.

Feel free to check out my swift sport. I’m not a dad but it could be an interesting dad car

Mk3 Octavia VRS Diesel, Stage 1 remap, upgraded intake. 500L boot space for the weekly shop and the odd pushchair. Best purchase of my life!

the isofix in the st isnt standard you have to buy the brackets and retrofit.

Your reasoning for not getting a focus st is why i wont buy a bm or audi

Mondeo mk4 with the 2.5t engine. Same engine as the ST/RS but all the practically of the mondeo 👌👌

I bought a 2006 Focus ST two years ago after opting out of my company car scheme. Really enjoy owning it. Fast, practical and can be reasonable on fuel if you drive it sedately enough (around 35mpg on a motorway run). Funnily enough, my wife drives a 2010 Ford S Max, so our dynamic is exactly as you describe in your video. (I also own a 1972 VW Beetle and a 2010 VW T5.1 campervan, but see those both as recreational vehicles, rather than practical daily drivers).

They’re not actually that expensive to fix like for example, brakes discs and pads water pump timing belt spark plugs things like that I find them to be cheaper than other cars that you would think to be cheaper to fix them than that obviously if you’re gonna start doing serious modifications then you’re gonna spend loads of money but they’re pretty good car. The only thing I would really do is the mod block and that’s not really expensive once that is done

I think focus RS mk3 need a review i have one if want to do film day with it

I've had my mk2 ST for 3 years, it's my 2nd one as I had one back in 2006 when they were brand new and eventually I missed it enough to get another. The only draw back with full leather (ST3 Spec) is that it's only a 4 seater, so if you need 5 seats like me then you have to opt for cloth (ST2 Spec), however I have since fitted the leather seats from the mk3 ST, which is a genuine 3 seat option and a direct fit, so works well. Great fun cars with a few choice mods but I know what you mean about the chav reputation 😂 hopefully that will get less and less as the cars get that little bit older and start to fall into the hands of people who really appreciate them. Dad of 3 here by the way, and mines a 3 door and is perfectly practical for us!

Better than bmw or audi money pit 😂

I had a MK3 ST estate and it was fantastic, great fun, plenty of torque steer for a laugh and lots of space. I now have a MK3 VRS estate which is also a great car, less precise and although as quick just softer round the edges but with a MX5 NC to enjoy as well the VRS gives loads of space and still puts a smile of my face

I've had my St for 3 years now.been and awesome car.

That's a beauty right there, Ben!

My 2007 pfl Skoda Octavia vRS is a great fast hatchback with loads of space inside and a huge boot it’s a great dad car

No way he gets 27 mpg average xD

Hi Ben. Happy Father's Day. That was a cool video. I didn't know Ford made a 5 cylinder. Unless it's a 5 cylinder made by another company. I loved the video. Stay safe and take care.

If this not practical enough for someone you can get this engine in the Mondeo and s max

4 doors and a boot. What more could you need really?

Mine was perfect for the first 70,000 miles then everything seem to go wrong.

Owned mine a year now 50th birthday treat .Diamond white 3 door weekender.Liking it👌

2.3 st estate 2020 please

Mk4 R32 5 door would be a good review 🤙

I love the engine sound of this one

I’ve got 3 kids and have a 3 door. The kids love it.

Happy Father's Day from the US, Ben!

Ford make fast cars? News to me.

I had a mk2 st3 back in the day, not a bad car but I wasn’t overly impressed with it.. I did have a v10 m5 prior tho.. Try a golf r if you haven’t already? Great daily, fast reliable and good on fuel for a 300 hp car..

Suggestion-BMW F31 335d touring either standard or stage 1. A great all rounder. Bags of space for your family and enough sheer grunt to keep anyone happy. This car will do 60 in less than 5 seconds as standard and has 640nm of torque. Stage one is closer to 400bhp and way over 700nm. Plenty of ‘poverty’ spec cars on the market for around £10k but better going for a high spec low mileage example with ProNav, M Sport brakes, adaptive suspension, LED headlights, pan roof etc. All are x-drive (4wd) and have the fantastic 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox.

😊

Modified ones are worthless and two a penny. I had to pay top dollar for an unmolested stock one last year. Bought as a family duty car. I found a 1 owner from new car, an MP260 Mountune car, serviced by the same ford garage all its life. I could have bought 2 Modified ones for the same cost, but no regrets. I love it. All I have spent on is wheel refurb and paint correction. Despite its age it looks like it just rolled out of the ford dealer.

Thanks!

I think the “bald, ginger, idiot who doesn’t own a TV” is an unfair characterisation of Maser drivers. For example, my brother has a GranSport like yours and he’s not ginger… I’ve often pondered something like this. Objectively makes loads of sense. But image gets to me every time, which is such a shame.

The corrado vr6 😍😍 Not at those prices though 😮,

I had a Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec mk1.

This one must weigh about 2 tonnes

I turned off soon as i heard a child screaming

That steering wheel rim doesn't original and looks fatter than it would have been. Probably been recovered.