Ford Focus ST – The Time is Now

Fords. They always find a way to become classics. And yes, you might scoff at the notion of a Ford Focus ST joining the classic ranks, but there was a time when we did that with the Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts, and even the Ford Capri. Plus, the Focus ST might be something you see as a modern car, but the reality is it’s knocking on for twenty years old now, having come out in 2005. There was a time, of course, when it was the boy racer’s chariot of choice, but thanks to several newer iterations of the Focus ST since, the original is now finding favour with older enthusiasts. And rightly so, as the Focus ST is a glorious bit of kit. A pure, fun, exciting, fast hot hatch. But one you can take the kids to school in, one you can do the shopping with, and one that you can use every day so long as the 2.5 five-cylinder engine’s thirst doesn’t prove too much.

If you can move past the boy racer thing – and you should – you’re in for a treat. If there is one thing Ford is consistently brilliant at, it’s plucking a car from its range and making it truly exciting. The Focus ST does that with some gusto. The five-pot engine is glorious, the chassis is tight, the steering sharp and the car’s grin factor is massive as a result. And while it is getting on in years, it’s based on a car that was still in production as late as 2010, meaning parts are easy to find. And not just standard parts. The after market for the Focus ST is massive. That’s not to say you need to cover it in Monster Energy livery and a huge body kit, mind. But for improving suspension, brakes and upping the power – there are plenty of options. The Focus ST can be whatever you want it to be.

Five door post-2008 facelift 

And then there is the fact the Focus ST is a truly usable modern classic. The three-door might have more street appeal, but the five-door offers a great deal more practicality. And as you can see from the image above, it still looks pretty darn good. In all models, you get a five-star EuroNCAP rating, more airbags than a bouncy castle factory, traction control, abs and isofix. This is a modern classic you truly can use every day, and when you have driven one, you’re going to want to do exactly that.

And introduction to the Focus ST

The Focus ST here isn’t the first. Ford made an ST 170 version of the Mk1 Focus (which, if you needed proof, is already starting to climb in value). The Mk2 was a more widely available and promoted vehicle though, and was a bit more special than the ST170 before it. Ford pulled out all the stops, firstly by employing Volvo’s Modular engine, a 2.5 litre five-cylinder turbocharged unit. It wasn’t a straight copy and paste though, as Ford engineers fitted variable valve timing to both cams, fitted a lighter flywheel and recalibrated the throttle. The result was a 225 bhp powerhouse. The suspension was the same fully independent system as the Mk1, but this time in a shell some 10% stiffer. Add in lowered suspension, bigger brakes and that slick six-speed manual transmission and it made for a cracking car to drive. Power on tap, very little lag, and a real ‘point and shoot’ chassis that rewarded you on even the most mundane of drives.

Ford also made the Focus ST look the part with a subtle body kit, optional stripes, rear spoiler and bigger alloy wheels. The interior was available with Recaro trim, Sony sound system, optional leather, air-conditioning and all the electric toys you would expect. You even got an Escort Cosworth-esque pod on the dash for the turbo boost gauge, water temp and oil pressure. If none of that was enough, you could have a Mountune version (silver car above). Mountune Racing would, from the dealer, fit a K&N panel filter, a bigger intercooler and it would remap the engine resulting in 260bhp.

What should I look for? 

Being a car from 2005 or later, rust isn’t really an issue. In fact, the Focus of this generation is pretty good on that front. The main thing you need to look for on a Focus ST is abuse. It’s a hot hatch, so the chances of it coming into contact with street furniture are… more significant. Look at the wheels, look at the suspension, take it for a drive and make sure it pulls straight and true, and make sure it does the same when coming to a stop. Check the panel gaps and the fitment of things like the lights and trims, open the bonnet and look at the chassis rails and look at the securing bolts to see any evidence of them being removed. Finally, check the car has been serviced properly, including the timing belt and water pump. And check the turbo for any signs of smoke, especially on start up, as this could be evidence of oil pooling.

The other thing to be aware of are modifications. There’s nothing wrong with a modified Focus ST, but only if it’s been done correctly. If it’s a home brew of poorly fitted parts, walk away. There’s no excuse for poor modifications on a Focus ST, as so, so many aftermarket upgrades are designed to fit the car perfectly. But that doesn’t stop people from making a mess of it. If the car has been remapped, ask to see proof of that. If it has an upgraded exhaust, make sure it has cats and doesn’t send the ECU into panic mode. In fact, buy a cheap OBD reader and plug it in, check for any error codes.

What are prices like? 

You can pick a Focus ST up for as little at £2,500 but you’re properly scaping the barrel there. However, if you’re looking for a project, that’s what you can expect to pay. Add a grand and you’ll have plenty of pre-facelift cars to choose from, three and five-door. For about £6,000 you’ll have the best of the early cars to peruse, hopefully standard and with good history and low miles. For £9,000 on, you can choose the best of the facelift cars or the very, very best of the early cars if age isn’t an issue for you.

Why should I buy one? 

Because the Focus ST is, in the truest, purest sense of the word, fun. It’s a car that will make you smile, it will provide thrills when you want them, but will be a dependable, cool daily driver the rest of the time. The support for the Focus ST is massive, meaning parts and knowledge are never far away, and because it’s a Ford, repairs are never all that costly. It’s a great car, and if you buy one now and look after it, you’re not going to lose any money. The market always wants a fast Ford, and the Focus ST is definitely deserving of the moniker.