Focus ST Diesel Mk3
Discussion
Hi All,
I'm looking for a motorway muncher but B road blaster car to replace my current motorway cruiser. I do a fair amount of miles (at least 15k a year) so petrol isn't an option (where I fuel up petrol is 1p cheaper).
Someone pointed me in the direction of a Focus ST diesel Mk3. I like the looks of them but my last experience of a Ford wasn't great. I had a Fiesta ST Mk6 where the gear box blew up on me out of no where. So I'm a bit on the fence with Fords in general (same of Subaru where I went through 2 engines).
Anyway if someone could give me some information about this car and what to look out for that would be great. I know that these have timing belts so would need to be replaced before buying the car.
I'm looking for a motorway muncher but B road blaster car to replace my current motorway cruiser. I do a fair amount of miles (at least 15k a year) so petrol isn't an option (where I fuel up petrol is 1p cheaper).
Someone pointed me in the direction of a Focus ST diesel Mk3. I like the looks of them but my last experience of a Ford wasn't great. I had a Fiesta ST Mk6 where the gear box blew up on me out of no where. So I'm a bit on the fence with Fords in general (same of Subaru where I went through 2 engines).
Anyway if someone could give me some information about this car and what to look out for that would be great. I know that these have timing belts so would need to be replaced before buying the car.
Join the facebook group if on there, theres a specific tdci one and its very good, with some nice low mile cars coming up.
Whats your budget? The mk3.5 refers to the facelift in 2015 and the diesel wasn't available before that. 10k gets a higher miles/less history one through to 16-17k for the very best.
St1 is basic but hardly any for sale. St2 the most common, half leather, auto lights/wipers etc. St3 adds full heated leather bi xenons and some other nice bits. One rare but lovely option is the heated steering wheel.
The wife has one, and coming from 4 years in a mk5 golf/mk7 gtd the focus is superb. It handles really well and is genuinely fun/lighter on its feet than the golf while returning very good mpg (in her hands anyway) and £20 tax. Not sure what the service intervals are but I would never let any car go past 12 months or 10k. It's 8 seconds to 60 but feels quicker with the torque, yes it runs out of steam earlier than the petrol one but you learn to drive round it. Recaro seats are brilliant.
Reliability is great with not real issues reported on the forums bar a couple of common mk3 focus ones such as rusty rear arches, some people have had a water leak in the boot etc. Dpf system obviously doesn't lend itself to short journeys but seems pretty robust compared to some brands.
Plenty of tuning options available if you're that way inclined.
When hers is up for replacement I think the mark 4 looks superb, far nicer than the mk8 golf so we'll probably go that road.
Whats your budget? The mk3.5 refers to the facelift in 2015 and the diesel wasn't available before that. 10k gets a higher miles/less history one through to 16-17k for the very best.
St1 is basic but hardly any for sale. St2 the most common, half leather, auto lights/wipers etc. St3 adds full heated leather bi xenons and some other nice bits. One rare but lovely option is the heated steering wheel.
The wife has one, and coming from 4 years in a mk5 golf/mk7 gtd the focus is superb. It handles really well and is genuinely fun/lighter on its feet than the golf while returning very good mpg (in her hands anyway) and £20 tax. Not sure what the service intervals are but I would never let any car go past 12 months or 10k. It's 8 seconds to 60 but feels quicker with the torque, yes it runs out of steam earlier than the petrol one but you learn to drive round it. Recaro seats are brilliant.
Reliability is great with not real issues reported on the forums bar a couple of common mk3 focus ones such as rusty rear arches, some people have had a water leak in the boot etc. Dpf system obviously doesn't lend itself to short journeys but seems pretty robust compared to some brands.
Plenty of tuning options available if you're that way inclined.
When hers is up for replacement I think the mark 4 looks superb, far nicer than the mk8 golf so we'll probably go that road.
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