Focus ST running costs
Discussion
I'm now using the ST as my company car (thanks to my firms superb car allowance scheme which includes a fuel card!) Reached the 12k mileage point and had the service last week. Paid £87 all in which was excellent. The only problems so far are a dodgy ESP system failure which turned out to be a faulty switch and the fact I have done a set of front tyres already!! As some of you may well know Top Gear, Evo and Car magazine are all running an ST and so far only Evo has reached the same mileage as me. Is anyone else finding the tyres dont last and if so what did you go for as a replacement?
Few of the guys here running ST's have found the fronts need replacing around 12-15k miles.
Some have just replaced them with the same OEM tyres... although one person has managed to somehow get 25k out of a set...
Don't know of anyone who has replaced them with Hankooks (although we have them on the Mondy and the Skoda and have been impressed), but one guy is using Eagle F1's and says they're OK - but only done around 3k on them so far.
What have EVO put on theirs..?
Some have just replaced them with the same OEM tyres... although one person has managed to somehow get 25k out of a set...
Don't know of anyone who has replaced them with Hankooks (although we have them on the Mondy and the Skoda and have been impressed), but one guy is using Eagle F1's and says they're OK - but only done around 3k on them so far.
What have EVO put on theirs..?
I've now done 32,000 in my ST (since March) and am on the original rears but my history on the fronts is;
11,000 - replaced original Sport Contact 2s (with SPC2) but had done a few track sessions with them.
21,000 - forced to replace by pot hole (still arguing with council for new wheel and 2 tyres) (with Sport Contact 3s) and they still had a good few miles left on them.
Next week I will be replacing all tyres with SPC3 after a day a Silverstone which will finish them off I reckon.
Average fuel consumption 24.9mpg for the 32,000 (yes I am that sad I could tell you each tank, how much I've spent, average £/mile both for the tank, month and total)
11,000 - replaced original Sport Contact 2s (with SPC2) but had done a few track sessions with them.
21,000 - forced to replace by pot hole (still arguing with council for new wheel and 2 tyres) (with Sport Contact 3s) and they still had a good few miles left on them.
Next week I will be replacing all tyres with SPC3 after a day a Silverstone which will finish them off I reckon.
Average fuel consumption 24.9mpg for the 32,000 (yes I am that sad I could tell you each tank, how much I've spent, average £/mile both for the tank, month and total)
flasher said:
What are you doing Dennis? Rallying it?!!!
Looks like I'm going for Hankooks on the tyre front, they should wear better.
Incidently I'm now averaging 27mpg now the engine has had some use, as opposed to 21mpg in the first few months (and sometimes less!!)
not at all , the roads round here are the main problem , causing the car to jitter about combine that with a bend and basicaly it scrubs the tyres , wearing the shoulders down , it was always fun getting tyres as there would be the desk jockey tyre "expert" who thought i was mr mcrae
The vectra , i think the problem is 190bhp and a vectra chassis
really does handle like a greased pissed pig.
Well, had the Hankooks fitted today but the guy at the tyre place swears vredestein are the best for this type of car and he fits them regularly to M3's. So, once the backs have worn I'm going to put the Hankooks on the back and try vredesteins on the front.
Incidently EVO fitted Dunlop Sport Maxxes to their ST long termer. I'll let you know how I get on with the Hankooks.
Incidently EVO fitted Dunlop Sport Maxxes to their ST long termer. I'll let you know how I get on with the Hankooks.
flasher said:
The only problems so far are a dodgy ESP system failure which turned out to be a faulty switch
What were the symptoms of your ESP fault?
Mine hasn't worked properly since day one. Even driving slowly round bends can send it into a fit. I've taken it in twice but the only solution they've said is "Put tyres with best tread on the front" although I'd only had new fronts fitted 1000 miles ago and have 15k on the rears.
I end up just turning it off but if there's a official fix I'm interested.
I have goodyear eagle f1 GSD3's on mine now (fronts last 10k before screw put an end to one so replaced both.
Was looking about 12k i reckon before replacing anyway.
F1's are a brilliant tyre other than when its icey!! off to silverstone to give them a good work out weds and have been silverstone with stds so may be able to tell a bigger difference.....?
Was looking about 12k i reckon before replacing anyway.
F1's are a brilliant tyre other than when its icey!! off to silverstone to give them a good work out weds and have been silverstone with stds so may be able to tell a bigger difference.....?
thekirbyfake said:
flasher said:
The only problems so far are a dodgy ESP system failure which turned out to be a faulty switch
What were the symptoms of your ESP fault?
Mine hasn't worked properly since day one. Even driving slowly round bends can send it into a fit. I've taken it in twice but the only solution they've said is "Put tyres with best tread on the front" although I'd only had new fronts fitted 1000 miles ago and have 15k on the rears.
I end up just turning it off but if there's a official fix I'm interested.
Hi mate. The whole thing was a nightmare really. It went haywire when I overtook someone in the wet coming out of a bend. The ESP light wouldn't go off at all. Took it in to my local dealer and the guys there stripped everything down and found a faulty sensor. This diddn't cure the problem though and while doing it they found my wiring system to be totally different than anything they had seen before, ie: it's a 2003 spec wiring system on a 2006 built Ford.
So, they replaced the sensor but it still said there was a system failure. They then replaced the ESP switch and hey presto apart from going off a few days after (which I was able to cancel) it now seems ok. I have raised the whole ESP system failure issue with Ford (especially the 2003 spec wiring) but they don't seem interested and think I'm complaining rather than trying to add some helpful feedback.
Podie said:
flasher said:
I have raised the whole ESP system failure issue with Ford (especially the 2003 spec wiring) but they don't seem interested and think I'm complaining rather than trying to add some helpful feedback.
See.. TVR were like a major manufacturer...
Ford customer services keeps referring me back to the dealer. No matter how many times I tell them that their products aren't built in Leicester.....
flasher said:
It went haywire when I overtook someone in the wet coming out of a bend. The ESP light wouldn't go off at all
Just the light or was the ESP kicking in too?
Mine will activate mid bend and even when you're on the straight with maximum traction it flashes and backs off the power. You have to lift off the throttle to reset it back to normal. Very frustrating.
Mine is a very early model (2005 build) so perhaps it's related to these wiring issues.
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