BUYER’S GUIDE FOCUS S
“ST170s have exactly the right driver’s-car image and fast Ford cachet to be a rock-solid investment – if you buy at the right price”
WHY YOU WANT ONE…
• So much fun for not much cash. If you enjoy making maximum use of every single engine rev in every gear, you’ll find the ST170’s sublime handling incredibly addictive.
• Few cars are more practical than a Focus, and the ST170’s sporting edge doesn’t detract from that usability, being offered as three/five-door hatchback or spacious estate.
• ST170s have exactly the right driver’s-car image and fast Ford cachet to be a rock-solid investment – if you buy at the right price.
WHY YOU DON’T…
• By fast Ford standards, the ST170 isn’t particularly quick, and it doesn’t look sporty, with even a rear spoiler on the options list. A head-turning Electric Orange ST it ain’t.
• The Mk1 Focus loves to rot, and even a shiny ST170 could have an army of tinworms munching through the metal underneath.
• You’ll soon become so acquainted with dashboard warning lights and diagnostic trouble codes that you’ll always carry a roll of black electrical tape to stick over the dials.
HOW MUCH TO PAY
PROJECT: £350 TO £750
An ST170 for breaking can fetch up to £500, although many will still have some MOT and their fair share of rust. A decent car with slipping clutch should also be very low-priced.
