[marks1972]

Hi Folks, first post here and very close to buying my first focus ST.. which will in fact be my first performance car ..woohoo

Im a long fan of the Focus, currently on my 3rd one, an 03 Ebony, but with things being a bit better money wise these days its time to get a real focus!

Im looking at an 57/08 ST-3 (preferably black..seen a few options nearby) and im not blind to the running costs, i do around 7-800 miles per month combined and expect to fill up at least once more the then 2 times my current focus needs a drink (sometimes twice more im guessing for a total of 4 refils.. ouch!

) and my Insurance is going to jump up some (currently 250 all in for the Ebony, had quotes from 350 to 700 for the ST-3) but im wondering about a couple of other running costs.

Brakes - how often and approx at what cost
Tyres - again how often and approx at what cost, i have read a couple of things about excessive tyre wear.
Tracker - recommended? im not sure how 'nickable' the ST is, i live in a quite country lane and it will be on my drive which has CC TV so it as safe as most places i guess.

Cheers for any advice.. i look forward to becoming a proper member of the club in a few weeks

 

[Russeh]

mate

I've heard people say brakes last approx 20k miles and there a few hundred quid to replace disc's and pads.

Tyres - well the standard contientals lasted me 11k miles on the front and im half way through the rears in the same time. Suitable replacements prices varie but between £100 - £150 fitted each. Edit there are falken tyres going for £65 each which have had good reviews.

i wouldnt bother with a tracker as it makes little different to your insurance and if it was stolen would you want it back?

Some other things,

Servicing is every 12 months or 12500 miles and is £175 for interium and £280 for a full serivce.

Dont underestimate the fuel consumption - its well documented on here but most get between 20-23 mpg for town/A roads and 28-30 mpg on motorways

 

[adgieman]

agree completely with Russeh, and if they want your car they will come for either the keys, or you inside it. It is quite rare though, so i wouldnt think any extra security is much worth it, just be vigilant at all times and think about things a bit more, like not leaving keys visibly in sight, parking in non lit areas etc, just common sense stuff.

On a more positive note, i have recently come from a standard 1.8 foci, to an ST and have only noticed 5 less MPG, so on average an extra 1/2 tank a month, maybe a full one, but i know 1.8 are thirstier than your (ebonys a 1.6?). So for a performance car, depends really how you can and want to drive. Stop-Starting kills the mpg as does snow!, long runs really do get up to the 30 mark, maybe a bit more. i do 10 miles to and from work daily, mix of motorway and single carridge way national limit, lots of roundabouts, so up and down the speed, and im averaging 24 mpg, thats usually light footed driving with the occasional spirited over take or acceleration from a stop etc.

Go out and get one, they are a lovely beautiful car, only thing i would say is i personally dont think the interior is a well put together as the older foci, but its a small price to pay for what is otherwise a fab motor.

 

[marks1972]

Thanks chaps.

Im working on 20mpg so around 250 miles per tank (12 gallons ish?) , doing approx 800 miles a month and a tank costing around £50, i currently spend about £100 on fuel so not a huge jump in costs.

Im not stressing too much about the running costs, i know that if im that bothered i shouldnt even consider a performance car, but i like to know what im getting in to

 

[Russeh]

QUOTE(marks1972 @ 15 Feb 2010, 12:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Thanks chaps.

Im working on 20mpg so around 250 miles per tank (12 gallons ish?) , doing approx 800 miles a month and a tank costing around £50, i currently spend about £100 on fuel so not a huge jump in costs.

Im not stressing too much about the running costs, i know that if im that bothered i shouldnt even consider a performance car, but i like to know what im getting in to

those figurs look good to me, thats about the same as i do mileage per month and it costs me about £160

 

[marks1972]

QUOTE(Russeh @ 15 Feb 2010, 12:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>those figurs look good to me, thats about the same as i do mileage per month and it costs me about £160

Nice one ta mate. Despite the horror stories ive read that doesnt sound excessive to me for day to day use. £50-£60 more a month in fuel to go from a 1.6 ebony, to a far more fun 2.5 turbo charged ST is cheap at twice the price

 

[Russeh]

QUOTE(marks1972 @ 15 Feb 2010, 01:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Nice one ta mate. Despite the horror stories ive read that doesnt sound excessive to me for day to day use. £50-£60 more a month in fuel to go from a 1.6 ebony, to a far more fun 2.5 turbo charged ST is cheap at twice the price

cool well now you're good with the costs you should go test drive one, be warned the engine noise is addictive and is ultimatly what soild it for me lol

 

[kzfocus]

QUOTE(Russeh @ 15 Feb 2010, 01:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>be warned the engine noise is addictive and is ultimatly what sold it for me lol

+1 on that, i ended up buying after a test drive and hearing the engine noise!

 

[Davecl]

QUOTE(kzfocus @ 15 Feb 2010, 02:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>+1 on that, i ended up buying after a test drive and hearing the engine noise!

It's that noise that makes your fuel bills bigger too

 

[Russeh]

QUOTE(Davecl @ 15 Feb 2010, 02:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>It's that noise that makes your fuel bills bigger too

haha but worth every penny!

 

[adgieman]

it does sound best when giving it some at low revs, the growl is fantastic, like your poking a dragon with a sharp stick, it moans in a roar then flies with a growl

 

[stingy]

hi mate and welcome. you need to factor in the cost of some mods!
once you join this forum its certain the mods will soon start

 

[Mart170]

Sounds like you understand what you are getting yourself into...which is a whole lotta fun!

Good luck with the car hunting mate, and enjoy the car when you get it

 

[Gordon]

First

i got 20,000 miles from a set of good years,swapping back to front at every service was still on first set of pads when sold at 29,000miles 25mpg around town and 32 on a run and all of that was with some spirited driving

they are that good i bought another one

 

[marks1972]

Cheers for the advice all, this forum alone is convincing me what a great buy it will be.

Im going to put a deposit on a Blue ST-3, 57 Plate, 13,000 miles on Saturday. £10k + my 03 Focus Ebony. Probably not the cheapest but it has 5 doors which pleases the missus as we can bundle the neices and nephews in the back (like thats gonna happen, they can go in her Diesel Citroen C4) and parking sensors, which i really need, im fine at 70mph but for some reason at 2mph in tescos car park i turn into a right muppet

Cant wait to be able to become an owner member of this forum

 

[Allan]

QUOTE(marks1972 @ 17 Feb 2010, 08:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Cheers for the advice all, this forum alone is convincing me what a great buy it will be.

Im going to put a deposit on a Blue ST-3, 57 Plate, 13,000 miles on Saturday. £10k + my 03 Focus Ebony. Probably not the cheapest but it has 5 doors which pleases the missus as we can bundle the neices and nephews in the back (like thats gonna happen, they can go in her Diesel Citroen C4) and parking sensors, which i really need, im fine at 70mph but for some reason at 2mph in tescos car park i turn into a right muppet

Cant wait to be able to become an owner member of this forum

Hi Marks,

You can sign up for owner membership now if you like. Give you a chance to read up a bit on your future purchase.

To purchase Owner Membership, follow this link:

http://www.fordstoc.com/shop/categories.php?cat=41

Kind regards,

Allan

 

[MrRimmer]

QUOTE(Allan @ 17 Feb 2010, 09:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Marks,

You can sign up for owner membership now if you like. Give you a chance to read up a bit on your future purchase.

To purchase Owner Membership, follow this link:

http://www.fordstoc.com/shop/categories.php?cat=41

Kind regards,

Allan

Hi Allan,
I was looking at signing up for a membership but I understand that "Owner" membership is only for people who currently have one... what about those of us who are in the process of buying our first but want to read the technical forums so we know what to look out for? the buyers guide links through to articles tht I can't read.

Cheers,

Arnold

 

[cre0108]

QUOTE(marks1972 @ 17 Feb 2010, 08:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Cheers for the advice all, this forum alone is convincing me what a great buy it will be.

Im going to put a deposit on a Blue ST-3, 57 Plate, 13,000 miles on Saturday. £10k + my 03 Focus Ebony. Probably not the cheapest but it has 5 doors which pleases the missus as we can bundle the neices and nephews in the back (like thats gonna happen, they can go in her Diesel Citroen C4) and parking sensors, which i really need, im fine at 70mph but for some reason at 2mph in tescos car park i turn into a right muppet

Cant wait to be able to become an owner member of this forum

Its not the running cost that are the problem its the tunning costs . Once you been in a tuned car you can be sure your credit card will take a hit. Enjoy it as std then modify, its just fantastic

Chris

 

[Allan]

QUOTE(MrRimmer @ 17 Feb 2010, 02:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Allan,
I was looking at signing up for a membership but I understand that "Owner" membership is only for people who currently have one... what about those of us who are in the process of buying our first but want to read the technical forums so we know what to look out for? the buyers guide links through to articles tht I can't read.

Cheers,

Arnold

We allow the purchase of owner membership to prospective buyers. As you say, you need to do your homework first.

Regards

Allan

 

[MrRimmer]

QUOTE(Allan @ 17 Feb 2010, 06:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>We allow the purchase of owner membership to prospective buyers. As you say, you need to do your homework first.

Regards

Allan

Thanks Allan, will do that today.