Is A Mk2 Focus ST CHEAP THRILLS? Or BIG BILLS?

Cheap to buy but what about running costs and maintenance? Would a Focus ST be a fun family dream or a financial nightmare?
Visit the DadCars Shop! www.dadcarsshop.com/
Music By ‪@RichTamblyn‬
MOD LIST!
Engine Mods:
RamAir induction Kit with ECU holder
RamAir Crossover pipe
Airtec Stage 2 Intercooler
Hybrid core turbo
Turbosmart waste gate actuator
Turbosmart recirculation valve
Bosch 550CC Injectors
AS inlet plenum
2.75” Turbo downpipe
2.75” Miltek 200 Cell Sports Cat
2.75” Miltek sport cat back exhaust system
Sabre Tuning Stage 2 remap (pops only occur above 4K revs)
Pro Hose Silicone coolant hoses
Focus RS Oil Cooler
Focus RS Clutch
Handling:
Freaky Parts Brembo 4 piston big brake kit
HEL Braided brake lines
Quaiffe LSD
Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2 with Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tyres for summer, Fox FX004 with Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen3 tyres for winter
Hardrace lower engine mount
Hardrace upper gearbox mount
Hardrace main engine mount
Entertainment:
Sony Bluetooth head unit
Hertz UNO K165 component speakers
Vibe Powerbox 65W 4 channel micro amplifier
Interior/Exterior:
Steering wheel retrim
AEM OBD multi function gauge in air vent
Team Heko wind deflectors
Front universal flexi lip
Maxton Design spoiler extension
Rear diffuser
Ford Mondeo bonnet lock upgrade
Reverse parking sensors
Parts on order and not yet fitted:
Bilstein B12 kit damper and spring upgrade
Whiteline rear adjustable camber arms
#fordfocusst #hothatch #dadcars

[@dadcars]

Check out our petrolhead family merch!! www.dadcarsshop.com/ 👈

[@A2KLAU]

Thank you for reviewing my Dadcar 🙏 Glad you enjoyed it and left a smile on your face 😊 Hope it inspires other Dads to consider interesting cars, and owners of the rival hot hatches to come forward with their cars for a review 💪

[@dadcars]

Thank you so much for bringing it down 🙌 glad we finally got it done! I really appreciate your support my man 🙏

[@A2KLAU]

@@dadcars it’s a pleasure! Will see you at a couple more events this year and I’ll bring this down instead of the family cross over 🤣

[@MrJoesLife]

awesome review!!!

[@YegaSRT]

I've just gone from the V8 Jeep that was recently featured on this channel to the Hyundai i20N hot hatch and am loving it. Yes the space was great in the Jeep but the handling and connection with the road is something else in a hatch 😂

[@flippingcarsrepairs]

I got a st 3 in sea grey 😊

[@richmarshall246]

This has brought back some memories. My very first performance car was a 5 door MK2 ST-3 in performance blue, bought new in 2007. Had for 5 and a half years (tuned for 4 of those), very dependable and enjoyable car. The only problem I had was it attracted a lot of idiots, compared to my current C7 RS6 which seems to fly under the radar. Had a MK2 RS after the ST but was short lived - the ST still holds a place in my heart.

[@nekite1]

My local car detailer has a young family, and he has a Focus ST in the same colour, but he has kept his standard.

[@dadcars]

👌😊

[@aidenjackson8709]

Mk3 Octavia VRS Diesel, Stage 1 remap, upgraded intake. 500L boot space for the weekly shop and the odd pushchair. Best purchase of my life!

[@Birmingham_racing]

This will always be my favourite st model because of the Volvo engine

[@dadcars]

Yeah this 5 cylinder is pretty cool 👌

[@flippingcarsrepairs]

Can't get rid of mine cause of that sound

[@joeydoo8]

What a car, still in my top 3 of my favourites nearly 20 years on. So much fun. Had one new when I was younger in orange! Luckily it had leather seats so not a crazy orange interior as well 😂

[@dadcars]

Yeah there’s someone local to me with an orange one! Still makes a strong statement today!

[@simonhafford1518]

Owned mine a year now 50th birthday treat .Diamond white 3 door weekender.Liking it👌

[@dadcars]

🙌😎

[@mcgherkinstudios]

The combination of Volvo engine and Ford chassis is really a match made in heaven. There are other options though if you don't want the chavvy reputation or cheap interior. The Volvo C30 is essentially the same as the ST but only 3 door, small boot due to the tighter coupe shape, and only 2 seats in the back. More like an Audi TT or Peugeot RCZ but with a more GT vibe and better accomodation in the rear. Or you can have the S40 which is 5 door with a saloon bodyshape, bit more practical but loses little dynamically over the ST/C30, or you can go full practicality with the V50 with an estate boot, albeit a smaller one than the 'big' volvos, but handles way better than those Volvos still. There's the C70 too but not sure why you'd buy that. Whatever flavour you choose, when set up right they should handle 300bhp with no issues whatsoever, I will happily put down full throttle in 2nd with 316bhp, 384lbft without a LSD and not spin the tyres. Even gets off the line very well in 1st if you know how to launch a car properly. They're a bit soft and wallowy as standard with a tendency to understeer but that's easily rectified with a stiffer rear anti roll bar and some springs. Really play with them and they're silly. Quite entertaining competing at sprints/hillclimbs and beating most of the tintops in a Volvo with a full leather interior and a baby seat in the back. Mine's off the road at the moment as I'm putting together a forged engine with a big Holset for it, but it should still handle 500bhp without struggling to put the power down.

[@dadcars]

I’ve got another Volvo coming to the channel soon!

[@flippingcarsrepairs]

Very nice

[@aaronjacobs462]

Hey Ben if going to compare hot hatchs like the focus MK2 st, I'd say golf Mk5/6 GT TDI/GTI, civic type R, and maybe a Renault Mégane sport from the era. Would all be worth a look.

[@dadcars]

Great shouts! I’ll have to do them all in time :)

[@FrostbiteWCUE]

I remember these well as the turbo nutters choice when it comes to hothatches. It's a car totally defined by its 2.5t engine. Way more interesting than a golf GTI.

[@flippingcarsrepairs]

Agree that why I won't sell mine

[@Afraz_9n3]

The mk2 focus is just such a good car ford got it absolutely right. My best friend has a mk2 1.8 focus and despite being a regular model it drives very well and is pretty quick due to the fact its a 1.8L so on the larger side for a small hatchback.

[@dadcars]

🙌😊

[@phucnguyen0110]

That's a beauty right there, Ben!

[@dadcars]

Great colour isn’t it 🙌

[@phucnguyen0110]

@@dadcars the perfect color for a Focus 🙌

[@flippingcarsrepairs]

Got to be sea grey for me

[@mrwick7961]

I've had my St for 3 years now.been and awesome car.

[@dadcars]

How much on average has it cost to run per year? Maintenance and servicing?

[@flippingcarsrepairs]

Had mine a few and using it as a shed immaculate sea grey need to start driving it

[@davidmutch-rv5mq]

I dont understand some people in the comments saying wouldnt get one because of the image, if you like the car just get one what does it matter what other people think.

[@michaelcole3998]

I had a MK3 ST estate and it was fantastic, great fun, plenty of torque steer for a laugh and lots of space. I now have a MK3 VRS estate which is also a great car, less precise and although as quick just softer round the edges but with a MX5 NC to enjoy as well the VRS gives loads of space and still puts a smile of my face

[@StephenH-ms9og]

I’ve got 3 kids and have a 3 door. The kids love it.

[@dadcars]

3 doors are sometimes easier with little ones in childseats

[@StephenH-ms9og]

@@dadcars They seem to get in and out easily, as long as you dont have a bad back its easy to get in lol. I just preferred the look of the 3 door.

[@rickluke6075]

I've had my mk2 ST for 3 years, it's my 2nd one as I had one back in 2006 when they were brand new and eventually I missed it enough to get another. The only draw back with full leather (ST3 Spec) is that it's only a 4 seater, so if you need 5 seats like me then you have to opt for cloth (ST2 Spec), however I have since fitted the leather seats from the mk3 ST, which is a genuine 3 seat option and a direct fit, so works well. Great fun cars with a few choice mods but I know what you mean about the chav reputation 😂 hopefully that will get less and less as the cars get that little bit older and start to fall into the hands of people who really appreciate them. Dad of 3 here by the way, and mines a 3 door and is perfectly practical for us!

[@flippingcarsrepairs]

That's the reason I don't use mine its a st 3 3 door with only 2 belts 😬 how did you get 3 seat belts

[@kevinlong6482]

I must be the oldest ST owner in Britain!😂😂 At 55 I have an ST3, bought it brand new in 2006, 5 door blue Never made any modification what so ever, still serviced by Ford every year for18 years and every bill for everything, As a car for daily use it is fantastic, never broken down and the only repairs were a broken alternator and power steering fluid loss due to running over a block of wood in the road Not one bit of rust, still on the original brakes Overall a quality car in every sense

[@dadcars]

That’s fantastic 👏

[@kevinlong6482]

@@dadcars Great review , I love your enthusiasm and love your love for Aston Martin !

[@flippingcarsrepairs]

Wow that impressive mine in sea grey completely standard un touched

[@chrishart8548]

When the alternator broke what were the symptoms. I had a mk2 focus and the voltage would occasionally go up to 17.2v it blew a few headlight bulbs, and the power steering would have a fault because of such a high voltage. Ours needed a clutch a wheel bearing and a spring so just stuck it on e bay spares or repair.

[@kevinlong6482]

@@chrishart8548 smell mate You could smell the belt burning as the alternator had seized and the rubber belt just burned Luckily got it to Ford who were only 7 miles away

[@jgg02]

I love the engine sound of this one

[@dadcars]

Sounds fantastic in the cabin as the driver 👌😮‍💨 turbo sounds awesome too

[@b.palmer3052]

I have a MK7.5 Golf R Estate. Really fun, fast, daily for me with plenty of room in the boot too. Not exactly a hot hatch but it’s not too far away. The Focus St is interesting because of that 2.5ltr 5 cylinder.

[@dadcars]

Oh that’s a cool dadcar 🙌

[@marccartledge2752]

My 2007 pfl Skoda Octavia vRS is a great fast hatchback with loads of space inside and a huge boot it’s a great dad car

[@yennerz00bradderz]

These are getting a rare sight on the roads now :(

[@dadcars]

Yep! After spending the time with this I look at them differently now 🙏😊

[@flippingcarsrepairs]

That's good as mines being used as a shed as I'm hoping the value goes up

[@chrisparr7476]

Megane RS265. Bargain hot hatch that is still practical as a 2nd family car even as a 3d.

[@dadcars]

As I recently became a Renault owner… it seems only right I review one!

[@CineeK911]

Absolutely love the RS. Its a lot of car for the money and so fun to drive

[@chrisparr7476]

@@dadcars Perfect for me as a fun affordable, reliable daily. Wife has the larger SUV family car. 👍

[@hyperion9937]

would love to see you review a 1 series coupe! I’m in love with the N54/N55 135i currently and i’m looking to get one myself :)

[@hyperion9937]

Or even review a peugeot 308 gti

[@dadcars]

I’ve done a 306 gti6 🙌😍

[@FRFRANKIE]

Hi Ben. Happy Father's Day. That was a cool video. I didn't know Ford made a 5 cylinder. Unless it's a 5 cylinder made by another company. I loved the video. Stay safe and take care.

[@dadcars]

I think it’s a Volvo engine! Thanks Frank 🙌

[@A2KLAU]

It is a Volvo. Ford didn’t really hide it too much and left loads of components with the Volvo logo, and in many cases it would be cheaper to buy the Volvo part than Ford one, even though they came from the same factory.

[@FRFRANKIE]

@@dadcars Your welcome Ben.

[@Top_Drivez]

Mondeo mk4 with the 2.5t engine. Same engine as the ST/RS but all the practically of the mondeo 👌👌

[@dadcars]

Bit more understated too

[@A2KLAU]

Funny enough I had one of those before I got this, was a Titanium X spec.

[@flippingcarsrepairs]

I thought they were 2.0t in the mondeo .the horrible st3 engine that blows up after 100k miles

[@A2KLAU]

@@flippingcarsrepairs those ones were facelift MK4, or known as the MK4.5, but only available with the Ford Powershift automatic box.

[@sebastiantuck1813]

Mk4 R32 5 door would be a good review 🤙

[@ianjenkins4641]

The council estate Ferrari. Great cars but do come with that image. But in 10+ years time when all the crap ones have gone then they will become desirable. Just look back at all the old fast Fords.

[@dadcars]

I agree! Old fast fords become big money in time!

[@TheBaronOG]

Would love to see a DAZA engined rs3 on here for hot hatch category- think post 2017?

[@Passchen]

Happy Father's Day from the US, Ben!

[@dadcars]

Thanks man! HFD!

[@FRFRANKIE]

Thanks!

[@dadcars]

Wow thank you Frank! 🥰

[@FRFRANKIE]

@@dadcars Your welcome Ben.

[@SA-zoom1]

Modified ones are worthless and two a penny. I had to pay top dollar for an unmolested stock one last year. Bought as a family duty car. I found a 1 owner from new car, an MP260 Mountune car, serviced by the same ford garage all its life. I could have bought 2 Modified ones for the same cost, but no regrets. I love it. All I have spent on is wheel refurb and paint correction. Despite its age it looks like it just rolled out of the ford dealer.

[@celticfan67]

Ford make fast cars? News to me.

[@parkpondcarp]

I got mk2 last production £6.500 89.000 miles completely dtandard sou ds beautiful not a scuff or mark to one rim and now im seieing same ones goe 8.500 9.500 with more milage defo bought a little investment

[@Pmjs]

I had a Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec mk1.

[@Birmingham_racing]

If this not practical enough for someone you can get this engine in the Mondeo and s max

[@petrolhead151]

I think focus RS mk3 need a review i have one if want to do film day with it

[@dadcars]

Drop me a message on Insta 🙌

[@shahidmohammed3221]

Hi, fantastic review. Could you perhaps look at an M135i/40i F20 generation. I have a LCI manual M135i 5 door as my daily. My wife has a Cupra Formentor and we are expecting our 2nd child later in the year. Been thinking of swapping the M135i for something bigger like a Stelvio/X3M40i/Macan or even an Audi RS6 Avant but i still love the m135i and its been super reliable. I buy my cars outright so not sure if spending a further 20-30k to swap cars for more boot space is worth it or should i just keep the m135i and place a roof basket to increase cargo space.

[@dadcars]

I’d happily review one if a subscriber was up for bringing one down for a filming day 😊… how many times a year do you need a bigger boot?

[@A2KLAU]

A friend of ours had a M135i and they had it for their children as their primary for quite a while so it can work, especially with the Cupra, in my eyes keep the Beemer. You don’t get many straight six sound tracks with a manual box these days.

[@shahidmohammed3221]

@dadcars would happily let you take it for a spin! I'm based in Berkshire.

[@shahidmohammed3221]

@A2KLAU thank you, yes I think you are right and this is what has stopped me putting it up for sale.

[@jonathonedwards6741]

Feel free to check out my swift sport. I’m not a dad but it could be an interesting dad car

[@scottwilliams2870]

I had a mk2 st3 back in the day, not a bad car but I wasn’t overly impressed with it.. I did have a v10 m5 prior tho.. Try a golf r if you haven’t already? Great daily, fast reliable and good on fuel for a 300 hp car..

[@dadcars]

I really want to try a V10 M5! 😅

[@flippingcarsrepairs]

Golf r sooo boring tho

[@superjody]

The corrado vr6 😍😍 Not at those prices though 😮,

[@john-hg1dc]

2.3 st estate 2020 please

[@dadcars]

I’ve never driven one!

[@MrLense]

4 doors and a boot. What more could you need really?

[@pb5x5]

That steering wheel rim doesn't original and looks fatter than it would have been. Probably been recovered.

[@dadcars]

Yes you are correct

[@magicmaizie2015]

Genuine question, not a criticism.. why don't you like modifications? As you know when cars are designed there are so many factors they have to take into account like, comfort, economy, performance, reliability, efficiency, competitiveness, different fuel qualities ect. So buying a car that you like then modifying it to be exactly how you like it just makes soo much sense. Also modified insurance is dirt cheap 😉

[@dadcars]

It’s not that I don’t like modding, I’ve just never really done it. I’ve always put all my money towards running and maintaining and never had any spare cash left over after 😅

[@robertlloyd7493]

😊

[@dadcars]

Second this week 😅

[@gaspode505]

Better than bmw or audi money pit 😂

[@dadcars]

Any performance car that you’re not completely in love with is a “money pit”

[@harveytr7106]

I think the “bald, ginger, idiot who doesn’t own a TV” is an unfair characterisation of Maser drivers. For example, my brother has a GranSport like yours and he’s not ginger… I’ve often pondered something like this. Objectively makes loads of sense. But image gets to me every time, which is such a shame.

[@dadcars]

lol so he’s a bald idiot 🤣🙌 brilliant this made me laugh 😅

[@Jdmess9]

This one must weigh about 2 tonnes

[@laskos02]

First

[@dadcars]

A new first!

[@jaggavan]

Your reasoning for not getting a focus st is why i wont buy a bm or audi

[@DjNikGnashers]

Unfortunately, these have dropped into chav territory, a bit like Impreza's did in the early 2000's. The issue these have, is that they don't have the WRC heritage that the Impreza did, and while Impreza's are now rising in value for unmolested standard examples, these will never be 'sought after'. The image of the stereotypical owner is ingrained in the cars dna, and it can never be removed. This is the thing that forever separates true future classics from the dross that will be forgotten resting in scrapyards. If a car needs to be modified to be interesting, it wasn't that good in the first place. Cars which are just perfect as standard, are the ones which will be remembered and soar in value when they get to 'classic' status. Spending 19 large on a car only worth 2, doesn't make any sense, because you can get a much better car for 21 grand, which is standard. I 'get' that some people just love a certain car, I know somebody obsessed with the Triumph Acclaim, and owns 3 of the 100 left on the roads in the UK. He will spend every spare penny he has restoring them, and that is to be admired. But just because he loves them, and there are not many left, it doesn't make them desirable or valuable. The Focus ST is the same.

[@dadcars]

I think they dropped into that a long time ago… as time goes on they will move out of that

[@danfrost_]

I turned off soon as i heard a child screaming

[@thequantumduckling]

That's not screaming! That was about a 4 out of 10.

[@Hellndegenerates]

Mine was perfect for the first 70,000 miles then everything seem to go wrong.