hello everyone looking into an st next year instead of a 03 st170. what sort of problems do st150 have and are they a better car.great forum thanks for the help

hello welcome to the site! the ST doesn't have any particular problems really depend if it was built on friday as for be better than the focus don't no as I never drive one

well i know of no major probs but mine has an annoying rattle from the parcel shelf! torque steers like mad when i boot it and fuel consumption isnt great! apart from that its fantastic! would choose the fiesta over the focus st170 any day. it may have 20bhp extra but its no quicker. plus the st170 looks a bit dated now.

welcome to the site pal,as for problems to looks out for with the st well the wifes is 15month old from new with no problems and mine is now 6 month old and touch wood......no problems. when i say problems not major ones anyway.

Hi there and welcome to the forum.

If I were you I'd definitely get a Fiesta ST over the ST170. Firstly, with the lighter weight the Fiesta is quicker. Secondly it handles really well, especially round corners etc. And finally, the ST170 had a 6 speed gearbox in which everyone I know has said was awful.

Yes, ST170 is old now and many were dogged with reliability problems from new.
As all of them are now out of warranty I'd steer clear.

The ST150 is not as refined as the ST170 but is quicker, the 6-speed box in the ST170 really let it down.

I find the ST quite good on fuel, 30ish MPG is not bad for a 2-litre and the insurance isn't that bad either.
Because of the packaging and cost constriants of developing this car they can be a bit tempremental due to the ignition and catalyst design.
Do not run it on cheap Supermarket fuel (exept Sainsbury's Super which is very very good).
I find somedays it's a little rocket then others it's just about quicker through the mid-range than a 1.3 LX.
Nothing that a good air-filter, plugs, leads and exhaust won't sort.

I personally feel the handling isn't as good as some make out, true, if you're on a perfectly smooth bit of tarmac it is really fantastic, but here in the UK that's a rareity and it seems to get unsettled off line when cornering on bumpy surfaces.
There's definately NO one handed driving to be done in the ST150 else you'll get the wheel snatched out of your hand. You soon get used to it though.

To be fair to it though, for the cost and running costs, it's a good little car.
I'm on number two and am considering ordering number three for March 08 (in black again though)

Hope this helps

Wecome to the site BTW

Hi welcome to the site! Not much else to say really than hasn't already been said! Get your order in!

the ST170 gear was a 5+1 I think so maybe that explaint it all and did heard that early model didn't deliver the power they claim don't no if its true as for the ST handling have to agree with u dave that u can't drive it with one hand on bumpy road as the steering does pull from side to side but still its a great little car

welcome! - had no issues with mine (had it just over 11 months) - only thing that annoys me are the rattles - still trying to find where it is!!

After being a member of the FFOC.co.uk (Ford Focus Owners Club) for 3 years. I can tell you... Please don't buy a Focus 170. They are rubbish to drive, teh 6 speed gear box is total crap and they don't have much power for what you expect. As Dave commented, many of the 170 have reliability problems which never really got ironed out.

The Fiesta is a great runner (a little fuel hungry) but it handles brilliant, the driving experience is great and the looks are modern sleek and sporty.

At the end of the day, it is your choice... I would know what mine is though.

hey and welcome to the site, enjoy!!!!