I’m considering the Ford Focus ST as my first car after graduation. I want a hatchback or sedan that’s fun to drive, and this seems to fit the bill. I’m looking at 2016-2018 models since I prefer a more modern interior. I’ve driven manual before, but only on a Toro Workman at my summer job, so I haven’t driven a real car with a manual transmission.
The ones I’ve found all have high mileage (80k-100k). Can these cars make it to 200k miles with proper maintenance, or are they better as short-term cars? Also, is it a good choice to learn manual on, or is the high horsepower too much for a beginner? Curious to hear your thoughts.
These cars are super fun and practical. I got a 2014 ST3 a couple of years ago because I wanted something fun with better gas mileage than my Mustang. It’s been great, even at 10 years old now. It’s easy to drive, and the power is perfect for daily driving or weekend cruising.
I bought mine with 99.9k miles, and now it’s at 140k. Maintenance has been straightforward—plugs, rear brakes, and some common fixes like heater core hoses, clutch master cylinder, and a passenger motor mount. I did all of it myself in my driveway.
These cars can easily last 200-300k miles if maintained well. Mine handled a 1400-mile move with 500 pounds of stuff packed in, no problem. Even with snow tires, it does fine in the snow as long as you’re careful. I plan to keep mine for as long as possible.
I’d definitely recommend it. It’s been reliable and fun, and even survived my dad’s rough driving. That’s saying something!
Thorn said: @Freddie
Thanks for the detailed reply! It’s too bad Ford stopped making sedans and hatchbacks here. I’ll keep an eye out for one, though.
Yeah, they’re not as common depending on where you live. When I lived in California, I saw a lot more. Out here in South Dakota, it’s mostly trucks or AWD cars. I still surprise people by loading cinder blocks and wood into the back of mine. It’s sad we didn’t get the MK4 here, but I guess the market prefers SUVs and trucks.
@Freddie
It’s frustrating that Ford still sells the Focus and Puma in Europe but left us with the Escape as the smallest option here. I like the Escape, but it’s crazy that they don’t make any small cars here besides the Mustang.
@Thorn
The Puma looks so cheerful, and I wish we got the MK8 Fiesta ST here. It’s like a street-legal go-kart, and it reminds me of my old 2003 SVT ZX3.
Freddie said: @Thorn
The Puma looks so cheerful, and I wish we got the MK8 Fiesta ST here. It’s like a street-legal go-kart, and it reminds me of my old 2003 SVT ZX3.
@Thorn
When I interviewed at Ford, they said SUVs and trucks are way more profitable than sedans. They’d have to sell 2-4 sedans to match the profit of one SUV. It makes sense business-wise but still sucks for us sedan lovers.
@Freddie
You can also fit four big dogs in the back—80lb Husky, 80lb Samoyed, 100lb Bernese Mountain Dog, and a 170lb Saint Bernard. The seats fold down flat!
I’m a student, and I love my ST. I drive responsibly, maintain it well, and avoid cheap mods. It’s a great car that doesn’t drain my wallet. Just my advice—don’t turn it into a money pit with unnecessary mods.
Stick to good maintenance:
Oil changes every 5k miles
Spark plugs every 25k
Use 91 octane
Avoid over-the-shelf (OTS) tunes
If you treat it right, it’ll last. Mine gets me to school, work, and the occasional autocross event. Great car overall.
I spent months looking for a good one last year and finally found a 2017 ST1 with 82k miles for $16k. It was bone stock, which was a big plus. I had looked at another one with a big turbo and mods but passed because it had too many unknowns and issues, especially with the salt belt winters.
Check all the usual for-sale sites, and don’t forget about Facebook groups—there are several ST-focused groups where people list them. These cars are great daily drivers if you take care of them, and there’s a ton of info online about common issues.