I went to the darkside again 300bhp St3 focus

[Lee A]

So it's been a while since I've had anything decent to talk about, spent the last 3 odd years saving for a house with the wife to be, which we moved into last week and I continually told her throughout I would buy a car straight after, she didn't believe me but now she does (slightly pissed).

I've been looking at a list of different motors with potential and the bang for buck factor. The st3 focus ticked those boxes for me, I had to move fast though as the prices are rising on them and I expect them to continue going that direction so wouldn't be letting it go anytime soon.

The next task was finding a clean one which had the right bits, it was looking likely that an England trip would happen until Facebook marketplace showed up a nice red one which took my interest, so a few messages organised a trip to Banbridge, pulling up it looked great and was as red as the pictures showed it to be. Chatted for a while, went a test drive and I was sold. It put a smile on my face with the comfort, lovely noise it makes and it's overall presence. Picked it up Saturday afternoon and put some miles on it.

So here it is, it's a 2010 st3 focus in Colorado red and has 101,000 miles but has always been stamped and well looked after.

Modifications are:

*Rs vac pipe Rs clutch
*Rs plugs
*Rs clutch
*20mm spacers all round
*Airtec induction kit
*Airtec stage 2 intercooler
*pro sport coolant hoses
*Forge recirc valve and actuator Full *scorpion exhaust system (no cat)
*Mapped by puma speed maxd software just over 300bhp(maps are changeable as can go stage 3 when rs injectors fitted)
*H&r 20mm lowering springs
*Angel eye sidelights
*18" new rs rep wheels
*Zunsport top and bottom grills Full splitter kit including rear splitter
*Rs spoiler (original spoiler with it also

Immediate plans are to get adjustable drop links as it knocks a touch with being lowered, Going to freshen up the engine bay a bit more and order a carbon fibre bonnet lip along with some wing mirror covers, possibly.

I enjoy the wheels and rs spoiler so they will stay for now.

 

[PAULW]

Saw it for sale, very tidy and IMO the facelift looks much fresher. Health to drive!

 

[Nicky Glanza]

Some job Lee

 

[Petem86]

i did exactly the same, only it was for saving for a wedding, sold my mk6 GTi.
Then one day, wifey didnt give me a lift to my mates, so i cycled, and bought a golf R a week or so after.

I digress, that looks class, love the wheels,.

i remember driving an ST2 when they came out, standard one and it was real nice back then too!

 

[Lee A]

Yeah might take a few weeks but mine will get over it and enjoy the car soon.

 

[Tufty]

That is very Red but also very very nice.

There is no more needing done to that bar fueling it.

All the best with it Lee I am sure it sounds awesome and it is a nice thing to drive.

 

[collyirwin11]

still got this or has it blown away in the wind yet?

Volvos out in force

After enduring 10yrs of abuse from you about being a rusty ford and a Volvo etc etc, and look at you now haha.

It is a lovely example, and drives fantastic!

Enjoy. Will get the two Foci together soon before they “blow away in the wind”

 

[Lee A]

@collyirwin11 I least expected you too post with something like that

That is very Red but also very very nice.

There is no more needing done to that bar fueling it.

All the best with it Lee I am sure it sounds awesome and it is a nice thing to drive.

Thanks the red pops with the ceramic coating, it sounds excellent and really doesn't need much more as you say.

 

[Lee A]

So small small update but the standard silver nuts stood out a bit too much for my liking with the rims. The Honda days are gone with wanting to show off wheel nuts and I'm now showing my age. Got some graphite covers off eBay for very little money. Small change but pleased with it.

Car will be going up on my ramp tomorrow as I want to get a look underneath and check bushings along with the anti roll bar drop links for the knocking. Power is there so I think I will start with refreshing suspension bushings

 

[TheDaniel]

Nice looking car this! Would it have been you I spotted in Millisle on Saturday? Just spotted a red Focus with an RS wing. Health to enjoy!

 

[Lee A]

Nice looking car this! Would it have been you I spotted in Millisle on Saturday? Just spotted a red Focus with an RS wing. Health to enjoy!

Thanks very much. Yup that would have been me. I'm local to there

 

[bludgod]

cracking car that - if its the one i think it is it should also be rocking a fairly savage amount of pops and bangs too haha if you see any more pumaspeed bits you like the look of let me know i can usually get a discount

 

[Lee A]

cracking car that - if its the one i think it is it should also be rocking a fairly savage amount of pops and bangs too haha if you see any more pumaspeed bits you like the look of let me know i can usually get a discount

Thanks very much. Yeah it can get a bit loud sometimes I've a list of bits I want tbh but going to save that side of things until after the summer.


Loving the car so far, try to use it on my days off just as the Polo is my daily and will stay that way, never thought I could be converted to a ford man but I can see why these are so appealing. It's thirsty but smiles per gallon and the sound it makes is brilliant.

And what is it with kids in Corsas trying to race you.

 

[Lee A]

Decided to turn back the years tonight and went to a local Sunday night car meet in Millisle. Myself and @collyirwin11 took the volvos out and got an obligatory photo. Meet was full of cars with popcorn limiters and reek but nice to get the motors beside each other

 

[bert3005]

Seen this today parked in bangor, definitely a eye catcher of car

 

[Lee A]

Small update but one of those things that bothers you even though you don't see it, the engine bay. It was a tad dusty and dirty and deserved a clean to freshen it up while checking oil etc. Small difference but one that makes you happy none the less. Also nipped across to kirkistown while I was in my garage. Some nice motors flying around and a great sounding Maserati

Before

After

And one of the motor

 

[Lee A]

Been a while since I updated this, still loving the car all be it my local roads in the Ards peninsula really put you off driving something nice. Potholes galore I had the car off the road for the winter and in my garage. Onto the ramp it went to get some new parts and tidied up underneath

I bought

hardrace anti roll bar
Gearbox torquemount
All new rear arms kit
Adjustable droplinks
Hel braided brake lines
4 Uniroyal rainsport tyres

The Adjustable droplinks I ended up sending back to pumaspeed as the quality was poor and to date I've fitted the anti roll bar and lower control arms. With those alone and the new tyres the car is tight as a drum. I also took to cleaning of some rust from the rear subframe, surrounding areas and painting. Structurally the car is sound, just had a bit of surface rust, bushes where ok on certain arms but it done no harm replacing parts.

Excuse the mess in the shed, we where moving stuff around.

Also Purchased a karcher steam cleaner, great investment and highly recommend one. Gave the arches a good clean after ripping the liners out.

Overall done a few bits and pieces over the winter and now the car is back on the road and being driven. I will get round to firing on all the other parts but they aren't immediately an issue. Plan on taking it to the Capri show on Saturday and getting a good nosey around some other Ford's.

 

[CharlySkunkWeed]

Been a while since I updated this, still loving the car all be it my local roads in the Ards peninsula really put you off driving something nice. Potholes galore I had the car off the road for the winter and in my garage. Onto the ramp it went to get some new parts and tidied up underneath

View attachment 431685

I bought

hardrace anti roll bar
Gearbox torquemount
All new rear arms kit
Adjustable droplinks
Hel braided brake lines
4 Uniroyal rainsport tyres

The Adjustable droplinks I ended up sending back to pumaspeed as the quality was poor and to date I've fitted the anti roll bar and lower control arms. With those alone and the new tyres the car is tight as a drum. I also took to cleaning of some rust from the rear subframe, surrounding areas and painting. Structurally the car is sound, just had a bit of surface rust, bushes where ok on certain arms but it done no harm replacing parts.
View attachment 431686View attachment 431687View attachment 431688View attachment 431689View attachment 431690View attachment 431691

Excuse the mess in the shed, we where moving stuff around.
View attachment 431692View attachment 431693

Also Purchased a karcher steam cleaner, great investment and highly recommend one. Gave the arches a good clean after ripping the liners out.

View attachment 431694View attachment 431695

Overall done a few bits and pieces over the winter and now the car is back on the road and being driven. I will get round to firing on all the other parts but they aren't immediately an issue. Plan on taking it to the Capri show on Saturday and getting a good nosey around some other Ford's.

You're 100% right on the state of the roads. The Ards Peninsula was my go-to for a quick scoot if the notion took me. I just don't bother now. I cringe even driving the work van around with some of the potholes you see. Even the A roads have some belters.

I plan on doing the wheel arches on my own car soon, hoping to do a similar job to yours. I have a steam cleaner but I never think to use it so glad you reminded me.

 

[Lee A]

Yea hard to find a road either side of the Peninsula that isn't wrecked now.

The steamer is great, found myself using it for multiple things in the house also

 

[Lee A]

Had the car down at the Capri show yesterday at McKee clock, great weather and good to chat to some familiar faces

 

[Lee A]

Sun was out for a bit today so thought I would take a run down by daft Eddie's etc, nice leisurely drive with a wee bit of speed at times but fairly calm with those tight roads.