So its getting close to new car time.....

narrowed it down to a st170, or a mk5 zs

I want a daily, im 21 2 years ncb, possibility to mod, do navigation rallys and track days.

have around 2.5k max for the car.

Nothing over 2 litre and must be reliable.

The reason for the zs is they seem more modable + maybe cheaper spares. Can insure one modded but st would have to be standard.

any cars im over looking? 1.7 puma?

So I need your help.....

either with suggestions or donating me a imperial blue escort coswortg, mk1 frs or a frp

 

If it was me I would have a zs with a puma engine.

 

zs all day long

 

I was gonna say the same.

But I just look focuses. I like the ST170 and I think they go well even though my 1.7 puma kept up with my mates ST.

Get the ST with the climate and comfort pack.

 

I love my puma but trying to find one without rusty arches is impossible.

 

ST is more refined, quicker and seem to be less prone to rot etc than the ZS. But will cost more to run.

ZS, cheaper to run, feel more like a go kart and you could look to chuck a 1.7 puma lump in with little hassle or expense if you dont buy one that has already been done.

Puma's will prive hard to find without rotten arches and are a bit girly imo.

I would be tempted to try and pick up a zs with the puma conversion, would be great fun.

 

I would have a 2.0 esp focus over a st170 aswel.for the money you save you could make 2.0 quicker and the running costs would be cheaper

 

join the rs2000 club!

 

how could you make it quicker with the change left over. 2.0 focus in similar condition to 170 fetch similar money. what mods would you do?

 

There's a nice one for sale at Roundham Garage in Paignton. When I saw it earlier I remembered what you had said about the arches Glenn so I checked them on this one and they look pretty good, in fact it looks like a decent little car for about Ł1400.

 

i havent come across a puma without some rot on rear arches. also pop your head under the rear and they usually look pretty ruff under there too.. shame they were built so bad for rust.youd think ford should have learnt by the late 90s after the dismal rust heaps created before lol

 

I seen on puma that was for sale for 1200 quid and it was rough as fook. Both rear arches had shoddy repairs and the rest of the paint work was rough as fook. It was a 400 quid car in my eyes.

 

My friends mam has a puma the same colour as mine and the arches on that are mint..

 

that would be a good one to own in future then glenn.

 

I would love one but - they are quite hard to find in nice condition, and I do not have the skills or money to go getting big projects

 

ZS, forget the Puma engine they're getting long in the tooth, the 1.6 is almost as tuneable.

 

found my phase 2 zs not lacking in power at all and was bloody good fun to drive, also had a st170 3dr and found it handled well but running costs and lack of the 170hp as claimed to be a drag, plus silly money for things like clutched ins and fuel on the st170 a non starter

 

I'd go for a ZetecS no doubt... the Focus isn't worth the coin it costs to run.

If you must have a Focus, I'd also go for a standard 2.0 ESP and do a few tidy styling mods. Then when you get bored of the power/can insure it, turbo it for many more smiles.


Cheers,
Grant