Inside my '13 Ford Focus ST build
I washer her on Sunday but I really need to do a summer detail and wax.
The ST has around 38,500 miles now. Getting up there! At 2.5 years old, that's about 1,284 miles a month. Still feels like I just got her the other day.
Haha, that's awesome. And every time I see a nice Charger I think of yours.
The ST has been great. She has been trouble-free her entire life, even with all of the modifications. And she's a blast to drive. It really is a great daily driver.
Thanks Kimchi!
Thank you! I wish I could make it out to the national meet as it would be fun to take pictures with you and SB.
There seem to be plenty of STs in my area and I never get tired of looking at them. The body just flows so nicely from head to tail.
Phil, your ST looks wonderful. I actually don't know if I've seen a silver one locally. I've seen a bunch of blue, black and tangerine coloured ones. The silver seems to give the car that subtlety. Seems to work very well!!
Phil, your ST looks wonderful. I actually don't know if I've seen a silver one locally. I've seen a bunch of blue, black and tangerine coloured ones. The silver seems to give the car that subtlety. Seems to work very well!!
I think I'm pretty much done. At this point I have all of the bolt-ons, and the next step would be something serious like a bigger turbo, which I'm not really interested in.
What I could do is a custom dyno tune. That's a possibility.
But I'm just saving up now...
Thank you! I too share your salesman's sentiments.
I see quite a few STs in my area. Over the past year or so they have really grown in numbers. But it's still a rare care overall.
Thanks TB! Silver is actually the least common color. And with my combination of Ingot Silver and the ST3 package, I have the least common ST combination of them all. I've really grown to love the silver, too.

The ST will be paid off in December. Perhaps around 2017 I'll be ready to buy the RS.
What I could do is a custom dyno tune. That's a possibility.
But I'm just saving up now...
I see quite a few STs in my area. Over the past year or so they have really grown in numbers. But it's still a rare care overall.
There seem to be plenty of STs in my area and I never get tired of looking at them. The body just flows so nicely from head to tail.
Phil, your ST looks wonderful. I actually don't know if I've seen a silver one locally. I've seen a bunch of blue, black and tangerine coloured ones. The silver seems to give the car that subtlety. Seems to work very well!!
Phil, your ST looks wonderful. I actually don't know if I've seen a silver one locally. I've seen a bunch of blue, black and tangerine coloured ones. The silver seems to give the car that subtlety. Seems to work very well!!

The ST will be paid off in December. Perhaps around 2017 I'll be ready to buy the RS.
Dudeeeeeee
I thought you have dyno tuned it already. You should definitely do that to finish it then! It will make a huge difference considering you have almost all bolt-ons!
I thought you have dyno tuned it already. You should definitely do that to finish it then! It will make a huge difference considering you have almost all bolt-ons!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 78,249
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His name's not Phil. I learned the hard way. 

Car is looking awesome.
I fucking love hatchbacks. I don't care what that makes me. I'll say it until I'm dead and one day I'll own one again. So much versatility of an SUV without the boring drive and shitty mileage. Can I has? Yes I can. One day.


Car is looking awesome.
I fucking love hatchbacks. I don't care what that makes me. I'll say it until I'm dead and one day I'll own one again. So much versatility of an SUV without the boring drive and shitty mileage. Can I has? Yes I can. One day.
Saturday I spent just about five hours washing, detailing, and waxing the ST.
First I cleaned all four wheels. After that I did the foam gun, let the soap dwell, and rinse. Then I did the two bucket hand wash method. Once washed and rinsed, I pulled it into the garage to blow it dry with my Blaster Sidekick and dried the remaining water with the waffle weave towel. Detailing consisted of clay bar and detail spray on every inch of paint. When that was done, I finished it off with Americana carnauba paste wax. Plus the Super VRT on the tires, black rubber trim, and black plastic trim. And of course Glass Cleaner on the windows.
The result is a super smooth finish. I didn't do the polish step nor the glaze step after the wax simply because I was out of time. But it looked so good I had to jump in and drive down to a spot to take photos.




First I cleaned all four wheels. After that I did the foam gun, let the soap dwell, and rinse. Then I did the two bucket hand wash method. Once washed and rinsed, I pulled it into the garage to blow it dry with my Blaster Sidekick and dried the remaining water with the waffle weave towel. Detailing consisted of clay bar and detail spray on every inch of paint. When that was done, I finished it off with Americana carnauba paste wax. Plus the Super VRT on the tires, black rubber trim, and black plastic trim. And of course Glass Cleaner on the windows.
The result is a super smooth finish. I didn't do the polish step nor the glaze step after the wax simply because I was out of time. But it looked so good I had to jump in and drive down to a spot to take photos.




Last edited by RPhilMan1; Jul 27, 2015 at 12:25 PM.
Very nice. I'll have to follow this thread.
Just wondering, how's the NHV's? Do you get a bit of road noise or have you added some sound deadner in the doors? I know the Focus (rented a German model last year) was a blast on the Autobahn, but the tire noise was a bit high.
Just wondering, how's the NHV's? Do you get a bit of road noise or have you added some sound deadner in the doors? I know the Focus (rented a German model last year) was a blast on the Autobahn, but the tire noise was a bit high.
Very nice. I'll have to follow this thread.
Just wondering, how's the NHV's? Do you get a bit of road noise or have you added some sound deadner in the doors? I know the Focus (rented a German model last year) was a blast on the Autobahn, but the tire noise was a bit high.
Just wondering, how's the NHV's? Do you get a bit of road noise or have you added some sound deadner in the doors? I know the Focus (rented a German model last year) was a blast on the Autobahn, but the tire noise was a bit high.
The NVH is very minimal. I'd have to think back to the stock days, because right now with the intake, downpipe, exhaust, and blow-off, I'm making quite a bit of noise...

No vibrations on the stock motor mount, but I have an upgraded stiffer one and there is a bit of vibration on throttle tip-in.
I haven't added any sound deadening materials and to me it seems very quiet on the highway. Maybe it was the tires on the German model - do you remember what they were? The stock Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 tires are actually pretty good with minimal noise, but I plan to upgrade to Michelin PSS next spring.
Looks awesome! I was just going to ask you what wax you used for silver, but you answered that in your previous post. I have like $150 worth of Chemical Guys wax here but it's for black paint. No biggie as I'll use it on the Jeep... but was wondering what people were using for silver. I'll have to check out that Americana stuff 
But seriously, looking awesome and nice pics. That ST is an awesome little hatch...
But seriously, looking awesome and nice pics. That ST is an awesome little hatch...
Looks awesome! I was just going to ask you what wax you used for silver, but you answered that in your previous post. I have like $150 worth of Chemical Guys wax here but it's for black paint. No biggie as I'll use it on the Jeep... but was wondering what people were using for silver. I'll have to check out that Americana stuff 
But seriously, looking awesome and nice pics. That ST is an awesome little hatch...
But seriously, looking awesome and nice pics. That ST is an awesome little hatch...
Wash Shampoo, Clay Bar with Detail Spray, Polish, Americana Wax, and Sealant, and you'll have the V looking brand-new every time. If your wheels are really dirty, Deep Wheel Cleaner will easily take care of that. Don't forget the Glass Cleaner, and Super VRT for the tire shine and trim. If you need a general cleaner, All Purpose Cleaner is great for that. And for the interior, the Leather & Interior Cleaner is perfect.
Detailing the V will be fun.
Last edited by RPhilMan1; Jul 31, 2015 at 09:46 AM.
I just picked up an OW 2014 Focus ST ST3 a few weeks ago. I'm loving this car more everyday! I like the progress you've made on yours. Mine already has a few mods and I'm itching to go crazy with it.
I will have to do that!
Update: tires are getting really low and the rear passenger tire has a very slow leak. Supposedly has a nail. I won't be able to make it until swapping to the winter set so I ordered a set of Michelin PSS. New tires will be great! And going 245 all around.
Also sold my Accessport V2 I had sitting around the garage that I never did anything with once I upgraded to the V3. And a transmission shifter bracket as well. Sold it to a local Ford tech that owns an ST.
Also sold my Accessport V2 I had sitting around the garage that I never did anything with once I upgraded to the V3. And a transmission shifter bracket as well. Sold it to a local Ford tech that owns an ST.
A couple of Snapchat photos (forgot to take regular ones). Now I just need to figure out when in my schedule I can get them installed...


I liked the F1s, they are pretty good tires. They have the best lip protector for the wheel, too. I got about 20,000 miles out of them, which is about average that I see from Focus ST owners. But for about the same price, the Michelin PSS is a better tire.
Haha, I wish! Some extra cash from old/uninstalled/unused parts always helps.


Haha, I wish! Some extra cash from old/uninstalled/unused parts always helps.
I sent in my last car payment yesterday. The ST is now officially paid off. 
The ST turned 3 on November 21st and December 7th was the three-year mark of when I took delivery.
I hit 46,000 miles back on November 23rd. 46,000 trouble-free miles full of smiles!

Obligatory wax shot, still holding up from late summer:

Winter shot with winter tires/wheels setup:

The ST turned 3 on November 21st and December 7th was the three-year mark of when I took delivery.
I hit 46,000 miles back on November 23rd. 46,000 trouble-free miles full of smiles!

Obligatory wax shot, still holding up from late summer:

Winter shot with winter tires/wheels setup:
Last edited by RPhilMan1; Dec 22, 2015 at 11:02 AM.


























