[Closed] Anyone own a focus ST?

Guy who works for me does - nice car, drives well, drinks petrol like George Best did booze

Bike friendly? - guess so, but I don't know

I found it really dissapointing! Maybe I was hoping for something more like the old Cosworth? It wasn't bad, just wasn't that great.

Chav car!

From my research its a smooth fast car (no I havent driven it)- from owners feedback. Whereas the Imprezza is visceral, lots of road feedback, transmission whine etc etc. The ST is just very very quick.

I know people will think you live at home with your Mum if you drive an Imprezza but I'd still have one of those any day over the ST.

Golf R32 - more torques, 4 wheel drive and loads of space for bikes. Loving mine. The Focus RS is the mental one nowadays...

I had one for just over a year. Good car and pretty bike friendly with the Ford roof rack. I had mine Bluefinned to 270bhp and whilst it was rapid, its a heavy beast and never felt as good on the road as my old civic type r. Incedentally, its the most comfortable motorway cruiser I have ever owned but the 25mpg (with a very light foot) means you wont go far on a tankful. If I was spending the money again for that type of car I would go with a Subaru or something rear wheel drive as FWD cars really struggle to put that sort of power down.

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Oh and it is a chav wagon extrodinaire!!!

l.o.l
its in chavaru blue, should have painted the wheels gold.
i here the engine is the best bit volvo unit apparently.

cheers guys. I do like the Impreza's but they stand out a bit! (not that the focus ST does not..)

Tried it, an R32 and WRX. Got the WRX mainly as 4wd and lighter feeling, better handling than the golf + the wagon can fit a computer rack in just and hence i could pretend its a company car. Also consider a Mazda 3 MPS - man it was the most fun of the 4 that I drove but i just couldn;t quite justify the new price - 6spd man, 2.3 turbo fwd monster fun....i keep seeing them aruond town and thinking 'Damn i should have got one of them ..."

Oh the Ford Focus STD

had a test drive in one 18 months ago and bought a Golf GTI instead

25mpg...FFS.
I'll stick with my Rover 25. 😆

I test drove an ST and bought the GTI. The ST is a bit softer sprung and the nose tends to move up/down more under power/braking. The Ford engine is lovely and torquey though, great engine note. Civic Type R didn't do it for me, Megane R26 was great to drive but Renaults depreciate very quickly. Didn't look at the Subarus or R32 as they would have killed me on Benefit in Kind.

All hot hatches are seen as chav cars by the unenlightened...

I'm watching the mazda 3 mps prices (the 6 is nice too) - when they get down to 5k ish I'll be sorely tempted!

Golf GTi is a far, far better bet

Golf GT Sport 170 TDI, as much torque as an R32 & 45-50 mpg.

One of my colleagues has a Focus ST. Well when I say "has a Focus ST" I actually mean "brought a Focus ST but spends a lot of time driving the dealership courtesy car".
He has had no end of problems with it and Ford are insisting on trying to rectify rather than replace even though in the 8 months he's had the car its spent overall about 2 months back with Ford.
He's starting to regret not getting the S40 T5 which he was going to get originally (before his inner 'carpark racer' had a word obviously).

I read a few reviews saying the Mazda is insane but you cant get near its potentially as it cant get the power down. Imagine that on a damp road spinning away.......hmmmm discount card with HiQ anyone?!

if it were me i'd go for the GTI as many have said, you can chip it and still get good MPG, or just go for the ED 30 model, also it will/should hold its value more.

ST's are nice but you'll be filling her up 5 times a week.

or just save up a bit more and get the Focus RS! 😆

PK Rippers got the ST's engine in his Volvo- he'll have some views on its thirst. I must admit (I'm not a VW fan) but if it was between the ST and the GTI I'd go for the GTI. Autocar reckons that the plate change in Aug/Sept is going to bomb the residuals on the pre-facelift

Hora - I thought PK had the S40 2.4?

I had one as a loan car for three days , I'm glad it was only three days 🙂
heavy, crap interior ,cheap cheap cheap feel to it.
i don't think it was particularly quick, or handle very well.( feels a bit numb )

made a nice noise though and you can pick them up for a good price at the moment.

i was disappointed as i was told sooooo many good things about the newer quick ford's

each time i see them, I just think STI

[i]Hora - I thought PK had the S40 2.4? [/i]

Hang on....
I've nudged him!

Golf GT Sport 170 TDI, as much torque as an R32

...and totally incomparable if you've actually driven both of them.

sootyandjim - Member
Hora - I thought PK had the S40 2.4?

Nope, I've got the s40 T5 - it's the same engine, it's rapid but the traction control is a bit agricultural, and the ST suspension is slightly stiffer.

It's just a car though. Gets me around, with fuel economy around the 25/26 I reckon.

The Volvo is a wolf in disguise whereas the ST shouts 'look at me'?
I once enquired whether you could de-wing, debadge etc an Imprezza only to be asked incredulously by my indie garage [i]why would anyone do that? Part of its appeal is its road presence[/i]. I just didnt want to look like a chav (who drives around in woolly hats and lives at home with his Mum so he can afford the insurance/HPI payments....) 🙄

You want one of these Cupra's £21K, 25mpg easy. Everything on it as standard. 18's Bixenons etc etc 260 BHP as standard. Handles better than the rest and is faster 8)
[IMG] [/IMG]

Probably the worse suspension out of the lot though.

and not a good looking car.

SEAT
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🙁

I am a fan of Seat. I got an Ibiza after considering the equivalent Fabia VRS (my car is essentially the same, but with a Seat rather than Skoda makeover) and the Fiesta Zetec-S.
There is no way though that Seat have got their handling in the same league as Ford though - I have compared the Ibiza Sport (now FR) to the Fiesta Zetec-S and the Fiesta was miles ahead in terms of ride, handling and steering feel.
I haven't driven the Leon or the Focus, but every review I have seen of them, basically says that the Leon is quick but doesn't handle that well.

I love the look of the Leon though, in certain colours.

Top of the range Focus ST can be had for about £18k or less....well it could when a colleague was looking last yr. Might be even less now.

Sorry, is it yours? The stormtrooper helmet just flashed into mind, white cars just don't light my fire.

What about at Audi S3, or A3 sport. They are getting very cheap second hand.

alwyn agree. The only prob is the cambelt change- I found the cheapest quote of £700+vat!

is it a new or 2nd hand model you're considering?

New Focus RS is press launching next week & is damn impressive.

Focus RS looks pretty good.

Still fwd, but with a limited slip diff and a new suspension arrangement that is supposed to reduce torque steer.

The Seat Cupra is mentally fast - the only thing that comes close to feeling like riding a motorbike in my opinion. But it cooked its brakes when I took one out for a test drive and torque steers for England.

Shouldn't take the Mazda 3 MPS long to be around the 5k mark. Mine has lost £12k in a years worth of driving. Also, check the seats in them cos they're not that comfortable or supportive. I know two people who have had problems with the 6 MPS, one of which involved a big hole in the side of the block.

Edition 30 Golf GTI for the win. Bloody lovely car

Hora - how can you pass judgement on something you've never owned or driven? Don't believe everything you read on the internet

Seat Cupra... the only thing that comes close to feeling like riding a motorbike in my opinion

I've driven some pretty quick road cars, but I've [i]never[/i] driven anything that would come remotely close to feeling like riding a motorbike. That Cupra must be something pretty special...

Perhaps not worded correctly - its the closest thing to a bike car-wise that I've driven. There's still a gaping chasm of performance..

Yep it is my car and im a bit of a petrol head. Its quick but the negative comments on handling and torque steer are wrong ( not cause i have one, even though its a company car)

They tested it against a Golf edition 30, S3 and somert else in a mag a few months ago and it came out best, and was the fastest round a track!! (If some one wants the link I will try and find it). It handles very well and the torque steer is almost none existant (the Curpa is the only Leon with trick ali suspension etc) White is not everyones choice, the only "issue" I have is the interior is not in the same league as a Audi or Golf but the seats are awesome. blah blah blah, BTW its now got 305 bhp with a revo 😆

They tested it against a Golf edition 30, S3 and somert else in a mag

You mean they tested 3 VAG cars which are very similar and it was the best. Hardly a comprehensive test... 😉

Stu - Member

They tested it against a Golf edition 30, S3 and somert else in a mag

You mean they tested 3 VAG cars which are very similar and it was the best. Hardly a comprehensive test...

I did not mention the word comprehensive 😉

i bought a new civic type r instead of all the above.
handles like a tap dancer on tiptoes with incredible steering feedback for a fwd cheapo hatch. really has driver involvement and feedback.
engine rewards effort (need to put in a bit of effort), easily manages 25mpg even at 8300rpm everywhere 😈
seems bullet-proof so far (20 months old), has a cavernous boot (hence the purchase), and makes me smile in the fast miles 😀
dealer service has been excellent, and even though abused, is still like new.
i am a long term golf gti owner, but needed a change. the honda is less well finished interior wise, but so superior in driver input.
the ST i test drove was a nose heavy, quick lump in comparison.
sharp blade or blunt blade ? you decide........

flange - Member
Perhaps not worded correctly - its the closest thing to a bike car-wise that I've driven. There's still a gaping chasm of performance..

that's what Ren said.

😆 You can have that one for free....

Thanks Wil, it means a lot.

An analogy for you:

ST = Factory worker (blue collar) made good who wants to show off and say to everyone he drives a mans fast car. (the E-type of the noughties?)

Volvo T5 = A retired gentleman with a very large *thunderstick* in his trousers

Golf GTI = Done to death. Find a new name please 😉

Imprezza = Lives at home, pours all his wages into the petrol tank and goes out with Sharon who works in a nail bar. Only his Mum and Sharon have seen his *thunderstick* so we cant comment.

Legacy = A retired gentleman with a very large *thunderstick* in his trousers

Its Friday! 🙂

But you make stupid comments everyday Hora, Friday has nothing to do with it.

🙄

"alwyn agree. The only prob is the cambelt change- I found the cheapest quote of £700+vat! "

It's under 300 for genuine parts/labour and VAT

Dont discount the renaultsport megane. Alright i have the original 225, which in outright speed terms will beat the ST etc, but think about the R26, or if you can afford it the R26.R, which at 8min 15 secs around nurburgring puts it on terms with M3's. It will paste an ST, Leon, R32 (new R32 wont be V6 any longer, but uprated version of 2.0l Turbo), and point to point will keep up with your subarishi's. New type r looks fantastic though, it will be mine (sooner if mine wasn't worth a bag of potatoes)

Now that I'm responsible I can only dream of the days when I could practically own a hot hatch. But two large dogs, baby on the way and lugging enormous amounts of work stuff around have squished that.

It strikes me the problem with modern hot hatches is that they're all 1.5 tonnes and designed to be comfy on the motorway. So the power's gone up, the tyre size has gone up and the tactility and playfulness has gone for a burton.

106/205/309/306 GTI/Rallye OR Mk1 Golf GTI OR P1 Impreza OR Escort RS2000 = all more attractive from a driver's perspective than most modern hatches. Technically inferior but 😆 all the way

Anyone remember the EVO top M car test of a couple of years back, won by the E30 M3 (they're all 20yrs old) over even the new M3/5.

Well despite the comments on here, i still think i fancy the ST! Looked at subaru but a bit noisy and in your face! An Evo looked good but dont fancy the 3000 miles service intervals! As for the image of the ST, dont care, it'll be quick enough...i drive a BMW now, so get called a cock all the time!! 😀 glad to see it'll take a bike roof rack!

Perhaps not worded correctly - its the closest thing to a bike car-wise that I've driven. There's still a gaping chasm of performance..

Thats an understatement!
I've just sold my MK Indy, 470KGs wet and 170bhp and 11000rpm. 954 Fireblade lump in it.
That was the closest you can get to a bike, no screen etc...
It drove like a go kart but could eat an F430 Scud on the track.
I dont think the cupra could give anywhere near that thrill!

Oh... and why not get an Alpina D3???
Sensible money now, great diesel power and alpina tuning!

Are you all referring to this impreza?
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Its a lot uglier than the old school ones and I was under the impression that the new lancer is a better car?

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Zedsdead - Member

"alwyn agree. The only prob is the cambelt change- I found the cheapest quote of £700+vat! "

It's under 300 for genuine parts/labour and VAT [/i]
Your having a Giraffe. Tensioners/belts on a Audi S3 for c.£240+VAT. No offence but wouldn't trust anyone who quoted me a price that low. They would say leave it with them for a couple of days and then you'd receive a call saying 'we needed to change this and that Sir that we found whilst we were there'...

A mate of mine had a focus ST until about a month ago when the engine bay caught fire on the M62. It is now a bit of a wreck!

"Your having a Giraffe. Tensioners/belts on a Audi S3 for c.£240+VAT. No offence but wouldn't trust anyone who quoted me a price that low. They would say leave it with them for a couple of days and then you'd receive a call saying 'we needed to change this and that Sir that we found whilst we were there'... "

No Hora - you are wrong. Again.

I've got a Mondeo ST, with the lovely 3.0 V6. You can keep all your 4 and 5 cylinder engines, there's nothing quite like the lazy roar of a V6 or the howl of the V6 at 6000rpm. Get average of 25mpg for mixed driving and it has more room that u can shake a stick at. Oh and you can pick some bargains up for around 6K.

Skoda Octavia VRS anyone?

Many cars in this thread were on the list when I was looking.

However as a practical proposition the Skoda beats them all on the following points:

1) Good fuel economy / CO2 (isn't in the £400/yr tax band). I get 25mpg in town and 35mpg on a run with a moderate right foot.

2) A massive boot.

Other medium family sized quick VAG stuff has the fuel economy, but not the boot.

It's also a more sublte proposition than many others (especially the estate)

And it waa also very cheap.