Ford Focus ST as a daily driver

[John K]

I've given up looking for a nice 2nd motor and will instead look at a new fun DD.

 

Only 2 of us so don't need anything big

Hatch preferable for DIY / tip runs

Only do 4k a year so a motor way muncher is not required

48 years old so insurance is bottle caps money

Don't give a two penny fart for badge prestige

Anything German is too expensive for me to justify re low milage

Mad french hatches are a little too mad and jiggly

Enjoy a lot of hoonability and adjust ability so anything that will happily transition from under steer to lift off over steer via a 4 wheel drift is OK by me (even the 1.8 Mundane does that LOL)

 

I punched all of the above into the' carselectoputer'(TM applied for) and it spat out the Ford Focus ST Monotune 

 

Any thoughts from the collective hive mind that is WSCC..?

[Rhett Turner - Black Country AO]

Focus ST has good reviews the current question is though how does the cost compare against the focus RS which seems to be getting 5* reviews everywhere.

[John K]

Focus ST has good reviews the current question is though how does the cost compare against the focus RS which seems to be getting 5* reviews everywhere.

 

A very good point and I have considered it. In fact I called my Ford garage to ask about an RS

 

1, my local Ford dealer can't sell me one because he's not an RS specialist

2, it will be £35k (at least), the ST will top out at £25k

3, might the 4wd RS be 'too good' - I get a lot of fun driving in the 80% to 100% margin. For the RS 90% is Sabine Schmitz territory 

[Rhett Turner - Black Country AO]

I guess there are some very good discounts available on the ST whereas you won't get a penny off an RS meaning that the price difference is much greater than the list prices suggest. I just seem to remember reading a review that the difference between an ST-3 and an RS was a £2-3K which did not seem a lot for the step up. I expect the discounts available on the ST make it very attractive and difficult for any of its competitors. 

(isn't the ST engine the one Westfield are going to use, meaning when you've had enough you could re-cycle)

[John K]

I'm looking at the ST-2 with a few gadgets - the ST-3 seems to be mainly loaded with things to save stupid drivers from themselves.

 

To be honest if you are driving anything with 250 bhp + you should be awake and not need lane assist or blind spot monitoring or other such cobblers...

 

I've specced the ST2 up to £26k and would expect a discount.

 

The RS starts at £30k and you will easily get to £34k.

 

So I reckon we are looking at at least an £8k delta

[Rhett Turner - Black Country AO]

have a look at broadspeed.com even if you don't use them it should give you a price to aim for.

[benedwards64]

I'm a big a fan of the Focus ST. I nearly went for a new one, but (and this may affect your decision depending on what you do with the Westy) you can't fit a tow-bar to it...

[John K]

... you can't fit a tow-bar to it...

 

Clocked that already as a review said it has a towing capacity of 0kg LOL

 

Mr Grumpy is a road going Westie only, no need to tow him and I will be keeping the Mundane so I can always tow bar it up if needs must.

 

Thanks for the vote of confidence in the ST

[Kyle]

I think for your purposes you might be better off with the Fiesta ST perhaps? More chuckable and fun than the Focus and may save you a few bob in the process. Drive both, you'll soon make up your mind.

[DamperMan]

Personally when I drove a ST I was not all that impressed.   I didn't like the ride (for an everyday car).   The traction control was hardly seamless and was active all the time in the wet trying to top the front wheels doing silly things (in everyday driving).  The ST is not alone in in my "not impressed" category, most modern hot versions of standard road cars are over reliant in driver aids to smooth out the mechanical deficiencies.  I feel that to give us the pub talk headline marketing figures (max torque, max speed, 0-60 etc) the cars end up being flawed.   Then there's all the crazy stuff like the strut braces which are entirely "marketing" and have the structural rigidity of a paperclip, over wide under profiled tyres, ally wheels weighing the moon..  etc..  And large herds of folk all believing and self perpetuating the hype.    Sorry its grumpy monday!

[DamperMan]

MMM i did like the fiesta ST much more... I also liked the engine in the VXR corsa but the owner told me it had loads of troubles with it.

[Kyle]

I drove a Corsa VXR Nurburgring just this weekend (GF sister has bought one) and it handles nicely, goes well enough but has probably the worst steering of any "performance" car I've ever driven. Way over assisted and devoid of almost any feel.

None of these are a patch on my old Mk1 Focus RS which was still pretty old school feeling. No traction control there other than an ATB diff and your right foot.

[dombanks]

Fiesta st will knock the socks off the focus hands down probably one of the best hit hatches around at the mo. Plenty of stuff out there to add more umph from montune etc. Figures of reliable 300bhp are knocking about from people who know what they are doing not just some chav with a big air filter. Just remember they are one of the most stolen cars in the UK at the mo

In the 30k region I'd be looking at a nearly new 135i or 235i dealers are rpumeoured to verify knocking loads off them

Only issue I have with either the st/rs/fiesta is the image they carry. Dagenham dave amd is mowtaaaah seems to be the people I see in them but that might be me.

[John K]

After the Fiesta comments I asked the dealer and his wifes ex demo ST2 is also available. So bagging a run in that also.

Unfortunately the Focus is the DERV one, but I will still give it a quick taz. If I like it enough he will arrange a petrol for a play.

I'm just worried it is a little too small. But if it is a good spec / colour and I keep the Mundane as a mobile skip... Who knows...

Understand the Dagenham Dave image, but living in the country I hope I will be seen as an eccentric not a chav.

And despite Beemers being great cars, I have never, ever looked at one and said I want it. Leave me cold. Would genuinely prefer a characterful Ford than 'another BMW'

And fast Fords have always been the UKs Mustang, something about that appeals to me..!

[Kyle]

Sounds good. Keep us posted, I'm sure you'll enjoy the drive in the Fez a lot more. Also, where size is concerned the Focus boot space is only something like 20 ltrs bigger than the Fiesta.