Focus ST

Sam said:
Whats the best Impreza to look at, STI with PPP ???? I know nothing about imprezas :)


Sam
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In your budget you are looking at something along the lines of a modified 2003/4 blobeye STI. Modified as in, remap, uprated turbo, injectors etc. You can see about 400bhp. Heres an example from a quick PH search.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/840533.htm

Very nice mods on that, Andy Forrest is well respected in impreza tuning.

If you didnt want to go down the modified route, then you can get a very clean 2005 blobeye STI PPP. The 2005 STI had a wider track and different offset. Plus it came with the DCCD manually adjustable diff.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/847407.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/735214.htm



Or you could look at a hawkeye STI. Might not be able to stretch to the PPP, but to be honest, the PPP kit can be done a lot cheaper, with just a new exhaust, uprated fuel pump and air filter. The hawkeye came with the 2.5L engine, plus the DCCD manually controlled diff as standard. IIRC they also came with xenons as standard. With the PPP, with the power is hiked from a standard 280bhp to 320bhp. Its very easy to get 340-350bhp from these engines with the above mentioned simple mods which would cost about £1-1.5k.


http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...cleYearOfManufacture=2006&vehicleRegLetter=06
 
GT3 said:
Drive one Sam. I've driven my mates 172 Cup and it hasn't really done anything for me. However the DC5 I have driven a couple of times really has. The seats, the gearchange, the steering, the grip, the noise, road prescence and around 200bhp/ton iirc isn't exactly slow. And a completely reliable car you can use every day and not worry about.

£12500 will buy you the mintest pre-facelift you can find with change left over for some mods.

If I wasn't saving for a house there would be one sat on my drive without a doubt.
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I really need to get a test drive in one, not the easiest of things to do as i will have to find a import garage :\ I think we have quite similar taste in cars so i will defo get a test drive

panthro said:
In your budget you are looking at something along the lines of a modified 2003/4 blobeye STI. Modified as in, remap, uprated turbo, injectors etc. You can see about 400bhp. Heres an example from a quick PH search.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/840533.htm

Very nice mods on that, Andy Forrest is well respected in impreza tuning.

If you didnt want to go down the modified route, then you can get a very clean 2005 blobeye STI PPP. The 2005 STI had a wider track and different offset. Plus it came with the DCCD manually adjustable diff.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/847407.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/735214.htm



Or you could look at a hawkeye STI. Might not be able to stretch to the PPP, but to be honest, the PPP kit can be done a lot cheaper, with just a new exhaust, uprated fuel pump and air filter. The hawkeye came with the 2.5L engine, plus the DCCD manually controlled diff as standard. IIRC they also came with xenons as standard. With the PPP, with the power is hiked from a standard 280bhp to 320bhp. It’s very easy to get 340-350bhp from these engines with the above mentioned simple mods which would cost about £1-1.5k.


http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...cleYearOfManufacture=2006&vehicleRegLetter=06
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Thanks for the detailed post, im guessing this is the blob eye ? http://bbs.scoobynet.com/private-sale-cars-352/719937-sale-2005-subaru-sti-type-uk-9950-miles.html

CS Nuts V6 clios are stunning, i love them in blue and yellow :D BUT i don’t think there worth the huge premium they demand and my clio was forever in the garage hence why i don’t think ill get a Renault and which is one the reasons im put off by the megane ( + the interior is rank )

Sam
 
Yep thats a blob. Good choice to check scoobynet, a lot of the sellers on there are enthusiasts who are meticulous with their cars.
 
Ive had a few cars my short driving years, and bar the fuel economy of the ST it's the best of the lot. The mid range on this is better than the competition so suits a lazy driving style so back road grannies are disposed of quickly and safely. Chipping alone sees 270BHP :)

Revised MK1 07+ comes with more rows on the intercooler (no extra power though) and red interior lighting and a different stereo and black tinted headlights.

But yes at £10k there are alternatives so i suggest you try them all.
 
CS||nuTs said:
Repair shops are the RS Clios second home,true [mine is in for the 3rd gearbox in as many months!] But i would still have one :)
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4 years on mine's been fine, must be driver error :p

(wait for my post tomorrow saying my 'box and belt have gone lol)
 
thepharcyde said:
Ive had a few cars my short driving years, and bar the fuel economy of the ST it's the best of the lot.
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I am truly completely baffled as to how you can stand the ford after a 330 coupe, let alone say that it is better.

Baffles the mind as much as people who buy brand new supermini's.
 
Jez said:
I am truly completely baffled as to how you can stand the ford after a 330 coupe, let alone say that it is better.

Baffles the mind as much as people who buy brand new supermini's.
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Just as baffling as driving a big engined car that struggles to get 30mpg when doing massive milage I guess.
 
Simon said:
Just as baffling as driving a big engined car that struggles to get 30mpg when doing massive milage I guess.
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He dosen't pay for it, don't argue with Jez about non premium cars, afterall you can sum up a Focus by looking at it on the road.
 
Simon said:
Just as baffling as driving a big engined car that struggles to get 30mpg when doing massive milage I guess.
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I dont see your point there whatsoever, the car that i drive is world renound as one of the best cars in the world for doing "massive mileage". Not that i see any reason whatsoever to bring my choice of daily driver into this.

In contrast going from a 330 to a ford is completely mind boggling. Its a big downgrade in everything other than outright power.

Anyway, sam needs to test an M3, it is by far and away the best car in this thread by a country mile.
 
Unfortunately I had a lot of bad luck with my BMW's and the poor dealers, ruined the experience for me. Not to say I will never own one again. I came from a trouble free MK6 Fiesta to a ST170, then unfortunatly 3 trouble some BMW's.

Back to a Focus ST and in the year of ownership have not visited a dealers once whereas my Mini in 6 months of ownership spent 6 weeks at the dealers in total, 2nd BMW while a replacement was found I spent 8 mths in a courtesy car despite being a E90 still hastled the dealers daily for my replacement and my third BMW spent 4 weeks at the garage while they tried to rectifiy a fault that never got resolved just fobbed off.

So yes the Ford ST for me is so far the better car for me :)
 
thepharcyde said:
Back to a Focus ST and in the year of ownership have not visited a dealers once whereas my Mini in 6 months of ownership spent 6 weeks at the dealers in total, 2nd BMW while a replacement was found I spent 8 mths in a courtesy car despite being a E90 still hastled the dealers daily for my replacement and my third BMW spent 4 weeks at the garage while they tried to rectifiy a fault that never got resolved just fobbed off.

So yes the Ford ST for me is so far the better car for me :)
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I don't have any beef with the ST at all, i just don't "get" the change you made. I understand you had a horrible time with them but please don't let that put you off for life :)

Simon, do you not think the change seems a bit baffling without recalling what a terrible time he had with the BMW dealer?
 
Jez said:
Simon, do you not think the change seems a bit baffling without recalling what a terrible time he had with the BMW dealer?
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I can't remember that one.

I see past the badge and really like the Focus ST where as the 330coupe doesn't really do much for me. But hey thats just my opinion.
 
Sam said:
The DC5 looks amazing, sounds great and it makes sense because i love to give my cars a good thrashing but (and im putting my flame suit on here) I feel like there a bit err slow :eek:
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If you look at paper figures then they probably don't seem impressive. Forget about BHP figures and just try it and you'll see what the fuss is about.
The Teg is one of the only cars which has impressed me in a long while (and it takes a hell of a lot to impress me)
 
Hi mate,

Interesting position to be in. I had a similar budget in nov 07 and I got an s2000. Loving every minute and it's a great stepping stone towards something really special I think.

Effectively it's a practical elise which driven properly I don't believe is significantly slower on the track. You won't get huge power gains for cheap but for relatively low numbers you can make a great handling car handle impecably. Relative of course as due to being jap anything branded has huge comedy tax.

If you want something point and squirt quick get a dc5 itr. Great soundtrack and can be quck without risking it all. Around Bedford in the wet I couldn't keep pace with it when I went there the first time, however having Been there 3 times I'd fancy my chances of keeping it in sight now.

Granted my track opinions are a bit iffy as it's down to driver skill. I had a guy in a 111r come up to me gobsmacked that he could only catch me under braking and that through corners I was pulling away.... However I'm not ignorant enough to believe if an equal skilled driver was in both the story would not have been different.

Biggest advice ? Drive everything you can. I drove an impreza and hated it. Poor handling only supported by loads of grip. However I've loved the hondas I've driven.....

..... If you want a random wildcard entry ...... Monaro ? In the end my car choice was s2000 v monaro and the s2000 won when they took the airbox lid off. Monaro looks great, loads of power, v8, huge cabin and boot and I think it's quite well specced. Certainly very different ......

Grab me on msn if you want to come and look at my s2000 or have any questions, and best of luck with whatever you decide on.
 
Conanius said:
Hi mate,

Interesting position to be in. I had a similar budget in nov 07 and I got an s2000. Loving every minute and it's a great stepping stone towards something really special I think.

Effectively it's a practical elise which driven properly I don't believe is significantly slower on the track. You won't get huge power gains for cheap but for relatively low numbers you can make a great handling car handle impecably. Relative of course as due to being jap anything branded has huge comedy tax.

If you want something point and squirt quick get a dc5 itr. Great soundtrack and can be quck without risking it all. Around Bedford in the wet I couldn't keep pace with it when I went there the first time, however having Been there 3 times I'd fancy my chances of keeping it in sight now.

Granted my track opinions are a bit iffy as it's down to driver skill. I had a guy in a 111r come up to me gobsmacked that he could only catch me under braking and that through corners I was pulling away.... However I'm not ignorant enough to believe if an equal skilled driver was in both the story would not have been different.

Biggest advice ? Drive everything you can. I drove an impreza and hated it. Poor handling only supported by loads of grip. However I've loved the hondas I've driven.....

..... If you want a random wildcard entry ...... Monaro ? In the end my car choice was s2000 v monaro and the s2000 won when they took the airbox lid off. Monaro looks great, loads of power, v8, huge cabin and boot and I think it's quite well specced. Certainly very different ......

Grab me on msn if you want to come and look at my s2000 or have any questions, and best of luck with whatever you decide on.
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Hi Mate

Im going to drive everything i can this time and im not rushing into anything !!! Im really going to consider the DC5 option as its an itch which has been there for a long time .... The only problem is getting test drives, blobeye STI's with the PPP pack and DC5s are quite rare around these parts at the moment and small garages that sell them allways seem to be a little iffy with the test drive thing evan if i do turn up in a VX220 Turbo which i would hope shows im not just ******* them about :)

So my small list to test drive

Focus ST
Blobeye Impreza STI PPP
Integra DC5

:) I have sent a few emails tonight so will have to see what they come back with
 
The ST is a reasonably quick 'warm' hatch, im bore dof mine, there is no real sensation of speed, but as mines a company car, its perfect for me, it'll happily sit up and down the motorway all day, and then I can open up the taps at the weekend and have some fun.

I dont think you will like it Sam, ultimately its a heavy lethargic lump of a car compared to stuff like the reno R26 or DC5 et al, its actuary not that far off the 330 coupe in terms of the driving experience it offers.Imo its a bit nose heavy and runs out of puff a tad too quick.

That said, they are tweakable, pretty well specced, and pretty robust, mines got 76k on the clock and its been driven medium to hard for much of its life, and it hasnt missed a beat.
 
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