Tell me about...Focus ST

Will

Will

Will

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
4,455
Location
Wolverhampton
I am pondering a change from my Fiesta ST, I am figuring a budget of around £10-12k for its replacement.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to take a Mk2 Focus RS for a test drive, fabulous car but sadly too far a stretch financially :(. I don't expect the ST to be as good as the RS obviously but it will still have many of the things that I liked about the RS compared to my existing car:

Mid range grunt
5 pot soundtrack
Greater comfort and refinement
Better build quality

I do like the fun factor of my Fiesta (it has Bilstein suspension and handles brilliantly although it is a little harsh) and I wonder how enjoyable the Focus is to drive in comparison to other hot hatches?

I know people slate the Focus ST for being thirsty but my Fiesta only seems to get 28mpg so a drop to low 20s, given the mileage I do, is not the end of the world.

What are the differences in the trim levels - ST-3 gets full leather but what else do you gain? What does ST-2 give you over base spec?

Incidentally it seems most cars have old style air con, does the ST-3 not give you climate control? I find the constant adjustment required in my current car quite annoying :(

How good/bad is the factory fit sat nav/ipod/usb integration? If its crap how easy is it to change to something better?

The mountune upgrade and quaife ATB diff seem like they'd be worth adding at some point (the ST260 kit is faster than the RS most of the time!), has anyone had these fitted to their own cars?

Lastly, any other cars I should be looking at?

I love the idea of an Impreza or Evo but not so sure on the image and how indiscrete they are, given where I often park, and the line of work I am in (and the type of people I sometimes upset :o) - the Focus ST is actually pretty discreet in the right colour so long as you avoid stripes.
 
Cheeky sod! :D There are good parts and bad parts to every city, my concerns about where I leave it are mainly to do with city centre car parks during the week, where its sometimes left until 6-7 and theres only a few other cars left.....its not like I live in the ghetto :p
 
:p

in seriousness they are pretty discrete in the right colour, i can see the appeal.

ST3 adds the full leathers, sculptured rears and the 6CD sony thing. not sure on climate though, i imagine they do?

i like them. feel solid inside with a bit of go to them. only been a passenger though so can't comment from a drivers perspective.
 
At £12k you can stretch to the facelift Focus ST. I think it's well worth it, unlike some other members of the forum, I believe the dash looks more complete with the little tweaks, the instrument cluster is a lot nicer and the display is a lot clearer. On top of this the overall looks are fresher and a bit more current.

Climate Control was a £400 option even on the ST-3 up until this year, when it was standard on ST-3s, it's pretty good and I think worth looking for. If the car has the DVD Navigation this is a huge plus, the display in the instrument cluster is larger to show directions/radio info and Climate Control is integrated within it. Some people actually prefer the lower level non-touchscreen sat nav because it seperates control for the Climate and gives an SD Card slot.

It is now easier to put an aftermarket sat-nav in without it looking gash, Pioneer do one especially for Ford fit, and looks quite OEM, except it's about £1k :/ (http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-pioneer-avic-f9220bt_p-26304.htm) and if you search Ford MirrorNav its a Garmin sat nav integrated into a new rear view mirror... cant figure out if it would be a pain to use or not, and its £300.

I'm not sure I'd spend £1k on a new sat nav, rather spend it on some mods or something else.

I believe if you're looking at a 2008 ST3, you'd get heated leather seats, 6 disc cd changer...umm not sure what else, dont think there was anything. At the time it was new, you were really paying £1000 for the leather seats, which despite being a bit plasticky are a whole lot nicer than cloth (though bare in mind that the rear can only seat 2 with leather)

I'd have a mooch about on FocusSTOC, of course it's all gonna be 'Pro ST', but at least you might get some idea on mods etc.

As for discreetness, I bought a Silver one, and didnt fancy the attention of an orange one! So yes they can be discreet.... somewhat....

USB/iPod integration is there, however with iPods, I find there is some background fuzz, because you need to plug both the USB and the 3.5mm in. A USB stick however, sounds clean and good. In my car I use the A2DP which is perfect, however, I'm sure this only came in a recent radio update? Not sure if its the case with 2008 cars.

I get 21mpg across a tank, doesnt bother me too much as I dont do a whole lot of mileage and it does entice you to drive like a thug.
 
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Just looked at loads on autotrader and the spec seems most odd...heated leather recaros, heated electric mirrors, extra gauges etc and generally pretty well specced, but still having manual air con? It seems climate is a rarely chosen option :confused:
 
I think it's mainly because it was £400 :/ All that other stuff you mentioned is pretty much standard on an ST3

Oh, and just to show I'm not the kind of chap who thinks the ST is the best ever car made evarrr!!

Privacy glass kinda sucks, looks nice, but Ford went for 'Gangster' and at night, coupled with the auto dimming rear view mirror you can see naff all except headlights, I thought that's a little dangerous. The cubby in the centre console, the lid is spring loaded the WRONG way, many times it's eaten my hand like an alligator! The glovebox is weird in shape, its shallow in height but long, I know you shouldnt faff with the glove box when driving but reaching to get something out can be pain if it's at the back. Generally a lot of the materials are pretty crappy, but we know it's no VW/BMW. It doesnt have those hydraulic bonnet lifters, so if you open the bonnet when you get back from driving, the bonnet and the stick that keeps it up is hot :/. Auto-lights seem to be on overdrive, when its dusk, but still what you might call daylight, BANG you're the only one on the road with full headlights on. Auto-wipers are over sensitive too, it's constant rain and they'd speed up to full whack and down all the time, even on lower settings.

Only little niggly things. Niggles nonetheless.
 
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Iceman said:
Another idiot on Ocuk?
Click to expand...

I think everyone except an idiot would realise that it was tongue in cheek.

Come on, we have a silly thread about Imprezas and ST's and an ST thread follows - it was inevitable.

Go and have a beer and your sunday roast and chill out.
 
I wouldnt worry about the ST being slower than an RS, with a mountune upgrade (circa 1.2k) the car will obliterate an RS in 0-60 speeds, the only plus the RS has then is the looks and the revo knuckle suspension, the LSD can be added yourself for a about 400-500.

Fantastic car, I sold mine in June for a BMW 3 series though.
 
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