Focus ST or Civic Type-R

Reality Bites · 23 Jan 2006 at 12:40

Difficult one for me.....

Have had my heart set on the Focus since having a test drive early this month.....i love that car. Problem is i'm not going to spend £17500 only to lose £5000 of it in the first year.

I was going to get me a runabout for 6-10 months while the prices come down a bit on the ST's.

Anyway....i'm out looking for said runabout yesterday and pass by the local honda garage. Had a quick look round the Civic Type-R as it had been suggested as an alternative to the focus.

I took it for a drive. Initially i thought it was loud, but once it warmed up sounded quiet nice. Gave it a good 'drive' as instructed by the guy from honda.

My initial thoughts were that the handling at higher speeds was slightly better but the suspension was stiffer and hence bumpier at slower speeds. I also thought that i'd get bored of the engine screaming as you push it to get to the power at the top end.

I left it to continue with my original plan of a runabout until the ST was affordable.

I've now looked at autotrader this morning and found some reasonable deals on civics

.

seems £13.5k will get me an 05 plate with 4-6000 miles on the clock.

what to do.....

any comments on a comparison? anyone else driven both?

Think i'm going to have another go in the civic this weekend....

Hilly · 23 Jan 2006 at 12:46

I've driven both, the Civic is a lot more raw than the ST. The ST is the better, quicker, better handling and more toys car.

Though i wouldn't get the ST1, ST2 as a bare minimum, though *** ST3 is the best out of the 3

Reality Bites · 23 Jan 2006 at 12:48

hilly said:
I've driven both, the Civic is a lot more raw than the ST. The ST is the better, quicker, better handling and more toys car.

Though i wouldn't get the ST1, ST2 as a bare minimum, though *** ST3 is the best out of the 3

should have said......want the ST2, leather does nothing for me.

Stonedofmoo · 23 Jan 2006 at 12:57

According to a guy I know who works for Ford, it's predicted the ST2 will hold it's value the best of the models and you will lose the least on that one.

I'd get the Focus. You see CTR's everywhere nowadays. Lovely car, but it would be the old model now considering the replacement is around the corner.

Reality Bites · 23 Jan 2006 at 13:00

Stonedofmoo said:
According to a guy I know who works for Ford, it's predicted the ST2 will hold it's value the best of the models and you will lose the least on that one.

I'd get the Focus. You see CTR's everywhere nowadays. Lovely car, but it would be the old model now considering the replacement is around the corner.

I've heard people have been going with the ST2 instead of the 3 as the leather seats make the rear into 2 seats rather than getting 3 people in comfy.

Thing is i wouldn't be able to afford the ST just yet.....the civic would be a stop gap.

James_N · 23 Jan 2006 at 13:07

CTR but then im biased and prefer the rawness of the CTR over the ford

Coco · 23 Jan 2006 at 13:25

Think the difference between the two has pretty much already been summed up.
The TypeR is a well-built raw drive for the 'manic hothatch fans.
The FocusST is a well-built pleasurable drive for the Mon-Fri family & weekend fun fans.

Either way, a TypeR would be a great 'stop-gap', the replacement isn't due for another year.

Reality Bites said:
I also thought that i'd get bored of the engine screaming as you push it to get to the power at the top end.

Impossible to get bored of! You either hate it to start with or simply get addicted & can't get enough of it!
I'd say the only tiresome side of it is that you sound like your squeezing it's balls just to 'generally' overtake a Metro.

Hilly · 23 Jan 2006 at 13:32

i test drove the ST2, cloth seats were very nice, but i ended up buying the ST3, heated front seats, + leather = a winner. Definately get the ST3 imo. Been driving one for a month and it's the best car i've ever driven, certainly one of the fastest, and quite possibly the most comfortable ones, definately in top 2.

Reality Bites said:
I've heard people have been going with the ST2 instead of the 3 as the leather seats make the rear into 2 seats rather than getting 3 people in comfy.

Thing is i wouldn't be able to afford the ST just yet.....the civic would be a stop gap.

yes the rear is benched in the middle, but the way i look at it is:

1. I have no kids,
2. Any one complains they can walk
3. The rear seats are more comfortable for any passengers.

But yes i'm biased

Coco · 23 Jan 2006 at 13:39

/Sorry for thread hike, if it's uncool I'll start a new one/

Has the weight difference between ST1/2/3 been documented anywhere?
Any ideas if anybody has had a play with the engine?

Goliath · 23 Jan 2006 at 14:11

Coco said:
/Sorry for thread hike, if it's uncool I'll start a new one/

Has the weight difference between ST1/2/3 been documented anywhere?
Any ideas if anybody has had a play with the engine?

You mean play with the engine as in tuning? I know Tony at PumaSpeed in wakefield has bought one to see what is possible with it (being as he built a cosworth powered 380bhp 4WD Puma for giggles anything is possible) - I'm not sure how far he has got but I'm up there next week so I'll ask.

Oakesy2001uk · 23 Jan 2006 at 14:20

CTR's are everywhere, that is reason enough for me not to want one. also a new one is out soon so value will drop. focus is only just out so wont be a problem. Also better daily driver in my opinion as there is power everywhere. plenty or torque. Focus for me mate. get yourself anything out of the trader that looks like you can make a few hundred quid on while you wait. few months you will see decent prices. and it should hold its value well.

oh and the focus looks better inside and out and the gearstick is in the right place!

(guess what car I'm saving for)

Reality Bites · 23 Jan 2006 at 14:25

Oakesy2001uk said:
CTR's are everywhere, that is reason enough for me not to want one. also a new one is out soon so value will drop. focus is only just out so wont be a problem. Also better daily driver in my opinion as there is power everywhere. plenty or torque. Focus for me mate. get yourself anything out of the trader that looks like you can make a few hundred quid on while you wait. few months you will see decent prices. and it should hold its value well.

oh and the focus looks better inside and out and the gearstick is in the right place! (guess what car I'm saving for)

Now this is the sensible option that i SHOULD stick to. just struggling to find a cheap runabout for 6-8 months till the prices come down. I want the ST now but cant afford the new price tag.

I guess i was hoping the CTR wouldn't lose me much money in a year so i could trade it in for the ST later in the year.

Bobbler · 23 Jan 2006 at 14:31

The CTR without a doubt.
I dont even have to drive the Focus to know what a good car it surely is. However I would take the dealer backup of Honda over Ford any day of the week

Hilly · 23 Jan 2006 at 14:33

Goliath said:
You mean play with the engine as in tuning? I know Tony at PumaSpeed in wakefield has bought one to see what is possible with it (being as he built a cosworth powered 380bhp 4WD Puma for giggles anything is possible) - I'm not sure how far he has got but I'm up there next week so I'll ask.

Sicne the engine is from a Volvo T40, it has already been played with by a few Volvo garages and tuners. Some have reportidly got it up too 280bhp, and a dump valve is being worked on

Ollie's Gadgets · 23 Jan 2006 at 14:38

What does a dump valve actually do other than make that cool psshhhh noise when you change gear? Pardon my ignorance.

eidolon · 23 Jan 2006 at 14:52

Oakesy2001uk said:
CTR's are everywhere

There's a good reason for that, they're fantastic cars!

It was What Car? Hot Hatch Of The Year, three years running from 2002 to 2004, BBC Top Gear's Best Hot Hatch 2002 and Auto Express's Best Sporting Car 2003. I think it won something or other on 5th Gear too.

cymatty · 23 Jan 2006 at 15:02

(puts on flame suit) What about a MIni cooper S or John cooper works, should lose less money than the ctr until you get your focus.

smokedog · 23 Jan 2006 at 15:13

Bobbler said:
However I would take the dealer backup of Honda over Ford any day of the week

Not been to a Anold Clark Honda dealer then

Don't know their arse from their elbow.

Which reminds me, need to book my CTR for it 3th power steering rack replacement :mad:

Bear · 23 Jan 2006 at 15:41

Ollie's Gadgets said:
What does a dump valve actually do other than make that cool psshhhh noise when you change gear? Pardon my ignorance.

Nothing else, just makes a gay noise. The car would probably have a recirculating valve on it anyway, so a dump valve is just a gay noise making device.

Reality Bites · 23 Jan 2006 at 15:59

guess the main worry is how much money i'll lose on the CTR in a year (won't be any more).

i want to be able to afford the ST