your thoughts on the Ford Focus ST-3

I own an ST3, and have done for 10 months. Fun to drive, nice sound to them.

I average 20mpg for around town and motorway miles. 55 (more like 50) Litre tank, lasts round 250 mpg, my tyres lasted 5k on the front, and probably couple more k on the back (change at service).

Loads of torque low down, very smooth delivery, build quality is good, seats are comfortable and driving position is very good.

Any thing in specific you want to know ?
 
hilly said:
I own an ST3, and have done for 10 months. Fun to drive, nice sound to them.

I average 20mpg for around town and motorway miles. 55 (more like 50) Litre tank, lasts round 250 mpg, my tyres lasted 5k on the front, and probably couple more k on the back (change at service).

Loads of torque low down, very smooth delivery, build quality is good, seats are comfortable and driving position is very good.

Any thing in specific you want to know ?
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Thanks for the info. What's the interior like? What options did you go for? Is it ok going over speed bumps (quite a few on the way to work!).

Anything you don't like about it?

Did you buy new or second hand?...any suggestions of good dealerships/prices would be great.
 
I was the first or second person to own one in the midlands. Round abouts are fine (care is quite low down as it is) but you shouldn't have any problems, not hit a speed bump which is bad yet.

Interior is good, you'll notice every thing around your eye level is blacked out, so you feel like there is nothing else distracting you from the roads.

Any thing I don't like about it ? Not really, I'd buy the car again,

Had a couple of niggles since I have owned the car (seat stitching came away, front xenon washer cover came off and screwed holding rear tyre threaded) all done under warrenty, no worries there.

Bought the car new, 1st and only owner.

options are rear parking sensors, mats (thrown in free) erm sure there was another too... but can't remember of the top of my head.

Any thing else you want to know ? please don't hesitate to ask !

Oh and merlin definately knows about the road islands... he took mine out at the RR day, and I think he was quite impressed !
 
missed the last part of your reply: Dealers... kind of hit and miss, the one in Wolves is apparently very good. One in Telford / Shrewsbury is OK (Ok is probably being a bit kind), as for prices don't expect much discount unless you know someone who works for ford. You will be hard pressed for any discount at all, so expect to pay 20k for one
 
hilly said:
I average 20mpg for around town and motorway miles. 55 (more like 50) Litre tank, lasts round 250 mpg, my tyres lasted 5k on the front, and probably couple more k on the back (change at service).
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For what's marketted as the hot version of a famiily hatch, those figures are unreal... :eek:
 
Kingy said:
For what's marketted as the hot version of a famiily hatch, those figures are unreal... :eek:
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I drive my car hard, when I do slow it down it will last, but whats the point in having a fast car, if you drive like Miss Daisy ?

It's not really marketed as a Hot Family Hatch they have the S-Max for that (mpv with the ST engine dropped in), you can drive it easy in comfort as it is a cruiser at 25mpg+ (20 around town) your tyres will last 12-15k, but it's a sad waste of a machine
 
It should be possible to get 30mpg, as with a light(ish) right foot I can get 28mpg out of my S40 T5, and the ST should be lighter. Tyres are holding up well so far, but it's only on 17's as opposed to the 18's of the Focus ST.
 
the figures are 30 combined, but thats without any acceleration ever.

When you are on the motorway, anything above 80 in 6th gear you are using the turbo... just not meant to be fuel efficient ;)
 
just above 1k (something like 1020), 22 - 23 in Feb, 3 years no claims, parked on the road, good insurance area.
 
hilly said:
I drive my car hard, when I do slow it down it will last, but whats the point in having a fast car, if you drive like Miss Daisy ?

It's not really marketed as a Hot Family Hatch they have the S-Max for that (mpv with the ST engine dropped in), you can drive it easy in comfort as it is a cruiser at 25mpg+ (20 around town) your tyres will last 12-15k, but it's a sad waste of a machine
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25mpg on a run though is still hefty fuel consumption for a car in this market imo. I'd expect similar/better economy out of a 330i or similar...

Has Paradigm posted what he gets out of his Cupra R?
 
If however you went for the Golf GTI, which is slightly more conservative in it's 'hooligan driver' approach you would average 30 mpg - thats giving it plenty over the 12.5k I have had it. Tyres will last about 15k (they lasted 16k for Evo mags version, just shows how hard I have been driving it)!

The inside is lush, arguably not built as well as the MK4, but the leather seats are spot on and ergonomics smooth. The 2.0 TFSI engine pulls like a train and the chassis is good for 250 bhp easily (again tested by Evo after remap). With the R32 out now dealers are giving discounts and a new one can be imported in for £17.5k.

Any other questions etc feel free to ask.
 
my ST puts out 250hp as standard the dynos from the last RR are around on the forum somewhere.

Yes Kingy, the mpg is hefty. But I expected this when I bought the car. I have no interests in BMWs, why would I want a 330 ? At this moment in time I don't, this car is plenty fun enough for me.
 
[TW]Fox said:
35mpg tbh.
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Doesn't make a difference to me though. You can talk to me about how comfortable BMWs are, how nice they are to drive, or how much of a barge they are. If I wanted a bmw, I could have had a BMW. Petrol consumtion never has bothered me especially not at my age.
 
hilly said:
Yes Kingy, the mpg is hefty. But I expected this when I bought the car. I have no interests in BMWs, why would I want a 330 ? At this moment in time I don't, this car is plenty fun enough for me.
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I wasn't drawing comparisons in that respect, just that to my way of thinking, it's the fuel consumption of a £30k car, rather than a £20k car...

The Focus ST competes with the like of the Golf GTi etc. I've got a Mk I Octavia vRS and am tempted by a remap, but I'd be horrified by the idea of fuel expenses like that from similar power...
 
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