Enable me/ get me grounded; Focus ST

I have a good friend who faced the same decision. He sold his jetta wagon, prelude type SH fun car, and motorcycle to get a new focus (non-ST). The idea was to have a fun car that wouldn't need much attention allowing him to have a fun car and time for his kids.

He bought the focus, likes it, but also ended up with a miata because the focus wasn't special enough.

I would second the idea of setting aside money that you are looking at using for making payments on the new car to make the mustang something you could drive the kids in.

You've got some young kids. I have two myself and all are under 4. Time to wrench and enjoy the hobby are, for now, non-existent. For me this rules out any serious car project currently. I get the feeling you're in the same situation.

Test drive the Focus ST. See what you think. For me it was too small to put a rear facing car seat into. I bought a used 2010 SHO. I won't be doing anything track or autocross related in it as it's heavy and big but it hauls kids, everything from CostCo, and my own butt around in an entertaining manner. It was in the same price range as newer Focus ST's.

Cooper_Tired wrote: So my current life situation... is an 06 mazda6 hatch which I love, but is a 2.3L automatic appliance DD. My "fun"car, ...I've driven it 500 miles since 2005. I have almost no time to mess with it, and it's too stinky/ loud to drive the kids in. ...sell, buy Focus ST and have fun every day.

I tried to distill your post down to what you were telling us you wanted us to tell you.

I agree with your logic. 500 miles in 10 years... whatever is in the garage is irrelevant any more. Life is too short. You're obviously bored with the "automatic appliance", and the Focus ST will handle all the DD duties likely equally well, and actually put a smile on your face in the twisties or banging gears. Plus, it opens the door to an impromptu weekend autoX or whatever without having to work on it, add insurance, update parts, etc.

I'd also wager a guess that a Focus ST is every bit as fast out of the box as your old 5.0.

Yeah a non ST focus would not be special enough for sure.

I was in the same spot. Not a lot of time to wrench, so I sold my turbo Miata (which I hardly drove) and traded my Buick Regal GS (which wasn't particularly fun) to get my Focus ST.

I really enjoy the Focus. Mine is fully loaded with the Recaros. I love the seats. The car is great to drive, not only at the limit, but also daily. It has terrific power delivery and handling. It's a little busy in terms of suspension, but not uncomfortably so. I autocross mine and with a set of Hankook RS3s it runs pretty fast.

If you need two rear facing child seats it probably won't work unless you are short. I do fine with a forward facing seat behind me and I'm 6'1".

Yeah, the car could use an LSD up front and has trouble putting all the power down to the ground, but whatever, there are always compromises. I got mine new for $26k before TTL.

Very valid points.

I've driven the ST, and it's a bunch of fun.

It is possible I can de-stink the mustang, and make it ok to drive with the kids. The issue with that is taking the time to re-do the exhaust again- which time is the bigger issue than the $. I've actually had all the parts to do it for about 2 years now.

The mustang is at a point where the older it gets, the more work it needs, it's not as good all around as something newer, and I'm not convinced it's going to appreciate in value any time soon. It's a very clean car, but they made about a billion of them, and they aren't hard to find.

I really need something that is hop in and go type fun. So far I've not managed to do that having two cars. It's as much of a 'me issue' as it is a car issue.(trust me the fox has been better to me than I deserve). And because of that I've been down to 0 fun car time.

Jaynen wrote: Yeah I would not think the Ecoboost mustang would be viable for the car seats. Right now I am not going to get the GTI or FST I will be keeping the two cars and putting some love into the miatas suspension and wheels and tires. BUT I am getting to use my toy car unlike you with your fox body. I've also got a buddy with an FST so its easy for me to get a more extended test drive :) But Detroit Auto Show Focus RS reveal :)

Our 2012 GT fits my son's seat quite easily. not that much harder to put in that any 2+2 car. once he's forward facing it would be even easier. Dad used to shove my sister and I into the back of his 1983 911sc any chance he had. Some very fond memories of being back there while he's pulled over... lol. until I was about 13 I fit easily, but I hit a growth spurt and instead of family time the 911 became father son time. Boy scout meeting? 911, Lowes trip? 911 (and call mom to bring the van to pick up the bench he bought...) porsche club event? Son dad trip with me laughing the whole way...

that foxbody is a memory that your son would love to share with you. even at five. Dad worked a lot but those minutes/hours/days in the 911 are some of the best I have as a person. We bonded over the brake system. Shared hatred of porsche's engineers many a time while doing the suspension.

Hey. I know where you are coming from. I have a MGB GT that I have owned since 1978, and if I am honest, stopped being "FUN" to drive about 5 years ago. Probably 1000 miles in the 5 years. Took a while to admit. However, I still like owning the car even if only as a form of artwork and personal history, so it stays.

Even though the MGB is still fully maintained and insured, I can honestly say that the FRS was the final nail in the coffin for the GT's road days.

NOHOME wrote: The kids are seldom the real issue...kids love cars, and having a Dad who is a "Car Guy" gives the little porch monkeys something to brag about to their friends. Bragging rights are a big deal to little kids in case you have forgotten your childhood. In truth, its where SWMBO and YOUR newly minted paternal mind is leading your priorities vis-a-vis time and budget.

This, with an emphatic "testify, my brother"

Go through the same carousel with my wife frequently, and am currently on it now.

From what I'm hearing you say, it's time to let the Mustang go and get something you're actually going to drive and enjoy. But what to get, how much to spend, etc...is something for you and the Mrs to discuss and decide. NOHOME said it exactly right...it's time, budget, priorities.

I've got 3 kids, ages 10, 7, 7. I've always had a "toy" but we moved 6 months ago and I sold it before we moved. I bought a 2010 Prius as my DD, because I drive 100+ miles per day right now. I wanted to buy a toy and had planned on it. What's stopped me? Priorities, which include budget. SWMBO is driving a beat up minivan, so I'm reluctant to spend my "toy" money on myself. Time is also a limiting factor...I'm stupid busy, I wouldn't have time to mess with one much right now. So I've been going through a similar conversation with SWMBO these past few weeks, because a Prius as my one and only isn't the most fun. So it's not about my kids...they love cars (well, my boys do) and want to crawl in any toy I have. It's all about priorities. Family first.

My brats are 19 and 20 (near 20 and 21), and now that I ostensibly have more time, the reality is your son or daughter, if they catch the car bug, will be using your garage and tools to upgrade their own car, such that I still don't get to my 320i to get it running.

I have a "regular" Focus, and it's fine for me, since my skills have dulled over the years and I still like to hoon a bit from time to time - the extra hp of a ST would just get me in trouble (ST came out the year after I bought mine, and the wife would've been ok with trading up...).

I don't think the steering is terrible at all; sure, it's not as communicative as the 320, but I don't think it's any worse than the power assisted 325, and that's still a fun car to drive (when I do - the daughter dailies it these days...).

The chassis is pretty good as far and handling, and it's just a stock SE with springs on it - ST has a better suspension set up, I imagine it's plenty fun.

I think the real question is how much would you miss the Fox when the time comes around that you can drive it some more (which probably still wouldn't be all that much anyway, sounds like). Honestly, as much as I used to enjoy the 320i, once it gets running, it'd probably only see autocross anyway.

I'm pretty much at the point now where I'm planning on getting a newer Miata as my "only" car and I'll give my boy the other old car (sounds great doesn't it? Dad gives each of the children a "BMW"). Unless life changes radically, I'm not sure I'll do much more than tinker with what I daily anyway.

The Feb. issue of Car and Driver has a write up on a long term Focus ST. 40k miles

They give it high marks.

I sit relatively close in my preferred driving position but am 6'1" or so and even in our Minivan my seatback pushes the babies rear facing seat a bit tilting it slightly. And I have two car seats one rear and one front so putting the rear facing in the middle doesnt work because a) most seats don't fit and b) you aren't supposed to put multiple seats on a single LATCH attachment they aren't rated for it I believe.

I agree with what everyone has said tho. My 4yr old loves "daddies race car" the miata and I occasionally put her carseat in there and take her for a ride. Funny enough however she hates the convertible top because of how windy it is.

Mad_Ratel wrote:

Jaynen wrote: Yeah I would not think the Ecoboost mustang would be viable for the car seats. Right now I am not going to get the GTI or FST I will be keeping the two cars and putting some love into the miatas suspension and wheels and tires. BUT I am getting to use my toy car unlike you with your fox body. I've also got a buddy with an FST so its easy for me to get a more extended test drive :) But Detroit Auto Show Focus RS reveal :)

Our 2012 GT fits my son's seat quite easily. not that much harder to put in that any 2+2 car. once he's forward facing it would be even easier. Dad used to shove my sister and I into the back of his 1983 911sc any chance he had. Some very fond memories of being back there while he's pulled over... lol. until I was about 13 I fit easily, but I hit a growth spurt and instead of family time the 911 became father son time. Boy scout meeting? 911, Lowes trip? 911 (and call mom to bring the van to pick up the bench he bought...) porsche club event? Son dad trip with me laughing the whole way... that foxbody is a memory that your son would love to share with you. even at five. Dad worked a lot but those minutes/hours/days in the 911 are some of the best I have as a person. We bonded over the brake system. Shared hatred of porsche's engineers many a time while doing the suspension.

We only have the one seat right now, my wife at 5ft4in is very comfy infront of the rear facing seat.

I would have to cut my legs off to fit. (6ft3in). Front facing would great increase the possibilities.

I would say that being a "car guy" is does not require having a older car to wrench on. I talk cars and play cars with my son all the time, and he loves riding in Daddy's "Batmobile" and going fast. You can be a car guy...even in a minivan.

I hear you can get an '89 Skyline for about the same money. Just sayin'.

Cooper_Tired wrote: Very valid points. I've driven the ST, and it's a bunch of fun. It is possible I can de-stink the mustang, and make it ok to drive with the kids. The issue with that is taking the time to re-do the exhaust again- which time is the bigger issue than the $. I've actually had all the parts to do it for about 2 years now. The mustang is at a point where the older it gets, the more work it needs, it's not as good all around as something newer, and I'm not convinced it's going to appreciate in value any time soon. It's a very clean car, but they made about a billion of them, and they aren't hard to find. I really need something that is hop in and go type fun. So far I've not managed to do that having two cars. It's as much of a 'me issue' as it is a car issue.(trust me the fox has been better to me than I deserve). And because of that I've been down to 0 fun car time.

Couple of thoughts - If you are willing to make car payments on something new, consider paying someone to do the needed work on the foxbody. If you have the parts you should easily be able to get the exhaust done by a good local shop for the cost of one car payment. Needs brakes? Needs ball joints? Pay someone to do them. Then all you have to do is enjoy driving the car. Spend your money instead of your time to get the car back to the point you could hop in and go anytime you want. Get it to the point you can drive it to work a couple days a week so you can enjoy it. Will it outhandle the ST? Ehh....probably not, but it sure will sound better. Every day they build a new car that outhandles everything that came before. The car you own is never the most capable car out there, but sometimes it's the most fun.

Believe it or not, they are starting to go up in value. But like any project car it will never really make you money so what's it matter?

OTOH, if you are just tired of screwing with it (which is valid) sell swap or buy for what makes you smile. I did that a while back for a Mustang GT and am happy every day driving it to work.