Ford Focus ST??

Spinout007 wrote:

Gearheadotaku wrote: 29K? There's a niceV6 with Track Pack and Recaros on the other side of the showroom...

FTFY

No I FTFY

Flight Service wrote:

Spinout007 wrote:

Gearheadotaku wrote: 24K? There's a niceV6 with Track Pack and Recaros on the other side of the showroom...

FTFY

No I FTFY

FTFY both, because that's about how much I paid for my base V-6+Perf. Pack+Recaros. $29K is more like a loaded V-6 (perf. pack, Recaros, leather, Ford Sync, etc.). However, the 'Stang is not that practical for hauling kids and/or stuff and you absolutely need snow tires if you want to drive it year-round in Mass.

(EDIT: Yes, the ST needs them too since the tires are summer-only.)

Mazdax605 wrote: I know when I drove a fellow GRM members MS3 it pulled like a freight train, but I didn't notice much of any torque steer.

That might be due to the Custom Performance Engineering rear motor mount I had installed. The stock RMM on MS3s are a major weak point and installing just that part made a big difference in lessening torque steer as well as improving shifting and reducing wheel hop. That's certainly not to say that the MS3 was miraculously cured of torque steer, however.

It depends on how you option it out, a full boogie ST touches on 30k, if you can deal without the full leather recaros and the NAV go with the 201 package, you get partial leather Recaro's the upgraded stereo and all the appearance goodies for closer to 25k (can you tell I've been looking at these)...

Mustang vs. ST comarisons- you guys sound like marketers who really think that people who buy Mustangs are in the same market as the ones considering a Focus ST.

There may be a handful, but not nearly enough to really care about.

The reality is that there are 2 performace cars in similar price ranges that you get to choose from. IMHO, that's a GOOD thing.

The fact that there are people on this board who have gotten a Foucs ST AND people who have bought various V6 Mustangs should be an illustration of that.

Me? I'd much, much, much rather have the Focus. However great the Mustang is, I've never really liked them, and I much prefer the smaller Focus. And, in fact, even prefer the smaller Fiesta- which is what is #1 on my list this summer. Having options like that is AWESOME.

My bitch about the focus ST is that the only way to get the HID's is with the 29k package. Unless the options have changed since the last time I looked.

Spinout007 wrote: My bitch about the focus ST is that the only way to get the HID's is with the 29k package. Unless the options have changed since the last time I looked.

You're correct thats the only way. I hate that about a lot of companies and how you can build cars up. Subaru is the same with the WRX you have to get the Limited package with leather seats to get HIDs.

well hids arent exactly a hard thing to put into a vehicle. your talking 100 dollars for a kit. granted most non hid projectors give a funny cutoff point but still a huge improvement.

In reply to KATYB:

Until they burn your car down....

In reply to alfadriver:

Glad to know I am one of those that aren't nearly enough to care about

I live in the middle of nowhere, after borrowing a car for awhile with HIDS that's the big requirement for a "new" car. Plug and play kits scare me.

Just a heads up. My father drove just about every vehicle Ford put out. Just before retiring, he set foot into a funky looking Focus. He sat down, fired her up, hit the pedal, released the clutch and nearly shat himself. Its a really sweet car with some killer pickup. If you are interested in a focus and want to fly, its a really sweet car. Just be careful in it.

I'd go after the one up in Columbia MO if you want one cheaper, but if you think its sweet, go for it.

I dub thee, enabled.

alfadriver wrote: Me? I'd much, much, much rather have the Focus. However great the Mustang is, I've never really liked them, and I much prefer the smaller Focus. And, in fact, even prefer the smaller Fiesta- which is what is #1 on my list this summer. Having options like that is AWESOME.

+eleventy billion with Eric on this..............

Web-enabled bamfs can throw out all the reasons why their opinions are superior than others, as if one is better than the other. Uhhh, no, they're not and it's great that enthusiasts have options to fit their particular needs/desires.

Mustangs are as cool as Foci STs and I'm anxiously waiting for data and review on the upcoming Fiesta ST.

It's pretty damn cool that Americans have a car company that builds cars for DRIVERS with different values and expendable incomes.

It's funny that after years of complaining that America doesn't get the cool cars the Europeans get, when we finally do....well, everyone complains that it's too much money, or that they'd rather get a Mustang.

Flight Service wrote: In reply to alfadriver: Glad to know I am one of those that aren't nearly enough to care about

So what you are saying is that your in the market for both cars so much that the Focus should be cheaper or else you will get a Mustang?

Either way, you are getting a Ford. Why is that a problem?

eliminated a dumb post of mine since it was answered....

Nathan JansenvanDoorn wrote: It's funny that after years of complaining that America doesn't get the cool cars the Europeans get, when we finally do....well, everyone complains that it's too much money, or that they'd rather get a Mustang.

Considering how many people bitched about the BRZ twins after they came out, does that surprise you?

Nathan JansenvanDoorn wrote: It's funny that after years of complaining that America doesn't get the cool cars the Europeans get, when we finally do....well, everyone complains that it's too much money, or that they'd rather get a Mustang.

Yup. +1

Spinout007 wrote: I live in the middle of nowhere, after borrowing a car for awhile with HIDS that's the big requirement for a "new" car. Plug and play kits scare me.

You could always buy a set of aux lights (the 100+ watt ones). Think about how many aux lights you could buy for the price of the HIDs. You could also buy an LED light bar. Some of those are so bright, that you are blinded by the reflection off of street signs!

Mmadness wrote:

Spinout007 wrote: I live in the middle of nowhere, after borrowing a car for awhile with HIDS that's the big requirement for a "new" car. Plug and play kits scare me.

You could always buy a set of aux lights (the 100+ watt ones). Think about how many aux lights you could buy for the price of the HIDs. You could also buy an LED light bar. Some of those are so bright, that you are blinded by the reflection off of street signs!

I'm with this guy, I like HIDs but 2500 for the package seems steep and I am not a fan of the leather on the recaros. Haven't tried the mid range recaros just yet.

The 2500$ for the package is what turns me off. ideally I would take one with just the HIDS and recaros as car itself pushes a lot of the yes please buttons. When the other manufacturers offer HIDS as a stand alone option vs you HAVE to get B, C, & D options to get option A. I will keep looking and wait to see what the Fiesta ST brings to the table.

The arguments for aux lighting are valid, I need to do some research on the LED light bars mentioned.

The reviews I've seen of the new st have been really good. It seems to be beating the MS3 and Gti in the comparison tests. However it wasn't very quick at car and drivers lightning lap. I guess the electronic diff wasn't working very well at the track....but it seems to work well enough for spirited street driving. I wonder how well it works in the snow? My MS3 is a beast in the snow and I think the LSD is a part of that.

alfadriver wrote:

Flight Service wrote: In reply to alfadriver: Glad to know I am one of those that aren't nearly enough to care about

So what you are saying is that your in the market for both cars so much that the Focus should be cheaper or else you will get a Mustang? Either way, you are getting a Ford. Why is that a problem?

No, I would be in the market for a 2+2 sporty car and they both are in that category. Just like cross shopping a WRX and V6 track pack Stang, vs the FRS/BRZ vs the MazdaSpeed3 vs Focus ST, vs Civic SI and on and on and on.

What is fun and the most bang for the buck.

CrashDummy wrote: The reviews I've seen of the new st have been really good. It seems to be beating the MS3 and Gti in the comparison tests. However it wasn't very quick at car and drivers lightning lap. I guess the electronic diff wasn't working very well at the track....but it seems to work well enough for spirited street driving. I wonder how well it works in the snow? My MS3 is a beast in the snow and I think the LSD is a part of that.

Trust me, stock for stock, (and I own an ms3) the ST is a better car, even with that VLSD voodoo. I don't know how it'd do in the snow, but I imagine with all the technical wizardry in it and a good set of snow meats, it'd do juuuuuust fine. It's the price that hurts me so bad... I get it, it's probably worth it, blah blah blah, but man..... 29k Focus......... that just doesn't sound right.

I get it, it's probably worth it, blah blah blah, but man..... 29k Focus......... that just doesn't sound right.

THIS! Especially. Since I'm shopping 10 year old zx3's for less than 1500$ for a run around beater pizza delivery car.