Ford Focus ST-3 Estate: PH Fleet

After a shaky start, the Focus begins to win us over

It’s been a month since the Focus joined our fleet, and one of the first things I did once I got a dry(ish) day was to take it out for a hoon on some back roads.

A slithery start, but the Focus is still good to drive

I must admit, I was initially a little disappointed. I’ve driven STs before, and this one felt worryingly different. A rather wayward front end that lacked traction, even on part throttle, combined with slightly too much torque steer to leave me feeling a little underwhelmed. Hmm.

I’m not sure whether it was just a cold road surface that day, or cold tyres, or whether I was just catching damp patches, but that experience has turned out to be something of a one-off. OK, so the Focus hasn’t got the highest amount of front-end grip ever – as you’d expect with its lack of a mechanical diff – but under most circumstances it manages just fine. There is torque steer, though, and it can be distracting if you’re not expecting it. Some will love it; some won’t. I fall part way between the two schools of thought; I actually find it quite exhilarating to fight with a scrabbly wheel when I’m in the mood, but it’s a bit of a pain to have to do so when I’m not.

The bare essentials certainly fit...

What’s always huge fun, though, is the Focus’s playful tail end. It’s a facet that’s been highlighted in many atest of the car, and I love it. Turn in, apply a bit of throttle, sense the front end start to slip, back off and add a bit of opposite lock to counter the tail’s easy, predictable slide. It’s a process you can repeat ad infinitum, given enough space, and if you’re really feeling like a hooligan, a dab of left-foot braking brings an instant and surefire hit of tail-wagging. While it means the Focus isn’t the quickest thing on the block, it has the capacity to leave you giggling like an idiot.

It’s fun in its way, then, but the reason I’ve really grown to love the Focus is its liveability. Where I found the Megane a little compromised in that respect (though I’ll accept that some didn’t), the Focus is a car I never feel unhappy to get into. Part of that’s because of fantastic seats - covered in leather in our ST-3 model, though as I’ve discussed before, that's not the one I’d choose. But mostly it’s because the interior's welcoming (with the exception of the odd dash corner that can catch your knee on your way out), and once you get underway, the chassis is supple enough that it doesn’t wear on you. It makes the daily grind a breeze, rather than a chore.

Seats are great, whether fabric or leather

I haven’t yet tested how useful that back end is (though photographer Tom was only to keen to get some beer barrels in there – read into that what you will), but I’m sure I’ll have cause to soon with an impending house move on the way. And I’m aiming to get the Focus out on some more interesting journeys than just the schlep to work and back before too long. I’ll keep you posted.

FACT SHEET
Car: Ford Focus ST-3 Estate
Run by: Scrof (and Dan when circumstances allow)
On fleet since: April 2013
Mileage: 9,143
List price new: £29,055 (Basic list of £26,595 plus £750 for Sony DAB Navigation System with Rear View Camera, £900 for Driver Assistance Pack, £200 for privacy glass, £85 for door edge protectors, £525 for Spirit Blue Metallic paint)
Last month at a glance: Scrof gets to know the ST, and likes what he finds

Previous reports:
Fords estate/hot hatch Focus joins the fleet

[Images: Prime Exposures]

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elephantstone

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