Discussion
budgie smuggler said:
Thing is, if that character were created today he'd probably be driving an A3 TDI S-Line.
Sad but true. And an auto one at that.The Focus ST should be celebrated because it's about as close to the hot hatch zenith of a decade past as one can get nowadays. No contrived gearboxes, or naff 'aero'; just good engineering and a great chassis set-up. Mine feels very similar to my old MK1 Focus RS, which, in any circle but ours, would be a criticism.
When we look at the target market of budget 'sporting' cars these days, the vast majority care only about looks and technology. They want wireless connectivity, nav and cool ambience. They baulk at having to change gear manually and they want their peers to think they've spent a fortune (hence all the flashy tat). One only has to look at what Renault did to its Clio to see what a travesty this trend has become.
It's actually a miracle Ford decided to ignore all that and pander to the tiny minority of enthusiasts instead.
Bit of an odd one, really. When I collected it on Saturday, the tyre pressure warning popped up. Wasn't entirely shocked so stopped at a garage and set them to the correct pressures. Warning dutifully disappeared. All was well with the world.
This morning, the warning reappears. Stopped and checked them and they'd dropped more than you'd expect in 6 days, with the NSF and OSR being the worst. Rather more worrying was the fact I couldn't really tell much difference but I'm blaming that on the ridiculous 30 profile tyres - I'm usually quite sensitive regarding such matters, honest.
Still no big deal, figured it was the w
ky metal valves being wky and metally. Stopped in at the dealer on the way home to command them to change them, got it all booked in, got back in the car, started it up and STEERING ASSIST FAILURE - DO NOT DRIVE. Totally out of the blue but I guess at least it had f*cked itself at the best place possible.
My courtesy car is a brown Fiesta.
Brown.
Dear lord.
This morning, the warning reappears. Stopped and checked them and they'd dropped more than you'd expect in 6 days, with the NSF and OSR being the worst. Rather more worrying was the fact I couldn't really tell much difference but I'm blaming that on the ridiculous 30 profile tyres - I'm usually quite sensitive regarding such matters, honest.
Still no big deal, figured it was the w
ky metal valves being wky and metally. Stopped in at the dealer on the way home to command them to change them, got it all booked in, got back in the car, started it up and STEERING ASSIST FAILURE - DO NOT DRIVE. Totally out of the blue but I guess at least it had f*cked itself at the best place possible.My courtesy car is a brown Fiesta.
Brown.
Dear lord.
Look out for an issue with the stereo Rawwr, VERY loud hiss - well known issue that seems to resolve by itself.
I own a MK3 facelifted ST-3 Estate with the Mountune MP275 kit on it, and yes my car is primer grey (Stealth) with the 'style pack' wheels on it same as yours.
Went from a Ultimate Green MK2 Focus RS to a bright red MK3 Focus ST so fancied something a bit more restrained this time.
Had a lot of issues with my brand-new red MK3 ST-3 (pre-facelift) but the facelifted estate has now done 10K miles in just over a year with the only issue being the stereo hiss a couple of times.
I own a MK3 facelifted ST-3 Estate with the Mountune MP275 kit on it, and yes my car is primer grey (Stealth) with the 'style pack' wheels on it same as yours.
Went from a Ultimate Green MK2 Focus RS to a bright red MK3 Focus ST so fancied something a bit more restrained this time.
Had a lot of issues with my brand-new red MK3 ST-3 (pre-facelift) but the facelifted estate has now done 10K miles in just over a year with the only issue being the stereo hiss a couple of times.
oobster said:
Look out for an issue with the stereo Rawwr, VERY loud hiss - well known issue that seems to resolve by itself.
Nah that's probably his tyres deflating themselves 
These are awesome cars and sod how old you are. Buy what you want.
I really fancy one of these as my next car, a nice fully-loaded ST3. And I'll be in my 30s before I achieve that. So sod it.
Strela said:
I won't specify my age, but it could be guessed at by arranging the numbers 9 and 3 (not as a decimal or fraction), and I've just had my car resprayed from a fairly subdued shade of green to orange. There is an element of nostalgia - my first car was bright yellow and everything since has been a bit quieter - but that hardly constitutes a mid-life crisis. Besides, I'm not likely to be going through one of them at the age of 93. Very different response from people now the car is orange. Lots of approving comments compared to only a handful before, and I even had a round of applause from some pedestrians the other day. Well, they were sitting on a bench actually, and may have been an enviously long way through their hamper of Special Brew, but it was very sweet of them.
Brilliant as usual from you good sir I agree with many others, they're brilliant cars, and far too new (so too pricey) to be chav. I'm 39 and hankering after another ST3, the gen before. I had a 2007 3 door ST3, all options, 40somethingK miles, absolutely mint, also wound up to around 280bhp by Pumaspeed.
Mine was performance blue, as A) I love blue cars, and I love that blue on them. B) I quite like the Asbo Orange on them, but ultimately I considered it a little too shouty, and also there was my nagging feeling that on a crowded motorway it would be the one car that stuck out a mile to plod!
On mine the plan was that when the clutch went (which with extra BHP it would at some point) to fit the clutch from the RS, as apparently it slotted straight in. Does the new RS clutch slot in to your gen one, should you get the bug for a bit more BHP?
Obligatory pic of what was mine - a father bought it the (25 year old) buyer, for his birthday. Lucky sod!
Mine was performance blue, as A) I love blue cars, and I love that blue on them. B) I quite like the Asbo Orange on them, but ultimately I considered it a little too shouty, and also there was my nagging feeling that on a crowded motorway it would be the one car that stuck out a mile to plod!
On mine the plan was that when the clutch went (which with extra BHP it would at some point) to fit the clutch from the RS, as apparently it slotted straight in. Does the new RS clutch slot in to your gen one, should you get the bug for a bit more BHP?
Obligatory pic of what was mine - a father bought it the (25 year old) buyer, for his birthday. Lucky sod!
Fermit The Krog and Sarah Sexy said:
I agree with many others, they're brilliant cars, and far too new (so too pricey) to be chav. I'm 39 and hankering after another ST3, the gen before. I had a 2007 3 door ST3, all options, 40somethingK miles, absolutely mint, also wound up to around 280bhp by Pumaspeed.
Mine was performance blue, as A) I love blue cars, and I love that blue on them. B) I quite like the Asbo Orange on them, but ultimately I considered it a little too shouty, and also there was my nagging feeling that on a crowded motorway it would be the one car that stuck out a mile to plod!
On mine the plan was that when the clutch went (which with extra BHP it would at some point) to fit the clutch from the RS, as apparently it slotted straight in. Does the new RS clutch slot in to your gen one, should you get the bug for a bit more BHP?
Obligatory pic of what was mine - a father bought it the (25 year old) buyer, for his birthday. Lucky sod!
Mk2 RS clutch fits into the Mk2 ST (the shape above). Not sure on the OP's Mk3. Mine was performance blue, as A) I love blue cars, and I love that blue on them. B) I quite like the Asbo Orange on them, but ultimately I considered it a little too shouty, and also there was my nagging feeling that on a crowded motorway it would be the one car that stuck out a mile to plod!
On mine the plan was that when the clutch went (which with extra BHP it would at some point) to fit the clutch from the RS, as apparently it slotted straight in. Does the new RS clutch slot in to your gen one, should you get the bug for a bit more BHP?
Obligatory pic of what was mine - a father bought it the (25 year old) buyer, for his birthday. Lucky sod!
If it moved at all at the moment I'd be happy 
With regards to power, I've never been one for big power - in fact, the ST is the most powerful car I've ever owned. Then again, I seem to be one of the few people on PH who doesn't get all indignant and sulky when someone passes me on a motorway. That's all quite possibly due to riding bikes for the last 12 years and having a Fireblade in the garage; you just tend to think it's all pointless trying to be straight-line quick in cars
With regards to power, I've never been one for big power - in fact, the ST is the most powerful car I've ever owned. Then again, I seem to be one of the few people on PH who doesn't get all indignant and sulky when someone passes me on a motorway. That's all quite possibly due to riding bikes for the last 12 years and having a Fireblade in the garage; you just tend to think it's all pointless trying to be straight-line quick in cars
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