Focus ST to RS
Discussion
I'm thinking of changing my ST for an RS, but struggling a little to justify the decision.
My '57 registered ST-2 has 29,600 miles & a FFSH, it's completely standard apart from a cat-back stainless steel Cobra exhaust. She's in superb condition too.
Assuming I can get a good px for around £8k.. (yes, I know I may be in for a shock when offered £5k)
Most mint, original, standard RS's seem around £20-23k in dealers. So I'm looking at potentially £15k on top, for what is essentially the same..but more powerful car!!
So that's my dilemma. Would you stick or go for it?
Got to be a green one though.. like my EO ST, I prefer the loud colours!
My '57 registered ST-2 has 29,600 miles & a FFSH, it's completely standard apart from a cat-back stainless steel Cobra exhaust. She's in superb condition too.
Assuming I can get a good px for around £8k.. (yes, I know I may be in for a shock when offered £5k)
Most mint, original, standard RS's seem around £20-23k in dealers. So I'm looking at potentially £15k on top, for what is essentially the same..but more powerful car!!So that's my dilemma. Would you stick or go for it?
Got to be a green one though.. like my EO ST, I prefer the loud colours!
Edited by Waynester on Wednesday 20th August 14:29
I was surprised at your 20-23k range of prices, until i checked online and found a local main dealer(Arnold Shark)11 plate example advertised for an unbelievable 26 grand. 
Unless an RS is your dream car and you absolutely have to have one.....i would stick with what youve got.
You already have a beautiful ST, so IMO its not worth getting rid of it and spending a small fortune on top just to get a slightly quicker Focus with a different bodykit.
P.S. I do think the RS is a very desirable car.
Unless an RS is your dream car and you absolutely have to have one.....i would stick with what youve got.
You already have a beautiful ST, so IMO its not worth getting rid of it and spending a small fortune on top just to get a slightly quicker Focus with a different bodykit.
P.S. I do think the RS is a very desirable car.
If it were me I'd stick ST. In my past experience most dealers will offer bottom dolar/book value regardless of the mileage and condition of the car. I've attempted trade in of a few mint condition low milers myself and ended up getting more off we buy any car. Plus being a cash buyer helps save £££. You can buy private and save £3K in profit/VAT for RS prices, if you are able to check the car fully/accept the risk. Or you can just use it as a bargaining point at a dealer.
PS its not just a faster ST, it has other improvements, revoknuckle handling/diff etc...
PS its not just a faster ST, it has other improvements, revoknuckle handling/diff etc...
Thanks for the feedback chaps. It's a difficult choice. I wouldn't need to finance it, but obviously the best deal possible is the way to go. Buying & selling privately maybe the best (cost) option, accepting the slightly higher risk, but I would do all the checks.
Yes, I realise it has other differences, apologises...I was generalising a little.
It took me a while to find this ST-2 as I wanted completely original, 3 door & in orange..& as clean/mint as possible.
Hmm...still not sure! My problem is, I tend to obsess about things I want..until I get it!
Yes, I realise it has other differences, apologises...I was generalising a little.
It took me a while to find this ST-2 as I wanted completely original, 3 door & in orange..& as clean/mint as possible.
Hmm...still not sure! My problem is, I tend to obsess about things I want..until I get it!
stargazer30 said:
PS its not just a faster ST, it has other improvements, revoknuckle handling/diff etc...
I think we all know there are key differences without having to list everything individually. My "slightly quicker with a different bodykit" remark was simply a general statement to get the point across.
For the mileage your car has, I would stick with what you have and get a Mountune upgrade. Since ford still honour their warranty with a lot of Mountune's work you know it's good quality, and some tests have shown a Mountune'd ST to be quicker than a standard RS. I drove both and the RS was just too harsh riding for me for day to day driving, and my Mountune'd ST is properly quick but comfortable on longer journeys.
Had a full service at Gates Ford in Stevenage yesterday..nearly £400, but I wanted everything done & checked. Seems there is play in the o/s drive shaft, so will need replacing. Seems this is a common ST issue? Disappointing at 29000 miles though.. I may well look to upgrade them and follow the advice here..Mountune upgrade or equivalent.
Waynester said:
Had a full service at Gates Ford in Stevenage yesterday..nearly £400, but I wanted everything done & checked. Seems there is play in the o/s drive shaft, so will need replacing. Seems this is a common ST issue? Disappointing at 29000 miles though.. I may well look to upgrade them and follow the advice here..Mountune upgrade or equivalent.
Driveshafts are a massively common problem. The car is actually electronically torque limited in 1st and 2nd to protect them. If you buy them from Ford insist on brand new, not reconditioned, or get some CPE uprated ones. I had an 07 ST Mountune 260 and traded it for a new RS back in 2009. Major differentiators for me were:
1. Mountuned ST appears faster on the road as the power comes on at lower revs. Not much happens in the RS until after 3k rpm
2. RS beats ST massively in the handling stakes. Damping is MUCH firmer (I never did like the floaty feeling at speed in the ST, especially the way it handled bumps in bends at speed) and the springs are way stiffer
3. Traction is night and day better in the RS, the Quaife diff eliminates inside wheel spin and traction generally in the dry. Ironically in the wet it can introduce more understeer as both wheels tend to want to send you off the road rather than one in the ST
4. ST is a better long distance car, the front seats were so comfortable. Having said that I've done two 2,000 mile European trips in the RS and it too sure does eat up the miles.
I've still got the RS and, at 86,000 miles, have no plans to replace it any time soon.
Hope this helps
1. Mountuned ST appears faster on the road as the power comes on at lower revs. Not much happens in the RS until after 3k rpm
2. RS beats ST massively in the handling stakes. Damping is MUCH firmer (I never did like the floaty feeling at speed in the ST, especially the way it handled bumps in bends at speed) and the springs are way stiffer
3. Traction is night and day better in the RS, the Quaife diff eliminates inside wheel spin and traction generally in the dry. Ironically in the wet it can introduce more understeer as both wheels tend to want to send you off the road rather than one in the ST
4. ST is a better long distance car, the front seats were so comfortable. Having said that I've done two 2,000 mile European trips in the RS and it too sure does eat up the miles.
I've still got the RS and, at 86,000 miles, have no plans to replace it any time soon.
Hope this helps
I had a Mk1 Focus RS from new for three years, then chopped it in for an Orange ST like yours. I modded the ST up to around 290bhp and loved the way it sounded, but it never handled anywhere near as well as the RS.
I bought a brand new Mk2 Focus RS five years ago, and I still haven't found anything I'd want to swap it for. Plus, given that the list price was £25k when I bought mine, it's also held its value better than any new car I've owned.
There is simply no comparison between your ST and the RS, even a well modified ST. The Recaro buckets in the RS make sitting in it more of an event, it looks so much more purposeful, but it's in the handling and the way it can deliver and lay down the power that it really shines. When Jost Capito said that the ST was like a dolphin and the RS was like a shark, he pretty much hit the nail on the head.
Mine is heading into Mountune in a few weeks for an MR375 conversion, at which point I'll probably fall in love with it all over again.
I bought a brand new Mk2 Focus RS five years ago, and I still haven't found anything I'd want to swap it for. Plus, given that the list price was £25k when I bought mine, it's also held its value better than any new car I've owned.
There is simply no comparison between your ST and the RS, even a well modified ST. The Recaro buckets in the RS make sitting in it more of an event, it looks so much more purposeful, but it's in the handling and the way it can deliver and lay down the power that it really shines. When Jost Capito said that the ST was like a dolphin and the RS was like a shark, he pretty much hit the nail on the head.
Mine is heading into Mountune in a few weeks for an MR375 conversion, at which point I'll probably fall in love with it all over again.
Edited by MDT48 on Wednesday 27th August 23:35
burger81 said:
Go and look at the RS direct website, you'll pick up a top notch RS for 19k-22k easily. They have fresh stock coming in weekly & they are good guys to deal with.
Might make the decision easier?! Because it sounds like in your mind you want to do it!
Or save yourself £4-£5k and buy the same car privately!Might make the decision easier?! Because it sounds like in your mind you want to do it!
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