Facelift Focus ST - so surprised

[Ron240]

Trust me it doesn't make the ride too harsh.
Like I already said if you don't get them you will probably end up regretting it.

[macky17]

Agreed. It's a firm ride but not too harsh.

[Lurking Lawyer]

Ron240 said:

Like I already said if you don't get them you will probably end up regretting it.

That's a personal choice though - it may well be true of you (and others) but it's a bit of a stretch to suggest it's a truism.

I was quite happy with the standard 18s - never considered speccing up the 19s - and didn't regret that at all after picking up the car.

Ride quality must be equally subjective and dependent on what you're used to. I've seen plenty of comments to the effect that the 19s adversely affect the ride. Horses for courses..... :shrug:

[Ron240]

Lurking Lawyer said:

That's a personal choice though - it may well be true of you (and others) but it's a bit of a stretch to suggest it's a truism.

I never suggested anything of the kind, but the OP has already said on another forum that he prefers the look of the 19's

I went from a 2014 ST on 18's to a 2015 face-lift on 19's and the latter actually rides better. I have not driven a face-lift model on 18's but it may offer a softer ride.

Edited by Ron240 on Thursday 16th March 18:49

[Lurking Lawyer]

Fair enough - I did see the thread on focusstoc.com but didn't really absorb the detail - I must have missed that bit and the context it provided to your comment above.

Edited by Lurking Lawyer on Thursday 16th March 19:03

[oobster]

I've went from a MK3 with 18's to a facelifted MK3 estate with 19's and noticed no decrease in comfort.

What I do find is that my 'old' (12-plate) MK3 hatch with the 18s tramlined severely on some roads (e.g. roads used a lot by HGVs) and the newer facelifted car with the 19's doesn't really tramline at all.

[JulianHJ]

I've placed an order today. Delivery could be anything from 8-16 weeks away...

[skinnyman]

SevenR said:

I quite fancy a Focus ST3 Estate for my next car next year. I own a Fiesta ST just now and I love it to bits, but it's getting a bit small with my 2 kids getting bigger.
The RS would be great, but if they offered the ST with the 4WD system it would be perfect. I would add the Mountune stage 1 kit and I think I'd be in a very quick very capable practical car that didn't cost a fortune to run.
C'Mon Ford!!! Build it!!!

Currently rocking a facelift ST3 estate and its perfect for kid duty. Massive boot, all the toys and comfort, yet quick turn of pace when you want, and tuning wise Mountune or Bluefin wakes it up, i believe the bluefin remap takes it up to 290bhp for around £400.

I did however remember seeing a European tuner that took a standard Focus saloon and turn it into an ST, can't find the pictures now, but it looked awesome, wish Ford built it. I much prefer the A3/S3 saloon over the hatch.

[KieronGSi]

skinnyman said:

Currently rocking a facelift ST3 estate and its perfect for kid duty. Massive boot, all the toys and comfort, yet quick turn of pace when you want, and tuning wise Mountune or Bluefin wakes it up, i believe the bluefin remap takes it up to 290bhp for around £400.

I did however remember seeing a European tuner that took a standard Focus saloon and turn it into an ST, can't find the pictures now, but it looked awesome, wish Ford built it. I much prefer the A3/S3 saloon over the hatch.

That would be SS Tuning.

[Ahbefive]

I do like the saloon too. I think they would sell like hot cakes in the UK.

[skinnyman]

That's the one. Granted we wouldn't get the lairy arches or spoiler, but still, I think that looks nicer than the hatch version.

[Butter Face]

Ahbefive said:

I do like the saloon too. I think they would sell like hot cakes in the UK.

:headscratchemojithatisntonPH:



The Ford actually looks better, but I'd take the Impreza myself.

Edited by Butter Face on Wednesday 22 March 22:18

[macky17]

Lurking Lawyer said:

Ron240 said:

Like I already said if you don't get them you will probably end up regretting it.

That's a personal choice though - it may well be true of you (and others) but it's a bit of a stretch to suggest it's a truism.

I was quite happy with the standard 18s - never considered speccing up the 19s - and didn't regret that at all after picking up the car.

Ride quality must be equally subjective and dependent on what you're used to. I've seen plenty of comments to the effect that the 19s adversely affect the ride. Horses for courses..... :shrug:

You won't find a much fussier person than me when it comes to ride. I found my mk2 RS too hard so put it on Eibachs - it was better but still too hard so I sold it. I found the ride on my Edition 30 GTi too hard so sold it. DC5 integra too hard - sold it. A hard ride gradually wears me down as the weeks pass until I can't stand it any more.

The comfort on a facelift ST with 19s is ok, even for me. The ride is very pressure sensitive - my tyre pressure gauge turned out to be under-reading and I was driving around with 32psi which was too jiggly. A good quality gauge and now I'm running a genuine 30 all round = much, much better. So 19s are fine IMO and look so much better than 18s.

[Ron240]

macky17 said:

I'm running a genuine 30 all round

That is much lower than Ford recommend. I can't remember off the top of my head but is it not 41 on front and 38 on back? I know the 18s are 35 all round.
30 psi seems too low for a 19" 35 series tyre.
I agree the 19s look much better than the 18s.

Edited by Ron240 on Thursday 23 March 14:09

[lickatysplit]

macky17 said:

Covered 600 miles now and enjoying every journey. It seems to me that only a front mechanical lsd separates the ST from greatness. You'd have steering, handling and chassis as good as an RS megane with a better engine and gearbox...

The cost of an MP275 at mountune? Around £1300. The cost of a fully fitted quaife at the same outfit? About £1300. Why anyone with the money to spend would go for the former and merely highlight the shortcomings of the drivetrain ive no idea. The car certainly isn't 25bhp from greatness. Of course both together would be another matter if you have 2.5k to blow.

I think I'll look at the diff later this year. Then I'll go hunting some fat, overweight RSs to pick off on dry B roads.

It's ok, I'm joking! Let's keep this an ST discussion from now on.

Before forking out for a new diff, may I suggest changing the lower engine mount? it gives the car a tighter feel on launch

[Hub]

skinnyman said:

Currently rocking a facelift ST3 estate and its perfect for kid duty. Massive boot, all the toys and comfort, yet quick turn of pace when you want

I agree - except the massive recaros don't leave a lot of room in the rear for baby/child seats!

[macky17]

lickatysplit said:

Before forking out for a new diff, may I suggest changing the lower engine mount? it gives the car a tighter feel on launch

Agreed the mk2 RS needed one (comically bad without) and I fitted one to my mp260 as well. The mk3 facelift would probably benefit as well, you're right, but not as much so. Won't help avoid spinning up an inside wheel out of corners though and that's the main issue...

Edited by macky17 on Saturday 15th April 12:35