Just ordered a Focus ST 3

[ian in lancs]

for 1st March delivery. It's the current model cos I don't like the new bonnet design.


So...What do I need to know?

[pinchmeimdreamin]

First off join focusstoc.com you will get all the advice you need there

then spend a few quid on mods and prepare to need plastic surgeryu to have the smile removed from your face

[D1MAC]

ian in lancs said:

for 1st March delivery. It's the current model cos I don't like the new bonnet design.


So...What do I need to know?

You made the right choice (facelift certainly isn't any prettier)

As it's the ST3, you now only have one less friend

As std it's very nippy/quickish but no more. Some believe otherwise

However, it is in a low state of tune and so can be made quicker (if that way inclined)

if not constrained by insurance, GAP etc, you should look to uprate the suspension (with Eibachs) - std nice for cruising but a mite too soft all things considered.

CoG is too high, it weighs a bit too much and wiggles it's bottom - might be fun on a track but on a road can cause the occasional wobbly mo

Dealers WILL be patchy

Car may well have it's known faults, I suppose like most others, but see above

For the money (and possibly generally) it makes a nice sound, although it is the equivalent of fondling Pammy Anderson's Bongoes. Still, could be much worse

Anyone in a VAG product will automatically look upon you as low life scum (even the tractor drivers, for some reason) -

As it likes a drink and it has a Ford badge on the front, it will lose money (best not to mention that on the OC forum, along with poor fuel consumption, it's a touchy subject)

It isn't a Golf GTI, for all the good & bad that entails

You bought a nice all round hunk of metal for the real world money (better may be available 2nd hand but if you want new, you will struggle to find anything with more character).

[Silent1]

D1MAC said:

...
Dealers WILL be patchy
...

Take it to an ovloV garage then, after all it's the same engine...

But seriously, what do you mean? I thought all ford garages could sell the ST unlike the Vauxhall VXR range?

[ian in lancs]

Thanks I'll join that site -i hadn't looked for a forum. It will actually be my wife's car... She needed a new car to replace her 3 year old Zetec 1.6 with climate and as the new car is awful to look at and we didn't like it the only option was to get what I consider to be the best of the current model. As her dad gets employee discount from working at Jaguar we paid £15750 for an unregistered one. It would have been rude not to buy! She'll drive it for a couple of years and then I'll have it and keep mine for Sunday best! Maybe we'll get an RS so it might all change. In the meantime I get to cane it when I feel like it!

We looked at Honda Civic - dealers I could happily punch, well put off, Volvo C30 - that back window, what were they smoking, Vauxhall Astra - employee discount aswell, dealer great but car not special enough and the Fords including a Mondy - too big and underpowered at the mo. So ST3 it is and they're hard to find. Only about 4-5 in the country. They are taking orders for the new, beaten with an ugly stick, one for Mid March delivery though.

Edited by ian in lancs on Saturday 26th January 09:01

[Silent1]

There's http://www.ffoc.co.uk/ as well, no idea what they're like but they're pretty big.

[D1MAC]

Silent1 said:

D1MAC said:

...
Dealers WILL be patchy
...

Take it to an ovloV garage then, after all it's the same engine...

But seriously, what do you mean? I thought all ford garages could sell the ST unlike the Vauxhall VXR range?

I meant in terms of ability rather than coverage. My local dealer certainly isn't sparkling

Edited by D1MAC on Saturday 26th January 15:45

[Waynester]

Good choice sir.

Bought my ST-3 last year in EO from Gates in Stevenage. Just clocked 4000 miles and not had a single problem.

It gets you noticed that's for sure, though the EO probably helps that..

It seems well screwed together, certainly better than my '01 Focus.
And the 5 pot engine is a cracking lump, entertaining. I don't get bored listening to that quattro-esque noise.

enjoy

[Witchfinder]

I think I prefer the seats in the ST-1 and ST-2. I found the ST-3 leather Recaros a bit to slippery for my liking. Not at all like the leather Recaros in the Mondeo.

[vino 187]

had mine for a year and loved every minute. never had a problem with the dealers and the interior is lovely, the leathers inparticular. the new focus may grow on me especially the new rs next year.

[Silent1]

D1MAC said:

Silent1 said:

D1MAC said:

...
Dealers WILL be patchy
...

Take it to an ovloV garage then, after all it's the same engine...

But seriously, what do you mean? I thought all ford garages could sell the ST unlike the Vauxhall VXR range?

I meant in terms of ability rather than coverage. My local dealer certainly isn't sparkling

Edited by D1MAC on Saturday 26th January 15:45

Ah got you, although it's nothing away from the norm now, as they're fitting that engine in everything they can shoe-horn it into.

[D1MAC]

Silent1 said:

Ah got you, although it's nothing away from the norm now, as they're fitting that engine in everything they can shoe-horn it into.

Shame they can't fit a few bits of Volvo interior as well.
Apart from the slightly high fuel consumption, mine hasn't even needed a single drop of oil in 20k (and of course it can make a nice sound) so I'm not surprised that Ford are looking to use it as widely as possible. However, the seats have been a pit problematical and took 4 visits to the dealer to get (not particularly) sorted.

Still, no worse than Honda I suppose in terms of ordinary service.