ST vs 3 series? Opinons?
Discussion
Just to add any comparison of the Focus ST to cooking models is absolutely pointless as a quick test drive will indicate. Think 318/320 - M3.
The BMW is significantly heavier then the focus so despite a power advantage it is slower in a straight line.
My preference would be M3 E46 > Focus ST > 330i .
The BMW is significantly heavier then the focus so despite a power advantage it is slower in a straight line.
My preference would be M3 E46 > Focus ST > 330i .
I do not understand the constant E46 M3 references in this thread. It is in another league in every respect - it will be twice the age, it is much much faster, it is much much more expensive to run, somebody fretting about the insurance on a Focus is going to have a heart attack when he gets the £700 bill for an Inspection 2 service on an M3!
Fox- said:
I do not understand the constant E46 M3 references in this thread. It is in another league in every respect - it will be twice the age, it is much much faster, it is much much more expensive to run, somebody fretting about the insurance on a Focus is going to have a heart attack when he gets the £700 bill for an Inspection 2 service on an M3!
Trouble is Fox, the OP has been so vague in what he wants.
blearyeyedboy said:
OP, a lot of people would like to help you but we need more info to go on. What's your budget? How many miles do you do and what sort of MPG can you afford?
Have you got to carry large amounts of horse manure on a daily basis or is room for a single briefcase sufficient?
Do you need to carry lots of people (ie, do you carry rear doors?)
Give us info to go on and we can help you a lot more.
I have a budget of 7 grand really, do about 10,000 miles a year and can afford 25 MPG defintely. Space is not that important to me and won't need to carry too many people. The reason I was looking at these 2 cars because they have both become available. A friend owns a ST and needs a quick sell so I can get that an 06 plate, 60,000 miles, cheap. Another colleuge has a bmw 325ci, similar miles. Hopefully, this should help in your opinions!Have you got to carry large amounts of horse manure on a daily basis or is room for a single briefcase sufficient?
Do you need to carry lots of people (ie, do you carry rear doors?)
Give us info to go on and we can help you a lot more.
rumple said:
Trouble is Fox, the OP has been so vague in what he wants.
He definately doesn't want an E46 M3 though even if he thinks he does 
He refers to a 325Ci above - so thats definately more in the ballpark. His budget would get an excellent one of those and probably some change.
Froomee said:
Just to add any comparison of the Focus ST to cooking models is absolutely pointless as a quick test drive will indicate. Think 318/320 - M3.
The BMW is significantly heavier then the focus so despite a power advantage it is slower in a straight line.
My preference would be M3 E46 > Focus ST > 330i .
The comparison isn't in how it drives - it's in the quality of the interior. It's fine for a £15k rep special. It's not fine in a £25k performance car.The BMW is significantly heavier then the focus so despite a power advantage it is slower in a straight line.
My preference would be M3 E46 > Focus ST > 330i .
jack09 said:
blearyeyedboy said:
OP, a lot of people would like to help you but we need more info to go on. What's your budget? How many miles do you do and what sort of MPG can you afford?
Have you got to carry large amounts of horse manure on a daily basis or is room for a single briefcase sufficient?
Do you need to carry lots of people (ie, do you carry rear doors?)
Give us info to go on and we can help you a lot more.
I have a budget of 7 grand really, do about 10,000 miles a year and can afford 25 MPG defintely. Space is not that important to me and won't need to carry too many people. The reason I was looking at these 2 cars because they have both become available. A friend owns a ST and needs a quick sell so I can get that an 06 plate, 60,000 miles, cheap. Another colleuge has a bmw 325ci, similar miles. Hopefully, this should help in your opinions!Have you got to carry large amounts of horse manure on a daily basis or is room for a single briefcase sufficient?
Do you need to carry lots of people (ie, do you carry rear doors?)
Give us info to go on and we can help you a lot more.
I love the Focus ST, but you have to have the ST3 with the Recaro black leather, really brings the interior up to a high standard IMHO. They are fantastic cars to drive, one of the best wrong wheel drive chassis around, and the engine noise is addictive, as is the huge midrange grunt & ease of tuning.
As for the BMW, they are pointless unless you go for a six cylinder engine, the M3 being as far removed from the 330i as the ST is from the 2.0 zetec. Rear wheel drive would be a major selling point for me, the running costs won't be hugely different using good specialists,
To be honest I think I would go for The ST unless the M3 is a realistic option.
As for the BMW, they are pointless unless you go for a six cylinder engine, the M3 being as far removed from the 330i as the ST is from the 2.0 zetec. Rear wheel drive would be a major selling point for me, the running costs won't be hugely different using good specialists,
To be honest I think I would go for The ST unless the M3 is a realistic option.
HeatonNorris said:
The comparison isn't in how it drives - it's in the quality of the interior. It's fine for a £15k rep special. It's not fine in a £25k performance car.
The Mk II ST was never anything like 25k, it was more like a max of 20 before options and the not too difficult to achieve discount. The BMWs under consideration would have been 10k or more on top of that.Do you think that the interior of the Z4M (for example) is more or less acceptable in relative terms @ an original price of 40-odd k, than that of the Ford?
More generally, do people really care? I don't recall anyone knocking back a Fezza F40 because it has visible solidified Fairy Liquid & door pulls instead of handles.
DukeDickson said:
The Mk II ST was never anything like 25k, it was more like a max of 20 before options and the not too difficult to achieve discount. The BMWs under consideration would have been 10k or more on top of that.
Do you think that the interior of the Z4M (for example) is more or less acceptable in relative terms @ an original price of 40-odd k, than that of the Ford?
More generally, do people really care? I don't recall anyone knocking back a Fezza F40 because it has visible solidified Fairy Liquid & door pulls instead of handles.
I have no idea about the Z4M, as I've not looked at them - but the F40 comparison is largely moot as you're not likely to be using it as an every day car. Whilst I appreciate a car that drives well, if I'm spending a significant amount of time in it, then the cabin quality becomes increasingly important.Do you think that the interior of the Z4M (for example) is more or less acceptable in relative terms @ an original price of 40-odd k, than that of the Ford?
More generally, do people really care? I don't recall anyone knocking back a Fezza F40 because it has visible solidified Fairy Liquid & door pulls instead of handles.
HeatonNorris said:
The comparison isn't in how it drives - it's in the quality of the interior. It's fine for a £15k rep special. It's not fine in a £25k performance car.
I paid £16k for my ST-2 brand new in 2010 
£999 for the mountune and I was completely satisfied.The Focus ST is effortless on motorways, spacious and comfy from experience and yet fast at the same time.
OP drive both (I have) and your not spending £25k so I would say for your budget the ST is a far better prospect.
I have no brand loyaltys and only sold my ST to get a Z4M which speaks volumes for it IMO as I no longer need the practicality.
HeatonNorris said:
DukeDickson said:
The Mk II ST was never anything like 25k, it was more like a max of 20 before options and the not too difficult to achieve discount. The BMWs under consideration would have been 10k or more on top of that.
Do you think that the interior of the Z4M (for example) is more or less acceptable in relative terms @ an original price of 40-odd k, than that of the Ford?
More generally, do people really care? I don't recall anyone knocking back a Fezza F40 because it has visible solidified Fairy Liquid & door pulls instead of handles.
I have no idea about the Z4M, as I've not looked at them - but the F40 comparison is largely moot as you're not likely to be using it as an every day car. Whilst I appreciate a car that drives well, if I'm spending a significant amount of time in it, then the cabin quality becomes increasingly important.Do you think that the interior of the Z4M (for example) is more or less acceptable in relative terms @ an original price of 40-odd k, than that of the Ford?
More generally, do people really care? I don't recall anyone knocking back a Fezza F40 because it has visible solidified Fairy Liquid & door pulls instead of handles.
k the expence.Patrick Bateman said:
What's wrong with wanting a nice interior?
I've got a 330 of e46 variety, something like an ST has never really appealed to me, it can be a bit faster all it wants.
If two cars were identically matched, then you'd pick the one with the nicer interior every time, that is sensible, but these cars aren't similar, they are pretty different propositions really, so I'd be picking the one that was more likely to give a smile-inducing driving experience, rather than the one with a plusher interior.I've got a 330 of e46 variety, something like an ST has never really appealed to me, it can be a bit faster all it wants.
I see this argument thrown up about Imprezas, Evos, Skylines, Supras etc all the time, people saying "oh the interior is so basic and functional, I wouldn't have one", which is great if your criteria for a good car is something that feels like a director's office, but you can bet the people driving the above cars are not thinking "I wish there were more Audi-style soft touch plastics in here".
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