2015 Ford Focus ST-3 Estate with Mountune
Discussion
This is my 4th Focus, first one was a 57-plate TDCI:
When I bought it:
Crawley 1 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
Just before I traded it in:
IMG_1801_edited-1 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
I traded that in for a 2010 Skoda Octavia vRS:
When I bought it:
Skoda Octavia on Collection Day! by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
Just before I traded it in:
Skoda Octavia VRS 20-03-2012 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
The Octavia vRS was then traded in for my 2nd Focus, a 2011 Mk2 Focus RS:
My New Focus RS 05-05-2012 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
I don't have many pics of my RS, I only owned it for 6'ish months. The above picture was taken outside the place where I bought it, RS Direct in Bristol. Although I loved the performance I picked the wrong car (bought in haste, car had problems that proved difficult to resolve) so it was sold to webuyanycar a few days before my brand-new Focus arrived. My private plate (which I've had for probably 16 or 17 years now) never went on to my RS.
Due to the ongoing issues with my RS I decided to order a brand-new MK3 Focus ST. I went for red ST-3 hatchback with a few factory options, car took 8'ish weeks to arrive at the dealers.
This is it on collection day at the dealers:
Inside Showroom 27-09-2012_2 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
This is it a couple of years later after it was professionally detailed by RGK Detailing:
RGK-ST-30092014-0026 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
This car had a few issues during my ownership, it broke down twice (and had to be recovered back to the supplying dealer both times on the back of a flat-bed) and the dealer were ABSOLUTELY useless. Eventually diagnosed as a wire in a loom in the engine bay rubbing off the gearbox casing, wore through the insulation resulting in the bare conductor earthing itself on the gearbox when cornering and blowing a fuse.
The car was then rumped up the erse by an eejit not paying attention on the way to work one morning, it needed a new rear bumper bar + bumper, and the panel behind the bumper pulled back out. Other minor issues were the illuminated ST-branded scuff plates on the sills shorting and blowing the fuse that also protects the circuit covering most of the interior lights (handy!) and having to pull the fuse for the stereo every couple of months in order to reset the Ford SYNC system so that it would recognise my phone was plugged into it.
Despite the issues with the car I felt it was a reasonably comfortable reasonably fast & practical vehicle that, apart from the large gap between the bonnet and front bumper (they are all like that, sir), is/was an attractive car. Not quite the level of 'theater' of the green MK2 RS, but a decent mode of transport nonetheless.
So, when it came time to start thinking about a new car, the new facelifted ST was worth considering!
When I bought it:
Crawley 1 by Andy McMillan, on FlickrJust before I traded it in:
IMG_1801_edited-1 by Andy McMillan, on FlickrI traded that in for a 2010 Skoda Octavia vRS:
When I bought it:
Skoda Octavia on Collection Day! by Andy McMillan, on FlickrJust before I traded it in:
Skoda Octavia VRS 20-03-2012 by Andy McMillan, on FlickrThe Octavia vRS was then traded in for my 2nd Focus, a 2011 Mk2 Focus RS:
My New Focus RS 05-05-2012 by Andy McMillan, on FlickrI don't have many pics of my RS, I only owned it for 6'ish months. The above picture was taken outside the place where I bought it, RS Direct in Bristol. Although I loved the performance I picked the wrong car (bought in haste, car had problems that proved difficult to resolve) so it was sold to webuyanycar a few days before my brand-new Focus arrived. My private plate (which I've had for probably 16 or 17 years now) never went on to my RS.
Due to the ongoing issues with my RS I decided to order a brand-new MK3 Focus ST. I went for red ST-3 hatchback with a few factory options, car took 8'ish weeks to arrive at the dealers.
This is it on collection day at the dealers:
Inside Showroom 27-09-2012_2 by Andy McMillan, on FlickrThis is it a couple of years later after it was professionally detailed by RGK Detailing:
RGK-ST-30092014-0026 by Andy McMillan, on FlickrThis car had a few issues during my ownership, it broke down twice (and had to be recovered back to the supplying dealer both times on the back of a flat-bed) and the dealer were ABSOLUTELY useless. Eventually diagnosed as a wire in a loom in the engine bay rubbing off the gearbox casing, wore through the insulation resulting in the bare conductor earthing itself on the gearbox when cornering and blowing a fuse.
The car was then rumped up the erse by an eejit not paying attention on the way to work one morning, it needed a new rear bumper bar + bumper, and the panel behind the bumper pulled back out. Other minor issues were the illuminated ST-branded scuff plates on the sills shorting and blowing the fuse that also protects the circuit covering most of the interior lights (handy!) and having to pull the fuse for the stereo every couple of months in order to reset the Ford SYNC system so that it would recognise my phone was plugged into it.
Despite the issues with the car I felt it was a reasonably comfortable reasonably fast & practical vehicle that, apart from the large gap between the bonnet and front bumper (they are all like that, sir), is/was an attractive car. Not quite the level of 'theater' of the green MK2 RS, but a decent mode of transport nonetheless.
So, when it came time to start thinking about a new car, the new facelifted ST was worth considering!
So onto my present car, a 2015 Ford Focus ST-3 Estate (Petrol) in Stealth Grey:
2015 Ford Focus ST-3 Stealth Estate by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
2015 Ford Focus ST-3 Stealth Estate by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
2015 Ford Focus ST-3 Stealth Estate by Andy McMillan, on Flickr2015 Ford Focus ST-3 Stealth Estate by Andy McMillan, on FlickrI went through a few options before I finally decided to go with a new Focus ST. I considered the new Honda Civic Type R, the preview/spy shots were tempting but when the final 'ready to order' car was unveiled I felt it was a little flash for my tastes, perhaps suited to a slightly younger 20's-30's man (I am 44). I then considered the new Focus RS but at the time of ordering my ST the RS specification hadn't been finalised and the car itself seemed a long way off.
The new Mustang was also a consideration, but if I was going to go for the Mustang it would HAVE to be the 5.0 V8 and while I could probably afford to buy one I almost definitely couldn't afford to run it so that option was oot the window!
I then looked at the possibility of going for a slightly older vehicle, I've always loved how the TVR Cerbera looks and sounds but reliability worried me, plus the daily running costs so next up for consideration was a used Audi S8. I looked at several but again the running costs and potential bork-factor worried me.
I eventually decided I would go for the newly-facelifted Focus ST so an order went in via DriveTheDeal. I picked some factory options again this time, the ST Style Pack (19" alloys and tinted rear windows), the NAV option with premium sound (Sony speakers with subwoofer in the boot) and the door-edge protectors. Another option I went for this time was the heated steering wheel (to go along with the standard heated seats in the ST-3) which I thought would be a bit of a gimmick. Not so! We've had a couple of cold mornings up here in Scotland already and the heated steering wheel is VERY nice!
Upon deciding to go for another ST I though that if I was going to go for the same again I would go for something different, hence the Estate option this time. I don't NEED an estate, but I like the shape. The only bugbear is that you can't specify the tilt and slide sunroof option on the estate (I had this on my red ST hatchback) which is nice for the couple of sunny days we get per year, also handy for letting out the trouser-cough smells on the way to work in the morning!
So.... the order went in for the new ST-3 Estate on the 9th of April this year and the long wait began.
Drive The Deal selected Lifestyle Ford in Horsham as the supplying dealer and the car eventually turned up at the end of July, an early-morning flight from Edinburgh to Gatwick on Friday 24th July ensued & a 9-hour trip back home was then endured (through pouring rain for most of the trip).
The new Mustang was also a consideration, but if I was going to go for the Mustang it would HAVE to be the 5.0 V8 and while I could probably afford to buy one I almost definitely couldn't afford to run it so that option was oot the window!
I then looked at the possibility of going for a slightly older vehicle, I've always loved how the TVR Cerbera looks and sounds but reliability worried me, plus the daily running costs so next up for consideration was a used Audi S8. I looked at several but again the running costs and potential bork-factor worried me.
I eventually decided I would go for the newly-facelifted Focus ST so an order went in via DriveTheDeal. I picked some factory options again this time, the ST Style Pack (19" alloys and tinted rear windows), the NAV option with premium sound (Sony speakers with subwoofer in the boot) and the door-edge protectors. Another option I went for this time was the heated steering wheel (to go along with the standard heated seats in the ST-3) which I thought would be a bit of a gimmick. Not so! We've had a couple of cold mornings up here in Scotland already and the heated steering wheel is VERY nice!
Upon deciding to go for another ST I though that if I was going to go for the same again I would go for something different, hence the Estate option this time. I don't NEED an estate, but I like the shape. The only bugbear is that you can't specify the tilt and slide sunroof option on the estate (I had this on my red ST hatchback) which is nice for the couple of sunny days we get per year, also handy for letting out the trouser-cough smells on the way to work in the morning!
So.... the order went in for the new ST-3 Estate on the 9th of April this year and the long wait began.
Drive The Deal selected Lifestyle Ford in Horsham as the supplying dealer and the car eventually turned up at the end of July, an early-morning flight from Edinburgh to Gatwick on Friday 24th July ensued & a 9-hour trip back home was then endured (through pouring rain for most of the trip).
Once back home the (mostly minor to begin with) modifications began. I had hoped to have the Mountune MP275 kit fitted to the car by the supplying dealer before I collected it but Mountune didn't have the hardware/software for the facelifted ST available at the time. So modifications were limited to a set of performance creation mudflaps, climair window wind deflectors and some gel badges to cover up the blue ford ovals.
Once the Mountune kit became available for the facelifted ST my car was booked into Harrisons of Peebles (my local Mountune PRO dealer) to have the MP275 kit fitted, along with the Mountune short-shifter arm for the gear selector. These items were fitted on Monday 21st September when the car had done approx. 1,700 miles.
The MP275 kit compromises of an upgraded intercooler, air filter & cast cross-over ducting and a revised engine map. All carried out in roughly 3 hours.
I haven't had much opportunity for hooning since the Mountune kit was fitted (just back and forward to work during the rush hours) due to a bout of man-flu but I can really feel the difference with the kit fitted, the car pulls much harder and for longer & it is quite addictive when road conditions allow! There is an increased induction noise with the kit fitted which I don't know if I am entirely keen on but we'll see if it grows on me as time passes.
My red 2012 ST hatch didn't have the Mountune kit fitted to it but by the time I got rid of it it had done approx. 25K miles. I really felt the car loosen-up during that time and now my new Mountune ST estate feels like my old ST in terms of performance/power delivery and it's only done 2K miles. I am hoping that the estate will loosen-up like the old one did and that is when I (hope to) feel the really significant benefit of the Mountune upgrade.
Future plans for the car are limited. I may get the 19" wheels painted in the Spring next year, Ford now allow buyers to specify the same 19" wheels I have in gloss black as well as the standard silver so I might go for that. However I may decide to go a bit mental and have the wheels painted a really lairy in-your-face colour like a bright vibrant purple or something. We'll see.
I just hope this new one is reliable.
Once the Mountune kit became available for the facelifted ST my car was booked into Harrisons of Peebles (my local Mountune PRO dealer) to have the MP275 kit fitted, along with the Mountune short-shifter arm for the gear selector. These items were fitted on Monday 21st September when the car had done approx. 1,700 miles.
The MP275 kit compromises of an upgraded intercooler, air filter & cast cross-over ducting and a revised engine map. All carried out in roughly 3 hours.
I haven't had much opportunity for hooning since the Mountune kit was fitted (just back and forward to work during the rush hours) due to a bout of man-flu but I can really feel the difference with the kit fitted, the car pulls much harder and for longer & it is quite addictive when road conditions allow! There is an increased induction noise with the kit fitted which I don't know if I am entirely keen on but we'll see if it grows on me as time passes.
My red 2012 ST hatch didn't have the Mountune kit fitted to it but by the time I got rid of it it had done approx. 25K miles. I really felt the car loosen-up during that time and now my new Mountune ST estate feels like my old ST in terms of performance/power delivery and it's only done 2K miles. I am hoping that the estate will loosen-up like the old one did and that is when I (hope to) feel the really significant benefit of the Mountune upgrade.
Future plans for the car are limited. I may get the 19" wheels painted in the Spring next year, Ford now allow buyers to specify the same 19" wheels I have in gloss black as well as the standard silver so I might go for that. However I may decide to go a bit mental and have the wheels painted a really lairy in-your-face colour like a bright vibrant purple or something. We'll see.
I just hope this new one is reliable.
Thats ok Otis, it would be a boring life if we all liked the same things!
The thing with the wheel colour is, and the pic of the hatch above with the black wheels shows it slightly, is that the tyre sidewalls can end up looking brown when the wheels are black. Thats why I fancied going for a lairy colour like purple or orange. Especially with the stealth grey body, it would be a nice contrast (i think).
Got a while to decide, I am not getting the wheels done until next Spring.
I know no-one has asked (so far) but I am getting low-30's mpg.
The thing with the wheel colour is, and the pic of the hatch above with the black wheels shows it slightly, is that the tyre sidewalls can end up looking brown when the wheels are black. Thats why I fancied going for a lairy colour like purple or orange. Especially with the stealth grey body, it would be a nice contrast (i think).
Got a while to decide, I am not getting the wheels done until next Spring.
I know no-one has asked (so far) but I am getting low-30's mpg.
Beefmeister said:
It'll be interesting to see when the first people get their MP275 equipped cars on a rolling road as I've heard that the number starts with a 3 in reality...
No plans to put mine on a RR but I agree, would definitely be interesting to see what figure an MP275 car makes. ChrisRS6 said:
What's with the flappy rubber mudflaps?
They aren't really 'flappy' (they are fairly rigid) but they keep a fair amount of muck & detritus off the sides of the car. Hub said:
I suppose you didn't have it unmodified for long enough to notice many differences in the way the facelift drives. Does it handle the power any better for example?
Although I only had the car for a short while before I got the MP275 kit fitted I did feel fairly quickly that the new facelifted car is a LOT better on the road than the MK3 pre-facelifted cars. I had my 2012 ST for approx. 2.5 years, I got used to the car pulling you all over the road when accelerating hard (torque steer) but the new car is a lot less lairy. Thats even with my new estate having the 19" alloys on it and the old 2012 car the 18" alloys. You would expect a fair amount of tramlining but there isn't really any at all. Gives more confidence when the roads are damp, can plant the throttle without worrying about the car pulling itself out of your intended direction. Thanks for all the comments folks, appreciated it!
Bubba Zanetti said:
I've got a couple of questions if I may?
1. What are the service intervals?
2. Does it have split/fold rear seats - you mention the sub-woofer in the boot does this take up load space?
I believe it's every 10K miles for servicing and it does have split-fold rear seats. I'd nip out and take a quick pic of the back seats (and inside the boot) but it's chucking it down!1. What are the service intervals?
2. Does it have split/fold rear seats - you mention the sub-woofer in the boot does this take up load space?
No the subwoofer doesn't take up any load space, it sits inside the middle of the spare wheel.
Podie said:
Oobster, how you getting on with the car? Better than the previous Mk3?
Aye getting on with it fine, it's now done 3.3K miles and is absolutely filthy! I downloaded a Sync wallpaper and uploaded it into the car which is quite a good wee idea. Fuel consumption is still fairly hard on the wallet at an indicated 28mpg but then I do drive it fairly quickly when the conditions allow. Got used to the increased induction noise now and I don't really mind it. Certainly isn't loud enough to be intrusive although I still feel the car has a fair bit of loosening-up to do before it releases that wee extra bit of power.
Getting the Sync system to recognise my (Scottish) voice is turning out to be a bit of a challenge! I'm not known for my patience and I frequently end up getting scunnered speaking in the poshest loudest voice I can muster only for the Sync system to play a piece of music or call someone nowhere near sounding the same as what I asked!
MikeGoodwin said:
Sorry to dig up, but I have the pre facelift ST-3, does the facelift still torque steer and tramline like a pig? Perfect tyre pressures and 'sport mode' help this problem but its still a nuisance at times.
Hi Mike, I know what you mean about the pre-facelift, I felt the same with mine, the car would pull itself all over the road under hard acceleration. No, my facelift car doesn't seem to suffer from this greatly, even with the Mountune MP275 kit fitted. Now that the car has done nearly 7K miles it has loosened up somewhat and I can accelerate hard without having to fight the steering wheel.
Since the thread has been bumped i'll add a few more words about the car.
MPG is showing on the trip computer as 27mpg, but then I do tend to have a fairly heavy right foot. No stand-out issues with this car (so far!) apart from a loud hiss through the stereo a couple of weeks ago, regardless of what input I set it to. Searched over on the ST Owners Club forum and there have been a few MK3 ST owners complaining of this, although all said the problem sorted itself without any main dealer intervention. Indeed, my car 'sorted itself' within half an hour and although it is annoying (it happened to me on a Friday evening drive home from work when I needed the music on LOUD in order to keep me awake!) it doesn't seem to be a fault/problem that occurs frequently.
Only other 'modification' is a set of 20mm-per-side Eibach spacers, I had ordered 15mm - after being assured they would fit - but they didn't fit. There isn't enough space in the back of the 19" 'style pack' alloy wheel mating face for the short piece of the existing studs to go into, but there is with the 20mm spacers. Quite like how the car looks now, I was considering getting the wheels painted (even started a thread in General Gassing recently) but after long & careful consideration I have decided to keep them silver.
I may change my mind once the car has gone through another Scottish winter with all the grit & salt getting flung over the wheels.
No other plans with the car, well none that I have the time or money to carry out. In a brief moment of daydreaming madness I wondered what the car would look like with an all-over shades-of-grey camo wrap on it but I gave myself a slap and put that idea to bed.
The Mrs has just taken delivery of a brand-new Fiesta Titanium 1.0 ecoboost auto and although I've only had a quick drive of it the wee thing can certainly shift! The £££ involved in purchasing the new Fiesta though means that funds for me to spend on this Focus (or a MK3 Focus RS) are non-existent.
Quick recent pic with the spacers fitted, just after I'd spent 4 hours giving it it's first thorough clean of 2016:
Untitled by Andy McMillan, on Flickr5potTurbo said:
Oobster : I do like the look of your ST wagon.
Is there any idea as to what/why the high through a hissing fit?
Also, do you know if anyone makes a bike rack for these, since a tow hitch isn't possible, with the zorsts as they are?
Thank you!Is there any idea as to what/why the high through a hissing fit?
Also, do you know if anyone makes a bike rack for these, since a tow hitch isn't possible, with the zorsts as they are?
I am not really sure what caused the stereo to throw a hissy fit, although there was a suggestion or two over on the Focus ST Owners Club forum that the issue has something to do with the sound symposer system - i.e. the system that feeds engine/induction sound into the passenger cabin. Posters on that forum said, if I remember correctly, that the MK3 ST used a pipe/hose from the engine compartment into the cabin and the new facelifted MK3.5 channels the sound via the stereo.
I, however, have absolutely no idea if that is factually correct, but the suggestion was that there was a fault with this new system that caused interference when trying to listen to music. It seemed to be that the few people who were reporting a similar issue with their cars all had the Sync 2 system with the 'Premium' sound option - i.e. the Sony door speakers and subwoofer in the boot.
Unsure on the bike rack query, haven't looked into that topic myself, the estate does come with roof 'rails' though which (I imagine) would be ideal for securing a rack to.
Just ticked over 11,000 miles this week, got it's 1st service last week.
I don't have any more plans for the car now, apart from putting petrol in it (more often that I would like!), cleaning it & driving it.
Decided not to do anything with the wheels, they'll stay silver and if I still have the car in a couple of years time (once it's been through a few winters and the paint on the wheels is chipped to feck) then I might consider getting them painted an different colour.
Here is the car as it stands today:
Focus_ST_11-09-2016-15 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
Focus_ST_11-09-2016-18 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
I would LOVE to have an order in for the new Focus RS but finances are limited at the moment so the ST Estate will continue with me for another year at least.
I still haven't encountered any issues with this car, I haven't had a repeat of the loud hiss through the stereo, i'll perhaps need to look at getting a couple of front tyres for it but the current fronts should easily last until next Spring.
MPG is still around 29-31. I've been using almost exclusively Shell V Power Nitro (or whatever it is called this week!).
I don't have any more plans for the car now, apart from putting petrol in it (more often that I would like!), cleaning it & driving it.
Decided not to do anything with the wheels, they'll stay silver and if I still have the car in a couple of years time (once it's been through a few winters and the paint on the wheels is chipped to feck) then I might consider getting them painted an different colour.
Here is the car as it stands today:
Focus_ST_11-09-2016-15 by Andy McMillan, on FlickrFocus_ST_11-09-2016-18 by Andy McMillan, on FlickrI would LOVE to have an order in for the new Focus RS but finances are limited at the moment so the ST Estate will continue with me for another year at least.
I still haven't encountered any issues with this car, I haven't had a repeat of the loud hiss through the stereo, i'll perhaps need to look at getting a couple of front tyres for it but the current fronts should easily last until next Spring.
MPG is still around 29-31. I've been using almost exclusively Shell V Power Nitro (or whatever it is called this week!).
Well, my first fault has appeared:
An orange warning message on the dash: Headlight Malfunction - Service required. Every time I start the car up.
I thought it was just a bulb, my main beam on the nearside headlight isn't working but all other lights are fine.
Seems it is a main dealer job, I was hoping to avoid having to take my car into a Ford main dealers at any point too.
Google searches appear to show this is a common issue with the HID lights on the ST3, more often than not the nearside too on other cars. Owners are reporting the entire headlight unit being replaced.
My car is booked in to a Ford dealer on Tuesday next week, bet it'll be a plug-it-in diagnosis then another visit a few days later to fit parts.
Not the end of the world, but annoying.
An orange warning message on the dash: Headlight Malfunction - Service required. Every time I start the car up.
I thought it was just a bulb, my main beam on the nearside headlight isn't working but all other lights are fine.
Seems it is a main dealer job, I was hoping to avoid having to take my car into a Ford main dealers at any point too.
Google searches appear to show this is a common issue with the HID lights on the ST3, more often than not the nearside too on other cars. Owners are reporting the entire headlight unit being replaced.
My car is booked in to a Ford dealer on Tuesday next week, bet it'll be a plug-it-in diagnosis then another visit a few days later to fit parts.
Not the end of the world, but annoying.
lickatysplit said:
What splitter have you gone for?
A Triple R splitter, good service from them too - arrived quickly and easy'ish to fit (need to get the car up in the air to do it properly). My car went into the local Ford garage this morning, it needs a new headlight (as expected) which they'll order then call me once it comes in. Should be a quick'ish job to swap them over, 2 screws and one multi-plug to remove.
Well, I wasn't planning on changing my car, I was/am fairly happy with the Focus ST Estate but the last finance payment came off my account earlier this month and another car has turned my head so my Focus ST is being traded in tomorrow.
It's been a good, and importantly (for me in light of the problems I had with the red ST hatch) reliable car, it's only had to go into the dealers once for a headlight replacement under warranty.
The car just ticked over 20,000 miles last week and it's in almost immaculate condition, so someone is going to be getting a well-looked-after car.
The only one thing that has 'bugged' me about the car over recent months is the replacement front-mounted intercooler fitted to the car as part of the Mountune upgrade kit, the intercooler came painted black and recently the paint has been flaking off it at an alarming rate, makes the front of the car look tatty.
I might create a Readers Car thread for the new car, i'll see if I can be bothered.
It's been a good, and importantly (for me in light of the problems I had with the red ST hatch) reliable car, it's only had to go into the dealers once for a headlight replacement under warranty.
The car just ticked over 20,000 miles last week and it's in almost immaculate condition, so someone is going to be getting a well-looked-after car.
The only one thing that has 'bugged' me about the car over recent months is the replacement front-mounted intercooler fitted to the car as part of the Mountune upgrade kit, the intercooler came painted black and recently the paint has been flaking off it at an alarming rate, makes the front of the car look tatty.
I might create a Readers Car thread for the new car, i'll see if I can be bothered.
Podie said:
So what's the replacement?
This little economy model:
2016 Ford Focus RS by Andy McMillan, on FlickrPicked it up yesterday.
J4CKO said:
Nice, any plans ?
You seem quite good at subtle and effective modifications based on your previous cars, not that the RS needs it.
I have absolutely no plans for the RS at the moment, if funds allow in the first half of next year i'll get the 375 Mountune kit put on it but no splitters, no window wind deflectors, no lowering springs or wheel spacers and no gel badges going on this one. You seem quite good at subtle and effective modifications based on your previous cars, not that the RS needs it.
To be honest i've slightly over-stretched myself financially with purchasing the RS so I'll need to reign in the spending for a fair while.
Initial impressions on the RS though:
Sync 3 with Apple Car Play is superb, as is the stereo system in the car - sound quality definitely seems better than the system in the ST-3 (which had the premium sound).
The brakes are phenomenal. Slightest brush against the brake pedal and the car hauls itself to a stop. The pops and bangs on Sport mode are quite amusing too, in a childish kind of way, only had the car in Sport mode for a short time so far though.
Enjoying having a sunroof again, which wasn't an option on the ST estate.
One small modification I might make to the RS soon'ish is the addition of a small vinyl sunstrip, I am not a tall person but with the seat adjusted for maximum comfort I find I am having to drive with the sun visor down almost constantly. We'll see. Got to get my private plate on the car too, awaiting the retention certificate turning up from the DVLA.
The RS is 9 months old but has only done 1,400 miles (and some of that was on one trip by the previous owner bringing it up from Exeter to Edinburgh where he traded it in for a Porsche) so it's got a bit of losening up to do. Pulls VERY strongly though.
The ST-3 Estate is now for sale - see link below:
http://www.levencarcompany.co.uk/pre-owned/7667440...
Kinda want it back now
http://www.levencarcompany.co.uk/pre-owned/7667440...
Kinda want it back now
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