Ford Focus ST mk3 - Anyone own one? Your views please.

[jamiem555]

Hub said:

Yikes, I'm guessing you took a bath on trade in!

No, I sold it privately and bought a Cliosport 200. Ran it for 8 months. Sold that privately and bought the ST3.

[Rawwr]

I've owned a year old Mk3 ST3 for about 3 weeks now and despite needed a new steering rack after 6 days, I am finding it to be a nice drive, certainly exceeding my expectations.

If I had bought the car new, I wouldn't have bothered with the 19" wheels. They're a bit much and the whopping increase in tyre cost over the standard tyres just isn't worth it.

There are some genuinely nice touches and the highlights for me are:

• The little compartment in the centre console which can contain an entire large McDonalds drink in its entirity in its secret little slidey compartment.
• SYNC2 with navigation is a really good system and the voice control is much improved over that in my old Fiesta Titanium X.
• Speed limiter is great with some nice damping as you get to the limit. Set it at 70mph, foot to the floor and fall asleep for your commute.
• The heated, electric, full leather Recaros are really nice, though I wouldn't want to be any fatter than I am. My moobs wobble enough in the car as it is.
• The door protectors! I think they're a £95 option and every car in the universe should have these.

The 'Tangerine Scream' paint is also really quite nice. Depending on the light it either looks yellow, orange or gold. Nice trick.

[jamiem555]

I'd agree about the 19 inch wheels. Mine was a showroom car so I don't pick the options. I preferred the 18's on my old one.

[oobster]

Just for balance, I found NO difference in comfort between the 18" wheels I had on my previous MK3 ST and the 19" wheels on my new facelifted ST3. I use my car primarily to commute to/from work along A, B and M roads.

In fact, I have been considering, just recently, going for after-marker 20" wheels with 30-profile tyres. Probably won't go ahead partly due to costs and partly due to worry over potholes, but nothing to do with comfort.

Also, I could quite accurately be described as being over-fond of the baked goods and I have no issues getting comfortable on/in the Recaros in my ST.

With the seats being heated (something i've never had in a car before) I first started using that function on my ST last winter & I found it was excellent! Really worth having, as is the heated steering wheel.

[Turnip Farmer]

Many thanks all for the tips and help.

I have defiantly decided to go with a facelift, like everyone says it looks so much nicer and of course Ford have improved a few things from the PFL.

Looking at a 2015 plated model and probably going to go with white or grey.

There are a few around me but probably won't be able to look at them until end of the week due to work commitments. Got a test drive booked next Monday which I am looking forward to.

[mikemike08]

I dont have much to add except after 2 run of the mill fords i shall not be going back to another, spending 20k on one is just crazy imo

[nickfrog]

£20k doesn't buy much recent stuff though, does it ? Although if the OP can live with 3-door, then a recent Megane RS will be a significantly better drive.

[Turnip Farmer]

Just doing some more research but how much does it cost to service a mk3 ST and also is there any decent independent Ford specialists that service these cars in North Yorkshire?

[FN2TypeR]

Turnip Farmer said:

Just doing some more research but how much does it cost to service a mk3 ST and also is there any decent independent Ford specialists that service these cars in North Yorkshire?

I went to a Ford dealer in Aberdeen at the weekend (Arnie Clark, blergh) and the two initial services were about £300 as a package.

They had the ability to source a good number of pre-registered and delivery mileage ST3s in various levels of spec, the cheapest were about £21,800 before negotiation, that's some level of saving off of list IMO. Some were obviously dearer if they were covered in options.

I'm half tempted, but the boss lady doesn't want me to get an orange one!

[Turnip Farmer]

FN2TypeR said:

I went to a Ford dealer in Aberdeen at the weekend (Arnie Clark, blergh) and the two initial services were about £300 as a package.

They had the ability to source a good number of pre-registered and delivery mileage ST3s in various levels of spec, the cheapest were about £21,800 before negotiation, that's some level of saving off of list IMO. Some were obviously dearer if they were covered in options.

I'm half tempted, but the boss lady doesn't want me to get an orange one!

Yup same here, I'm not allowed the Tang Scream colour :-(. However I really like the Grey and White, both look good on the ST. Not big fan of the Red, Blue or Black.

[HJMS123]

Turnip Farmer said:

Yup same here, I'm not allowed the Tang Scream colour :-(. However I really like the Grey and White, both look good on the ST. Not big fan of the Red, Blue or Black.

That navy blue they offer now is horrid! Cannot believe they dropped spirit blue for that colour!

You can't go wrong with either the grey or white

[All that jazz]

HJMS123 said:

That navy blue they offer now is horrid! Cannot believe they dropped spirit blue for that colour!

I prefer the imperial blue on the facelift over the spirit blue on the pre-.

[JonnyTenny]

jamiem555 said:

No, I sold it privately and bought a Cliosport 200. Ran it for 8 months. Sold that privately and bought the ST3.

Interesting, how was the Clio for the 8 months you had it? Nearly bought one instead of my ST.

[FN2TypeR]

Turnip Farmer said:

FN2TypeR said:

I went to a Ford dealer in Aberdeen at the weekend (Arnie Clark, blergh) and the two initial services were about £300 as a package.

They had the ability to source a good number of pre-registered and delivery mileage ST3s in various levels of spec, the cheapest were about £21,800 before negotiation, that's some level of saving off of list IMO. Some were obviously dearer if they were covered in options.

I'm half tempted, but the boss lady doesn't want me to get an orange one!

Yup same here, I'm not allowed the Tang Scream colour :-(. However I really like the Grey and White, both look good on the ST. Not big fan of the Red, Blue or Black.

Grey is smart, agreed, it's everywhere though, argh! I see loads. Then again is that a good reason to decide upon such a rare colour as black or silver though?

I'll just risk the wrath by getting an orange one, I'll order it when she is away for a weekend or something

[Hub]

HJMS123 said:

That navy blue they offer now is horrid! Cannot believe they dropped spirit blue for that colour!

You can't go wrong with either the grey or white

The facelift dark blue is more subtle and maybe more grown up - but I don't know why they dropped Spirit Blue when it is still offered on the Fiesta ST!

[jamiem555]

JonnyTenny said:

Interesting, how was the Clio for the 8 months you had it? Nearly bought one instead of my ST.

I wasn't a great fan. I really did want one and love the looks but on a long journey it was quite tiresome. Mine had the cup pack and recaros so it wasn't the most comfortable. After a while I decided to sell and buy another ST. It did hold its value well though and I sold it for £100 less than I paid for it.

[Turnip Farmer]

FN2TypeR said:

Grey is smart, agreed, it's everywhere though, argh! I see loads. Then again is that a good reason to decide upon such a rare colour as black or silver though?

I'll just risk the wrath by getting an orange one, I'll order it when she is away for a weekend or something

Haha! I have seen a silver on Autotrader not too far from me, does'nt look too bad and like you say its quite rare in colour, I am just not sure if silver is bit plain and boring.

Its funny you say that, around here in Scarborough I have only ever seen White and Red ones, never seen a grey one yet out in the wild, probably will now that I am looking.

Just don't like any of the blues that are offered on the ST, now give me the blue that is on the 2016 RS, yes please!!

I might be able to convince to go Tang Scream yet, its one awesome colour!

[FN2TypeR]

Hub said:

HJMS123 said:

That navy blue they offer now is horrid! Cannot believe they dropped spirit blue for that colour!

You can't go wrong with either the grey or white

The facelift dark blue is more subtle and maybe more grown up - but I don't know why they dropped Spirit Blue when it is still offered on the Fiesta ST!

I didn't realise it was different

[Turnip Farmer]

Anyone able to tell me what colour this is?

I am not sure if the camera's colours is just off and its grey but it looks almost between blue and grey.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[All that jazz]

Turnip Farmer said:

Anyone able to tell me what colour this is?

I am not sure if the camera's colours is just off and its grey but it looks almost between blue and grey.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

As it says, stealth grey primer. I wonder when they'll get round to finish painting it?