Focus ST

[01samuelr]

Is it worth the extra 1k or so for the ST-3 compared to the ST-2? The only difference i see is the leather and a six disk changer. Been looking at these two

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

and

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Cheers Sam

[mattmoxon]

IIRC the only diference is an electric drivers seat leather and yes the six disk. You also lose a seat in the back with the ST-3 as it has sculpted rear seats.

[loko]

the leather really is very comfortable, plus with the ST3 you get xenon lights as standard

[GBTurbo]

I've never been a big fan of the ST, few friends of had them and they weren't particularly quick and sub 20mpg wasn't uncommon.

Any reasons for wanting an ST? Must be a better alternative

[ben_h100]

Heated leather Recaros... Very nice, especially at this time of year. Can't see the AT link for the 07 plate - does it have the 'mid facelift' headlights? (Xenon and with a smoked lens style). If it does, then you get the Sony 6 CD headunit which is excellent.

I'm not sure if the heated front screen is ST-3 only, if it is, then this along with the above is well worth the £1k.

I've had two ST-3s, both great cars although a little thirsty! Good choice

[KingNothing]

loko said:

the leather really is very comfortable, plus with the ST3 you get xenon lights as standard

The ST-2 has Xenon's as standard, the ST-1 didn't.

[KingNothing]

ben_h100 said:

Can't see the AT link for the 07 plate - does it have the 'mid facelift' headlights? (Xenon and with a smoked lens style).

Only difference that changed in the lights is the interior is black rather than silver, don't think there's a smoke on the actual lense itself.

[Justin S]

Have an ST 2 and have heated screen. Personally needed 5 seats and had leather in my last car and got bored of slipping around, so happy with cloth Recaro's. Nice place to be, if a little perched high.
Nice car and very happy with it. Doesnt cost much to go from a good car to a great car and fuel economy being its only real bad area, although I average 25 mpg with general driving and the missus got 34mpg on a good leptonage run, although I am lucky at 31......

[Turbofocus]

loko said:

the leather really is very comfortable, plus with the ST3 you get xenon lights as standard

You get xenons with the st2 as well.

ben_h100 said:

Im not sure if the heated front screen is ST-3 only, if it is, then this along with the above is well worth the £1k.

Yes you get the heated screen on the st2 as well.

I think the only difference between is st2 and st3 is the leather and the 6 cd head unit.The st2 does have a good sony head unit though so its really a case of do you want leather or not.

[Funk]

The 6CD unit can't play MP3 discs, which I found infinitely more useful to have. The only difference between ST-2 and -3 was leather, heated seats, the afore-mentioned 6CD unit and the fact it's homologated only to carry 4 people.

Unless you're desperate for leather and a sweaty arse-crack, get the ST-2.

[mattmoxon]

Funk said:

The 6CD unit can't play MP3 discs, which I found infinitely more useful to have. The only difference between ST-2 and -3 was leather, heated seats, the afore-mentioned 6CD unit and the fact it's homologated only to carry 4 people.

Unless you're desperate for leather and a sweaty arse-crack, get the ST-2.

pretty much summs it up

[NWMark]

Funk said:

The 6CD unit can't play MP3 discs, which I found infinitely more useful to have. The only difference between ST-2 and -3 was leather, heated seats, the afore-mentioned 6CD unit and the fact it's homologated only to carry 4 people.

Unless you're desperate for leather and a sweaty arse-crack, get the ST-2.

Yes it can, on both styles of 6CD stereo that were fitted to the ST.

[Funk]

Ok, perhaps this was added later on. Certainly the earlier cars couldn't.

[mattmoxon]

Oh and I'd go for an orange one too, by far the best colour to have them in

[KingNothing]

mattmoxon said:

Oh and I'd go for an orange one too, by far the best colour to have them in

By orange, did you really mean ginger, and by best colour, did you really mean most girly color?

[White Lightning]

GBTurbo said:

I've never been a big fan of the ST, few friends of had them and they weren't particularly quick and sub 20mpg wasn't uncommon.

Any reasons for wanting an ST? Must be a better alternative

Werent particularly quick?? Are you for real pal?? As for the fuel consumption...i'll grant you that it's fairly poor. However that said who buys a performance car for its MPG??

[ben_h100]

The `black lens` 07 plate versions and onwards have a better headunit and slightly different interior lighting IIRC (red instead of green headunit background? Not sure as only had these models onwards). And yes, black lens 07 onwards WILL play mp3 CDs in the Sony 6CD headunit.

Edit to add - the black ST2 looks nice and has good mileage. Has the ST3 been sold as it's not on the link any more?

[paulmoonraker]

White Lightning said:

GBTurbo said:

I've never been a big fan of the ST, few friends of had them and they weren't particularly quick and sub 20mpg wasn't uncommon.

Any reasons for wanting an ST? Must be a better alternative

Werent particularly quick?? Are you for real pal?? As for the fuel consumption...i'll grant you that it's fairly poor. However that said who buys a performance car for its MPG??

They are not that fast. The MPG is also poor considering the performance.

Having said that, they are a great car. I would probably go leather, but I do agree they don't hold you as well as cloth, more so when hooning

[killsta]

NWMark said:

Yes it can, on both styles of 6CD stereo that were fitted to the ST.

Both the 6cd units on my ST3 (one broke and was changed under warranty) couldn't play MP3's.

[Funk]

Seems like it was only earlier cars that couldn't from the sounds of things (which would be anything pre-07). The facelift cars had a revised dash layout and a different headunit which also included changing the backlighting from green to red.

I ordered mine before the car was launched, and I know for a fact that on an early '06 car (ordered Nov '05) only the single-CD HU could play MP3 discs.

To be honest, I spent the first few thousand miles playing the exhaust and induction noise anyway.