Focus ST Ownership
Discussion
PH'ers, i've been long deliberating over what car to get next, i want something with a bit of 'poke', 5 seats, sub 60k miles, something fun, & under £8k!
All of the above are absolute musts.
I also want something that's a bit pokier than my brothers Cooper S (yes it's childish but that's just the way i am).
I was considering a Mazda 3 MPS but the fuel is just going to kill it for me, although i like the performance, so i was looking at something similar in the Focus ST, in terms of performance & the MPG seemed a bit better.
However, i've been reading online that claimed MPG figures are to be taken with a pinch of salt, but to what extent?
Is there a similar car from another marque i should be considering? £8k is the aboslute max i can afford but would much prefer something cheaper!
Ideally combined MPG to be 30+!
All of the above are absolute musts.
I also want something that's a bit pokier than my brothers Cooper S (yes it's childish but that's just the way i am).
I was considering a Mazda 3 MPS but the fuel is just going to kill it for me, although i like the performance, so i was looking at something similar in the Focus ST, in terms of performance & the MPG seemed a bit better.
However, i've been reading online that claimed MPG figures are to be taken with a pinch of salt, but to what extent?
Is there a similar car from another marque i should be considering? £8k is the aboslute max i can afford but would much prefer something cheaper!
Ideally combined MPG to be 30+!
Renault sport Megane?
http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3844733.htm
Are they quicker than a Cooper S? I don't know tbh, but thought i'd suggest it anyway.
http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3844733.htm
Are they quicker than a Cooper S? I don't know tbh, but thought i'd suggest it anyway.
lawrence567 said:
PH'ers, i've been long deliberating over what car to get next, i want something with a bit of 'poke', 5 seats, sub 60k miles, something fun, & under £8k!
All of the above are absolute musts.
I also want something that's a bit pokier than my brothers Cooper S (yes it's childish but that's just the way i am).
I was considering a Mazda 3 MPS but the fuel is just going to kill it for me, although i like the performance, so i was looking at something similar in the Focus ST, in terms of performance & the MPG seemed a bit better.
However, i've been reading online that claimed MPG figures are to be taken with a pinch of salt, but to what extent?
Is there a similar car from another marque i should be considering? £8k is the aboslute max i can afford but would much prefer something cheaper!
Ideally combined MPG to be 30+!
Big, fast and frugal and all for a budget price too - not going to happen. In fact a real word 30mpg+ in this size class and sort of pace is only going to come from a diesel.All of the above are absolute musts.
I also want something that's a bit pokier than my brothers Cooper S (yes it's childish but that's just the way i am).
I was considering a Mazda 3 MPS but the fuel is just going to kill it for me, although i like the performance, so i was looking at something similar in the Focus ST, in terms of performance & the MPG seemed a bit better.
However, i've been reading online that claimed MPG figures are to be taken with a pinch of salt, but to what extent?
Is there a similar car from another marque i should be considering? £8k is the aboslute max i can afford but would much prefer something cheaper!
Ideally combined MPG to be 30+!
You either need to look at smaller lighter cars, or less powerful slower ones. Or other ways to reduce pence/per such as LPG.
The Focus is an ace car IMO, I like the look and noise, but they like a drink too. 20-24mpg seems to be far more the order of things, ok on a run when you don't use the turbo you'll see more, maybe 32mpg, but that's hardly a real world average and driving a car like this gently all the while would defeat the point in owning it.
It's also worth remembering that any tweaked turbo cars normally need superunleaded - which costs more. So a car doing 25mpg on 98RON is costing about the same per mile as a car doing 22-23mpg on 95 RON.
I'm lead to believe the Astra VXR is fairly frugal compared to other fwd hatches in it's class. And if you don't mind something left field, then maybe a smart Brabus ForFour would appeal, they weigh only just over a tonne and are pretty nippy in stock trim (6.5 0-60mph/140mph+) and that's with a modest 174bhp. You can remap them up to around 210hp fairly easily giving quite a power to weight advantage over a standard Focus ST. And being lightweight means they can attain a real world 32-35mpg with over 40mpg ability on a run.
How many miles do you do a year mate, would 30-35mpg save you a stack of cash over 25-30mpg?
I've been do a bit of research on the MPS too, I do like how much car you get for your cash...the equivalent Focus ST (similar year, miles etc) costs a bunch more.
Renaultsport Megane is a good call though, the R26.
I've been do a bit of research on the MPS too, I do like how much car you get for your cash...the equivalent Focus ST (similar year, miles etc) costs a bunch more.
Renaultsport Megane is a good call though, the R26.
Around town or on a spirited run my ST said 17mpg. Motorway i'd get 26mpg. I do however have a lead foot and the cabin noise they make is somewhat addictive.
When i went on the Prodrive track day i averaged 7mpg.
It was 3 of the happiest motoring years of my life though and i'd buy one again in a heartbeat (although the RS gets a shout first).
When i went on the Prodrive track day i averaged 7mpg.
It was 3 of the happiest motoring years of my life though and i'd buy one again in a heartbeat (although the RS gets a shout first).
I've had both a WRX and now have an R26 Megane. Both great cars but I have to say the Megane is right up there in performance and far better in economy stakes and refinement (I may add still not ultimately the most refined car in the world but OK all the same). The R26 is a superb allrounder i'm finding so far, and seemingly great value for money. And for info - I get about 28 mpg out of mine with mixed driving. Comes highly rec'd.
Another problem I found with my WRX ownership - you will always have to eventually scratch the STi itch so if you do go Scooby, go STi, a job I now still have to do!!!!!!
Another problem I found with my WRX ownership - you will always have to eventually scratch the STi itch so if you do go Scooby, go STi, a job I now still have to do!!!!!!
I've had both a WRX and now have an R26 Megane. Both great cars but I have to say the Megane is right up there in performance and far better in economy stakes and refinement (I may add still not ultimately the most refined car in the world but OK all the same). The R26 is a superb allrounder i'm finding so far, and seemingly great value for money. And for info - I get about 28 mpg out of mine with mixed driving. Comes highly rec'd.
Another problem I found with my WRX ownership - you will always have to eventually scratch the STi itch so if you do go Scooby, go STi, a job I now still have to do!!!!!!
Another problem I found with my WRX ownership - you will always have to eventually scratch the STi itch so if you do go Scooby, go STi, a job I now still have to do!!!!!!
Buy the ST remapped, remap it or preferably with the mountune upgrade.
Don't expect 30mpg from any of the cars suggested unless you drive like a fairy which defeats the object of owning a hot hatch. The focus will average 30ish on a run 22-25mpg average of you thrash it, around town,etc. I had mine for 2 years and 22,000 miles and it was faultless.
The only reason I sold it is because I want a two seater rwd with more power most likely a z4m otherwise I would still own it.
Great cars, the only niggle was the front end did feel a little heavy when pushing it or when going over speed humps.
Don't expect 30mpg from any of the cars suggested unless you drive like a fairy which defeats the object of owning a hot hatch. The focus will average 30ish on a run 22-25mpg average of you thrash it, around town,etc. I had mine for 2 years and 22,000 miles and it was faultless.
The only reason I sold it is because I want a two seater rwd with more power most likely a z4m otherwise I would still own it.
Great cars, the only niggle was the front end did feel a little heavy when pushing it or when going over speed humps.
Thanks Chaps, realistic mileage per annum is about 10,000 miles! The majority of my commute is town, with about 3 miles of NSL & a dual carriageway thrown in!
I'd describe my driving as a mix of lead foot & fairy, fairying it around town & flooring it on the fast A-Roads!
Although i would'nt mind doing the odd track day!
The stipulations of it being a 5 seater are the main thing & the wish-list of it being quicker than a Cooper S was just something i'd like, i did'nt expect to get everything i wanted in a car for that sort of money really!
The Megane / Focus & MPS all seem stupendious cars for the money, but there'd always be that niggling feeling in the back of my mind that the Renault was going to break-down (i'm currently a Renault driver, all be it a s
t family bus), i was basing my MPG figures, on that i don't really want something massively worse than what i have now but could easily live with the same which is circa 30mpg combined!
I'd describe my driving as a mix of lead foot & fairy, fairying it around town & flooring it on the fast A-Roads!
Although i would'nt mind doing the odd track day!
The stipulations of it being a 5 seater are the main thing & the wish-list of it being quicker than a Cooper S was just something i'd like, i did'nt expect to get everything i wanted in a car for that sort of money really!
The Megane / Focus & MPS all seem stupendious cars for the money, but there'd always be that niggling feeling in the back of my mind that the Renault was going to break-down (i'm currently a Renault driver, all be it a s
t family bus), i was basing my MPG figures, on that i don't really want something massively worse than what i have now but could easily live with the same which is circa 30mpg combined!"I was considering a Mazda 3 MPS but the fuel is just going to kill it for me, although i like the performance, so i was looking at something similar in the Focus ST, in terms of performance & the MPG seemed a bit better."
You do know that the MPS is alot better on fuel then the ST ? lol
I currently getting 29mpg and that sat in the lovely traffic that sheffield produces each day, My last full tank of fuel that i calculated came out at 36mpg that was with a trip down the motorway as well.
By all means look at both cars but remember the MPS is better on fuel and quicker then the ST
You do know that the MPS is alot better on fuel then the ST ? lol
I currently getting 29mpg and that sat in the lovely traffic that sheffield produces each day, My last full tank of fuel that i calculated came out at 36mpg that was with a trip down the motorway as well.
By all means look at both cars but remember the MPS is better on fuel and quicker then the ST
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff