Anything with focus ST performance plus decent mpg?

[hotchilidamo]

I've read on here many times that if you're looking at a hot hatch you shouldnt be worried about mpg. Which is a fair point but the reality for most of us is that we want a fun toy but we don't always have the luxury of not caring about mpg and unnecessary visits to the petrol station.

I took an ST3 out today and loved its performance but looking at some of the mpg numbers reported on here and st owners forums it's turned me right off.

So if you want some decent performance and a decent mpg what are the options? If not a hot hatch, what's the closest alternative?

Edited by hotchilidamo on Saturday 15th March 19:18

[Test driver]

Performance doesn't come out of thin air.

[Ian Geary]

335d?

[Campo]

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/golf/gtd-h...

I drive a Mk5 Petrol GTi and get about 28 around town and 38 driving at 70ish for a long period on the motorway.

Performance diesels are the way to go if you really need the MPG. Depends on how many miles you do really.

I prefer the petrol engines but the modern diesels are getting very, very good now.

[nottyash]

Ian Geary said:

335d?

I averaged 34mpg in my evolve mapped 335d. Plus they are auto only. A good cruising car but a million miles off a hot hatch.

[SV8Predator]

Campo said:

but the modern diesels are getting very, very good now.

You've not had any experience of modern diesels then?

[Welshbeef]

nottyash said:

I averaged 34mpg in my evolve mapped 335d. Plus they are auto only. A good cruising car but a million miles off a hot hatch.

So that's a 350bhp 335d v a 220bhp Focus.... Totally different league.

[Greengecko]

I've owned my Focus ST for just under a year now, and honestly loved every minute of it.

Haven't had any major problems yet, touch wood, and averaging about 25mpg around town and 33mpg on a motorway driver. Worth every penny of fuel for the fun you get out of it . Would be more worried about getting the modding bug rather than fuel, very easy to get to the 300 mark without too much expense.

Edited by Greengecko on Saturday 15th March 20:10

[thetrash]

Test driver said:

Performance doesn't come out of thin air.

Nope but the engine the last ST was good at turning petrol into noise and not much else.

[greggy50]

They are bringing a focus ST diesel out soon I think

Closest option now I suppose would be a remapped Golf GTD for a focus sized diesel hot hatch get them up to around 210hp 420nm

[zeduffman]

A Mountune'd Fiesta ST must be able to get pretty decent mpg?

[seang83]

Isn't the new fiesta st meant to do 35-40 mpg?

[Jasandjules]

Lotus Elise will get mid 30s to the gallon. Even when pushing on a bit.

[seang83]

Haha beat me to it

[lewisf182]

130i meant to be better on fuel and it's a better hot hatch. RWD, 3 litre straight 6, faster etc.. Not as big inside though.

Think if your after MPG you should go Golf GTI or GTD/ Leon alternative.

[CharlesAL]

The new golf gti must be getting on for 40 mpg mustn't it?

[ferrariF50lover]

I had 300bhp from my ST and it did the same 20mpg it did when it had 225.

I don't think it's about overall MPG, it's about value for MPG. You can get a decent ST3 for £8k. Chuck a grand at that and it'll be all that mine was. All the car you'll ever need for £9,000 and 20mpg. That, to me, is much better value/MPG than, say, a dull Korean hatchback which'll do 50 to the gallon, but bore you to death in the process.

Simon.

[rich85uk]

130i will do 38-39mpg if you drive gently enough which is excellent for a 3.0 265bhp engine, my old E46 had the older more thirsty 3.0 and at first i averaged 29.5 mpg when i hadnt had the car long which was either commuting in it or going out for a blast,32-35 mpg was what i generally got aslong as it wasn't town driving and i wasnt flat out in every gear

something like the newer Mini Cooper S or Corsa VXR will be more forgiving mpg wise if you do more town driving or b roads where your forever working your way through the gears

[Council Scum]

The Focus ST, the performance of a 200bhp car but with the running costs of a V8.

Avoid.

[ferrariF50lover]

Council Scum said:

The Focus ST, the performance of a 200bhp car but with the running costs of a V8.

Avoid.

This is unfair. Running costs includes a lot more than just MPG and, in many respects (road tax, servicing, parts, insurance etc) for what it is (and what it can very early be turned into) it's a very good choice indeed.

Simon.