Mk3 Focus ST - what am I missing?

[AnhBanhBao]

So I’ve finally sold my car and am looking for a 5-door warm/hot hatch.

A couple of my other posts were flirting between a Type R and a Mk2 Swift Sport. The Swift is still in pole position as I do like to keep things Japanese and I love the weight/power ratio, albeit it will be quite tiny inside.

The 5-door Type Rs start from about £17k, which I don’t want to stretch to for now, and the only other option I can see for up to £10k (which is manageable) is the Focus ST. Fords have never really floated my boat, though.

Are there any reasons why I shouldn’t delve into them a bit further? Background - work from home, about 7k miles/year and just about to have our first baby later in the summer.

[AnhBanhBao]

Thanks for the handy info, yes - would be the family car, in fact our only car, so good to know about the rear-facing seat space.

Wouldn’t expect the Focus to be that sharp of a steer, but I hear the engines can be great. Would only be keeping things standard.

[AnhBanhBao]

Thanks everyone, seems 50/50 in terms of people’s experiences so far. It really does plug that gap for a 5-door hot hatch between £7-12k, I think.

Bit more thinking to do, then to have a poke around one in the metal perhaps.

[AnhBanhBao]

Thanks for all the feedback and opinions there, particularly the detailed first-hand ones. I’ve had a look at a couple of STs since my original post, and there’s still something missing about them in my eyes. Maybe it’s the interior or the feeling they do get ‘baggier’ as the miles pile on. That’s something I can identify with after having my only Ford a while back.

Fiesta ST is a good shout, but I think on balance I’d still go for the Swift Sport, bearing in mind it’s going to be a few thousand cheaper and almost as sharp to drive.