A Rather Bright Focus ST3

[CT05 Nose Cone]

Decided it was time for a new car, as much as I've enjoyed my GT86 it wasn't really suitable for my 50 mile motorway commute. It had occurred to me I'd never owned a fast/warm Ford, but finding one was harder than I though. Fiesta was too small, to me the pre facelift mk.3 Focus looks ugly, and would have to be an ST3 since only they came with heated seats. So when I spotted this on AT I drove to the middle of nowhere Norfolk to collect it. The advantage leaving at 7am to the middle of nowhere though was I could say goodbye to the GT86 with some lovely driving roads whilst the 42mph brigade were still in bed. Whilst they may have been out in force on the return journey I did manage to get some scenic pictures. Safe to say that you won't be losing it in the car park:







Although I did pick it up 4 miles too late




Not quite completely standard as I'd wanted, but it has seemingly every factory option, refitting the rear wiper should be simple enough and the main thing is there's no god awful exhaust or map. Whilst I would have preferred an estate, they're even rarer so I had to compromise.

[CT05 Nose Cone]

d_a_n1979 said:

I really like that; always liked the shape...

A lad down our cul de sac has one but in dark grey; he's had the exhaust and remap by the sound of it too, and 'blips' it when driving down the small, quiet cul de sac...

Still lives with his parents too Say no more

I currently have the "pleasure" of living 2 doors down from someone who has done similar to their Scirocco, suffice to say I will not be doing the same.

CABC said:

they're different cars, but your comparative thoughts?

Too early for me to judge the Focus aside from that it's faster, but the GT86 feels like a sportscar in that you sit very low with a small windscreen very direct steering feel and almost no body roll. Was perfectly usable day to day as long as you don't have more than 1 passenger, but did tend to drone on the motorway, you had to work it to get peak power which could be annoying, and it had what might be the worst standard sound system I've ever heard in a car released in the last 25 years. Ride was hard and could feel jittery, but the alcantara seats were honestly some of the best I've ever experienced.