Facelift Focus ST - so surprised

Facelift Focus ST - so surprised

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Discussion

macky17

Original Poster:

2,210 posts

188 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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Why isn't this car more highly thought of? No, it doesn't have 300 bhp, 4wd or a front diff but the chassis and steering are first class, the engine responsive and flexible and the ride really quite comfortable. It also puts it's power down extremely well in the dry (despite all the journalists tripe to the contrary) and looks great, especially on 19s. I drove one expecting to be underwhelmed and had altogether more fun than I did test driving the RS or the CTR - so much so that I bought it!

I've had many, many cars of all types and this is honestly one of the best I've driven. The only hot hatch (FWD or otherwise) ive ever driven which was better handling was a Renault sport megane and that was uncomfortable too much of the time. Very much a case of less is more. 5 stars from me.

Ahbefive

11,657 posts

171 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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I like them alot but can't see anywhere that they excel over the RS other than being a good £10k cheaper.

macky17

Original Poster:

2,210 posts

188 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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Lighter. More comfortable. More feelsome. Perhaps my RS test drive was too short but fun was not my overriding impression of that car - impressive yes but not fun. The ST is dripping with it.

Ahbefive

11,657 posts

171 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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RS is miles more fun in my book. Both nice cars but the RS is indeed far more fun.

Surprised you are enjoying it over the Type-R too.

macky17

Original Poster:

2,210 posts

188 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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Type R too harsh, has no playfulness from the rear axle and the throttle response is woeful. Like the RS it's just a little too serious. The new CTR should be entirely different if Honda get it right. If you take speed out of the equation, or at least give it less weight, the ST is better.

macky17

Original Poster:

2,210 posts

188 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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All IMHO of course smile

SevenR

242 posts

163 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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I quite fancy a Focus ST3 Estate for my next car next year. I own a Fiesta ST just now and I love it to bits, but it's getting a bit small with my 2 kids getting bigger.
The RS would be great, but if they offered the ST with the 4WD system it would be perfect. I would add the Mountune stage 1 kit and I think I'd be in a very quick very capable practical car that didn't cost a fortune to run.
C'Mon Ford!!! Build it!!!

Zetec-S

5,832 posts

92 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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Ahbefive said:
I like them alot but can't see anywhere that they excel over the RS other than being a good £10k cheaper.
At least £10k - you can pick up a decent facelift ST for around £15k so half the price of an RS. Is the RS twice as good? Surely the ST offers 80% of the fun for half the price?

Don't get me wrong, I'd love an RS but with a 50 mile a day commute the running costs would kill me biggrin

JulianHJ

8,733 posts

261 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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A facelift ST estate is on my shortlist for my next car, probably within the next 12 months. The going rate seems to be around £18k-£20k for a year old ST3 from what I've seen - is that about right? I've priced up a new model for £25k via Carwow, but I'm not sure I could bring myself to buy brand new.

macky17

Original Poster:

2,210 posts

188 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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SevenR said:
I quite fancy a Focus ST3 Estate for my next car next year. I own a Fiesta ST just now and I love it to bits, but it's getting a bit small with my 2 kids getting bigger.
The RS would be great, but if they offered the ST with the 4WD system it would be perfect. I would add the Mountune stage 1 kit and I think I'd be in a very quick very capable practical car that didn't cost a fortune to run.
C'Mon Ford!!! Build it!!!
Why the 4WD though? Unless one lives in Scotland it can't be for snow - there's been one snow day in 2/3 years here in Essex. So you can drive really quickly on a wet road? Why would you want to? I just don't think it's worth the weight penalty just for some unnecessary additional traction. RWD is potentially more fun than properly set up FWD but is 4WD? I remain unconvinced. I speak as someone who's owned 5 Imprezas, a Forester STi, a 996TT and a Nissan GTR - the ST is more fun than any of those despite being pretty much the slowest. Really.

Edited by macky17 on Tuesday 21st February 12:42

SpunkyGlory

2,321 posts

164 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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I love the ST, and own an ST3 myself. But...

The RS is definitely a more fun car for me. ST does 90% of what an RS does but that extra 10% really is worth the extra. My RS turns up in June and although I'll be said to see the ST go, I can't wait to get the new one!

0000

13,812 posts

190 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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The ST is a great all-rounder.

macky17

Original Poster:

2,210 posts

188 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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I guess I need to drive another RS then. If it really is more fun and not simply quicker then that's quite an achievement.

Ahbefive

11,657 posts

171 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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Zetec-S said:
At least £10k - you can pick up a decent facelift ST for around £15k so half the price of an RS. Is the RS twice as good? Surely the ST offers 80% of the fun for half the price?

Don't get me wrong, I'd love an RS but with a 50 mile a day commute the running costs would kill me biggrin
The cheapest 2016 Focus ST (same year so as to be comparable with an RS) on ebay is £19500, the rest are diesels.

Great cars but they will depreciate far more meaning that the RS will likely cost the same if not less less to run over 4 or 5 years when you take depreciation into account.

Ahbefive

11,657 posts

171 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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macky17 said:
RWD is potentially more fun than properly set up FWD but is 4WD? I remain unconvinced. I speak as someone who's owned 5 Imprezas, a Forester STi, a 996TT and a Nissan GTR - the ST is more fun than any of those despite being pretty much the slowest. Really.
I'm starting to think that you are quite mad. The ST is a good car but more fun than an impreza? Nope.

Also the awd system in the RS is very much far more playful than an ST. I'm guessing you didn't get a chance to give the RS a bootful around a corner on your test drive, it can feel very much rwd.

macky17

Original Poster:

2,210 posts

188 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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biggrin

I've had an rb320 and a WR1 and yes, the ST is more fun. It feels up on its toes, responsive and nimble and its steering is in another league. Not as fast. Doesn't sound as good. Doesn't have the traction. Then again, neither does a mk2 golf gti or an old pug 306 gti and they are more pure fun than any Impreza as well.

Yes, I'm willing to accept I may need further mk3 RS experience. It must be quite a thing. Mk3 ST definitely more fun to drive than a mk2 RS though - I owned one.

Edited by macky17 on Tuesday 21st February 19:34

Ahbefive

11,657 posts

171 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
macky17 said:
biggrin

I've had an rb320 and a WR1 and yes, the ST is more fun. It feels up on its toes, responsive and nimble and its steering is in another league. Not as fast. Doesn't sound as good. Doesn't have the traction. Then again, neither does a mk2 golf gti or an old pug 306 gti and they are more pure fun than any Impreza as well.
I can only think that your opinion of imprezas is due to you owning the fat overweight newage ones. A mk2 gti or 306 imo are nowhere near as fun as a good classic impreza and neither is the ST although as you say the ST does have very nice steering.

Zetec-S

5,832 posts

92 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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Ahbefive said:
Zetec-S said:
At least £10k - you can pick up a decent facelift ST for around £15k so half the price of an RS. Is the RS twice as good? Surely the ST offers 80% of the fun for half the price?

Don't get me wrong, I'd love an RS but with a 50 mile a day commute the running costs would kill me biggrin
The cheapest 2016 Focus ST (same year so as to be comparable with an RS) on ebay is £19500, the rest are diesels.

Great cars but they will depreciate far more meaning that the RS will likely cost the same if not less less to run over 4 or 5 years when you take depreciation into account.
Fair point, in the long term it may not cost much more to own an RS over an ST. But not everyone can afford to spend 30k+ on a car (or the equivalent lease). All I was saying is that you can pick up a facelift ST for 15k and enjoy 80%(?) of the fun.

If you can afford the RS then sure, it's the car to have. But since it's been out the ST has perhaps been marginalised when talking about hot hatches, when it's still a very good car in its own right

Tuvra

7,920 posts

224 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2017
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Zetec-S said:
Fair point, in the long term it may not cost much more to own an RS over an ST. But not everyone can afford to spend 30k+ on a car (or the equivalent lease). All I was saying is that you can pick up a facelift ST for 15k and enjoy 80%(?) of the fun.

If you can afford the RS then sure, it's the car to have. But since it's been out the ST has perhaps been marginalised when talking about hot hatches, when it's still a very good car in its own right
It's not about "affording" really, it's about offsetting the finances for 3/4/5 years. Over 3 years I predict my uncle would have lost more on a diesel ST2 than I would have on my Focus RS, yet I am the one who is "bonkers for spending all that money on a car" rolleyes

My uncle managed to get a deal on a fully loaded pre-facelift ST3 for my ex, it was £20,500 (factory order) with various discounts/employee "tickets" etc. At the time I was adamant that it was one of the best pound for pound cars on the planet. I loved that car, its a world away from an RS though....

Ron240

2,745 posts

118 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2017
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Zetec-S said:
All I was saying is that you can pick up a facelift ST for 15k
I think you are being a little bit optimistic on the price there.
The facelift model is exactly 2 years old so to find an ST3 for less than 16 grand there would need to be a good reason for it.
There will be some examples of the facelift on a 64 plate but the majority will start at 15 plate, so a more realistic price for an ST3 petrol would be around 17 grand IMO.

For the record I am on my second brand new ST3 in a row - July 2014 pre facelift now October 2015 facelift.
I love my car.....but give me the option of a new RS and I'm sure I would love it even more. smile