Discussion
I'd really look for something other than a Focus ST if I was spending that kind of money and prepared to get 20mpg on a good day. They're huge cars, they feel heavy and dynamically pretty uninvolving. They're more of a GT than anything. To me, the bulky feel and lack of agility kills it's hot hatch credentials stone dead. And that big 5 cylinder engine is in a pretty lazy state of tune when you consider the displacement and turbo.
Having had friends with the Astra VXR and the Focus ST, I am quite surprised to say I much preferred the Astra VXR for a multitude of reasons. I'm usually a dyed-in-the-wool Ford fan!
Having had friends with the Astra VXR and the Focus ST, I am quite surprised to say I much preferred the Astra VXR for a multitude of reasons. I'm usually a dyed-in-the-wool Ford fan!
300bhp/ton said:
18mpg on superunleaded 
So in pence per mile ratio that somewhere nearer to 15-16mpg on 95 RON.
If you've got £8k to blow on a motor at that kind of fuel costs you might as well buy something like this:
Not as fast point to point, but probably more fun. Can be made as quick in a straight line and will at least retain or appreciate in value.
It certainly wouldn't cost more in terms of ownership and I'm pretty sure would make you smile a heck of a lot more!
I'm impressed, it took you 8 posts on this thread before recommending something that is LHD, American and V8 powered.So in pence per mile ratio that somewhere nearer to 15-16mpg on 95 RON.
If you've got £8k to blow on a motor at that kind of fuel costs you might as well buy something like this:
Not as fast point to point, but probably more fun. Can be made as quick in a straight line and will at least retain or appreciate in value.
It certainly wouldn't cost more in terms of ownership and I'm pretty sure would make you smile a heck of a lot more!
300bhp/ton said:
Funk said:
If fuel bills scare you, avoid the ST. I did around 2,000 miles a month in mine and averaged 18mpg. I was filling the tank every other day with super unleaded (mine was running a Dreamscience remap, up to about 270bhp). The pace/grunt for the amount of fuel consumed is horrendous, but it sounded lovely.
The fuel economy of the ST really is as bad as people say it is, especially the earlier ones (mine was an 06).
18mpg on superunleaded The fuel economy of the ST really is as bad as people say it is, especially the earlier ones (mine was an 06).
So in pence per mile ratio that somewhere nearer to 15-16mpg on 95 RON.
If you've got £8k to blow on a motor at that kind of fuel costs you might as well buy something like this:
Not as fast point to point, but probably more fun. Can be made as quick in a straight line and will at least retain or appreciate in value.
It certainly wouldn't cost more in terms of ownership and I'm pretty sure would make you smile a heck of a lot more!
Just because of the FWD configeration and hatch design does't mean to say they can't be fun, and in a way probably a bit safer for a novice than a torque laden RWD until more experience and no claims are gained.
Baryonyx said:
I'd really look for something other than a Focus ST if I was spending that kind of money and prepared to get 20mpg on a good day. They're huge cars, they feel heavy and dynamically pretty uninvolving. They're more of a GT than anything. To me, the bulky feel and lack of agility kills it's hot hatch credentials stone dead.
You speaking from experience? 20mpg on a good day? Maybe if you are sat in traffic.And dynamically uninvolving and lack of agility? have you even driven one?? Totally contrary to my experience and EVERY magazine review at the time of release, yes the steering is weighty just as i like it but it is very easy to provoke the rear end into play when wanted unlike most hot hatches.. Yes they are heavy just as every car in that sector is.
I also had a friend with an astra vxr and even he agreed with me abd EVERY magazine review that the focus is better in every single way.
The Apprentice said:
I'm looking at 5k cash deposit, finance about 3-4k, for 2-3yr.
Not sure if some of the cars listed are within my range?
Appreciate the replies thoughm
If I were 21 and interested in cars with that kind of spending power I'd be looking at:Not sure if some of the cars listed are within my range?
Appreciate the replies thoughm
VX220 or 220T
Elise
GTM Libra
The best MKII MR2 Turbo for £4-5k and forget the finance
Corvette C4 manual
LS1 powered Camaro (what I've got)
The best DC2 ITR and forget the finance
If you want more GT then I'd be looking at XK8's, XKR's or even XJR's if you want the seating.
Other cars that sprig to mind:
BMW Z4 3.0
130i
M Roadster Z3
Audi S4 B5
Honda S2000
RX-8
RX-7 turbo FD
Nissan 350z
Mustang GT
Loved my St until it got pinched - far better than my current Golf Gti, fuel is an issue even if you drive it slow and steady - rarely above 20/22 to the gallon on average - odd it of motorway might see you up to 25, i used to do about 300 per week and you couldnt do that on one tank !
The Apprentice said:
I just love them mate, I dint need the space, just think they're smart.
I like Astra VXR's too. Any idea's on them? MPG, everyday car etcm.?
Astra as a day to day car is pretty much faultless. 30mpg+ is no effort at all, if you want o be lazy just stick in 6th gear and use the torque (it has a lot of it for a 2litre, especially with a remap) or if you want go and hoon it about just hold the sport button in for a few seconds to turn the T/C off and go for a blast. The power delivery is very 'old skool turbo' style, a big of lag then a huge lump of boost. It's great fun. And ignore any comments regarding 'poor' handling, the handling is more better than good as standard and if you do think it needs improvement, Eibach springs and a Whiteline rear anti-roll bar make a nice difference and make the front end a bit more 'pointy'I like Astra VXR's too. Any idea's on them? MPG, everyday car etcm.?
If mine hadn't been stolen I'd still have it to be honest, it lost it's appeal once I got it back though.
rb5er said:
You speaking from experience?
Yes. If you and your friend want to sit and circle jerk over the bloated ST thats fine. Someone is obviously buying these things! 
But for me, it's just big, heavy and clumsy. And lacking in the involvement and fun I expect from Ford. They usually pride themselves on their handling, which I didn't thinik much of for any mk2 Focus, to be fair. And whilst the car could have been sculpted into a mildly pleasing GT, which is where it makes the most sense, they persisted with those bloated hot hatch looks whilst getting it totally wrong. A real shame.
Baryonyx said:
rb5er said:
You speaking from experience?
Yes. If you and your friend want to sit and circle jerk over the bloated ST thats fine. Someone is obviously buying these things! But for me, it's just big, heavy and clumsy. And lacking in the involvement and fun I expect from Ford. They usually pride themselves on their handling, which I didn't thinik much of for any mk2 Focus, to be fair. And whilst the car could have been sculpted into a mildly pleasing GT, which is where it makes the most sense, they persisted with those bloated hot hatch looks whilst getting it totally wrong. A real shame.
I did a few "track days" in mine and was surprised just how well it performed against others, the ST is noticably quicker than a GTi golf and sounds superb. - I miss mine
Baryonyx said:
rb5er said:
You speaking from experience?
Yes. If you and your friend want to sit and circle jerk over the bloated ST thats fine. Someone is obviously buying these things! But for me, it's just big, heavy and clumsy. And lacking in the involvement and fun I expect from Ford. They usually pride themselves on their handling, which I didn't thinik much of for any mk2 Focus, to be fair. And whilst the car could have been sculpted into a mildly pleasing GT, which is where it makes the most sense, they persisted with those bloated hot hatch looks whilst getting it totally wrong. A real shame.
Apprentice - thought about an Impreza? Similar fuel economy, but more fun to run around in. Your deposit would get you a clean example outright, and it would save you the ballache of having to pay for it for 4 years. I only suggest buying outright because it is literally soul destroying paying for a car years after the novelty has worn off. A lot of the chaps here aren't on as much of a budget!
Actually, whichever car you go for, think about buying it outright. Depreciation, years of finance - all will suck a lot more than the weekly fuel bill!
Actually, whichever car you go for, think about buying it outright. Depreciation, years of finance - all will suck a lot more than the weekly fuel bill!
Funk said:
If fuel bills scare you, avoid the ST. I did around 2,000 miles a month in mine and averaged 18mpg. I was filling the tank every other day with super unleaded (mine was running a Dreamscience remap, up to about 270bhp). The pace/grunt for the amount of fuel consumed is horrendous, but it sounded lovely.
[/footnote]
They are dreadful on the fuel, I used to get 30mpg easily from my Cupra R and that was running about 270bhp. Thirsty sofas parading as a hot hatch, it's more of a hatchback sports GT really. Seems Ford have really missed the mark recently with their hot hatches. The abysmal fuel consumption of the Fiesta ST (where 27-28mpg is not uncommon) is another disaster, when you consider it only has 150bhp. Not only did the ST's closest competitor, the Clio 182, end up being a much more dynamically exciting and rewarding car to drive, it can average 10mpg or more better than the ST while making 30bhp more.[/footnote]
My ST3 is my company car and can easily get 250 mile out of a tank. I get about 270ish and have lead right foot a lot of the time.
I have had my car from new for a year and a half and she returns about 22.4mpg and has covered 33,000ish miles.
The only problems I have had with mine have been the drivers seat clicking when you lean back but Ford reapaired(Stripped the seat and replaced a broken widget thingy me bob) under warranty.
I have had my car from new for a year and a half and she returns about 22.4mpg and has covered 33,000ish miles.
The only problems I have had with mine have been the drivers seat clicking when you lean back but Ford reapaired(Stripped the seat and replaced a broken widget thingy me bob) under warranty.
Baryonyx said:
rb5er said:
You speaking from experience?
Yes. If you and your friend want to sit and circle jerk over the bloated ST thats fine. Someone is obviously buying these things! But for me, it's just big, heavy and clumsy. And lacking in the involvement and fun I expect from Ford. They usually pride themselves on their handling, which I didn't thinik much of for any mk2 Focus, to be fair. And whilst the car could have been sculpted into a mildly pleasing GT, which is where it makes the most sense, they persisted with those bloated hot hatch looks whilst getting it totally wrong. A real shame.
I'd also say Ford obviously did not get the looks totally wrong as it was a huge success, it would seem you opinions are quite odd abd it is you that has got it totally wrong.
I'm getting 260ish miles out of a tank at the moment door to door driving (+ hooning), that's with 300bhp aswell so it's not standard, was getting similar figures when it was standard though, so not much has changed. I can get mid 30mpg on motorway runs, if I stick to the speed limit, lol.
I have had my ST for roughly 2 years now and get around 250 miles out of a tank. I only do an 18 mile commute to the office and most of that is on the motorway. When I chose my car fuel economy was never an issue. Insurance for me is around the £1500/ year with mods declared but I think the high price is mainly due to my postcode.
I have had to replace the alternator(common fault), wishbone plus the other standard items(brakes,tyres etc)
I would say that if fuel economy is an issue for you the ST is probably not the best car for you, you don't want to be worrying about fuel economy every time you put your foot down as it will take the fun out of driving it.
I have had to replace the alternator(common fault), wishbone plus the other standard items(brakes,tyres etc)
I would say that if fuel economy is an issue for you the ST is probably not the best car for you, you don't want to be worrying about fuel economy every time you put your foot down as it will take the fun out of driving it.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff