Focus ST and Golf GTI- why the different buyer demographic

[blackcab]

Had an ST last year and a Golf Gti this year ( st was stolen )
In my opinion, the ST is faster, handles better, sounds superb and feels very solid, the Gti is better on fuel by 50% but not half as much fun to drive
The gti is a great car still but I think if you drove them side by side you would pick the ST 9 times out of 10

[bga]

I thought the Golf handled and rode better than the Focus. I can deny that the Focus is faster and sounds much better.

[KB_S1]

rohrl said:

I stress that this is just an anecdote with no scientific study behind it but when I was car shopping for my current Leon Cupra R I was looking at Mk1 Focus RS's too. I chatted to a couple of local RS owners I bumped into in Tesco or the petrol station.

One of the guys I talked to got six years for cocaine dealing a fortnight ago and I'll eat my hat if the other isn't in the same line of work.

On the other hand my doctor drives a Golf GTI.

I know a GP that owned an ST from new. I think he mar have an RS now.

[Group N]

Given the choice I`d go for the Golf.

There`s enough knobheads charging about in Focus` so I`m sure there`s no need for another one.

[Froomee]

ST for me, I test drove both and I preferred the ST plus it was £3k cheaper even with the Mountune kit.

A lovely car I would have kept but I don't need the space and want to do the 2 seater and rwd thing hopefully with a bit more power too. The sound of the focus st is great too.....

[Mastodon2]

Chicane-UK] [I've never seen GTis or STs being driven in anger said:

Civic Type-R's on the other hand.... jeeeezus....

I've you've ever driven one, you'd know why

I have seen a few STs being driven quickly, they can certainly take flight when a smooth, straight-ish bit of road appears. With a decent aftermarket exhaust like a Scorpion they can sound decent for a turbo car too.

I don't think I'd ever want to own an ST - the MPG just puts me right off. I'd have an Impreza if I was going that for down the MPG table. Aside from, I do think they are nice cars, if a little too cossetting, but that could be said for many modern hot hatches.

I'd never want to own the Golf though, looks and sounds very anonymous and non-sporty, which I suppose it part of the appeal for kind of people who buy them, but I want a car that that is like a wild horse, that dares you to go faster and rewards you for doing so, whereas the GTi is a competent but imo too sensible a steed.

[TameRacingDriver]

J4CKO said:

Pig Iron ?

That engine is all alloy,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_Modular_engine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Volkswagen_Gr...



This is the problem, people assume that because it is Ford it must be made of nasty stuff and a VW is made of lightest, taste the difference metals.

As opposed to the actual "Pig Iron" block that the Golf Rocks.

I stand corrected

[jbi]

dave stew said:

It's the black art of brand image! I study this when I'm bored and have a permutation on the best car for business.

Too flash and your customers think you're a wide boy and charging too much (BMW X5?)

Too scruffy and you're on your uppers...

Choices?

Volvo V70
Golf GTi
Any Saab

Etc...

Or buy something completely obscure and they wont have a clue

just make sure it's not a cheap looking korean hatch

[billzeebub]

Personally I would never buy a Ford. I have always been a Golf Gti fan (even the mk3/4) but wouldn't life be dull of we all liked the same. As long as people buy interesting and different cars then they get my vote. And sitting behind an ST in traffic is so much more interesting than being behind a dull Diesel hatchback/people carrier This is how I usually judge a car. If I can sit behind it in a traffic jam for an hour or two and not get bored looking at it (or listening to it) then it passes muster for me...

[veevee]

calibrax said:

Golf drivers tend to be older, and remember the Golf of old, a fantastic 1980s hot hatch.
The Focus hasn't been around anywhere near as long, so it attracts a younger demographic.

Other way round.

Golf = yuppie office worker, mummy and daddy bought them a new Polo as their first car.

Focus = Essex geezer who remembers the Escort/Sierra, used to have an RS2000.

[N3ldv]

rohrl said:

I stress that this is just an anecdote with no scientific study behind it but when I was car shopping for my current Leon Cupra R I was looking at Mk1 Focus RS's too. I chatted to a couple of local RS owners I bumped into in Tesco or the petrol station.

One of the guys I talked to got six years for cocaine dealing a fortnight ago and I'll eat my hat if the other isn't in the same line of work.

On the other hand my doctor drives a Golf GTI.

Hahathats that's rubbish I would say 95% of rs are owned by genuine people, as for doctors driving a gti must be a poor doctor

[rohrl]

N3ldv said:

rohrl said:

I stress that this is just an anecdote with no scientific study behind it but when I was car shopping for my current Leon Cupra R I was looking at Mk1 Focus RS's too. I chatted to a couple of local RS owners I bumped into in Tesco or the petrol station.

One of the guys I talked to got six years for cocaine dealing a fortnight ago and I'll eat my hat if the other isn't in the same line of work.

On the other hand my doctor drives a Golf GTI.

Hahathats that's rubbish I would say 95% of rs are owned by genuine people, as for doctors driving a gti must be a poor doctor

I'm sure that you're right that most RS drivers are genuine enthusiast drivers. I like the car myself or else I wouldn't have considered buying one.

The thing about the coke dealer is absolutely true. He had a yellow E46 M3 cabrio on 20" alloys too. Hes' from Treboeth in Swansea and it was all in the local rag last month.

Doctors do earn a lot of money but most aren't car nuts. My local surgery staff car park is usually full of very ordinary Peugeots and Toyotas.

Edited for format balls-up.

Edited by rohrl on Friday 6th April 19:21

[poing]

hornetrider said:

Golf GTi: leather brogues, levi's, oakleys and polo shirt.

Focus ST: shell suit, baseball cap, gold necklace and Nike Air.

/nutshell

That explains why I like both then.

Normal attire: Nike Air, Levi's and Oakleys and occasionally a baseball cap when the weather requires I keep the sun of my delicate skin

[Biker's Nemesis]

calibrax said:

Golf drivers tend to be older, and remember the Golf of old, a fantastic 1980s hot hatch.
The Focus hasn't been around anywhere near as long, so it attracts a younger demographic.

Quite funny the replies on here. (as usual)

I am a "White collar" worker, am not young and would never consider owning a VW of any description.

I am a proud Ford driver of 30+ years.

[chrisxr2]

Odd how all the chavs and baseball cap brigade have a few year old ST and rag the arse of it but the golf is more under the radar driven by family man. Thats certainly the case in Grantham anyhoo

StevieB said:

Just wondered why it is that new hot Fords such as the Focus ST seem to be proper "mans, mans" cars straight out of the showroon and introduced to a petrol head home, with its Fast Ford owners club, whereas Golf GTIs seem to be bought by white collar professionals, rather than proper petrol heads, until they become at least 7-10 years old. When the Mk5 GTI came out I never saw one driven in anger for years. A bit like the Audi TT they seemed more a designer badge than anything. Now they are getting older, they are often blasting past in the hands of younger hoodlums. Cant just be a price thing, as neither car is particularly cheap these days.

[hi court]

Interesting thread.

I've never had a GTi but started driving life in fast (at the time) fords and soon got fed up of the attention they get so bought a mk3 vr6 golf. very understated, quick enough and no-one gave it a second look. Now with a mk4 r32, like the fords gets alot of attention but i think i want a focus st next.. (in orange)

[anonymous-user]

blackcab said:

Had an ST last year and a Golf Gti this year ( st was stolen )
In my opinion, the ST is faster, handles better, sounds superb and feels very solid, the Gti is better on fuel by 50% but not half as much fun to drive
The gti is a great car still but I think if you drove them side by side you would pick the ST 9 times out of 10

Motoring press seemed to think the opposite when they both came out!

[rb5er]

St John Smythe said:

Motoring press seemed to think the opposite when they both came out!

Really? They thought the golf sounded better and was faster and the st was better on mpg?

Jokers

[McClure]

hornetrider said:

Golf GTi: leather brogues, levi's, oakleys and polo shirt.

Focus ST: shell suit, baseball cap, gold necklace and Nike Air.

/nutshell

Yep.

This is reflected in the dealers too, from my experience. Looked at a Golf GTI and Focus ST in 2007 (when I was 28). The VW dealer acted professionally; the ST dealer assumed all I was interested in was performance and treated the test drive as an excuse for a hoon - "I'll drive it 5 miles out and you can drive it back". In that 5 miles out he scared the living st out of me by accelerating from lights through a village (30 limit), around blind bends, all the way up to 90. "Muppet" doesn't even begin to describe him.

Edit: I'd rather have a Volvo C30 T5 than an ST.

[Tonberry]

Much prefer the ST myself. GTI just reeks of boring.

Never seen either driven in anger though.