RE: Ford Focus ST facelift: Driven
Discussion
carparkno1 said:
Some brokers are already offering 5k and more off the top ST3. Takes the price down to just over 20k
Christ that is tempting. Usability of a hatchback, 30mpg and 250bhp without the fugly pre-facelift front end. Can't think of much else at that price that competes in the brand new market.
Wonder what the GMFV and depreciation hit would be over three years on that? 6% APR - ish isn't great.
It is cracking value, ST3 is £21,800 on DTD. The Leon is £23,200, so extra £1,400 for the extra power. I think the seat finance rate is more competitive, nice choice to have.Christ that is tempting. Usability of a hatchback, 30mpg and 250bhp without the fugly pre-facelift front end. Can't think of much else at that price that competes in the brand new market.
Wonder what the GMFV and depreciation hit would be over three years on that? 6% APR - ish isn't great.
JackReacher said:
It is cracking value, ST3 is £21,800 on DTD. The Leon is £23,200, so extra £1,400 for the extra power. I think the seat finance rate is more competitive, nice choice to have.
Fully loaded ST3 Nav hatchback is £20926 after a £5237 discount is applied. Maybe they have updated the prices or something? Either way 21k for the facelift is obscenely good. carparkno1 said:
JackReacher said:
It is cracking value, ST3 is £21,800 on DTD. The Leon is £23,200, so extra £1,400 for the extra power. I think the seat finance rate is more competitive, nice choice to have.
Fully loaded ST3 Nav hatchback is £20926 after a £5237 discount is applied. Maybe they have updated the prices or something? Either way 21k for the facelift is obscenely good. The torque steer in the ST Mk3-1st gen is weird. If you fight the steering wheel itll torque steer, or try to, all over the place. If you just keep a gentle grip on the wheel it seems to correct any torque steer or tram lining issues you otherwise get on the same piece of road when you fight it.
Does it still deliver a big dollop of boost as soon as you plant your foot into the bulkhead?
Does it still feel as though its lost 100bhp after you've given it a good thrashing for 5 minutes?
Does it still consume petrol at an alarming rate when pressing on?
1st gen car I think is really great but definitely flawed. Front end grip in mine is fantastic, when you actually get the opportunity to go above 10 mph. I suspect the new one with revised springs and stuff would be excellent.
Does it still deliver a big dollop of boost as soon as you plant your foot into the bulkhead?
Does it still feel as though its lost 100bhp after you've given it a good thrashing for 5 minutes?
Does it still consume petrol at an alarming rate when pressing on?
1st gen car I think is really great but definitely flawed. Front end grip in mine is fantastic, when you actually get the opportunity to go above 10 mph. I suspect the new one with revised springs and stuff would be excellent.
carparkno1 said:
Wonder what the GMFV and depreciation hit would be over three years on that? 6% APR - ish isn't great.
My PCP deal for a soild paint ST-3 with Nav, Premium Sound, Door Protectors and Driver Assistance Pack is £21.5k with GMFV of £14680 over 2 years at 4.2% (6,000 miles a year).With this level of performance and kit, it is damn good value for money.
RaymondVanDerDon said:
My PCP deal for a soild paint ST-3 with Nav, Premium Sound, Door Protectors and Driver Assistance Pack is £21.5k with GMFV of £14680 over 2 years at 4.2% (6,000 miles a year).
With this level of performance and kit, it is damn good value for money.
That's a good deal. So tempted.
With this level of performance and kit, it is damn good value for money.
That's a good deal. So tempted.
blearyeyedboy said:
Dear Matt,
You wrote:
Hello!
I don't think it would be significantly different, the pre facelift car on 18s used tyres that would have been very similar in width. The facelift work is more than the just a tyre swap and works very well!
And it was especially snowy at points, I'm sure any kind of mixed weather tyre on any powerful FWD car would have struggled. Winters would have helped but of course it's hard to comment without a direct comparison.
Finally, just in reply to a couple of other comments, we somehow don't have an interior pic... Probably best given the state it was in. This is the press pic, appropriately enough a LHD car
You wrote:
Article said:
There remains some fight from the front wheels exiting slow corners, but it would be unreasonable to expect less given there's 250lb ft and 250hp going through them. Furthermore, the ST no longer feels overawed by those outputs, finding remarkable traction and retaining great composure where experience of the old car would suggest it shouldn't.
And later on...Article said:
Turns out 235-section Michelin Pilot Sport 3s don't really like slushy tarmac. Quelle surprise.
The way I read that is that the Focus ST's roadholding and control of its torque steer is really good... on very large wheels with tyres that favour dry fast road work. Do you think the review be significantly different on a more typical mixed/wet weather tyre or (shock horror!) winter tyres, with 18 inch wheels like the pre-facelift version? Might MPS3 tyres on large wheels flatter the new ST on dry fast roads more than the actual facelift work does?Hello!
I don't think it would be significantly different, the pre facelift car on 18s used tyres that would have been very similar in width. The facelift work is more than the just a tyre swap and works very well!
And it was especially snowy at points, I'm sure any kind of mixed weather tyre on any powerful FWD car would have struggled. Winters would have helped but of course it's hard to comment without a direct comparison.
Finally, just in reply to a couple of other comments, we somehow don't have an interior pic... Probably best given the state it was in. This is the press pic, appropriately enough a LHD car
Edited by blearyeyedboy on Tuesday 10th February 23:43
Cheers!
Matt
blearyeyedboy said:
RTH said:
More a travelog than a road test.
Yes, but I quite like that. I think you learn more about road cars as travel companions on longer trips, and it's the kind of driving that helps you figure out if you bond with a car or not.Matt
MikeGoodwin said:
The torque steer in the ST Mk3-1st gen is weird. If you fight the steering wheel itll torque steer, or try to, all over the place. If you just keep a gentle grip on the wheel it seems to correct any torque steer or tram lining issues you otherwise get on the same piece of road when you fight it.
Does it still deliver a big dollop of boost as soon as you plant your foot into the bulkhead?
Does it still feel as though its lost 100bhp after you've given it a good thrashing for 5 minutes?
Does it still consume petrol at an alarming rate when pressing on?
1st gen car I think is really great but definitely flawed. Front end grip in mine is fantastic, when you actually get the opportunity to go above 10 mph. I suspect the new one with revised springs and stuff would be excellent.
First car is strange like that, I can only stress how much more composed this car felt (with the caveat that it was 2013 when I last drove the ST!). Does it still deliver a big dollop of boost as soon as you plant your foot into the bulkhead?
Does it still feel as though its lost 100bhp after you've given it a good thrashing for 5 minutes?
Does it still consume petrol at an alarming rate when pressing on?
1st gen car I think is really great but definitely flawed. Front end grip in mine is fantastic, when you actually get the opportunity to go above 10 mph. I suspect the new one with revised springs and stuff would be excellent.
I didn't find a huge dollop of boost but the turbo isn't the smoothest when it does spool up. I quite like that. It didn't feel like it had lost power but it was quite cold where we were which must have helped the turbo. Fuel economy had averaged just under 30 by the time we were home. I was having too much fun to check at the time!
If you liked the first one (which I did), you will really enjoy this.
Matt
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