RE: Ford Focus ST | UK Drive
Discussion
I have now seen a good number of these out on the road and have been disappointed every time, it just looks far too bland and Korean/Peugeot-like. I understand some people's aversion to the overt styling of previous STs but this could not appear more stale to me and I would not consider owning one. The light blue (which I have also seen in the metal a couple of times) does it no favours. I have never had to triple-take before realising that I'm looking at a new Focus ST before.
Presumably a considered approach by Ford to attract more of the mainstream to the top spec model in the range.
Presumably a considered approach by Ford to attract more of the mainstream to the top spec model in the range.
Anyone who gets one needs to get it in Orange Fury. In fact, it should be the only colour Ford offers it in.
I had a mk3.5 Focus ST and really loved it, though it certainly wasn't a patch on the FK8 Civic Type-R. I currently have a mk4 Focus with the babiest of baby engines and even in that guise it feels more mature and competent - handling-wise - than my old ST. If they've mostly nailed the torque steer issues, I can imagine the new ST is a peach, albeit an expensive peach.
I had a mk3.5 Focus ST and really loved it, though it certainly wasn't a patch on the FK8 Civic Type-R. I currently have a mk4 Focus with the babiest of baby engines and even in that guise it feels more mature and competent - handling-wise - than my old ST. If they've mostly nailed the torque steer issues, I can imagine the new ST is a peach, albeit an expensive peach.
Macboy said:
sideshowfred said:
I think people don't realise how heavy cars actually are. A base spec Astra is around the 1700kg mark at the moment.
Really? Vauxhall quote a maximum of 1400kg in their tech spec. Back to the Focus. No way is it quicker than the old RS (as in MK3 Focus RS) from 30-70 or 0-60, or 0-100, not unless Ford have done a Skoda and supplied mags with a ringer which has been chipped (anyone else remember the Octavia VRS road test from 2001 when an obviously remapped VRS was clocked at 16.7 secs for the 0-100 dash). Obviously if we're talking in gear performance, you get quirks based on gearing, so yeah I can imagine the new Focus might be quicker, from say, 50-70 in 4th than a Focus RS
Jon_S_Rally said:
I don't really see how the Fiesta ST looks any more wild than this does? They're both hatchbacks with a bit of a body kit and some fancy wheels?
The ST models have never been wild to look at, as that is not the purpose of them. The RS is supposed to be the more wild one. That being said, given the stick that the Civic Type-R gets on here, I think it's fair to say that most prefer their performance cars a bit more understated.
The golf TCR / R / GTi are the understated grown up hot hatch choice, maybe a cupra R or plain Jane I30n, Renault and Ford used to offer the Maxpower boy lairy options, Honda has now gone all out chav racer with the Civic Type R styling to match the poke from being milder styled previous models.The ST models have never been wild to look at, as that is not the purpose of them. The RS is supposed to be the more wild one. That being said, given the stick that the Civic Type-R gets on here, I think it's fair to say that most prefer their performance cars a bit more understated.
The Fiesta ST just looks like a hotter version of the base car imo , Focus is just boring no Xr3i turbo nutterness added by Ford, shame really as a fast one should stand out.
greenarrow said:
Back to the Focus. No way is it quicker than the old RS (as in MK3 Focus RS) from 30-70 or 0-60, or 0-100, not unless Ford have done a Skoda and supplied mags with a ringer which has been chipped
The old Focus ST ( and 5-pot Focus RS ) was faster for the 30-70 sprint than the 4wd Focus RS so I cant see the new ST being slowerIt’ll be the standing start runs where the ST will be slower than the 4wd RS - can’t see it beating the front wheel drive Focus RS times by more than the odd tenth either - both similar weight and power
To those here who've mentioned that the car is a bit long, I see your point. It does, from some angles, take on the appearance of a fuselage.
I gotta say, though: It's a handsome design for a mass-market car that's expected to be a Jack of all trades. That side strake is well placed, imo. As are the various curves around the body. Accents such as the wheels and grille look well considered.
unsprung said:
To those here who've mentioned that the car is a bit long, I see your point. It does, from some angles, take on the appearance of a fuselage.
I gotta say, though: It's a handsome design for a mass-market car that's expected to be a Jack of all trades. That side strake is well placed, imo. As are the various curves around the body. Accents such as the wheels and grille look well considered.
I gotta say, though: It's a handsome design for a mass-market car that's expected to be a Jack of all trades. That side strake is well placed, imo. As are the various curves around the body. Accents such as the wheels and grille look well considered.
Does look long but then still a bit more compact than the Civic
tload of torque steer but the engine was a peach. What a pathetic written article, VW fannyboy I presume. Classy restraint of the Golf??? seriously!!!
Front tyre smoking??? Really, that is not very easy to do under most conditions, unless you turn traction control off. When you attempt to do a burn off the traction control holds the car back.
Front tyre smoking??? Really, that is not very easy to do under most conditions, unless you turn traction control off. When you attempt to do a burn off the traction control holds the car back.
sideshowfred said:
s m said:
cerb4.5lee said:
I've always liked a Performance Ford and I also like this. It weighs almost as much as my old BMW E90 330i now though.
Those days are gone when a 4-door saloon was 1200kg320d Sport tested a few months back was 1640kg
If you work out the minus fuel weight and driver, should give a picture of weights previously.
1700kg seems excessive for an Astra. I guess so many electrics on board these cars are adding so much weight.
article said:
but this is the ST pitched as one of the fastest Fords ever, quicker across the quarter mile than the old RS
I don't think Ford have claimed that. I doubt very much that it would match a mk3 RS on a 1/4mile. Do PH make these things up as they go along or does this car actually do 1/4mile in the low 13s? Very impressive if so but I doubt it.
WCZ said:
this review doesn't seem so good in comparison to others
the autocar video review seems very positive and the laptime is only a few ms short of the civic type r
I personally think it's the most appealing focus st in awhile, esp with the mountune pack when it comes out
if you want it to look a bit more crazy then the bright orange will work nicely
Review doesn't surprise me, after all its Matt Birdthe autocar video review seems very positive and the laptime is only a few ms short of the civic type r
I personally think it's the most appealing focus st in awhile, esp with the mountune pack when it comes out
if you want it to look a bit more crazy then the bright orange will work nicely
Elatino1 said:
article said:
but this is the ST pitched as one of the fastest Fords ever, quicker across the quarter mile than the old RS
I don't think Ford have claimed that. I doubt very much that it would match a mk3 RS on a 1/4mile. Do PH make these things up as they go along or does this car actually do 1/4mile in the low 13s? Very impressive if so but I doubt it.
That would seem to be more of a possibility as it weighed 1480kg and had 300bhp - turned in a 14.2 ss1/4 @101.
The last ST with 247bhp managed a 14.8@ 99
Both were quicker 30-70 than the last RS ( the 4wd one which was tested in the wet incidentally )
Autocar’s test of the new ST is out in a couple of days
s m said:
I wondered where that claim had come from too and suggested that they maybe meant the old ‘old RS’ - I.e the 5-pot front wheel drive one.
That would seem to be more of a possibility as it weighed 1480kg and had 300bhp - turned in a 14.2 ss1/4 @101.
The last ST with 247bhp managed a 14.8@ 99
Both were quicker 30-70 than the last RS ( the 4wd one which was tested in the wet incidentally )
Autocar’s test of the new ST is out in a couple of days
Ford claim the in gear times for the MK4 ST are quicker than the MK3 RS - it's nothing to do with the MK2 5-pot.That would seem to be more of a possibility as it weighed 1480kg and had 300bhp - turned in a 14.2 ss1/4 @101.
The last ST with 247bhp managed a 14.8@ 99
Both were quicker 30-70 than the last RS ( the 4wd one which was tested in the wet incidentally )
Autocar’s test of the new ST is out in a couple of days
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