Not a what car thread

[Dixie68]

... sort of.

I've pretty much narrowed down my next car to either a Saab 9-3 Aero rag top or a Ford Focus ST-2 - very different cars admittedly but I like them for different reasons. My wallet tells me I should go for a normal Focus with good history but I listened to my wallet the last time and ended up with an Almera, the only car I've ever hated!
So, just out of interest, if you had £8,000 to spend what would you buy, (not necessarily any of the above).

[300bhp/ton]

Dixie68 said:

... sort of.

I've pretty much narrowed down my next car to either a Saab 9-3 Aero rag top or a Ford Focus ST-2 - very different cars admittedly but I like them for different reasons. My wallet tells me I should go for a normal Focus with good history but I listened to my wallet the last time and ended up with an Almera, the only car I've ever hated!
So, just out of interest, if you had £8,000 to spend what would you buy, (not necessarily any of the above).

I like the Ford if honest, I quite like the look the styling and love the ASBO orange colour you can get it in. The noise and performance are good too. However I do think the mpg sucks big time for only 225hp and semi hot hatch performance. I also see the Focus purely as a family car, so if I didn't need the seating and voluminous boot I'm not sure I could justify driving such a large car about, no considering the speed vs mpg argument anyhow.

The Saab as a vert won't drive as good I'm sure. Chassis is much less rigid and I'm not sure they are really setup for high speed cornering, more a cruiser. That said they don't look bad, are a bit rarer and when it's nice out you'll be so glad for having a vert and dropping the top to enjoy some rays. Even cruising at 30mph with the roof down on a sunny day can be pure pleasure. Don't know much about mpg for the Saab, probably not hugely great either, but from what I've read of the ST it should be significantly better in the Saab.


As for my choice with £8k? Well I'd probably be looking at something a little more sporty for my money. Depends on how many seats you need and what sort of boot size. But there is almost limitless choice depending on how old, new or left field you'd be prepared to look at.



EDIT: About the ST's mpg. I've read many times that the consensus is 20-24mpg from these with quite a few getting in the teens. Ok I think they can do 28-30mpg on a run, but you've got to be good and not use the turbo, which makes owning one a little pointless in my view.

Also remember if you have it remapped you'll need superunleaded which costs more, so pence per mile is higher. A car doing 21mpg on superunleaded is costing similar to a car doing 18 or 19mpg on 95RON. To put this in perspective I run a 5.7 litre V8 with over 100hp more than the ST and is quite a bit faster. My V8 manages 22-24mpg on 95 RON easy, 19 if you're flat out everywhere and 26-30mpg on a run. It also seats 4 and is easy to run and maintain. In light of this the ST just looks very heavy on fuel vs performance to me.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 13th August 19:42

[Dixie68]

To be honest I'm not that worried about mpg, that's why I got the Almera and it's so boring that paying out more for a lower mpg is a price I'd happily pay.

[MarkGArgyle]

We have the 2.8V6 Aero and love it, particularly on a sunny day...it will be significantly slower than the ST it is more of a GT.

Regarding the touchy point of fuel the Saab does 19mpg around town and on a rare m-way trip it returned 32mpg which I was really impressed with especially as my 159 only does 28 on the same journey. It is however an auto and my wife's car so only does limited mileage.

If it was my only car I would have the ST given your choice, however it is still a focus and unless dressed in asbo orange will just blend in...our cereuleum blue Saab draws looks everywhere...

No help by at least my 2p worth' await the STOC....!

[JREwing]

I would go for the Saab. It just has a far more cultured air, and imagine picking up a girl for a date (I've no idea if you're single or not) in an orange Focus. I think a handsome Saab convertible puts out a better image, somehow.

Mostly though, for me, it would depend on my commute and typical driving. If it so happens that I cross Snowdonia every day, I'd take the Ford. If it's 30 miles on the motorway each way, I would imagine the Saab is far more pleasant.

[Dixie68]

I live in London so my commute is all tube and bus, the car is for days out, shopping and the occasional nightshift. Four seats are essential as the days out usually consist of me, my girlfriend and family, and two-seaters are out anyway as I'm 6ft 2". The car can't be huge as parking is limited where I live - the Saab would be about the maximum length-wise and barges don't really interest me anyway. I've always been sensible with cars as they've always been used for commuting but this one won't be and I want something that's fun.
I'm not a classic car fan as I like my toys; air-con etc.

[300bhp/ton]

Dixie68 said:

I live in London so my commute is all tube and bus, the car is for days out, shopping and the occasional nightshift. Four seats are essential as the days out usually consist of me, my girlfriend and family, and two-seaters are out anyway as I'm 6ft 2". The car can't be huge as parking is limited where I live - the Saab would be about the maximum length-wise and barges don't really interest me anyway. I've always been sensible with cars as they've always been used for commuting but this one won't be and I want something that's fun.
I'm not a classic car fan as I like my toys; air-con etc.

If you could live with occasional use seats and mpg isn't an issue, personally I'd rather a Jag XK8 over a Saab. 290hp V8 and a lovely curves.

If it's more an ST alternative, I think I'd be heading to a Supra Turbo MKIV or maybe an Evo 8 over the Ford. If it's really a hatch I think a MK1 Focus RS would be better value for money than the ST. Better looking, rarer, will hold it's money better and a more raw and exciting drive.

[Dixie68]

I'm looking at an ST-2 tomorrow

[jimmyboy85]

I'm in a similar situation and looked at an 8k 5 door focus st last week, was very tempted, but they also had an 8k impreza hatch which really took my fancy although I didn't test drive it......

But if I had a spare 8k and wasn't thinking about practicalities then I would spunk it on an elise S1.

[FoundOnRoadside]

Insert "it's only a tarted up Cavalier" cliche here.

[Dixie68]

Dixie68 said:

I'm looking at an ST-2 tomorrow

Well the above ST was crap. Why do sellers say things like "a mint example" when it plainly isn't? Seats that were ripped, a brake pedal that moved as if it was on a ratchet, peeling paint amongst others. I wouldn't have paid 2 grand for that, never mind the 7 grand he was asking for!

[Speed addicted]

Audi A4 cabriolet. My wife hasa 2003 1.8t and while it's no sports car it is a lovely thing to be n.
If you don't need back seats you can get a boxter for £8k.

[Clinton Baptiste]

300bhp/ton said:

EDIT: About the ST's mpg. I've read many times that the consensus is 20-24mpg from these with quite a few getting in the teens. Ok I think they can do 28-30mpg on a run, but you've got to be good and not use the turbo, which makes owning one a little pointless in my view.

Also remember if you have it remapped you'll need superunleaded which costs more, so pence per mile is higher. A car doing 21mpg on superunleaded is costing similar to a car doing 18 or 19mpg on 95RON. To put this in perspective I run a 5.7 litre V8 with over 100hp more than the ST and is quite a bit faster. My V8 manages 22-24mpg on 95 RON easy, 19 if you're flat out everywhere and 26-30mpg on a run. It also seats 4 and is easy to run and maintain. In light of this the ST just looks very heavy on fuel vs performance to me.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 13th August 19:42

Rubbish. My ST never dropped below 25mpg and i had it remapped to 270bhp (dreamscience). Also it will run on 95 ron all day, mapped or not. The performance of the ST when remapped is jaw dropping!

[300bhp/ton]

Clinton Baptiste said:

300bhp/ton said:

EDIT: About the ST's mpg. I've read many times that the consensus is 20-24mpg from these with quite a few getting in the teens. Ok I think they can do 28-30mpg on a run, but you've got to be good and not use the turbo, which makes owning one a little pointless in my view.

Also remember if you have it remapped you'll need superunleaded which costs more, so pence per mile is higher. A car doing 21mpg on superunleaded is costing similar to a car doing 18 or 19mpg on 95RON. To put this in perspective I run a 5.7 litre V8 with over 100hp more than the ST and is quite a bit faster. My V8 manages 22-24mpg on 95 RON easy, 19 if you're flat out everywhere and 26-30mpg on a run. It also seats 4 and is easy to run and maintain. In light of this the ST just looks very heavy on fuel vs performance to me.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 13th August 19:42

Rubbish. My ST never dropped below 25mpg and i had it remapped to 270bhp (dreamscience). Also it will run on 95 ron all day, mapped or not. The performance of the ST when remapped is jaw dropping!

If you get that mpg then fine. But it's quite clear if you read any ST thread on the web that many don't. Have a look yourself if you want, or I'll dig some out if you prefer.

As for fuel type, it'll probably run on 95, but if the knock sensor is pulling back the timing all the time you are only losing performance an HP. If it's been remapped then I'm willing to bet it's intended for higher octane fuel, that's the entire point of running it. But I admit I don't know the specifics of that exact tune.

I would think 270hp should make it go well. But there are faster cars out there still.

[Dave_]

I just sold my ST to a trader for buttons. You cant sell them privately.

A "spirited" drive without going crazy saw me getting 17mpg , best i ever saw was 25. For the performance you get its horrific. The noise and pull from the 5 cylinders is nice at first but stopping for fuel every 180-200 miles is soul destroying.

[Dixie68]

I'm still looking. That's the problem with buying a new car - finding one!