FN2 Type R - Astra VXR - or Focus ST3 - opinions please

[chevvchelios1993]

Hello all, apologies if this has been posted a lot but most of the posts I find are quite old and things change over the years such as reliability / how vehicles age, peoples opinions after ownership etc.

I'm looking at the above 3 vehicles and have test driven the FN2 and Focus ST3. Both drove really well and i'm yet to try the VXR. I've always had Hondas (Motorcycles and cars) and know how reliable they are. The Honda is also very modern and futuristic on the inside, but the ST3 was extremely torquey and very comfortable, also very roomy.

My main concerns RE the VXR and ST3 are reliablility, they're obviously both turbo charged and i'm aware of the costs to replace / repair faulty turbos.

It's going to be a weekend + odd commute to work car as my main mode of transport is motorcycle. I'm after something sporty, reliable + fun to drive. Looking at paying sub £5k with sub 80k miles.

Please leave any opinions you have of these cars



Thanks, Dan

[mbwoy84]

I wouldn't go for the FN2 personally. Just doesn't quite do it for me compared to the others, but that's all personal preference.

The ST is the best car there. I don't think there's any doubt about that. Great handling, great to drive, great engine, tons of torque. nice place to be behind the wheel, but it's also going to be the most expensive to run and the biggest potential repair bills.

Turbocharger failure is the least of your worries really. On the ST, cracked liners are alarmingly common now and an expensive fix. To repair the block and uprate you're talking big money on top of removing the engine, stripping and rebuilding etc, so a replacement block would be the cheapest (but riskier) option, although if you performed the "block mod" at the same time, you'd be lowering the risk of failure.

Volvos very weak oil filter housing was a part which always failed, but many will have been changed for the improved version now (different colour bands on them will tell you which one it is).

The VXR is a little more straightforward engine-wise, but just watch for the usual Vauxhall 16v engine and electrical weak spots.

I currently own a highly-tuned MK4 Mondeo 2.5T Ghia, which runs the same Volvo engine as the ST. I bought it as a standard car with a cracked liner, so know all about the pitfalls of that. I'm also getting an Astra VXR next month from one of my oldest friends who has owned it since 2009 (2008 57-Reg car) and I've done a lot of work on that car for him over the years including a new replacement Turbo (easy job) and he always said I could have it for a knock down price when he got a new lease car. For the first couple of years of ownership I don't think he appreciated the importance of maintenance on any car, let alone a high-performance one (he'd only been driving a matter of months when he bought it), but soon started to learn with things started going wrong I helped him get it back on track and apart from silly stuff since then it's been a very reliable car for him and he's taken it from less than 10k miles to probably just over 100k I'm guessing it's on now.

[designforlife]

None of them... EP3 Type R would be where I would put my money.

[mbwoy84]

I'll also add, I know the liners are a big problem and a big job on the ST, but find one that has been sorted and they're otherwise pretty bullet-proof, but compared to the others, they're noticeably heavier on fuel.

[chevvchelios1993]

designforlife said:

None of them... EP3 Type R would be where I would put my money.

I like the ep3 and know it's probably slightly better performance wise than the fn2 and probably the better type r out of the 2,but I have a 1.6 2003 civic now and fancy something a bit more modern, the fn2 really takes my fancy over the ep3 because of its modern interior and it looks like a spaceship

[chevvchelios1993]

mbwoy84 said:

I'll also add, I know the liners are a big problem and a big job on the ST, but find one that has been sorted and they're otherwise pretty bullet-proof, but compared to the others, they're noticeably heavier on fuel.

Thanks for your input, I did really get on with the ST I'm just worried it will be a, money pit lol

[designforlife]

chevvchelios1993 said:

designforlife said:

None of them... EP3 Type R would be where I would put my money.

I like the ep3 and know it's probably slightly better performance wise than the fn2 and probably the better type r out of the 2,but I have a 1.6 2003 civic now and fancy something a bit more modern, the fn2 really takes my fancy over the ep3 because of its modern interior and it looks like a spaceship

that's fair enough, of your original three I would probably choose the FN2, and they are at the rock bottom of their value at the moment so if you buy a good one then you shouldn't lose money on it in the medium/long term.

[mbwoy84]

chevvchelios1993 said:

Thanks for your input, I did really get on with the ST I'm just worried it will be a, money pit lol

This may go against the advice that people would give on most cars, but it may be looking at (sensibly) tuned examples, which have had the block mod carried out (with evidence).

Might be the best way into a reliable example.

[CelicaC]

I'm considering these three as well before someone suggested to me a Mazda 3 MPS that's similar money. Anyone had any experiences with them?

[chevvchelios1993]

Yeah I've looked at these as well , very good specs and I'm the same price range, not sure the chassis / handling is on par with an ST or type R though

[Crafty_]

Mazda MP3 had an issue with timing chain IIRC - make sure its been changed. the phase 2 cars look loads better and still very understated. Biggest problem will be finding one, especially if you don't want a white one.

No experience of the FN2.

ST vs VXR - much of it is personal preference, I never liked the body roll of the ST personally, assuming you're looking at the 2.5 engined ones, it felt a bit held back to me. Not a fan of Ford interiors.

VXR engine is great, very torquey through the rev range and I preferred the gearbox too. Ubiquitous 19" wheel option look better, but car rides better on 18s, refresh cars got diamond cut wheels where (as always) are a pain in the arse for corrosion under the lacquer and/or kerb rash. Rear head room is crap, rear visibility crap.

Light remap helps it even more, but there are plenty of crap ones out there. Gearbox can be a weak spot - noisy diff bearings, there was a revised part number. My car had a box under warranty but the second was fine, even with remap.

Rear beam isn't as fancy as multilink suspension, the idea is it works a bit like a torsion system. meh. fit a aftermarket anti rollbar (whiteline?) and a set of springs tights things up.

I don't know if he still has it, but there was a guy who track dayed one and ended up doing time attack in it too - he did end up prepping the shell and all sorts though.

Whichever you buy, look for boy racer abuse. Mods not necessarily a bad thing but make sure you know what you're getting in to - if nothing else insurance wise.

[Driver101]

The MPS is a good car. It's also quicker than people expect.

Mk1 cars are £555 road tax which isn't appealing.

[ZX10R NIN]

chevvchelios1993 said:

mbwoy84 said:

I'll also add, I know the liners are a big problem and a big job on the ST, but find one that has been sorted and they're otherwise pretty bullet-proof, but compared to the others, they're noticeably heavier on fuel.

Thanks for your input, I did really get on with the ST I'm just worried it will be a, money pit lol

They're not a big problem most liner issues are related to highly modified examples & even then it's not as big an issue as the internet would have you believe. My 330 model has not had any issues when I had it & is still running fine.

[Xcore]

Focus st, just watch for rust.
Ed30 mk5 golf gtis and 8p S3s are creeping down aswell.

[ZX10R NIN]

Forgot to say I'd be going for the ST-3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Then the VXR you'll get a good low mileage example for your budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

If you don't mind upping your mileage limit then this non Cup Chassis RS250 would be a great choice:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or there's the Leon Cupra:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[kurt535]

FN2; just make sure you buy one that has the LSD?