So I ended up buying a Focus ST last week
03-10-2014, 12:53 PM
#11
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1) The traction can't be fully turned off which is retarded, IMO.
2) Burberry two tone cross design seats are way too kiddish for me. I actually hated them, a lot. A lot a lot.
The leather interior and trim I wanted on the GTI was 30+ and compared to the 23 I got the Ford for it was a no brainer. I also thought the Ford was the more fun car to drive. The GTI is very neutral but the ST has more of a willingness to rotate. Coming from a RWD car I thought that was pretty cool.
I am aware the ST comes with some ghey two-tone interior options as well. But my opinions on the car are based around the price I got my car for with basically every option available. I expected boy-racer but it is a bit far off from that. The GTI is a great mature car, its just at 30k I would be looking at something else entirely.
03-10-2014, 03:17 PM
#12
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Congrats! I would have picked the ST over all the others cars as well and the price you got is really really good too 
. The one I test drove left me wanting one badly. I really hope they bring the Focus RS stateside next year! With the RS along with the Mustang 350, Ford is doing amazing things.
. The one I test drove left me wanting one badly. I really hope they bring the Focus RS stateside next year! With the RS along with the Mustang 350, Ford is doing amazing things.
03-10-2014, 03:48 PM
#13
Great choice on the car, sir. The ST has been a favorite of mine since they debuted and I looked VERY VERY hard at purchasing one. The only reason my Si won out was I found a good deal on one that I couldn't pass up, otherwise I'd probably be in an ST! The Recaros were a bit snug but I think they'd break in to a comfortable level with some seat time. Love that car overall... who knows, I may have to get one next 
Oh and I love the white, looks very nice on the ST's lines
Oh and I love the white, looks very nice on the ST's lines
03-10-2014, 04:32 PM
#14
Originally Posted by TheMuffinMan' timestamp='1394481603' post='23055673
I seriously want one of these but can't justify trading in the Mazda3i with good gas mileage and regular fuel for something that takes Premium and a lot more of it. Car looks great!
Let's put it this way, for a mid 20's working professional if I had to live with only one car could I do so with the ST? Yep. If I wanted to spend more money I'd have an STI. I have the S2000 for my enjoyment so I have the raw drop top sporty weekend car all sorted out. The Focus ST is the perfect compliment without being boring and mundane. I hope that helps paint a picture of the niche this car fits in.
Sporty, fun to drive, fairly economical, nice amenities and a great price. If you care for driving at all this is definitely one to look at, IMO.
Whoa! Where did you see them for going $30k? Got mine out the door with 0% financing for $23k. (3i GT w/ Tech)
03-10-2014, 05:10 PM
#15
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Hey guys! I've been tossing back and forth between the idea of which car to buy for a daily lately and recently picked up an Oxford White 14' ST. Here's a fairly quick review of the car, why I bought it, and what I like and don't like.
Why I bought it: When looking for a daily I wanted it to be comfy, somewhat nice of an interior although I was prepared for bare bones and cloth, and a good drive while maintaining reasonable fuel consumption and operating costs. I was cross-shopping the GTI, Civic Si, WRX, and Focus ST. I had a good amount of experience with the Civic Si and had already planned to stay in the honda family as I have previously owned an 8th gen before. Long story short the Ford blew the Si out of the water. Interior quality, fit and finish (yeah I know, it's weird hearing it) and the drive were all quite a bit better to me. I ended up getting a fully loaded ST3 Focus for 23 + Tax which is about the same price I can get an Si for in California. When the pricing between the models is within 2k, I would have had to have been crazy to settle for a car with less of everything for the same money. Even if its a Honda.
Things I like: This car drives so smoothly and so quietly half the time I can't believe I am in a Ford. The interior is just ridiculously nice - the Recaro seats, the navi, the dash are all very simple and easy to use and the car has some cool gimmicky features I've come to enjoy. That being said steering feel is precise and the car is nimble. The steering rack is pretty aggressive as well as the car has a "dartiness" to it I also didn't expect. The shifter is amazing - think of a perfect cross between S2000 and STI and that is what you get. I like the rear and side profile though the front grill wasn't exactly the coolest thing in the world in my eyes. I'm getting about 29-30mpg but I've only gone through one tank. The motor is torquey, and smooth - very smooth. A lot of the reviews said this car was "rough around the edges" and I completely disagree. Maybe my idea of rough around the edges varies, which I can attribute to being a modded S2000 owner.
Things I don't like Heel toe is a bit hard, the pedal position is pretty retarded. It is doable, I just need to take some time to get used to it. I also don't like that I can't floor it yet because I need to break in the motor.
I can't really think of anything else I don't like. Bear in mind I own two cars and for the purpose of fun daily that doesn't annoy me or cross into the realm of "too much" this car is perfect.
And the best thing about the car is that it makes my S2000 that much more enjoyable on the weekends. Because it is so soft and smooth the S2000 comes off as way more Raw than I remember it every time I get behind the wheel. So not only did I get a great livable daily driver with a ton of amenities and is a great driver in and of itself - my current weekender feels like even more of a sports car due to the transition. Best of every world, really
I'm sure I left out a lot but if anyone has any specific questions please do ask and I'll do my best to answer from an S2000 owner perspective. I don't have kids or a wife but the backseat is plenty roomy for normal sized adults. Two baby seats wouldn't be a problem AT ALL, imo. Thanks for reading!
Why I bought it: When looking for a daily I wanted it to be comfy, somewhat nice of an interior although I was prepared for bare bones and cloth, and a good drive while maintaining reasonable fuel consumption and operating costs. I was cross-shopping the GTI, Civic Si, WRX, and Focus ST. I had a good amount of experience with the Civic Si and had already planned to stay in the honda family as I have previously owned an 8th gen before. Long story short the Ford blew the Si out of the water. Interior quality, fit and finish (yeah I know, it's weird hearing it) and the drive were all quite a bit better to me. I ended up getting a fully loaded ST3 Focus for 23 + Tax which is about the same price I can get an Si for in California. When the pricing between the models is within 2k, I would have had to have been crazy to settle for a car with less of everything for the same money. Even if its a Honda.
Things I like: This car drives so smoothly and so quietly half the time I can't believe I am in a Ford. The interior is just ridiculously nice - the Recaro seats, the navi, the dash are all very simple and easy to use and the car has some cool gimmicky features I've come to enjoy. That being said steering feel is precise and the car is nimble. The steering rack is pretty aggressive as well as the car has a "dartiness" to it I also didn't expect. The shifter is amazing - think of a perfect cross between S2000 and STI and that is what you get. I like the rear and side profile though the front grill wasn't exactly the coolest thing in the world in my eyes. I'm getting about 29-30mpg but I've only gone through one tank. The motor is torquey, and smooth - very smooth. A lot of the reviews said this car was "rough around the edges" and I completely disagree. Maybe my idea of rough around the edges varies, which I can attribute to being a modded S2000 owner.
Things I don't like Heel toe is a bit hard, the pedal position is pretty retarded. It is doable, I just need to take some time to get used to it. I also don't like that I can't floor it yet because I need to break in the motor.
I can't really think of anything else I don't like. Bear in mind I own two cars and for the purpose of fun daily that doesn't annoy me or cross into the realm of "too much" this car is perfect. And the best thing about the car is that it makes my S2000 that much more enjoyable on the weekends. Because it is so soft and smooth the S2000 comes off as way more Raw than I remember it every time I get behind the wheel. So not only did I get a great livable daily driver with a ton of amenities and is a great driver in and of itself - my current weekender feels like even more of a sports car due to the transition. Best of every world, really
I'm sure I left out a lot but if anyone has any specific questions please do ask and I'll do my best to answer from an S2000 owner perspective. I don't have kids or a wife but the backseat is plenty roomy for normal sized adults. Two baby seats wouldn't be a problem AT ALL, imo. Thanks for reading!
I would have gone for the Tangerine Scream wrapper. I've seen it in person it's a really nice metallic orange IMHO.
03-10-2014, 06:13 PM
#16
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I gotta throw in my 2 cents here as I'm in the same market. GTI/Focus ST/WRX or rolling the dice on used 135/335i
Going onto the Ford website I was like ok I dig that Focus ST in white and ooo I want HID's too!
So I go price it, starts at 23k. I'm like man that's a good deal. However when I check the box for HID I end up having to add multiple packages just to get the HID fro m the nav, the Sync, and leather seats. Plus I can only get the black color leather.
So that bumps my price into a MSRP of 28k, yes its loaded up real nice but alot of that stuff I don't want.
For the new WRX, they start at 26k and that gets you cloth seats, auto climate, backup camera, keyless. 28k adds moonroof, heated cloth, heated wipers/side mirrors, and then 31k for leather, convenience lighting, and remote access.
Personally I'd take a base wrx over the base Focus ST for the extra 2-3k, but when you start getting into options the WRX doesn't seem worth it.
I guess my "benchmark" is once you get into 32-35, to me that's a base G37 and puts you into a whole new league.
Now I have been hearing lots of discounts on the Focus ST so again I'm just comparing MSRP's. I know with this new WRX coming out discounts will be few and far between and over at NASIOC members are getting about 500 over invoice which again isn't a bad deal.
Going onto the Ford website I was like ok I dig that Focus ST in white and ooo I want HID's too!
So I go price it, starts at 23k. I'm like man that's a good deal. However when I check the box for HID I end up having to add multiple packages just to get the HID fro m the nav, the Sync, and leather seats. Plus I can only get the black color leather.
So that bumps my price into a MSRP of 28k, yes its loaded up real nice but alot of that stuff I don't want.
For the new WRX, they start at 26k and that gets you cloth seats, auto climate, backup camera, keyless. 28k adds moonroof, heated cloth, heated wipers/side mirrors, and then 31k for leather, convenience lighting, and remote access.
Personally I'd take a base wrx over the base Focus ST for the extra 2-3k, but when you start getting into options the WRX doesn't seem worth it.
I guess my "benchmark" is once you get into 32-35, to me that's a base G37 and puts you into a whole new league.
Now I have been hearing lots of discounts on the Focus ST so again I'm just comparing MSRP's. I know with this new WRX coming out discounts will be few and far between and over at NASIOC members are getting about 500 over invoice which again isn't a bad deal.
03-10-2014, 06:17 PM
#17
Nice choice , I like those cars. I've owned about five recent model year Fords (including my daily driver) and I've never had an issue with any of them, they've all been really reliable, their quality has really improved in recent years.
03-10-2014, 06:22 PM
#18
I guess my "benchmark" is once you get into 32-35, to me that's a base G37 and puts you into a whole new league.
Now I have been hearing lots of discounts on the Focus ST so again I'm just comparing MSRP's. I know with this new WRX coming out discounts will be few and far between and over at NASIOC members are getting about 500 over invoice which again isn't a bad deal.
Now I have been hearing lots of discounts on the Focus ST so again I'm just comparing MSRP's. I know with this new WRX coming out discounts will be few and far between and over at NASIOC members are getting about 500 over invoice which again isn't a bad deal.
03-11-2014, 04:50 AM
#20
Haven't test drove one yet simply because I might walk out of the dealership in debt. I LOVE these cars and yours is sharp in Oxford White.
I know you haven't gotten on it much but, have you experienced the the clunk/bang on the 1-2 shift? Many people on the FST forums are swapping the engine mounts out for the E-Focus mounts to reduce the bang and wheel hop.
I know you haven't gotten on it much but, have you experienced the the clunk/bang on the 1-2 shift? Many people on the FST forums are swapping the engine mounts out for the E-Focus mounts to reduce the bang and wheel hop.