2013 Focus ST

[WANG]

Test drove one of these yesterday. Top shelf, fully loaded example in Tangerine Scream metallic.

Wow. I'm almost certainly going to buy one of these. The automotive press has gushed on about this car quite a bit, and I'd say that they're not wrong and haven't really been exaggerating.

 

[randomhero439]

Originally Posted By: WANG
Test drove one of these yesterday. Top shelf, fully loaded example in Tangerine Scream metallic.

Wow. I'm almost certainly going to buy one of these. The automotive press has gushed on about this car quite a bit, and I'd say that they're not wrong and haven't really been exaggerating.


They are nice cars, however i expected them to be little quicker. Think: SRT4

For example: Stock for stock, my 04 Accord is faster than the ST

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: randomhero439
Originally Posted By: WANG
Test drove one of these yesterday. Top shelf, fully loaded example in Tangerine Scream metallic.

Wow. I'm almost certainly going to buy one of these. The automotive press has gushed on about this car quite a bit, and I'd say that they're not wrong and haven't really been exaggerating.


They are nice cars, however i expected them to be little quicker. Think: SRT4

For example: Stock for stock, my 04 Accord is faster than the ST


NOT!

I'm still waiting to find that Accord that runs a 14.8 quarter mile! You sure bought a quick one!!!

Seriously, the new Focus ST will show its tail lights to almost any other econobox.

 

[aquariuscsm]

The Focus ST is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8


I'm still waiting to find that Accord that runs a 14.8 quarter mile! You sure bought a quick one!!!

Seriously, the new Focus ST will show its tail lights to almost any other econobox.


It's pretty much a driver's race between the Mazdaspeed3 and Focus ST. The GTi isn't much off that pace and can usually holeshot the maniacal 'speed3. The published 1/4 mile time of the cheap car with big engine Sentra SE-R SpecV is around 14.8. So is the K24 Civic Si. (but I don't see either one legitimately beating a 'speed3) The Veloster turbo is not too far behind. Don't snooze at the line.

A Cobalt SS turbo and Neon SRT/4 should be able to show the Focus their taillights. Ditto the STi, Evo, and Golf R.

That's a lot of econoboxes.

And the 'speed3 is expected to return in the next redesign. Enjoy your moment at the top Focus ST. Like the Neon SRT/4, Cobalt SS, and others, it will be brief. The GTi is the only real consistent exception. It's always at or near the top.

 

[Rand]

i wouldnt call cars near 30k econoboxes.

 

[JavierG]

Originally Posted By: Rand
i wouldnt call cars near 30k econoboxes.

Is that how much that Focus costs?! Forget it then. I'll take a Subaru BR-Z please.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: JavierG
Originally Posted By: Rand
i wouldnt call cars near 30k econoboxes.

Is that how much that Focus costs?! Forget it then. I'll take a Subaru BR-Z please.


Comparing a BR-Z to a focus hatchback? Completely bad comparison. Focus is actually usable for everyday stuff, has plenty of room to haul stuff, and put people in. The BRZ? Not so much.

 

[dailydriver]

Yes, bringing turbo AWD rides into this is comparing apples to bananas, regardless of whether or not they are, or are not "econoboxes".

That being said, I wish the big 3 would put some bigger/more powerful, turbo powerplants into their top 'econoboxes', along with a lightweight AWD system, and a manual 6 speed box to maybe kick some Nippon *** for a change.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I'm sure it wouldn't be terribly hard for Ford to make the ST AWD ... or any of the Focuses. The Escape is based on the Focus and it's AWD

 

[notech47]

The next Gen VW GTI will be the one to beat IF VW keeps to it's promise of 300hp and awd in an upgraded R model...
As a current Focus SVT owner I only wish the new Focus ST came in a 3 door hatch model.
I will wait for the next gen GTI...

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: notech47
The next Gen VW GTI will be the one to beat IF VW keeps to it's promise of 300hp and awd in an upgraded R model...
As a current Focus SVT owner I only wish the new Focus ST came in a 3 door hatch model.
I will wait for the next gen GTI...


Yes, that as well.

I don't see WHY ALL of the Nippon AWD turbo performance/'rally' models MUST BE 4 door sedans.

(At least when Ford was still rallying the Focus WRC, it was a 2 door hatch.

)

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: dailydriver
Originally Posted By: notech47
The next Gen VW GTI will be the one to beat IF VW keeps to it's promise of 300hp and awd in an upgraded R model...
As a current Focus SVT owner I only wish the new Focus ST came in a 3 door hatch model.
I will wait for the next gen GTI...


Yes, that as well.

I don't see WHY ALL of the Nippon AWD turbo performance/'rally' models MUST BE 4 door sedans.

(At least when Ford was still rallying the Focus WRC, it was a 2 door hatch.

)


You can get all but the WRX STi Limited models in 5-doors

 

[WANG]

I'd say the competitive set that the Focus ST falls in would include GTI (not Golf R), WRX (not STI), and Mazdaspeed 3. At least those are the ones that I'll have a look at.

They each have their own strong points, whichever one is best would probably depend on what a person considers most important.

 

[MarkM66]

Originally Posted By: JavierG
Originally Posted By: Rand
i wouldnt call cars near 30k econoboxes.

Is that how much that Focus costs?! Forget it then. I'll take a Subaru BR-Z please.


Looks like they start at around $25k. And then it depends on how much junk you need with it.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Originally Posted By: dailydriver
Originally Posted By: notech47
The next Gen VW GTI will be the one to beat IF VW keeps to it's promise of 300hp and awd in an upgraded R model...
As a current Focus SVT owner I only wish the new Focus ST came in a 3 door hatch model.
I will wait for the next gen GTI...


Yes, that as well.

I don't see WHY ALL of the Nippon AWD turbo performance/'rally' models MUST BE 4 door sedans.

(At least when Ford was still rallying the Focus WRC, it was a 2 door hatch.

)


You can get all but the WRX STi Limited models in 5-doors


I was implying/asking WHY they all have to be 4 OCCUPANT doors (whether 4 door sedan w/trunk, or 4 doors with a hatch)?

A three TOTAL door hatch, or 2 door coupe with a trunk, would be COOL.

 

[rationull]

Originally Posted By: dailydriver


A three TOTAL door hatch, or 2 door coupe with a trunk, would be COOL.

It is nice that VW offers the GTI in either 3 door or 5 door form. I can see why they all have seemed to standardize on 5 doors though .. so practical.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: dailydriver


I was implying/asking WHY they all have to be 4 OCCUPANT doors (whether 4 door sedan w/trunk, or 4 doors with a hatch)?

A three TOTAL door hatch, or 2 door coupe with a trunk, would be COOL.

The '99-'00 EM1 Civic Si was incredibly popular and only came as a coupe (in the US) For reasons unknown to me, Honda killed the coupe and imported the shrunken Odyssey styled EP3 Civic Si (with a dash mounted shifter just like an early '70s Z600 "Coupe") from the Swindon U.K. plant.

I don't know why they wouldn't just put the K20A3 in the EX Coupe. Seems less expensive.

As far as the additional doors? Subaru, Mazda, and Mitsubishi do not have a 3 door or coupe variant. They would have to dump tons of money into new tooling to make one and it probably wouldn't be much lighter. In terms of styling, sometimes making a coupe out of a 4-door works and sometimes it just looks weird. Like the Neon Coupe. The coupes always looked odd to me. The Civic and Mirage pulled it off much better.

 

[Mr Nice]

The Civic Si hatchback was ugly and had very silly dash mounted gear shifter.

 

[Joe1]

I've read a lot of good things about this car. It seems as if Ford got the performance part of the equation right with this vehicle.

The less than stellar reliability ratings in CR would make me a bit hesitant about buying one.