2014 Focus ST

[jimbrewer]

I wouldn't sweat the reliability too much. A nice thing about Ford is that they allow their dealers to sell extended factory warranties over the internet to any Ford buyer, dirt cheap.

I'm seeing the $50 deductible, 7yr 100K "Basic care" policy for $785. It covers the stuff that would strand you except the radiator and the gas tank. For an extra $100, they cover those things plus the power windows. Fully transferrable to a new owner for $75.

It would be very bad PR for Ford to charge a special Focus ST premium, so its probably almost automatic you get your money back and then some eventually.

http://www.floodfordesp.com/esp_plans.ph...Submit=Continue

 

[jigen]

Awesome info! I'm bookmarking that link.

 

[MCompact]

I really like the Focus ST, but for my purposes(DD, occasional HPDE car) it was just too similar in performance to my MS3 and therefore I really couldn't justify the cost of "upgrading"- but I DO wish my MS3 had heated seats!

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: MCompact
I really like the Focus ST, but for my purposes(DD, occasional HPDE car) it was just too similar in performance to my MS3 and therefore I really couldn't justify the cost of "upgrading"- but I DO wish my MS3 had heated seats!
You can buy seat heaters and install them into your stock seats, but I don't know the exact price of parts and labor time to do that job.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
You can buy seat heaters and install them into your stock seats, but I don't know the exact price of parts and labor time to do that job.


I know I could have gone the aftermarket route but it seems that every time I do that I'm less than impressed with the quality of the workmanship and/or the product itself.

 

[jigen]

Some complaints I can think of on the top of my head:

Small gas tank: 9.5 Gallons will fill this thing when it's on E. Tough to get more than 250 miles out of a tank.

Shift suggestions for Eco Mode: Can't turn this off, which is crazy to me. IMO the ST shouldn't even have this feature. No matter how I drive, there's always a green little light telling me to put it in 5th or 6th. I try to ignore it, but it's definitely not going anywhere.

Shifter placement: I like the shifter a lot, but it feels like it should be a little more towards the driver. Engagement would be better for the driver.

---------------

And off topic with the cons, Turbo Lag: Out of all the modern turbos i've driven, I've still experienced noticeable turbo lag, enough that it's not a fun or enjoyable thing. The 2.0T VW engine is one I can think of off the top of my head. The Ecoboost has very, very little lag. You still get that turbo rush, but the lag is close to non-existent.

Just went filled the tank after a lot of spirited driving and a little hwy, 25MPG. I'll take it.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: jigen
No matter how I drive, there's always a green little light telling me to put it in 5th or 6th. I try to ignore it, but it's definitely not going anywhere.

Sounds like a job for a small piece of black electrical tape.

 

[jigen]

lol, yup. I was going to actually say that.

 

[Quattro Pete]

With that said, it wouldn't actually work for me. Knowing that the little sucker is still there blinking behind the tape whenever I don't shift on time would drive me up the wall. Yeah, I am OCD like that.

Ask around on some Ford forum to see if there is a way to have the dealer reprogram the ECU to make it go away.