Focus ST, Accident and 2-Year Follow-up

[MCompact]

Nice car! I would have given the ST a hard look if it had been around in 2007- when I was looking for an FWD hot hatch...

 

[Andrew1972]

So that car would be scrap in a few more years by such an accident by insurance standards?

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: MCompact

Nice car! I would have given the ST a hard look if it had been around in 2007- when I was looking for an FWD hot hatch...

I am even considering a Fiesta ST, but these dealers all seem to consider them to be rare, limited production, allocated cars (like the RS), and they will not budge on them (price wise).

 

[jigen]

Just shop around and you'll get one of them to deal. Our ST had a sticker of 30k and we got it for 24.5k. I've seen "base" model ST's discounted down under 22k.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: dailydriver

I am even considering a Fiesta ST, but these dealers all seem to consider them to be rare, limited production, allocated cars (like the RS), and they will not budge on them (price wise).

In my neck of the woods(Louisville and Cincinnati) the dealers are advertising fairly significant discounts. I seem to remember one dealer had a Fiesta with Recaros and no hole in the roof in the low $20k region. I know I was going to be able to add the Mountune MP215 Performance Upgrade and still keep the price relatively low.

 

[Ifixyawata]

I need a FoST in my driveway... but it looks like I'll have to wait and take a chance to find a unicorn in 10 - 15 years. By unicorn I mean one of these that hasn't been beaten to death and doesn't have a gazillion miles and isn't rusted out by then...

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: dailydriver

Originally Posted By: MCompact

Nice car! I would have given the ST a hard look if it had been around in 2007- when I was looking for an FWD hot hatch...

I am even considering a Fiesta ST, but these dealers all seem to consider them to be rare, limited production, allocated cars (like the RS), and they will not budge on them (price wise).

Come out to Central PA. They are not rare or limited production... LB Smith Fiesta ST Hoffman Ford FIesta ST Koons in Baltimore also usually has good pricing.

 

[jigen]

+1 I love the fiesta ST in white for whatever reason. But I'd probably track down the fiesta only orange color that ford offers for it. I originally looked for a base model Focus ST since we couldn't justify a sticker price difference of around $7k. My local dealer tried to do a swap with for another ST base model in Blue, but they wouldn't deal. So to get the sale they got us down a lot on the loaded package (ST3). The seats, better sound system, and HID's were nice additions too, so I'm glad we got it. Red wasn't the first choice but Ford's Race Red really pops.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: itguy08

Originally Posted By: dailydriver

I am even considering a Fiesta ST, but these dealers all seem to consider them to be rare, limited production, allocated cars (like the RS), and they will not budge on them (price wise).

They are not rare or limited production...

I KNOW that, but these local dealers want you to think that so that they don't have to deal on the one ST that they (maybe) have in stock, and instead want you to buy one of the 20+ fully loaded, slushbox equipped, Fiesta Titaniums they have sitting on their lots.

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: dailydriver

I KNOW that, but these local dealers want you to think that so that they don't have to deal on the one ST that they (maybe) have in stock, and instead want you to buy one of the 20+ fully loaded, slushbox equipped, Fiesta Titaniums they have sitting on their lots.

So take the 2 hour drive to Harrisburg. I know LB Smith is pretty no nonsense- we've bought 2 vehicles there (PM me for the guy we bought my wife's Escape from - he was awesome). Have heard good thing about Hoffman as well. I'd also recommend Maguires in Hershey or Duncannon but they have no ST's. If you really want it the drive is nothing. I've bought cars I wanted in NJ before.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: itguy08

If you really want it the drive is nothing. I've bought cars I wanted in NJ before.

That's been my approach; I live south of Louisville and I've bought cars in Chicago, Cincinnati, and Memphis. The Chicago and Memphis deals were negotiated entirely over the phone.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: jigen

Yep. Talk about OEM markups!

Those headlamps actually to carry a decent markup. There are crash parts where if we give a 20% discount, we are selling it for less than dealer cost. FWIW I sold a $1400 mirror for a Super Duty the other day. The wholesale shops know a part is going to be expensive when I pause before reading the price.

 

[jigen]

Originally Posted By: dailydriver

Originally Posted By: itguy08

Originally Posted By: dailydriver

I am even considering a Fiesta ST, but these dealers all seem to consider them to be rare, limited production, allocated cars (like the RS), and they will not budge on them (price wise).

They are not rare or limited production...

I KNOW that, but these local dealers want you to think that so that they don't have to deal on the one ST that they (maybe) have in stock, and instead want you to buy one of the 20+ fully loaded, slushbox equipped, Fiesta Titaniums they have sitting on their lots.

Just realized you live in Bucks County like I do (Langhorne), small world huh? Anyway, McCafferty Ford was the dealer we worked with when getting the FoST.

 

[zzyzzx]

MPG's are consistent and good in my opinion. Lots of around town driving. Average 22-24 in the winter, 25-27 in the warmer months. If I was doing mainly highway I would be in the 27-32 range depending on how I drive. Best I ever gotten was 34.5MPG on a 160 mile trip, all hwy... and I was going for best fuel economy. That's what I get in my 1995 Escort, and it has an automatic transmission. Such progress!!!

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx

MPG's are consistent and good in my opinion. Lots of around town driving. Average 22-24 in the winter, 25-27 in the warmer months. If I was doing mainly highway I would be in the 27-32 range depending on how I drive. Best I ever gotten was 34.5MPG on a 160 mile trip, all hwy... and I was going for best fuel economy. That's what I get in my 1995 Escort, and it has an automatic transmission. Such progress!!!

Yes, but now compare the handling/acceleration performance of the two cars, then you will see where the "progress" was made. I know that may not mean a thing to a non-enthusiast, but then again they are NOT the ones buying these particular cars.

 

[jigen]

Lol, I was going to respond back thinking this post wasn't supposed to be sarcastic until you chimed in. I owned a '95 3-door Escort hatchback, so I am familiar with the 1.9L. Fun little car to drive, engine vibrates the cabin a bit, and gave me 25 around town all day. But I am getting pretty much the same thing with the ST. Focus ST: 252hp/270tq Escort: 88hp/108tq

 

[stranger706]

Yes and also consider the weight. Focus ST: 3200 LB 95 Escort: 2400 LB 3x the power, 33% more weight, and 100x more fun to drive. It actually is a lot of progress. A better comparison would be the Fiesta with the 1.0 which is rated 43 hwy mpg.

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: stranger706

Yes and also consider the weight. Focus ST: 3200 LB 95 Escort: 2400 LB 3x the power, 33% more weight, and 100x more fun to drive. It actually is a lot of progress. A better comparison would be the Fiesta with the 1.0 which is rated 43 hwy mpg.

True, but my Escort is bigger than either the Focus or Fiesta, and I won't buy a car whose final assembly point is not in the USA. I just wish they could give me the option for better gas mileage instead of more HP that I don't want or need. You would think it's more a matter of programming and all they would need is something like an econ/sport switch.

 

[eddy21]

A lot of FOST owners have traded for FIST. The Focus ST engines have had a lot of problems with piston breakage. http://www.focusst.org/forum/focus-st-maintenance/17529-blown-motor-resource-thread.html

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: eddy21

A lot of FOST owners have traded for FIST. The Focus ST engines have had a lot of problems with piston breakage. http://www.focusst.org/forum/focus-st-maintenance/17529-blown-motor-resource-thread.html

I'm not inclined to feel sorry for a bunch of people who modded their engine, then drove it like they stole it, then had their engine destroyed.