CarMad Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 Just been reading in Autocar this week that the new Focus ST will start at only £17500. Thats £2500 cheaper than the Golf and £1500 less than the Astra VXR. Now that sounds like seriously good money to me. It has Recaros for that and a few extra bits on top. 0-60 is only 6.1 from a 5 cylinder 2.5 that from all accounts sounds great. Other trim versions are avaliable up to the top level £19,495 model which seems to have almost everything, Xenons, leather, 6 CD and electric Recaros the whole lot. I hopes its good to drive if so it looks like its a bit of a bargain or should I say the others are just over priced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 [ QUOTE ] a 5 cylinder 2.5 [/ QUOTE ] Interesting! Would that be a Volvo sourced unit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gren Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 Think it is. Would assume that the Astra would be hit harder. Then again, I would assume the VXR would be a much sportier/hardcore offering than the ST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 Having driven a Feckus for a few weeks....I wouldn't give you 17.5p for one, never mind wasting £17,500 on one. Utter garbage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 From what I've read the ST has a much better chassis than the VXR, for that money it should be worth peoples green. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted September 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] a 5 cylinder 2.5 [/ QUOTE ] Interesting! Would that be a Volvo sourced unit? [/ QUOTE ] Yes it is, but with a much more fruty exhaust note. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted September 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Having driven a Feckus for a few weeks....I wouldn't give you 17.5p for one, never mind wasting £17,500 on one. Utter garbage. [/ QUOTE ] A 1.4 slow mobile fair enough. But a performance version surely has to better. Think Audi Quattro sound track and Ford sports chassis and they could have a winner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 But remember AUTOCAR are rarely right on their prices, ie the 30k boxster coupe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted September 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 [ QUOTE ] But remember AUTOCAR are rarely right on their prices, ie the 30k boxster coupe [/ QUOTE ] Oh yes... mouth watering wasn't it, I would have been in the queue to get a Porsche for that money. But no on this occasion its Ford that have released prices and specs for the car. No Autocar hype this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richy_uk Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 Cars like Focus ST and Astra VXR's scare me as it put's quick cars easily in the reach of people that may not be ready for them. I'd expect to see a fair few wrapped around trees etc not necessarily due to the car, but more to the type of buyers. Just remember back to Escort Cossies, Fiesta RS Turbo's and the like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 But you can buy the VXR cheaper than that anyway - discounts available already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Cars like Focus ST and Astra VXR's scare me as it put's quick cars easily in the reach of people that may not be ready for them. I'd expect to see a fair few wrapped around trees etc not necessarily due to the car, but more to the type of buyers. Just remember back to Escort Cossies, Fiesta RS Turbo's and the like. [/ QUOTE ] So rich people can cope with that extra performance then? The number of exotic cars I see wrapped round armco/trees/lampposts in Cheshire suggests not. Boy racers? They're just as capable of killing themselves in a cooking Renault Megane than a top end hot hatch. And if they can afford 17.5k on a Feckus RS, they can afford a second hand Impreza STI import with 300+bhp... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallachie Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Having driven a Feckus for a few weeks....I wouldn't give you 17.5p for one, never mind wasting £17,500 on one. Utter garbage. [/ QUOTE ] Bollocks to that comment, I've driven the new TDCI and it's a good car for what it is. I would say the new ST will be a very good car, much better than the RS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 I hate the TDCi, its crap IMO, i even prefer the 1.8 16v to that, but then i suppose i drive them in different circumstances Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallachie Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I hate the TDCi, its crap IMO, i even prefer the 1.8 16v to that, but then i suppose i drive them in different circumstances [/ QUOTE ] Compared to what some people are used to I can understand why you might think they're crap, but for what they are, they're good cars. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't buy any Ford with my own money, but that doesn't mean I think they're crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 Plus the new one's got much more room in the back for traffic cones/TWOCers/drunk teenagers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Just been reading in Autocar this week that the new Focus ST will start at only £17500. Thats £2500 cheaper than the Golf and £1500 less than the Astra VXR. [/ QUOTE ] If that is list price, imagine what the real price will be once they've started filtering through car supermarkets and pricebuster type web sites! A car like that for (say) £15K brand new is going to make stuff like MINI Coopers look seriously over-priced! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32North Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 Aside from whether it drives well, handles good, is better than the VXR, etc..... just look at it, euuugh!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richy_uk Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 [ QUOTE ] So rich people can cope with that extra performance then? The number of exotic cars I see wrapped round armco/trees/lampposts in Cheshire suggests not. [/ QUOTE ] No, not what I meant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Having driven a Feckus for a few weeks....I wouldn't give you 17.5p for one, never mind wasting £17,500 on one. Utter garbage. [/ QUOTE ] I disagree. For the money, they are fantastic cars and offer seriously better refinement-per-pound than our german cars! Also the floaty suspension on Focus's makes speed bumps less of a pain in the arse! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 Thought not. That's why I added the bit about boy racers. I do see your point - but the solution is teaching the yoof to drive properly and policing them properly (i.e. with more real police, not just cameras)... nothing wrong in making performance cars affordable - there are plenty of older people with bad taste who might want one too but couldn't afford more than 17k or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Thought not. That's why I added the bit about boy racers. I do see your point - but the solution is teaching the yoof to drive properly and policing them properly (i.e. with more real police, not just cameras)... nothing wrong in making performance cars affordable - there are plenty of older people with bad taste who might want one too but couldn't afford more than 17k or so. [/ QUOTE ] serious performance is always available for less than 17K anyway... if people are willing to buy 2nd hand! A nice bi-turbo B5 S4, E36 M3 etc, etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 Exactly my point earlier. Even moreso with Japanese cars. Though there is a very particular UK boy racer following for any decent Ford RS... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richy_uk Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 Agree entirely, it's a complicated marketplace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_b Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 i love the badge snobbery of this board sometimes esp when it comes to ford....17.5k for a 2.5 5 cyl 220bhp car with decent spec and people are knocking it??? its meant to be a very honed car (10 secs quicker than the focus RS around the ring which was a fantastic track car ) am seriously considering buying one, the st2 at 18.5k, with the extra traction control and xenons in panther black, just got to make the decision Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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