daveknott Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Right then, a lot has been written about this car. Some people rave about it, some say it’s a good all rounder, some say it’s a bit chavvy, and some think it’s a fast hatch with an over-heavy lump of engine in the front. Well, I’ve driven it – and to be honest, I think they’ve all got a point. First off, lets talk about the looks. Lets face it, this Mk2 Focus, looks like it should have been the Mk1! The old Mk1 Focus looks far edgier, and more modern than the current fat-arsed Focus Mk2. In ST form however, things do improve. The car has chunky arches, and Lamborghini Gallardo-esque 18” Alloys. The twin pipes at the rear set the car off nicely, and ape the Mk IV Golf R32’s in their positioning – though they don’t look anything like as purposeful as the Golf’s. Then things get worse. There’s the “ST” badges stuck on the front wings (which look like cheap Halfords tat to be honest) and the chrome-lined front and rear fog lights. These look truly terrible. The fact that the lights are encased within cheap black plastic, only worsens the overall look of the car. So to the interior. Hmmm, not too bad actually. The dashboard plastics are soft to the touch, and have a pleasant grain effect to them, and the leather bound sports steering wheel is good to hold. The seats are good too. Nice and grippy round your torso and legs. The pedals however, again let the side down, as they don’t feel like the quality items you’d get in the Golf GTI – and they’re not ideally placed for easy heel and toe. Equally, the Sony head unit, while sounding great, looks like a late 1980’s hi-fi. All flashy lights, shiny plastics, and zero subtlety. Anyway, time to start her up – and,…… blimey, this sounds different! I pull out and give the throttle a tickle, and the ST warbles off. In a way, the engine sounds similar to a Scooby WRX. At first, the car doesn’t seem that fast, or that powerful. In fact, below 4000 rpm, the engine really seems like it can’t be bothered. It’s quick all right, but not “Oh-my-gawd quick”. It has a lazy muscle to it. In fact, this initial impression is reinforced when the road open out and I get the chance to give it the beans. When it gets over 4000 rpm, boy, it really does pull like a train - but its not a hit in the back kind of acceleration, its more like the ST is relentlessly reeling in the horizon. It surges, rather than lunges forward. All the while, you’re treated to a lovely warbly 5-pot engine note. However, this is overlaid with a lot of turbo whistle - which may, or may not be to your taste. There’s no torque-steer from the steering wheel, in fact, there’s not much information at all coming through the steering wheel. It’s a quick enough rack all right, but it doesn’t talk to you. Its as if some of the chatter is being filtered out – no doubt to counter the feel of torque steer that so often plagues powerful front-drive cars. When I get a chance to hurl it into a bend, the car reacts, but does feel nose-heavy. In every day driving I don’t think this will be a problem at all. 90% of the time, you’d never really notice this. However, if you were to take it on a track, or a very twisty B-road, I think you’d hanker after more agility when you’re really pushing on. Of course, a quick tug on the handbrake would counter initial understeer, but this isn’t a safe everyday driving technique! When on the move, I did notice quite a few squeaks and didn’t feel that the cabin was as tightly screwed together as it should be. This may have been due to all the leather rubbing and squeaking together though, as the ST3 (which I drove) comes full festooned with soft leather Recaros. Whatever the squeaking was, it left a bad taste in the mouth when it came to the overall quality of the fit and finish of the car. The ride of the car probably didn’t help matters though. I felt it rode harder than a Golf GTI, and was overly firm in its damping. No doubt, this helps the car corner flat, but for urban or slower speeds, the car does get crashy over poor surfaces. All of these points do have to be looked at in context however. The Focus ST IS cheaper than a Golf GTI to buy. The fully loaded ST3 that I drove costs £19495 before haggling. It has a 2.5l 5-cylinder engine (unique in its class). It is MP3 ready in ST2 and ST3 forms, and in ST2 & 3 guise, has lots of standard equipment that would be extras on the Golf (e.g., Xenons, remote-audio controls etc). When you consider that a base ST1 is 17495 – over £2500 cheaper than a base spec GTI, it really does seem like good value. It will of course depreciate faster and more heavily than a Golf GTI, but hey, you paid less for it in the first place. It’s a very muscular hatch this Focus ST. It has buckets of torque, a great soundtrack, and lots of power (225Bhp). It isn’t however, as lively as I like my hot hatches to be. It’s more of a cruiser than a B-road barnstormer. Sure it’ll pick up its skirts and zip along a windy road with the best of them, but it doesn’t feel quite as in its element doing so as say, the new Golf GTI, or a Civic Type R. It really comes down to how you like your hot hatch to feel. If you want a great all-rounder with effortless surge, then the ST is your car. If you want a car to set your hair on fire when you’re in the mood, then it’s not the car for you. Then there’s the image to consider. Buying this car says that you either have little regard for image and that you value performance per pound above all else, or, unfortunately, that you value bling wheels, chrome-lined fog lights, and a flashy stereo above good taste. The choice as they say, is yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazdot Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Very good review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Good review mate are you buying one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveknott Posted January 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Thanks danksy. Nope, I won't be buying one. I prefer my hot hatches to be a bit more frisky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 I'm trying one tomorrow. Had a look around one today and although pretty nice looking, the plastics felt poorer than my Astra and the door shut with a bit too much of a tinny "whack" for me. Still looking forward to it - Not driven a quick motor for a while now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayerbloke Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Very good review, mate Loved the line: "The car has chunky arches, and Lamborghini Gallardo-esque 18” Alloys." ... probably the first time they've been refered to in that way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_d Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Great review mate. I agree with the front end, looks very very very cheap! Especially the black plastic, really put me off the car. However, for it's price, I think the ST3 is about £17k from importers/supermarkets (???), then it's difficult to find a better car... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted January 31, 2006 Report Share Posted January 31, 2006 Well I just tried one too - Many comments as above but a few differences of opinion: The handling felt utterly sublime to me - No nose heaviness detected and I really thrashed it to beyond it's limits on some A and B roads - The chassis felt very composed and you could even throttle adjust the back end. Not sure if that comment was just lifted from EVO or similar?! Sounded great but it's slightly artificial - There's some tube that carries the sound from the engine/exhaust to the cabin - That actually put me off. Why not stick a mic on the engine and play it through the stereo?!! Didn't feel as quick as I expeted - Low end shove was slightly lacking, almost like the engine was being held back. Get to 4Kish revs and it felt like it was being "released", cleared it throat and got moving properly. Brakes were very good - I did a proper emergency stop ()controlled) and it halted very quickly with no loss of composure. Cabin still feels a bit low rent - I heard a rattle, the plastics are too shiny and there are little bits that put me off - A rear parcel shelf that looks like its made of a cereal packet for example! They really were pushing me and took my car away (without my permission!) to value it. When they came back with a valuation about 40% under the Parkers trade value I pretty much got up and told them to F off. If they want my business, I suggest they don't try and take the piss. I'll stick with the Ashtray and wait for the next generation of Volvo C30 (I'm liking Volvos a lot at the moment), the latest Impreza spec D, and whatever else comes out in the next year or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitas3 Posted January 31, 2006 Report Share Posted January 31, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Cabin still feels a bit low rent - I heard a rattle, the plastics are too shiny and there are little bits that put me off - A rear parcel shelf that looks like its made of a cereal packet for example! .......the latest Impreza spec D, and whatever else comes out in the next year or two. [/ QUOTE ] you're considering an Impreza but moan about the Ford's interior? hmm.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted January 31, 2006 Report Share Posted January 31, 2006 Impreza cabin may LOOK plasticky but it's a lot more solid than the Focus one. They also have a proper parcel shelf in the estate/hatch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_b Posted January 31, 2006 Report Share Posted January 31, 2006 driftgod, thats was a fairly in depth review of which you sum up to say you like your hot hatches to be hot hatches..... what do you drive/have you driven?, just asking to find out what meets this criteria for you? max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveknott Posted February 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Hi Max, I have owned/driven the following: Ford Puma 1.7, MINI Cooper S, Honda Civic Type R, Renault Clio 182 Cup, BMW 130i M-Sport, & Mk V GTI (manual & DSG). I like my hot hatch to feel "alive" - pulsing with energy, agility, and get up and go. Of the cars I've driven/owned, I'd say the Puma, 182, Type R, 130i and GTI fit this criteria. The MINI's engine feels a bit flat and lifeless in comparison to the others, and its handling balance is too polished - too safe! Well, in most everyday driving conditions anyway... Of course, the others aren't perfect either, but they do (imho) have more ability to put a massive grin on your face due to their superior engines... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Drift - You obviously experienced the slightly "asthmatic" lower rev range - That suprised me. What also suprised me was the long term average mpg (this had 25k miles on it) - 24.2mpg!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveknott Posted February 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 MAstra, if you're referring to the Cooper S, (which I owned for 6 months) believe me, I experienced the whole rev range. At its heart, the engine is quite crude and the supercharger whine does get tiresome if you ask me. It's nothing like as exciting sounding as the type R's for example. As for the MPG, well, 24mpg is par for the course on a Cooper S - attrocious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Sorry - I meant the Focus ST. It seemed reluctant to rev up until 4k then the needle flew to the redline. Odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveknott Posted February 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Ah yep, that is strange. As for 24mpg average on the ST - that's pretty good! Test Drive Mag averaged only 19.8mpg! The Monaro 6.0 is more economical than that!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogger Posted February 9, 2006 Report Share Posted February 9, 2006 Hello all, I thought I would add some comments in to your debate on the ST. I purchased the ST3 on the 2nd Dec and since then have done 3500 miles so far. This has been done on B roads and motorway traveling between Glasgow and Edinburgh. I do agree a little that the front end does seem slightly heavy when turning in sharply in corners however I have learned how to mitigate this feeling by timing the corners better. The grip is unbelievable. The low down torque and lack of high revving is maybe not people’s choice for a hot hatch but for me it’s ideal for everyday use. The power is there when you want it and you could be in 6th gear idling at 1 1/2 revs and you will pull away very nicely indeed. I do agree a little on you comments of the interior but having the ST3 with all the leather gives it a bit of class and I think it makes it the best looking and feeling interior every seen in a ford. I have had no problems with rattles or squeaks so far. My MPG has been averaging around 28 per tank which is a mixture of motorway, B-roads and maniac half hours. The seats are perfect and hug you in all the right places. Even in the back every passenger I have had has commented on the seats quality and comfort. I did test drive the golf but felt that it never had that power the ST has and just never felt that quick.... where the ST on my test drive round the industrial estates was far more thrilling and put a smile of my face big style... the Ford salesman didn’t have to do much selling when we got back to the show room. However I did manage to purchase the ST3 for 18.2k plus free servicing for life, which was too good to turn down especially when I was looking at the golf with the same spec as the ST3 was £23k+. Downsides I have found. - Average MPG 28 (but what do I expect from a 2.5litre 5 cylinder turbo engine) - Boot not as deep as would like. - Boot switch needed replaced. (Known Ford issue apparently). Upsides. - Low down torque is immense. - Excellent grip. - Very quick when you want it to be but a cruiser when not. Hope this helps anyone interested in purchasing. All the best, The Hog Focus ST3 3 door Colorado Red Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_b Posted February 10, 2006 Report Share Posted February 10, 2006 hog nice review and welcome get some pics up of your red beastie, have only seen one ST in red and it looked rather nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 [ QUOTE ] He ST3 for 18.2k plus free servicing for life, which was too good to turn down especially when I was looking at the golf with the same spec as the ST3 was £23k+. [/ QUOTE ] Blimey mate.... Free servicing for life how much is that normally? What is the "life" defined as Welcome to TSN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenjaminTDI Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Excellent review. I still prefer the Civic Type R to all the other hot hatches, it's great fun to drive. I think the new one will be a cracker too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogger Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Free servicing for life means just that as long as you own the car. Once you sell it you loose it though. I worked out its worth around £450 over the 3 years I plan to keep it. I door love the civic. I looked into buying my first hot hatch 2 years ago and i almost bought one but getting married got in the way. (Absolute stupidity i know ). The engine is a screemer and probably still the best round a track. Looking forward to seeing the new one myself. Will try and get a couple of photos in during the week. Cheers The Hog Focus ST3 3 door Colorado Red Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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