BR-Z/FR-S vs Focus ST

In this corner coming in at ~2775 lbs with
EPA:22/30 mpg
0-60:6.4 sec
Horsepower: 200 hp
Top Speed: 139 mph
MSRP $26,490

The twins...

and in this corner coming in at ~3225 lbs with
EPA: 23/32 mpg
0-60: 5.7 sec
Horsepower: 247 hp
Top Speed: 148 mph MSRP $25,195

FIGHT!

I choose the Focus based on Price, as the Fiesta ST is cheaper ($22,260) than both, yet is closer to a performance match to the BR-Z being only 0.3 slower (6.7 vs 6.4 for the BRZ) to 60 and have a 4 mph higher top speed (143 mph vs 139 for the BRZ) and is 50 lbs lighter than the twins (2725 lbs vs 2775 for the BRZ). Yet is down 3 hp (197 hp vs the BRZ 200 hp) EPA is 26/35 mpg.

One of our local hot shoes autocrossed a Focus ST in STX last year. It got sold and now he's driving an FR-S.

In reply to trucke:

Yes, but did his times get slower?

Toyobaru. Lighter, looks better, and here's the big one...RWD.

One acronym: RWD.

The BRZ has 151 ft/lb of torque to the Fiesta's 214. So FWD is a disadvantage, but torque helps a lot. From what I hear, the Focus can suffer from too much torque in a FWD chassis.

As for racing them, I am an OK driver and I routinely beat most of the twins at the local autocross. That is because most of them are on OEM tires and driven by people new to the sport. I guess experience counts for something! The Focus killed the Fiesta when we were both in GS. More power, more tire, no chance.

There is one BRZ however that is on good tires, runs everything allowed in stock class (I am assuming) and is driven by a driver who IMHO has the skills to do well on a National-level. Meaning he is MUCH better than me. He is consistently in the top 10 in RAW times. I see his times and I am amazed that he is not running nitrous and a turbo and AWD and anti-gravity. Not tenths faster, 2 seconds faster. At least at the autocross level, the twins have the potential to do amazingly well...horsepower or not.

So for me, it comes down to one thing: I can put a car seat in the back of the Focus and a dog behind that, so that is my choice.

I have kids and happen to love 5-door hatchbacks.

FOCUS!

The FoST is not AWD? I guess that would be the alleged FoRS - I'm not really up on the FiFo siblings and their variations.

This thread is relevant to my interests - both of the BRZ and FoST on on my 3-year plan to recommend as replacement for DD#1's Impreza wagon. Ideally the AWD Focus hot 5-door would be what I would vote for, but 500 lbs and RWD is speaking pretty loudly in the Frizbee's favor.

RWD > FWD

Toyobaru, because FWD=

FRS/BRZ because i'm not interested in a econobox that weighs more than my Cherokee.

NOHOME wrote: Toyobaru, because FWD=

FWD = toast? well that's what your tires would be with that much power

Like mad skidz? You know the answer.

I traded my Focus ST in on an FRS. I thought that the FRS would grow on me, but it never did. The ST did pretty much everything better, especially on real world roads. I love RWD, but it was less fun than the ST. The engine character in the FRS is bland, at best. On track, I think that most people would be a lot faster in the ST. I would go for a new Miata or used Corvette if I were you.

In reply to rotard:

Oh well in this price tag the Answer is the Answer, especially the new Answer. That Answers everything. Except back seats, then it just the Answer x 2

In reply to Swank Force One:

I never realized the old Cherokees were so light. That thing is within 100 lbs of the Fiesta. Just goes to show you, that you can build light weight cars.

In reply to pinchvalve:

Is anti-gravity aftermarket, OEM, or special order package?

The real kicker now is you can get the Focus ST for about 17-18k

Jaynen wrote: The real kicker now is you can get the Focus ST for about 17-18k

Used, right?

Flight Service wrote: In reply to rotard: Oh well in this price tag the Answer is the Answer, especially the new Answer. That Answers everything. Except back seats, then it just the Answer x 2 In reply to Swank Force One: I never realized the old Cherokees were so light. That thing is within 100 lbs of the Fiesta. Just goes to show you, that you can build light weight cars. In reply to pinchvalve: Is anti-gravity aftermarket, OEM, or special order package?

Cherokees run in the 3100 lb. plus range.

For a sports oriented car with no kids or a need to haul around anything the BRZ/FRS. In the real world however they can't touch the Focus. Performance fun with user friendly features. Kind of a strange comparison?

I had an FR-S, and it was awesome, but I sold it.

My wife has stipulated that the next car we buy needs to have 4 doors, so I'm thinking Fiesta ST.

I guess what I'm saying is, this thread is relevant to my interests.

Option C: skip both options A and B and get the RS

The three customers of mine who used to have frisbees all own 2015 mustangs now.....most have had the same impression of "They were alright, but this is better". For the record, 2 bought GT pp's and the third bought a roush ecoboost.

Having just gone thru this same decision process, I went with the BRZ. I drove both the fiesta focus ST's, and both were really nice cars. If we didn't already have the Mazda 3 hatch and Ford Ranger to take care of the old Home Depot and Bed Bath and Beyond trips, I might have ended up with something else.

For me the requirements were simple: no children, daily commuter friendly,(70+miles round trip), fun weekend car, trackable, light and nimble, and relatively cheap consumables. The BRZ won for me, but if I needed the space, the focus ST would be in the driveway.

In reply to carczar_84:

Do you feel/know/expect the consumables on the STs to be more than the twins or did you just want something that seemed more of a street HPDE car vs a track-able daily?