Ford Focus ST??

Hey guys,

Excuse my ignorance, but I usually don't pay much attention to modern cars. But today I was traveling by a Ford dealer, and they had a really trick looking blue car out front. Even though we are in the midst of a really nasty rain/snow storm I had to stop to check it out. Turns out it was/is a Focus ST. The sticker price was crazy with the Recaro package,etc.. It was around $29k.

It got me thinking though that it may be possible with my company discount through the X-plan that I may be able to get it much cheaper without all that tech stuff that I don't need. What is the consensus on these cars? Real deal, or a poseur? It mentioned an Ecoboost 2.0 litre engine. Would that be a turbo like the ecoboost F150/Flex?

The tech stuff is all part of it being an ST. IIRC, the Recaros indicate the top level (stage 3?). The lower stages may not have the nav but most of the stuff on the sticker will be on any ST.

Yes, all Ecoboost engines are turbocharged.

Engine wise, it's the same 2.0l direct injection turbo that's in the Explorer, Edge, and Fusion. As have been found out by another poster, this isn't a limited edition car, so all discounts would apply- if you are eligible.

The dealer would have to want to participate in an X-Plan sale as well; if they think is better for them to hold off on a retail buyer, it is within their prerogative. That said, I don't think these cars are selling like hotcakes, so the dealer, in that case, should oblige.

I drove one during one of their Experience events. I thought it handled a lot like a WRX.

Whether that's a good thing or not depends on your point of view.

It was certainly a nice place to spend time inside.

FSP_ZX2 wrote: The dealer would have to want to participate in an X-Plan sale as well; if they think is better for them to hold off on a retail buyer, it is within their prerogative. That said, I don't think these cars are selling like hotcakes, so the dealer, in that case, should oblige.

While it's an option to do A or X plan, it's actually a good deal for all. Just sayn.

There is one at my local dealer that is 6k off (23k). It has some serious hail damage but it is still new and warrantied. I think that it could be had for a few K less if you haggle. It has been sitting there for a long while. We havent had hail for MONTHS so this baby is prime for the picking.

http://www.joemachensford.com/new-inventory-ford/2013_Ford_Focus_Columbia_1FADP3L9XDL126501.aspx

Just noticed that say 26k on the site but it says 23 and change in the window.

I sat in one with the Recaros. Possibly the best seats I have ever sat in and I have sat in a lot of nice seats. That includes many Recaros over the years too.

Its a car in serious need of a mechanical front differential.....other than that, its a good little car.

I agree that these seats are awesome!

yamaha wrote: Its a car in serious need of a mechanical front differential.....other than that, its a good little car.

No LSD? It must torque steer like crazy!!! Unless they did what Mazda did with the MS3 and limit power in the 1st and 2nd gear.

In reply to Mazdax605:

I think they did a lot a electro-wizardry to attempt to stop torque steer. From what I have heard (from Mr. Jeremy Clarkson), is didn't work. Just planning ahead for the inevitably available LSD from the major players is probably worthwhile.

Mazdax605 wrote:

yamaha wrote: Its a car in serious need of a mechanical front differential.....other than that, its a good little car.

No LSD? It must torque steer like crazy!!! Unless they did what Mazda did with the MS3 and limit power in the 1st and 2nd gear.

Winston wrote:

Mazdax605 wrote:

yamaha wrote: Its a car in serious need of a mechanical front differential.....other than that, its a good little car.

No LSD? It must torque steer like crazy!!! Unless they did what Mazda did with the MS3 and limit power in the 1st and 2nd gear.

Torque steer is the car gods' way of telling you to grow some muscle My old SRT4 torque steered like crazy, and it was still a hoot to drive.

Got a chance to drive one of these in anger. Dealer guy was bored and he thought I looked like fun. First things first- DAYUM those seats are incredible. I didn't look at much of the gadgets, because frankly, I was in the mood to go fast. And let me tell you, this is a VERY acceptable way to go fast. I thought it handled better than a factory ms3, possibly vaulting to 3rd for best FWD chassis I've ever driven. The R53 Cooper S and the Mazdaspeed Protege are fighting for the top two, respectively. It was politely quick, but not so violent about it. I'm used to a modified ms3 with the traction control shut off for a DD, so torque steer.... meh. I'm used to it. I use it to my advantage. Overall, I thought this was an amazing car. I feel that the Recaros are a must- but that makes the price a little hard to choke on... come on, 28k for a FOCUS? Yikes. At the ms3 price point, i'd be driving a Ford.

Well I have only ever owned one fwd car and that was an 83 Chrysler Town&Country woody wagon. It was a mostly gutless POS, but got better fuel mileage than my Dakota at the time. My wife has owned either exclusively fwd car aside from her Rodeo, and the Subaru. I know when I drove a fellow GRM members MS3 it pulled like a freight train, but I didn't notice much of any torque steer.

alfadriver wrote:

FSP_ZX2 wrote: The dealer would have to want to participate in an X-Plan sale as well; if they think is better for them to hold off on a retail buyer, it is within their prerogative. That said, I don't think these cars are selling like hotcakes, so the dealer, in that case, should oblige.

While it's an option to do A or X plan, it's actually a good deal for all. Just sayn.

A/Z is not bad for the dealer, X is so-so. List would be better then either...but I don't know if these cars command near list retail prices.

Hal wrote: Yes, all Ecoboost engines are turbocharged.

Except the ones in NASCAR...

Maroon92 wrote:

Hal wrote: Yes, all Ecoboost engines are turbocharged.

Except the ones in NASCAR...

Well, they are not supposed to be...

Something to "chew on"....

Ford offered a Focus ST in wagon form in the 1st gen Focus and in the current gen Focus there is an ST wagon.

$29K is alot for a Focus, but look at it another way: when Ford offered the U.S. a Focus at $15K, it wasn't worth that much....the current car is nearly twice as good as the "old" car, and competes with a GTI credibly(sp?)

29K? There's a nice V6 Mustang on the other side of the showroom...

29k i've got a brand spankin new ms3 and 5 grand in my pocket for fun stuff to do to it.

As far as ms3 torque steer- it's there. the 1g cars are FAR worse than the Genpus.......

Gearheadotaku wrote: 29K? There's a nice V6 Mustang on the other side of the showroom...

+1

If your in the market for a new car, it's the real deal. I would go so far as to say that its the best hot hatch currently on the market. It starts at $23,700 (that's the $tealership MSRP), and goes rather quickly from there. Before I bought one, I would certainly want to make sure torque steer isn't an issue, I'm a bit skeptical of 270 or so horsepower through the front wheels without a mechanical LSD. The F-150 and Flex are turbocharged 3.5L V6 engines and the Focus ST is a turbocharged 2.0L I-4 engine.

Gearheadotaku wrote: 29K? There's a nicebase model Mustang GT on the other side of the showroom...

FTFY