WTF is Ford smoking?

Advertisement came up on Pandora today for the Focus ST while I was at work. So I looked it up when I got off, thinking it was a nice looking 5 door hatch.30k?!?!?!?! 250ftlbs 247hp FWD, sync, recaros, acoustic tubes similarity the LFA. Dude that is creeping up to STi territory. And I am willing to bet its no where near as much of a riot to drive as the STi.

Was reading the cyclone thread, and someone mentioned the crate motor fis something like 14k + ecu kit + trans of choice. Wtf? I haven't priced it, but I'm betting I can price out a Mustang GT for close to that kind of money they want for the Focus. Is it gold plated and performs a rusty trombone or dirty sanchez at the push of a button? Personally I like the Veloster turbo, and I'm willing to bet the difference in price will get you a pretty hot hatch with a boost controller supermarket exhaust, and wheels/rubber of choice plus a start on suspension tuning if you went with the Veloster over the Focus. Heck a WRX with access port and upgraded down pipe will prob run you less than the focus. It better be good. Saw car and driver or motortrend had a online blurb saying a Focus RS may be coming 2014. What's the price gonna be for something like that? That's freaking bonkers.

Sorry rants over. But daaang!!!!

$30k is pretty loaded, they start around 25....

Then don't buy it.

Starting price here- http://www.ford.com/cars/focus/focusst/ is $23.7k.

(and that's lower than the base price of a Focus Titanium)

Why are you putting a crate motor in the pricing of a car????

A very strong rant can be started by making assumptions.

Different strokes for different folks?

The Veloster Turbo doesn't even come close to the Focus ST. That car is a bloody riot, it's stiff, the pedals are perfectly placed and it's hoot on an autocross course. The little bugger drives like a flea on steroids. Meanwhile, the Veloster is... okay.

Hadn't been able to find pricing, (only using phone) and even the Ford website didn't have pricing 23/24 is a little easier to deal with. The information I had found was off a focus st forum, with a "what are you paying" thread.

Just a general rant on pricing mostly, hence the crate motor price.

Still in WRX/FRS/BRZ territory.

Not many people cross shop RWD coupes and F/AWD 5dr hatches.

I'd say it competes with the WRX and is priced accordingly...

The Focus ST is on the top of my DD (real fantasy) list. People that drive it love it.

thestig99 wrote: $30k is pretty loaded, they start around 25....

so, same as a WRX, which has AWD and considerably more power.....About the same as Mazdaspeed3, which has considerably more power.

I like the Focus ST, but they could have done more with it to make it truly competitive in the segment. This is America....power sells.

alfadriver wrote: A very strong rant can be started by making assumptions.

Much like the FRS/BRZ, if you haven't driven one, you're missing about 90% of the point.

I'm crossing my fingers for the Fiesta ST, myself. I'd make payments on one of those...

irish44j wrote:

thestig99 wrote: $30k is pretty loaded, they start around 25....

so, same as a WRX, which has AWD and considerably more power.....About the same as Mazdaspeed3, which has considerably more power. I like the Focus ST, but they could have done more with it to make it truly competitive in the segment. This is America....power sells.

I was totally ready to chime in with something about weights but then I looked. Is it true that the ST weighs 3200 lbs? Is it really as fat as a WRX? Really?

irish44j wrote:

thestig99 wrote: $30k is pretty loaded, they start around 25....

so, same as a WRX, which has AWD and considerably more power.....About the same as Mazdaspeed3, which has considerably more power. I like the Focus ST, but they could have done more with it to make it truly competitive in the segment. This is America....power sells.

The Ford destroys the Mazda-every mag that has both together agrees-as do I. Much nicer than the WRX and better handling-yes, thats right. I guess top of the segment isn't "competitive" to you?

SlickDizzy wrote: I'm crossing my fingers for the Fiesta ST, myself. I'd make payments on one of those...

That's currently going to be the replacement for my Miata.

I like the fact that the ST exists. It's a nice mix of daily driver and race car that a lot of us are looking for. I also like that it gets good MPG compared to the rest of its class. If fact, it gets better MPG than my 3. I would like to see the rest of that segment compete in that aspect. My old WRX got low 20's for MPG, and while it was a hoot to drive around town, it was a terrible highway car. Also, the Mazdaspeed 3 OWNED that car top end-wise. I bet the ST would do the same.

They start in the mid $20k range without incentives, and that's not bad for what you get. I definitely don't need a tarted up one. It's definitely on my list (if it still exists) when I am ready to replace my 3 in the future.

Hopefully by then, they change the design of those AWFUL taillights. I cannot understand why the taillight must double as a rear quarter panel on these cars.

The latest C&D had a fairly well loaded ST and MSRP was in the $25k range. (Either 24,7 or 25,something, I forget)

Spoilers: It beat the GTI in a comparo.

SlickDizzy wrote: Much like the FRS/BRZ, if you haven't driven one, you're missing about 90% of the point.

Picture it: America, 1989.

"Why should I pay $12,000 for some piddly 110hp Miata (whatever that made-up word is supposed to mean) when I could get a Mustang LX with a V8 and 5-speed? The Mustang has twice the power, more rubber on the road, and bigger brakes!"

I'm crossing my fingers for the Fiesta ST, myself. I'd make payments on one of those...

Maz-da-speed-2.

Make it happen, guys.

Spinout007 wrote: Is it gold plated and performs a rusty trombone or dirty sanchez at the push of a button?

Yeah, I had to look these up on Urban Dictionary. I didn't date many girls.

Hey, now...........

forzav12 wrote:

irish44j wrote:

thestig99 wrote: $30k is pretty loaded, they start around 25....

so, same as a WRX, which has AWD and considerably more power.....About the same as Mazdaspeed3, which has considerably more power. I like the Focus ST, but they could have done more with it to make it truly competitive in the segment. This is America....power sells.

The Ford destroys the Mazda-every mag that has both together agrees-as do I. Much nicer than the WRX and better handling-yes, thats right. I guess top of the segment isn't "competitive" to you?

I was referring to sales. Is the Focus ST out-selling the WRX and MS3? My reference was to the fact that people see power numbers, and it helps sales. Why the Focus ST weighs same as WRX/MS3 but has lower power numbers.....that can affect sales to the people who buy based on comparitive numbers (and you know a LOT of people do). It's not hard to give it 266hp and say "it's more powerful than a WRX" or whatever.

As to performance....I DO like the Focus (normal and ST)....but I live in a place with 4 seasons and work at a ski shop. I'll keep my AWD. If I lived in the south, I probably would have something RWD. That's the reason I passed on an MS3 in the first place.....AWD vs. FWD.

Knurled wrote: The latest C&D had a fairly well loaded ST and MSRP was in the $25k range. (Either 24,7 or 25,something, I forget) Spoilers: It beat the GTI in a comparo.

in performance, everything beats the GTI in that class it seems. GTI always wins the comparos because it has cool seats and nifty features.

irish44j wrote:

thestig99 wrote: $30k is pretty loaded, they start around 25....

so, same as a WRX, which has AWD and considerably more power.....About the same as Mazdaspeed3, which has considerably more power. I like the Focus ST, but they could have done more with it to make it truly competitive in the segment. This is America....power sells.

Correct. However the 3 is ugly (subjective, but I think the more popular opinion) and the WRX suffers from AWD gas mileage.

Both of those are also pretty aggressively styled. Some like that, some don't. The ST would get my money any day out of these.

The reviews that I have seen has the ST faster on track than the WRX or MS3, and better to drive on the street. I like it, but the boy-racer interior is a total turnoff to me. Swap in a VW GTI interior and you have a perfect ride.

thestig99 wrote:

irish44j wrote:

thestig99 wrote: $30k is pretty loaded, they start around 25....

so, same as a WRX, which has AWD and considerably more power.....About the same as Mazdaspeed3, which has considerably more power. I like the Focus ST, but they could have done more with it to make it truly competitive in the segment. This is America....power sells.

Correct. However the 3 is ugly (subjective, but I think the more popular opinion) and the WRX suffers from AWD gas mileage. Both of those are also pretty aggressively styled. Some like that, some don't. The ST would get my money any day out of these.

both true points. MS3 current look is hideous. WRX gas mileage is so-so (I have 80k miles on mine in 4 years....I know that well).

I do have an 09 WRX sedan, which is the opposite of aggressively styled....and which is why I bought it :) I don't like aggressive style, so that's a valid point by you as well.

Have you guys seen the ST interior? I just shopped these cars and ended up with a WRX. I was unimpressed by the ST interior. It does have lots of available tech options and better mpg but I liked the WRX more all around.

Knurled wrote: The latest C&D had a fairly well loaded ST and MSRP was in the $25k range. (Either 24,7 or 25,something, I forget) Spoilers: It beat the GTI in a comparo.

I just read that last night and the ST as tested was $29k. I almost fell over when I read that, because the GTI was $25k as tested.

And the ST only beat the GTI by one point in their comparo.

Honestly, the ST looks cool (design-wise and on paper) but I still like the dated '13 GTI more.