FR-S vs 2012 Ford Focus ST

[frusciantrix]

Originally Posted by tranzformer

Unfortunately we never got those here.

Oh my... didn't know Renault isn't available in the US market.

[SUB-FT86]

In this debate I would choose FR-S.

[SVTSHC]

Originally Posted by catharsis

Here's my take, the focus st will be a much nicer daily driver. It has larger interior space, on top of that it's a hatch back design so transporting things will be even more practical. It will certainly seat 4 people more comfortably than the fr-s/brz will. It'll have more "balls" in a straight line. However it won't handle nearly as good, and it will be using an e-diff instead of a mechanical one. So for straight line performance and driving comfort it will excel, for handling and that fun to drive feel the fr-s/brz will be better.

I believe you'll be able to get the mechanical diff as an option. Also, we can't say for sure whether or not the FRS will handle significantly better. I mean it more than likely will but Ford's put a lot of work into the handling of their focus' for some time now and there are too many other factors that contribute to handling to insinuate something will handle better because of vehicle layout.

[miata]

It looks too much like civic si.
MS3 also has a lot more power than GTI and magazine editors always pick GTI as winner. Same thing will happen to focus st. It will lose. They will say, nice try but we will take GTI home. Blah blah blah.
I agree Torque steer is a b!tch.

[zoomzoomers]

At the LA Auto Show I sat in a Focus ST or GT (or whatever the performance model is). All I can say is that the car looks fairly good, for a Detroit car and, from what I've read, the car performs pretty good. But... and it's a huge but, the car still screams DETROIT (no offense to ppl from Detroit). The materials felt like they were taken from a 10 yr old Escort and the plastics in the interior felt way too hard and bargain basement. I played around a bit with the 6MT and the throws seemed like I could row the car back home.

Now I'm not really bashing the Focus here, just stating that the craftmanship and quality of the materials used in and around the car is way subpar compared to other cars in that class that come from Japan/Korea. I guess if you can live with that, it would all depend on how the car performs on and off the track.

[SOB]

For anyone who has not made the connection. The Focus ST is almost identical to the Mazdaspeed 3 in terms of performance and weight.

Though I would agree the Focus looks better in almost every area. The reason I mention this is because the Ford Focus ST is surely to be priced at $25k+ where as the Mazdaspeed can be picked up in the low 20's, or even cheaper if you buy used.

[Sushi]

I'm planning to get a new car for daily driver and keep it stock. Currently it's GT86 vs Focus ST, both of them are about the same price, similar mpg and both of them looks really good (in my opinion). Yeah I know it's RWD vs FWD but I'm not planning to drift it or bring it to a track, because sadly my country does not have any tracks I know GT86 will be much better at handling but I heard Ford Focus are quite good in cornering as well. Although I probably won't bring passengers often, but it's nice to have the option to. Focus ST has more technology which is a good thing, while GT86 has less technology, which is a good thing as well lol.

So here's my conclusion,

GT86
Pros:
- RWD
- Looks better (more simple)
- Better handling
- Less technology
Cons:
- Less practicality (due to rear seats)

Focus ST
Pros:
- More practical (usable rear seats)
- More power (more horsepower)
- More technology (I like my music )
Cons:
- Torque steer? (maybe)

So now all I need to do is test drive both to see which car to get Any thoughts?

[MtnDrvr86]

Is the ST out where you are from? It doesnt come to the states till Novemeber last I heard. It would be on my list of cars to drive too, along with veloster turbo, miata, gen coupe, s2000, mini cooper s

[brewksy]

Originally Posted by ryude

I had a turbocharged FWD car before, it's stupid. Spin/wheelhop first and second gear, it's just not fun unless you spend loooots of money. At that point, why didn't you just start with RWD in the first place?

This guy knows what he is talking about. FWD wheelhop/spin is annoying.

[dsgerbc]

Originally Posted by MtnDrvr86

Is the ST out where you are from? It doesnt come to the states till Novemeber last I heard. It would be on my list of cars to drive too, along with veloster turbo, miata, gen coupe, s2000, mini cooper s

A buddy of mine is going to get one and he says order book opening up next week, with deliveries starting in September.

[Allch Chcar]

Yup, May 1st. Also for those who don't know yet the order guide is already out.





I didn't bother to find a high res version. I just snagged a copy of the one on Focaljet.

3200lbs, eeeh? BTW, the 6spd has two different ratios, 1st-4th has the 4.06:1 while 5th-6th has a 2.95 final drive. So the OD is really an OD.

For the guys concerned about torque steer, Ford is using a budget solution instead of the RS setup. Dunno how well it'll work.

And wheel hop is normal for a factory Ford, even the Mustangs have wheel hop issues. :/ BTW, a v6 Mustang is only a bit more than 200lbs heavier than the est Focus ST weight. I'm not exactly impressed but the Focus is still far more practical than a Mustang.

[Dimman]

FWD WRX. Why?

[Capt Canuck]

Originally Posted by Dimman

FWD WRX. Why?

A fun - presumably affordable - hot hatch, that can take you and your mates golfing, you and the missus biking, all other sorts of moving things about. Great choice for a one-car household, where you still want a sporty car to drive.

Ford has done a good job on making the Focus and Fiesta a good car to drive. The ST should simply offer more of that.

If you have to ask why, then it's not the car for you.

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by Capt Canuck

A fun - presumably affordable - hot hatch, that can take you and your mates golfing, you and the missus biking, all other sorts of moving things about. Great choice for a one-car household, where you still want a sporty car to drive.

Ford has done a good job on making the Focus and Fiesta a good car to drive. The ST should simply offer more of that.

If you have to ask why, then it's not the car for you.

WRX has all that plus AWD is what I'm getting at.

So choosing between the two different styles of cars at pretty much exactly the same price (in the US at least) to me makes more sense between the BRZ and the WRX, to me. But I didn't look up the ST's price...