Car Wars: Scion FR-S vs Ford Focus ST - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

86_Insider · 07-31-2013, 08:45 PM

Came across this on Jalopnik today. What do you guys think? I know what car I would buy hands down... What do you guys think?

Quote:

Scion FR-S Vs. Ford Focus ST: Which To Buy?

Car Wars is where we pit some of today's hottest cars against each other and then, in a commenting fight to the death, decide which one we'd buy. Today we have two of the most popular budget performance cars on the market.

The Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ and Ford Focus ST are fairly similar in intent and price. They're lower budget fast cars that value fun handling and accessible performance over huge horsepower and unreachable limits.

In the American corner, we have the Ford Focus ST, a front drive hatchback with four doors. It can carry you and your friends (or your gear) in speedy style. It scored a Jalopnik Review score of 69.

The FR-S is different. It's Toyota's Miata: lightweight, rear-drive, narrow tires, low center of gravity, and hilarious fun. It can also, supposedly, fit an extra set of tires in the back seat for your autocross or track day fun. It got a Jalopnik Review score of 76.

At the same time as being very different cars, these cars are also very similar. Here's the question: Which would you buy?

Matt would buy the Focus ST. I'd buy the FR-S

dem00n · 07-31-2013, 09:11 PM

Is Jalopnik running out of ideas? I've noticed lately a really bad dip in article quality, i guess this is more proof.

Also, Jalopnik jumping the band wagon? The fucks going on over there?

sohcanddohc · 08-01-2013, 07:19 AM

My wife and I have our own little car wars going on. First one home gets the garage.

FrX · 08-01-2013, 07:26 AM

I have both cars sitting in my driveway right now as well...

Sport-Tech · 08-01-2013, 10:33 AM

The Fiesta ST is a better match to the twins than the Focus ST. Closer in straight line performance and much closer in weight (4 lbs difference from manual BRZ, versus about 475 lbs additional pork on the Focus). Lengthwise the twins are right in the middle of these 2, but the Fiesta has more in common with them in the handling department - it's reported to be more agile and have more natural feeling steering than the Focus.

Sport-Tech · 08-01-2013, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dem00n

Is Jalopnik running out of ideas? I've noticed lately a really bad dip in article quality, i guess this is more proof.

Also, Jalopnik jumping the band wagon? The fucks going on over there?

They have truly jumped the shark, far too many cross-posts from other Gawker-owned sites on airplane crashes, celebrities, etc...

Not that TTAC is any better under their new editorship- sometimes it seems like nostalgia city for old geezers, with their endless stream of blogs about "junkyard finds" from the 70s, old "Panthers", yadda yadda.

dem00n · 08-01-2013, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sport-Tech

They have truly jumped the shark, far too many cross-posts from other Gawker-owned sites on airplane crashes, celebrities, etc...

Not that TTAC is any better under their new editorship- sometimes it seems like nostalgia city for old geezers, with their endless stream of blogs about "junkyard finds" from the 70s, old "Panthers", yadda yadda.

Gotta love the whole "Kids today don't like cars" and the good old "This car sucks but its better then an E30 M3 because no one likes it and i find it amazing. *Hint obscure 80/90's sports car.*" I like Jalopnik but sometimes it's just bullshit.

Yeah, kids aren't buying cars because were paying for college and are getting suckered by loans.

Kostamojen · 08-01-2013, 05:03 PM

I was told about that driving school when I was shopping for the ST.

Right now, you can get ST's with like $2000 in rebates and INSANE amounts off MSRP because its the end of the model year. I got some damn good quotes for them.

And yes, my car buying decision also came down to the ST vs. BRZ... I drove A LOT of cars: FRS, Abarth, JCW Mini (2 of them one with all the JCW suspension bits), Volvo C30, Mazdaspeed 3, and of course the Focus ST.

The Focus was easily the best of all the FWD cars. It rotates SO DAMN GOOD and has perfect power delivery. I loved everything about it minus the interior... The BRZ ultimately won me over due to the interior and extremely good deal I'm getting from Clint

(Not to say the deals for the ST's weren't great too, I bet you can get a ST1 for down to $20,000 if you try hard enough right now).

Nothing · 08-26-2013, 05:32 AM

The Focus ST is a winner for room, practicality, power, everyday use and the phone (Sync) is a billion times better than the shit Toyota put in our cars. But, for many of us on this forum, it's not as good looking or as much of a pleasure to drive as the twins. I would never compare the Focus ST to the twins because it's a FWD hatch and not a RWD sports coupe. I'd never think to buy the Focus ST and go to a HPDE or track event.

Compare it to cars like the Golf or Mazda 3. That's more suitable honestly.

SVTSHC · 08-27-2013, 11:47 AM

That's not targetted at you OP, that's targetted at Jalopnik. I'm actually tired of seeing the two compared...

AsianStyle · 08-27-2013, 12:01 PM

http://www.motortrend.com/features/p..._focus_st.html

This article seems relevant. 3 laps could not drive again.

thill · 08-27-2013, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AsianStyle

http://www.motortrend.com/features/p..._focus_st.html

This article seems relevant. 3 laps could not drive again.

Motortrend also had an ST overheat at the track. In December.

http://wot.motortrend.com/2013-ford-...#axzz2dBcycVyb

SVTSHC · 08-27-2013, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dem00n

Gotta love the whole "Kids today don't like cars" and the good old "This car sucks but its better then an E30 M3 because no one likes it and i find it amazing. *Hint obscure 80/90's sports car.*" I like Jalopnik but sometimes it's just bullshit.

Yeah, kids aren't buying cars because were paying for college and are getting suckered by loans.

dingdingding

CAMSTER · 09-05-2013, 11:50 PM

FRS FSHO!!

07-31-2013, 09:11 PM	#2
dem00n Member of the year - 2016 Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: Scion FRS Location: New York Posts: 3,575 Thanks: 788 Thanked 2,427 Times in 1,111 Posts Mentioned: 23 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Is Jalopnik running out of ideas? I've noticed lately a really bad dip in article quality, i guess this is more proof. Also, Jalopnik jumping the band wagon? The fucks going on over there? __________________ Friends don't let friends Plastidip

08-01-2013, 07:19 AM	#3
sohcanddohc Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: 18 Civic Type R Location: North AL Posts: 40 Thanks: 0 Thanked 27 Times in 18 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	My wife and I have our own little car wars going on. First one home gets the garage. __________________ 2018 CTR 2013 FR-S

08-26-2013, 05:32 AM	#9
Nothing Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Drives: FRS Location: NC Posts: 266 Thanks: 100 Thanked 77 Times in 47 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The Focus ST is a winner for room, practicality, power, everyday use and the phone (Sync) is a billion times better than the shit Toyota put in our cars. But, for many of us on this forum, it's not as good looking or as much of a pleasure to drive as the twins. I would never compare the Focus ST to the twins because it's a FWD hatch and not a RWD sports coupe. I'd never think to buy the Focus ST and go to a HPDE or track event. Compare it to cars like the Golf or Mazda 3. That's more suitable honestly. __________________

08-27-2013, 11:47 AM	#10
SVTSHC (ﾉಥ益ಥ)ﾉ Join Date: Jul 2011 Drives: 2015 Series Blue BRZ Location: Bronx Posts: 1,393 Thanks: 930 Thanked 625 Times in 365 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	That's not targetted at you OP, that's targetted at Jalopnik. I'm actually tired of seeing the two compared... __________________ "Sweet Subaru, sweet Subaru, send your BRZ unto me, for the roads of the unworthy must be baptized in speed and glory." ~Zaku

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08-01-2013, 10:33 AM	#5
Sport-Tech Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Drives: TBD Location: Toronto Posts: 2,583 Thanks: 665 Thanked 685 Times in 386 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The Fiesta ST is a better match to the twins than the Focus ST. Closer in straight line performance and much closer in weight (4 lbs difference from manual BRZ, versus about 475 lbs additional pork on the Focus). Lengthwise the twins are right in the middle of these 2, but the Fiesta has more in common with them in the handling department - it's reported to be more agile and have more natural feeling steering than the Focus.

08-01-2013, 05:03 PM	#8
Kostamojen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Drives: 1993 Impreza w/ WRX Swap + FWD! Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 2,071 Thanks: 217 Thanked 951 Times in 500 Posts Mentioned: 31 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I was told about that driving school when I was shopping for the ST. Right now, you can get ST's with like $2000 in rebates and INSANE amounts off MSRP because its the end of the model year. I got some damn good quotes for them. And yes, my car buying decision also came down to the ST vs. BRZ... I drove A LOT of cars: FRS, Abarth, JCW Mini (2 of them one with all the JCW suspension bits), Volvo C30, Mazdaspeed 3, and of course the Focus ST. The Focus was easily the best of all the FWD cars. It rotates SO DAMN GOOD and has perfect power delivery. I loved everything about it minus the interior... The BRZ ultimately won me over due to the interior and extremely good deal I'm getting from Clint (Not to say the deals for the ST's weren't great too, I bet you can get a ST1 for down to $20,000 if you try hard enough right now).

08-27-2013, 12:01 PM	#11
AsianStyle Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: Whiteout FR-S MT Location: USA Posts: 234 Thanks: 72 Thanked 99 Times in 61 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	http://www.motortrend.com/features/p..._focus_st.html This article seems relevant. 3 laps could not drive again.

09-05-2013, 11:50 PM	#14
CAMSTER Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: STi Location: rosemead Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	FRS FSHO!!

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