Car Wars: Scion FR-S vs Ford Focus ST
 

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?

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?

My wife and I have our own little car wars going on. First one home gets the garage.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps58c69217.jpg

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

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.

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.

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).

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.

:reposthorse:

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

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

dingdingding

FRS FSHO!!

When I was car shopping I test drove the Focus ST. Overall it was nice, but, I came away disappointed. In my opinion, the cabin had a very cramped feeling to it. Also, the Sync Touch was so complicated the salesman could barely work it. The car just didn't have a very good "feel". Not quite sure how to explain that, but, when I test drove the FR-S, I felt connected. The Focus ST just didn't produce that feeling.

Also, the front bumper looks like a catfish so that didn't help.

ST is such a great car. I'd daily the shit out of it.

The My Touch system is crap. My buddy has had his brand new ST in the shop three times now because the system keeps locking up and won't work.

Styling is subjective, but the Focus ST does nothing for me. I do like the new Fusion though.

Heard that they might make a fiesta st that might also be a competition for the twins, haa.

Already out in Europe and yes, it does compete.

They're already on the streets in North America too.

My brother was going to buy a Fiesta ST and I remember reading here that there were crazy incentives on the focus. I convinced him to go for the Focus (which is what he wanted anyway). My brother just picked up a new Focus ST for 20k flat out the door. That is alot of car for the money!

If I didn't already have a Golf TDI I woulda gotten a GTI with DSG. and if the ST came with a dual clutch auto I woulda gotten it before the FRS as well. Oh yeah same thing with the WRX too. Cant wait for automakers to start making nothing but autos down the road. Im tired of buying sports cars based on good autos...The freakin Veloster turbo comes with a dual clutch why cant other real sports cars do it yet...

Many enthusiasts don't want an auto in their sports car (raises hand). I believe like 80% of the BRZ/FRS's sold have manuals. The manual is not dead, and I really hope manufacturers consider this when building economical sports cars.

And just because a car has a dual clutch does not mean it is superior. I have not driven a twin with an auto, but have driven a Veloster turbo with the dual clutch and it is nothing to write home about. A proper 6 speed manual would have been an improvement IMHO. But than again, the Veloster turbo should probably not be considered a sports car.

If a car has the ability to shift as fast as an F1 car its clearly the superior transmission...otherwise it would have never been developed and supercars would still come with sticks. I'm not bashing the MT I'm just saying the dual clutch is more efficient...in every way bit weight

Yeah, F1 cars dont have fenders; does that mean thatss the superior car design? Comparing street cars to F1 rarely makes sense. High speed shift time is the only thing dual clutches can 'boast' and for many those 0.03 seconds dont matter. The dual clutch is less engaging in every way. The manual is far from dead, here here for controlling your own clutch/gears.

BRZ brakes also overheated at the track after 3 or so laps when one of those magazines tested.

That shouldnt surprise anyone, they dont come with track pads (or tires).

A properly executed DCT, yes. In the case of the Hyundai Valoster, Car And Driver preferred the non-DCT automatic as the DCT felt slower to shift. Transmissions have not been Hyundai's strongpoint:

I have nothing against DCT's personally, and I agree, a properly executed one should be better in terms of performance (see Porsche, VW, etc), but I am old school and prefer a manual. I love to shift and have been driving manuals since I was 16. I still feel like there is something to be said for "being the computer" that shifts the car and having that feeling of being in control.

I know Jay Leno has driven and owns some of the worlds advanced DCT's, and he still loves a good manual :) I would love to own both...

Shopping around for a car to replace my FR-S. Test drove a Focus ST yesterday. I owned a Focus hatchback for 10 years. I loved that car everyday of those 10 years. But the ST, while an amazing hot hatch, was just that...a hot hatch. It drove like tuned Focus, not a true sports car.

The biggest thing that stuck into my head, was that I felt like I was sitting on the Focus, not in it. The driving position is much more upright, the shifter was rubbery and vague. The cars fit and finish was better, and it was much more nicely appointed. For a daily driver, it would be a better choice.


But at the end of it all, I drove off the lot in my FR-S. If anything, this experience reaffirmed my choice to buy a twin in the first place. For what I can afford, I'm not likely to find a better drivers car.


As for specifics on the focus, the engine was excellent. The induction noise sounded great, but so great it was almost artificial. The steering and initial turn in were excellent. The car definitely has torque, but falls off a bit on the high end. It was very quiet when cruising, and comfortable to be in. Though the busy dashboard reminded me of the carpets they use in Vegas casinos, just too much going on.
The car I drove was an ST3 package, with everything. Listed at 30k, but they had it marked at 26k, with even less being very possible as they were motivated to get it sold. For the money, that is a lot of car. For someone with a family, this would be an excellent compromise vehicle. But being single, and relatively young, I'm not keen on compromise :)

I was cross shopping the two cars before settling on the BRZ. I thought similarly. Single guys, ftw :)

My girlfriend thinks I made the right choice. After she saw the BRZ, she said, that's the right choice. ;)