FR-S vs 2012 Ford Focus ST

[Sully]

Originally Posted by pastuch

The Focus ST looks really nice, I'm certainly impressed by it but I would have a tough time buying one over a Mustang V6 Base. With very little money you can make the stang awesome, the obvious disadvantage being how common they are. I agree with the above posters, if you love RWD then buying a nose heavy car like the Focus is a tough pill to swallow. I did it with a Tiburon and I sold it quickly.

Why should that matter?

A good car is a good car.

[pastuch]

Originally Posted by Sully

Why should that matter?

A good car is a good car.

I saw over 100 Mustangs in a single day in Miami. It gets a little ridiculous.

[Allch Chcar]

Originally Posted by lunchbox

They are using a 6spd manual in the ST. Makes it a bit more fun imo.

I just want them both to come out so I can drive it. That should make the decision.

Which I am surprised at. I thought they would put their fancy, smancy 6spd dual clutch gearbox.

I was hoping for the downsizing that Ford was pushing but they backtracked. Now everything is moar HP. Ford, I am disappoint.

Originally Posted by Caliban

comparing apples to oranges.. totally different platform/layout. I will take the RWD car over FWD any day.

In this class FWD and RWD are close enough in many ways to be competitive. The new Focus ST is at least a competent rival, quite a bit more practical too.

Originally Posted by pastuch

The Focus ST looks really nice, I'm certainly impressed by it but I would have a tough time buying one over a Mustang V6 Base. With very little money you can make the stang awesome, the obvious disadvantage being how common they are. I agree with the above posters, if you love RWD then buying a nose heavy car like the Focus is a tough pill to swallow. I did it with a Tiburon and I sold it quickly.

On a FWD car, 60:40 is a good weight balance. I wouldn't hesitate to take the much lighter Focus over a Mustang. RWD or not the Mustang is a heavy car with completely different dynamics. I want something about 6 inches shorter in height and RWD though. Pretty much a hybrid between the two with a decent 4 cylinder engine, something that will never happen from Ford US.

Hopefully, that clarifies why I believe the Focus is a rival.

[lunchbox]

Originally Posted by Allch Chcar

Hopefully, that clarifies why I believe the Focus is a rival.

I completely agree. A fun to drive focus ST with Practicality and technology vs a rwd super fun car to drive with near perfect balance.

I personally have only owned fwd cars so I guess I don't know what i'm missing out on. It appears I need to dabble a little bit before making a decision. I currently own a tC so there's some brand loyalty. But I love the ford ecoboost. Very smart/fuel efficient move. Ford seems to have their ducks in a row as of late.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by lunchbox

I completely agree. A fun to drive focus ST with Practicality and technology vs a rwd super fun car to drive with near perfect balance.

I personally have only owned fwd cars so I guess I don't know what i'm missing out on. It appears I need to dabble a little bit before making a decision. I currently own a tC so there's some brand loyalty. But I love the ford ecoboost. Very smart/fuel efficient move. Ford seems to have their ducks in a row as of late.

really at this power level you really arent missing much imo. sure there are times when the power to the rear can be amusing but without more power, the drive wheels arent the biggest contributing factor to feel and handling characteristics

[CXTKRS1]

I could have sworn the ST was gonna be AWD but maybe not. I do know the US version is suppose to go on a diet so it should be a little lighter than the regular US models. If the ST comes in a 3 door model I will seriously consider buying one.

[lunchbox]

Yea i'm stuck. I mean with greddy getting a turbo started for the fr-s is big for me. Don't get me wrong I love the touring and drive dynamics of excellent handling but I hate twats that drive around in mustangs and think they're the greatest thing on the planet. I would want somewhere around 300hp. I was going to go for an evo but with thier announcement of a new engine type coming in a few years I was going to get a car inbetween for now. So I was thinking either fr-s or ST. I want the straight line power which I know adds weight but you still get an outstanding feel in the corners if u add a bit more weight imo. Thoughts?

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by lunchbox

Yea i'm stuck. I mean with greddy getting a turbo started for the fr-s is big for me. Don't get me wrong I love the touring and drive dynamics of excellent handling but I hate twats that drive around in mustangs and think they're the greatest thing on the planet. I would want somewhere around 300hp. I was going to go for an evo but with thier announcement of a new engine type coming in a few years I was going to get a car inbetween for now. So I was thinking either fr-s or ST. I want the straight line power which I know adds weight but you still get an outstanding feel in the corners if u add a bit more weight imo. Thoughts?

if you want a car for a couple years i would consider buying a car that meets most of your criteria in stock form. if you buy an frs and turbo it, thats throwing money down the drain. the mustang gt is a stupid fast car in a straight line and most likely competent enough for you in the corners. i can tell you right now that on just about any roadcourse in america the gt will be faster than a mild turbo setup (like the ones you can go buy in a kit type deal like this greddy stuff) and likely the evo you are waiting for. with what ford can get away with when selling the focus, i wouldnt be surprised if a nicely equiped st costs more than a base mustang gt with brembo package

[JrunkenC]

I just wanted to put in my 2 cents. While the two cars are similar in price, the BRZ/FRS will probably be a better drivers car while the Focus ST will be a better daily driver. I personally own an SVT Focus and it has been a great daily driver. Tons of room with the back seats down and I'm sure the Focus ST will also be a great everyday daily driver. When I moved from Cali to NYC, I fit everything into my SVTF including my cello, my golf clubs, my 40" tv, my stereo, my computer etc.

If you're thinking of owning just one car, I would definitely recommend giving the Focus ST a long hard look. If you own more than one car/don't need a daily driver, then the FRS/BRZ is the way to go!

[cassidy0998]

Originally Posted by pastuch

I saw over 100 Mustangs in a single day in Miami. It gets a little ridiculous.

Yup they're all over the southern US. It gets really really really... really old.

There are even some trashy looking 05+ ones now. mismatched panels and such. Pretty sad.

[frusciantrix]

The old 5 zylinder Focus was quite an animal. It's main rival was (or still is) the Megane 3 RS which now has 265PS. But I'd prefer the Megane R26.R. It comes with a roll cage, plastic back windows and so on... It was brilliant for track action. In my eyes a poor man' s GT3.
Comparing those radical cars with the 86, well, I don't think it would be fair. Not at the moment, maybe it will be with a STI version or some other radical 86 version.

[tranzformer]

Originally Posted by frusciantrix

The old 5 zylinder Focus was quite an animal. It's main rival was (or still is) the Megane 3 RS which now has 265PS. But I'd prefer the Megane R26.R. It comes with a roll cage, plastic back windows and so on... It was brilliant for track action. In my eyes a poor man' s GT3.
Comparing those radical cars with the 86, well, I don't think it would be fair. Not at the moment, maybe it will be with a STI version or some other radical 86 version.

Unfortunately we never got those here.

[DMDZK]

Originally Posted by fatoni

if you want a car for a couple years i would consider buying a car that meets most of your criteria in stock form. if you buy an frs and turbo it, thats throwing money down the drain. the mustang gt is a stupid fast car in a straight line and most likely competent enough for you in the corners. i can tell you right now that on just about any roadcourse in america the gt will be faster than a mild turbo setup (like the ones you can go buy in a kit type deal like this greddy stuff) and likely the evo you are waiting for. with what ford can get away with when selling the focus, i wouldnt be surprised if a nicely equiped st costs more than a base mustang gt with brembo package

The Current model Mustangs (v6 and GT) are not only fast in a straight line but very capable in the corners as well (so long as they have the performance package). If high performance is important to you, I can't help but feel this car will disappoint. It will be a blast to drive, and will certainly not be the slowest car on the road, but I'd expect an experience closer to the Miata than to anything wielding 300hp. It could also possibly be closer to the Miata than to the RX8/S2000 we so frequently see it compared to.

[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.