2013 Focus ST, worth it?

[panzer 2.3]

By the time I'm ready to swap cars, the MK7 will probably wind up being out in droves. I had my heart set on a ST, but once I saw the MK7 GTI pics from the auto show, the first words out of my mouth were, "****. This is going to be a difficult decision."

agreed, I want to wait and see the final na production version & also want to see if they really do plan on releasing a track package variant? I'm a vw guy at heart so I really want to like the new MKVII platform, but time will tell. I'm sure ford will have a revision or two by the time we see the MK7 and they should have a good american aftermarket selection to match it by then.

[hardcore4life]

Picking my ST up tomorrow at the dealer

[Vanilla_Coke]

$349? I think I'd rather invest that in a nice stereo receiver for my home than sticking some cancerous growth in my dash. Then again, I couldn't roll around with my subzzzz while playing rap videos to impress the ladies. Maybe later we can try to install a PS3 and 360 to play Call of Duty while we roll down the interstate!

You realize we're talking about ~$16k econoboxes, right? The manufacturer is more concerned with the flavor of the grease they use for the trunk latch than the audio quality.

I commend you on sticking to your guns, but I can't say it's helping your argument. (Term used lightly.) Might I suggest getting a nice set of eyeglasses for that $349?

And that is why there was aftermarket car audio, just because you put a receiver in your car doesn't mean you're a rapper with subbz dawg.

[moose82]

Picking my ST up tomorrow at the dealer

Congrats! I can't say I am not envious. Enjoy it

[worked_xr]

Picking my ST up tomorrow at the dealer

Congratulations! Pre-order or dealer stock purchase?

[hardcore4life]

Congratulations! Pre-order or dealer stock purchase?

Pre order.. i placed the order in may 9th

[worked_xr]

Pre order.. i placed the order in may 9th

Same here. My ST3 was built last week, but as of today it still hadn't left the factory. So do me a favor and enjoy it a little extra for me.

[hardcore4life]

Same here. My ST3 was built last week, but as of today it still hadn't left the factory. So do me a favor and enjoy it a little extra for me.

Are you sure or they just haven't updated the tracking , when i sent an e-mail to Natasha on Tuesday she said it still at the plant and no EtA but my car arrived yesterday

[horsty69]

Picking my ST up tomorrow at the dealer

Congrats...please post a ton of pics!

[Spray`]

Can someone explain the exact lighting we're getting on the focus? Is it HID's? LED DRL's??

This is a huge selling feature for me.

[BRealistic]

Can someone explain the exact lighting we're getting on the focus? Is it HID's? LED DRL's??

This is a huge selling feature for me.

But what about the hatch hinge technology?

[firstorbit84]

Can someone explain the exact lighting we're getting on the focus? Is it HID's? LED DRL's??

This is a huge selling feature for me.

I'm pretty sure standard lights are halogen with LED HID upgrade available

[panzer 2.3]

Can someone explain the exact lighting we're getting on the focus? Is it HID's? LED DRL's??

This is a huge selling feature for me.

The lights your looking for are on the st3 package you get a led drl eyebrow and hid main light. Def the best way to go IMO.

[Paul@VWvortex]

I spotted one on the freeway yesterday in that yellow mustard color and it had very strong presence; I have to say that I am impressed with it so far.

[worked_xr]

ST1 and ST2 come with pretty standard halogen headlamps. ST3 gets bi-xenon HIDs with LED brow lamps and cornering lamps. OEM HIDs are like $1500-$1700 each, so the ST3 package is pretty nicely equipped for the coin.

[Spray`]

Thanks, we dont have those package designations I dont think in Canada.

The base model here comes with the HID's for 29,999.
Recaros are only a $1000 upgrade on top of that.

ST1 and ST2 come with pretty standard halogen headlamps. ST3 gets bi-xenon HIDs with LED brow lamps and cornering lamps. OEM HIDs are like $1500-$1700 each, so the ST3 package is pretty nicely equipped for the coin.

[MCTB]

I hate to break it to you, but that unit costs $349... It integrates just fine with a double din opening and with steering wheel controls... But once again, only teenage tards at Best Buy would rock such a device. I guess anything with a double din is for rejects

This reminds me of IW and their defense that people were too stupid to figure out server browsers, car audio isn't hard to figure out, nor is it for teens I would much rather enjoy clarity with better S/N then be stuck with crap.

$349? Jeez thats a lot of something that will not blend well with the interior at all. Im not sure if your referring to teens is implying that I am one (which I am not) but I am also one that does mind a well integrated and good sounding system.

[SchnellFowVay]

Base gets the same gauge pod and auxiliary gauges, but the center stack is less "techie" and more basic. Looks like this:

I actually don't mind this center stack. It doesn't look like a luxury vehicle, but its not supposed to. It looks well laid out and well made.

[livingVoice]

Or wait for the next RS with 2.3L Turbo 350hp
http://www.leftlanenews.com/next-for...ferential.html

Rumors coming out of England indicate that the next generation of Ford's performance-oriented Focus RS will pack as much as 350 horsepower, marking a noticeable increase of about 50 ponies over the last-gen model.

Power will reportedly come from the 2.3-liter Ecoboost four-cylinder mill that Ford is currently developing to use in the next-gen Mustang. To help eliminate torque steer, the car will likely be equipped with an electronically-controlled active differential, a unit that is similar in concept to the one that will equip the upcoming seventh-gen Volkswagen GTI.

Len Urwin, the head of Ford's Team RS, told PistonHeads in an interview that fitting the car with an all-wheel drive system is under consideration but it would have to be developed from the ground up because the only all-wheel drive systems that Ford currently has access to are front-biased.

"[The Haldex-designed all-wheel drive system] is inherently an understeering system," said Urwin. "We would need to do something we could make fun to drive."

Furthermore, all-wheel drive would add unwanted pounds to the car's weight and unwanted dollars to its base price.

The Focus RS is expected to make its public debut as a limited-edition model in a year or two. Available only as a five-door hatchback, it will boast a wider track and a rally-inspired body kit.

While Ford has not confirmed this, rumors indicate that the next-gen Focus RS will be available in the United States for the first time in the model's illustrious history.

[panzer 2.3]

^^^
If the st's sell well ford should bring the RS here

[panzer 2.3]

Looks like whiteline & Tanner Foust have teamed up to make a Foust edition ST

[BUCKWILDVW]

You'll see the relevance halfway through...

[panzer 2.3]

You'll see the relevance halfway through...

That was awesome

[KICKINGTI]

Haha, that was awesome.

[Aonarch]

I want a ST2... Err!!! I just got my wagon 3 months ago!

I guess I will wait.

[VeeDubbinJetta91]

That was awesome

That was awesome! Haha as a ford tech who has pdi'd a few focus ST's and actually just put a seatbelt in one today that was damaged at the factory I am seriously considering getting rid of my R32 for one, they are great driving vehicles with some good power and feel very planted


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[worked_xr]

That NFS video is the best ST commercial to date, and I'm saying that even though I'm actually in the Key West ST commercial. Only a video game could pull that off and not catch hell in the big corporate auto industry.

[brakedust]

I checked it out and all they had was an ST2 package, I'm going to wait for an ST3 to come in before I test drive the beast. It looks much bigger than my Golf, esp the trunk space.

It's a nice ride nonetheless.

[firstorbit84]

awesome ad. That Corvette took the curb really hard though

[bWs]

ST1 and ST2 come with pretty standard halogen headlamps. ST3 gets bi-xenon HIDs with LED brow lamps and cornering lamps. OEM HIDs are like $1500-$1700 each, so the ST3 package is pretty nicely equipped for the coin.

With this kind of output from the OEM bi-xenon headlights, I'd say it's hardly worth it.
Looks like a flashlight through a projector.

[Oliver@triplezoom]

Thanks, we dont have those package designations I dont think in Canada.

The base model here comes with the HID's for 29,999.
Recaros are only a $1000 upgrade on top of that.

Actually, the full leather Recaros are standard in Canada. The only options are a package that includes the upgraded Sony audio system, MyFordTouch, SiriusXM, and dual zone climate control for $1000; a sunroof for $1,200; and navigation for $700.

[AKADriver]

With this kind of output from the OEM bi-xenon headlights, I'd say it's hardly worth it.
Looks like a flashlight through a projector.

I'm really at a loss here... you're going to judge light output based on a cell phone camera picture of an interior wall, with a fluorescent light shining directly on it from above?

Headlights are commodity items. There isn't someone sitting in a basement at Ford reinventing the wheel designing an inferior headlamp. The projector optics and HID capsules are beyond any doubt just standard supplier items, identical to those found on other cars.

[Aonarch]

I'm waiting for the new GTI to directly compare the two. Obviously the ST > MKVI GTI, but the MKVII? We shall see!

[Sortafast]

I'm waiting for the new GTI to directly compare the two. Obviously the ST > MKVI GTI, but the MKVII? We shall see!

I'll save you some time.

The ST will still outperform the GTI, but VW fanboys will insist that the GTI is more well-rounded and has more soft touch soul-filled interior pieces and hose clamps.

No need to even start a new thread!

[2.0T_Convert]

I'll save you some time.

The ST will still outperform the GTI, but VW fanboys will insist that the GTI is more well-rounded and has more soft touch soul-filled interior pieces and hose clamps.

No need to even start a new thread!

You forgot Chris Harris will complain about understeer.