2013 Ford Focus ST, anybody got one?

[cogitate]

Originally Posted by jdiaz

Finally looked at an ST in the flesh.....a red car that was being dealer traded, so I only got to sit in it. The math doesn't bother me.....a loaded GTI goes for $31k with zero-percent paper most of the year, so a Focus for a couple thou less and 2.9% financing isn't hugely different.

Exterior is stunning, it looks great.

Interior drove me nuts. That massive console, low roof, and small boot just makes the car feel claustrophobic compared to my GTI.

No one could tell me anything about it. I live in truck and SUV country and fart-can hotrods are outside the dealership's comfort zone.

I will wait to see some longer-term reliability data on Ford's direct injection solution, as this has been a huge achilles heel on Volkswagens and Audis with the 2.0T engine.

I did get to drive an SE Focus 5 speed at the dealer back during the summer. I really liked it, it felt more refined than my 02 Civic SI. I can see how a tall person would feel claustrophobic, I am 5.5, it was fine, but still.

That said, I was not over the charts that interested in it, I thought maybe the handling, 252 hp and recaros would spruce it up a bit.

RE: direct injection: my buddy is head tech at a Mini dealer. The S's are direct injected, the non S coopers are port injected. He told me that the problem with direct injection is that is washes a little bit of the oil away, so it is not unusual to have to add some every couple of tankfuls. He also told me most owners of Cooper S's don't check the oil, it drops, and they blow their motor.

It is fun to shop.