Road Trip In A Focus ST

So I'm spending two weeks with this:

The plan is to drive it from Atlanta to Tulsa for this http://www.midamericafordmeet.com/, run it at the Hallett driving school, take it to the strip, then shine it up for a car show. The only thing I'm doing it putting gas in it. Then I'll drive it back to Atlanta, hand the keys back to Ford and write stories about the adventure.

I've had it since Tuesday and I'm quite surprised how taut the suspension is, but not harsh. The seats are great as well (Recaros). First gear is REALLY short too.

Yea. Kinda jealous...

If I could get over my 'Murican bias (especially Ford), this is at the top of my "maybe next year?" list.

Nice, have a safe trip!

Wish it was a Fiesta ST :( But still very cool.

Who do you write for (did I miss that)?

got to ride in one at an AX school, it was most impressive. stops now, power everywhere, little oversteer bias, it was great. A track day in that car would really be fun - you shall enjoy.

where can we read about it?

That is on my " in 5 years or so" short list. Have fun.

Since they're priced similarly and aimed at the sporty-car driver, I'd really like to drive the Focus ST and Mustang V6 back to back. Interesting study in contrast there, Ford.

Having driven friends ST "in anger", I am sure you will enjoy it. Only thing we have found is that it could use some better brake pads for track use.

Has any hard data about the electronic "limited slip" failing under hard driving appeared yet?

I have not heard of it failing but I have heard of it cooking the brakes. Which you usually swap fluid and pads for any car seeing regular track duty anyway so I am not sure how it would fare then.

HiTempguy wrote: Who do you write for (did I miss that)?

If I recall correctly Ford has been doing some recruiting of non-industry bloggers and forum members to help spread the word on the ST cars.

Basically you sign up for a chance to win a freebie event like this, get tossed the keys, go drive the tires off, hand the keys back, and write about your adventures.

I'm assuming Slefain was a lucky applicant for one of these type of scenarios, being an "Ultra Dork" has it's perks, and Ford gets credible forum coverage without looking like a corporate troll poster.

EDIT: found it... http://fordecoboostchallengedrive.com/ found via: http://jalopnik.com/want-to-drive-a-focus-st-or-fiesta-st-sign-up-at-forde-510544241

nderwater wrote: Since they're priced similarly and aimed at the sporty-car driver, I'd really like to drive the Focus ST and Mustang V6 back to back. Interesting study in contrast there, Ford.

??

Just because they may have similar performance does not mean they are the same market. I'd say the aim is quite a bit different, actually.

One is a person who want's a Mustang, but can only afford the base version, the other is a Focus buyer who wants the best performance you can get.

xflowgolf wrote:

HiTempguy wrote: Who do you write for (did I miss that)?

If I recall correctly Ford has been doing some recruiting of non-industry bloggers and forum members to help spread the word on the ST cars. Basically you sign up for a chance to win a freebie event like this, get tossed the keys, go drive the tires off, hand the keys back, and write about your adventures. I'm assuming Slefain was a lucky applicant for one of these type of scenarios, being an "Ultra Dork" has it's perks, and Ford gets credible forum coverage without looking like a corporate troll poster. EDIT: found it... http://fordecoboostchallengedrive.com/ found via: http://jalopnik.com/want-to-drive-a-focus-st-or-fiesta-st-sign-up-at-forde-510544241

That is a cool program, but that's not how I got the car. I wrote a one-page story idea proposal and sent it to Ford. They liked it so they tossed me the keys to the car for two weeks. I'm the Editor for AutoTrader Classics. http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/content-manager-at-autotrader-classicscom/8154/page1/ I try not to be a troll poster but most of the cool stuff I do relates to my job, so it is kind of hard not to. I would hope my 3,000+ posts over ten years would keep me out of canoe territory.

Take some photos of the interior. I am interested in the ST as a new DD, but I need to put a car seat in the back, dogs in the hatch rarely, and occasionally fold down the seats. Ford shows 11 images of the steering wheel in their website, not one of the back seat or hatch.

I will go drive one eventually, but why only make it in a 5-door hatch configuration and then pretend it is a coupe on your website!?!?

I'll grab some photos. The only one I have of the hatch is of the subwoofer.

In reply to xflowgolf:

Thanks for those links. I did this last year for the Focus ST and I really want to try the Fiesta ST. Just signed up.

I got to hammer one of those once. Upon giving the car back to the salesman that went on the test drive with me he proclaimed "I'm gonna have to take this out later. I didn't know it could DO that".

These are REALLY good.

Yeah I really want to check out the Fiesta ST as well. I love the Focus but for some reason I am wanting the Fiesta more

maybe its because the Fiesta ST is about the same weight as my focus SVT but with more power while the Focus ST weighs an additional 400lbs

Cargo and back seat pics as promised:

And is does make a fine family car:

This thread interests me. I can see one of these as a possible replacement for my 3 in a couple years. I know it's a performance car, but if you can, report what it gets for real world gas mileage (and on what grade gas)and how the range is (miles per tank). I have a long commute, and that stuff is important, but I want something fast for my next DD.

Cargo space looks similar to my 3, except that subwoofer cuts into the cargo area a little. I have one mounted on my spare tire! Yes, you read that right.

Any chance you could turn one of those car seats backwards, and report back on how far forward the front passenger seat has to go to allow it to fit in rear-facing mode?

Great! Thanks! My only concern is the slope of the back window, and how much space it cuts out. Hard to put two dogs under most hatches today, you really neet a wagon. But I don't cart them very often, and the added fun 100% of the time I am behind the wheel would be worth it!

szeis4cookie wrote: Any chance you could turn one of those car seats backwards, and report back on how far forward the front passenger seat has to go to allow it to fit in rear-facing mode?

I'll give it a try and see how it fits.

pinchvalve wrote: Great! Thanks! My only concern is the slope of the back window, and how much space it cuts out. Hard to put two dogs under most hatches today, you really neet a wagon. But I don't cart them very often, and the added fun 100% of the time I am behind the wheel would be worth it!

If you pull the rear cargo cover there should be enough room for one lab sized dog, but two would be tight (or you need smaller dogs).

That's actually pretty interesting. The Focus (and Fiesta) have been my two favorite rental cars this past year... unfortunately I've never received an ST that way