Tested 2013 ST - Kept my 05 ST

[swansong]

Originally Posted by ElectricAL

I just can't see the new ST as being a practical 4 season DD. Too low.

I think the ST is only 15 mm or so lower than the regular Mk3. Not sure if the front bumper hangs any lower though.

That said, if/when I do get an ST, I'd keep the SVT around for winter, simply to keep nasty salt off the ST.

[suss6052]

Originally Posted by swansong

I think the ST is only 15 mm or so lower than the regular Mk3. Not sure if the front bumper hangs any lower though.

That said, if/when I do get an ST, I'd keep the SVT around for winter, simply to keep nasty salt off the ST.

If the whole car is lowered than the bumper is also lowered by the same amount.

[TheGlassMaker]

Originally Posted by lddavis

If you've got the 2011 or later, yes. Search for "soundaktor":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mUbYVS3uEc
(Warning: video shows naked car parts.)

Makes me wonder if the new focus has this, and all the people who are whining over a interior rattle is just because of this thing. Which is why ford says it's normal.

[felixthecat]

Originally Posted by ViperThreat

I am going to have to agree with the general consensus here. I've driven a ST1 and two ST2's now, and i haven't found them to live up to the hype that Ford had been pushing. Yes they look great, yes they drive great, and yes, the cost is reasonable, but at the same time, it didn't feel eager to dive though the turns or slam through the gears.

I like my cars to feel like the Tasmanian devil, and its my job as a driver to hold them back; the ST feels opposite of that to me, it feels too reserved. For what its worth, I like it alot, but I cant compare it to a WRX or Speed3 in terms of how it feels to drive.

Ditto ^^^^^^^^^^^The ST is refined, vs a raucousness speed3 & the wrx is more mechincaley connected. I like the raw connected feel w/o the eletronic nannies. Ford should have gone out on a limb & gave the ST a torsen. Get rid of that sound tube & add a torsen.

[suss6052]

Originally Posted by felixthecat

Ditto ^^^^^^^^^^^The ST is refined, vs a raucousness speed3 & the wrx is more mechanically connected. I like the raw connected feel w/o the eletronic nannies. Ford should have gone out on a limb & gave the ST a torsen. Get rid of that sound tube & add a torsen.

The sound tube costs less than the torsen differential even if they put an electronic baffle/ valve in it.

The ST worked rather well, but it wasn't enough to make me regret my NA 2012 GDI.

[felixthecat]

Originally Posted by suss6052

The sound tube costs less than the torsen differential even if they put an electronic baffle/ valve in it.
The overall development costs were pretty spendy, for that sound baffle thingy. It is a ST, so why band aid it w/ the eletronic gizmos?
The ST worked rather well, but it wasn't enough to make me regret my NA 2012 GDI.

Any you paid a lot less w/ that too.

[suss6052]

Originally Posted by felixthecat

Any you paid a lot less w/ that too.

I see you took to editing the post. Even though they likely spent a lot to develop and test the sound tube in the first place it can't cost as much as it would to purchase the Torsen. They had decided that since the car wasn't the hard core RS model it could get away with the electronic aids. They do work, but it would have been even more raw with the mechanical limited slip differential.

My car did cost a bit less than an ST, but the sticker sure wasn't that much less. ( Almost no one paid that number for the standard Focus however, where as with the ST it would be harder to do better except on A/Z/D/X plans or if the dealer ordered one but then couldn't actually sell it for awhile.

[ZXthrizzle05]

when my mazda 3 is pai doff ive been looking for a four ba nger with a stock turbo, ive been gearing more towards awd because of my snowboarding and the rain and snow conditions here. but the new st ive been reading and watching videos of, sounds awesome and looks like it would be fun to drive. but I do think without a tune and replacing the exhaust system and motor mounts the st wouldn't be worth the lots of $ they advertise it for. the video from steeda with it on the dyno that poor engine moves around SOOO MUCH.

[chaz493]

I can understand where people are coming from. I went from my 05 Saleen to the 13 ST and it is an all together different beast. The 05 feels faster, but in reality the 13 is much much faster, its just more refined all around. Quieter, higher quality materials, smoother shifting, smoother steering, smoother ride. There are things i miss about my Saleen, but everytime i go out and drive my ST i forget all about the Saleen. The Fswerks tune helped bring a lil raw back into the ST though :-P

[felixthecat]

Originally Posted by chaz493

I can understand where people are coming from. I went from my 05 Saleen to the 13 ST and it is an all together different beast. The 05 feels faster, but in reality the 13 is much much faster, its just more refined all around. Quieter, higher quality materials, smoother shifting, smoother steering, smoother ride. There are things i miss about my Saleen, but everytime i go out and drive my ST i forget all about the Saleen. The Fswerks tune helped bring a lil raw back into the ST though :-P

Probably trying to justify the cost of the st vs a moddit out older foci or a awd wrx or speed3. Nothing wrong w/ that. Yeah, I like the new st, it'd be great if it was a little more raw or had a little more edge to it. You pretty much said it is smoother in a lot of ways.