Shelby Focus ST: Win or Fail?

[FFTeam]

Now that the spec information has been revealed, Focus Fanatics would like to get your thoughts on the new Shelby Focus ST.

Did Shelby do a good job?

[Sponsor]

[Angelslave]

Knock a couple of doors off and I'll order one.

[Twenty]

Honestly, I see it as a bit of both.

Win:
-The (coming soon) carbon fiber hood, and the hood vents on the standard piece. Very nice.
-It does have a nice selection of performance parts; brakes, suspension, wheels/tires, etc. The suspension is the pre-existing Ford Racing collection though...this should provide options for other ST/Mk3 owners though.

Undecided:
-The seats. I like the colour-matched accents but they're the recovered ST1/Sport seats, and not the higher-end Recaros.
-Exahust: I like the fact they upgraded, but I miss the standard ST's tips.
-The price. You certainly get exclusivity, and lots of parts, but it's still steep. I know that wheels, brakes, exhausts, and the like can get very expensive for quality parts but with the premium they want, to get one of those in my area you'd be looking at $50,000.

Fail:
-The hydrocarbon accents. Really Shelby? Yes carbon fiber is expensive but don't fake it like this. Honestly if they're replace all of these with real CF that'd help the overall impression of the car massively, in my books.
-The badge in the interior. It just looks like an afterthought, shoved in place. That bugs me.

[cbdallas]

Personally not a fan of black wheels, or vinyl. The seats are a bit of a visual disappointment to me, but taste is subjective. I wouldn't expect ST seats to look more laterally supportive than seats in a Shelby product. Having said that, since the ST Recaros are so uncomfortable to me, the Shelby seats may feel great! They just don't look great. Again, IMO.

I'd be interested to see what, if anything different they did with the guages. Shelby insignia, perhaps, or different color / increments?

[mac.mogul]

I'm okay with the looks and accents, but for $15k extra I expect a LOT more than what is shown. A LOT more.
Disappointed in the brakes.
Disappointed in the seats.

For $15k you can do a LOT of work to an existing Focus.

[LouBomb]

Fail-

No real performance done.. No game changing suspension.. Not real carbon.. I rather have a fully loaded ST.

[Dads03SVT]

Originally Posted by Angelslave

Knock a couple of doors off and I'll order one.

Same thing i was thinking.....Maybe 150 more horse power??

[RonMaiden]

Look at what else your money will buy in that price range and the Shelby even looks like a worse deal.

[BLRich1]

I want to take my "win" vote back now that I see its a 15k option. F that noise.

[WhiteTite]

Originally Posted by mac.mogul

For $15k you can do a LOT of work to an existing Focus.

"The Shelby Focus ST package starts at $14,995 and only 500 units will be built annually".

What a rip off...a lot of money for stickers, a badge, tires and wheels, shifter, seat covers, springs and upgraded brakes (red paint??)

I vote Fail.