Focus ST

[blackonblacksvt03]

8500 is the number for the first year from what i have gathered

[rgonyer]

This is going to be a kick ass car, no doubt. But honestly, if they make 8500, I think there will be some serious deals at model year end.

It's a manual - you've already greatly limited the amount of people that will buy one. It has summer only tires, this will turn some non-enthusiasts away.

The Focus SVT was a performance bargain and a great car. The production numbers:

2002: 4788
2003: 6158
2004: 3057

Total over 3 model years: 14003

PLUS it was a lot less expensive so more younger people could buy them, and credit companies were also more loose with who they would lend to. The price of the ST will eliminate a lot of buyers (not saying it's not worth the money, it is a lot more car - but some that bought Focus SVT's will not be able to afford them).

Cobalt SS T/C Numbers:

2008: 1105
2009: 2537

Maybe they will fly off the lot, but I think 8500 is optimistic.

When I picked up my 2003 SVT off the lot in early 2004, there was $4k in rebates on it. With A plan and rebates I got a brand new '03 SVT Euro package for $16500 or something crazy like that.

[RonMaiden]

Originally Posted by rgonyer

It's a manual - you've already greatly limited the amount of people that will buy one. It has summer only tires, this will turn some non-enthusiasts away.

I don't think this is a non-enthusiast car anyway and I don't think summer only tires would factor into a buying desicion of this type of car and if I was buying one it wouldn't be my only car as it would never see snow. (My SE intends on never seeing snow)

I don't think an 8500 number is overoptimistic and these should sell quite well even.

[rgonyer]

In general it's not a non-enthusiast car - but a lot of people will check out a "cool sporty looking car" that they know nothing about, and find out they need to buy new tires and learn to drive a stick, then it's off the list.

Time will tell on the numbers, it was only my opinion. I actually gave some reasons why I think 8500 is high, you just said "I don't think".

[RonMaiden]

But the ST isn't marketed as a regular Focus and I think 99% of buyers know that they are getting and the type of clueless buyer doesn't need to own that cool of a car anyway.

[rgonyer]

True, but the SVT was no different and look at it's numbers.

[mac.mogul]

What you're neglecting to realize is that with the immense popularity of the new Focus, there are more people driving Fords now that were not driving Fords before.

The ST has the same kind of appeal to enthusiasts from other brands. Those 8500 units will not last long.

[rgonyer]

We'll find out! I do hope you're right.

[RonMaiden]

I think the market is more ripe than it was for the 1st gen Focus including and the SVT model of yore wasn't pushed by Ford like this one is and much more of a serious contender than the SVT was.

[darkbuddha]

Originally Posted by rgonyer

True, but the SVT was no different and look at it's numbers.

I don't think it's a good comparison, the SVT and the ST, for lots of reasons. For example, the ST branding has a well established history and following worldwide (okay, in the UK, Europe, and South America). Second, it's been 10 years since the SVT Focus, and the world is a different place in terms of global thinking and information access, especially among enthusiasts. Third, Ford learned quite a bit from the SVT Focus (and Contour) projects... Ford now requires that every car it sells be profitable and only proceeds when it has either the research to support it or they have built a market for it. I think they've got both going on for the ST now. And last, one word: turbo. Seriously, it's completely ridiculous that it's true still, but the word "turbo" still has cache among buyers (as if any car with a turbo is a performance car).

Actually, one last thing, the market for the ST already exists in earnest and is filled with competitors that sell plenty of cars. Ford's just gotta get their share.

8500, 12000, it doesn't matter. Production is only limited by demand, which means artificial dealer inflation of the price will not be terribly successful with anyone that's properly informed. And I'll admit that I'm doing my darnedest to make people aware that anyone can become X plan eligible rather easily (without knowing a Ford employee or being a shareholder), so I can't imagine prices staying inflated.