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This comment of mine is in response to a person asking me about trading up from a SE to a ST.
What do you think?
"""
Well I kind of 'had a crazy moment' and ordered a ST in a fit of passion. I 'should' have kept the 2012 5 speed SE as it was just about perfect for me. (I am 65 years old)
THe ST is a harsher rid. (in fact I doubt most ordinary folks would tolerate it) It is just like a small car with lowered springs. stiff, bouncy. not like the SE. Though on a smooth road it is smooth too.
Then the power. It has a LOT more power. 'Getting hauled off the jail for multiple violations' sort of power. Now I like power like that, prior to the 2012 Focus SE I owned a 1999 Contour SVT since new, for 13 years. (and would have bought an identical car over again) The SVT had 200 hp, and a five speed manual. AA sedan instead of a hatch. Both cars can easily be driven at normal speeds, and easy on the throttle the car is a kitten.
On the other hand: I know what driving at 140mph is like. and how hard it is to do. and how EASY it is to go 130mph.. LOL And how one can go from 60 to 110 in a few seconds..
And that going around corners one cannot EVER beat the laws of physics... and that tiny patch of water really really matters...
Anyway, if you never want to drive fast. scary fast, then do not buy the ST.
Especially a ST1 (the whole point of the ST1 is to GO SCARY FAST on a budget.)
I almost bought a ST1. Then decided to opt for the bling of the ST3. For $6K it is worth the money. HID, NAV, Recaro full leather, auto climate control.
If I had it to do over? Well so far OK. But if I get speeding tickets I will be crying. When you get a ticket for 12 over... ahhh so what. When the ticket is for 37mph OVER the speed limit. (my last SVT ticket) it HURTS. (and really lucky for me too. If the cop had been 1/4 mile further down the road right then that day. My ticket would have been for 75mph OVER the speed limit.
This is what owning a fast car does to one.
It is like being an alcoholic, drunk on speed, and having that addiction driving the car, all the time, except the addiction is speed. It really grows on one.
Today my fastest hit was about 85mph in a 50 zone, bump to change lanes (A guy was tailgating me and I was annoyed)
So anyway.. that is what you have to accept. The gradual addiction to the gas pedal, and the results: Eventually a speeding ticket. Maybe a BIG speeding ticket. (my 'solution' is to drive the speed limit, on cruise control, most of the time. It works, and keeps me from the loss of my license)
Another thing is warming up the car. With the oil temp gauge, I realize I usually do not drive far enough to really warm up the engine. And you do not want to use much boost with a cold engine. Winter.. Snow tires on other wheels mandatory I spent $1,700 for my set of 18" wheels and snow tires and those were all at a discount.
With snow tires the car is good in the snow. My IMO only. Folks used to Jeeps with mud tires might think differently about the ST in the snow.
Handling is razor sharp. if a bit busy. No taking you hands off the steering wheel on this ride. You knee will NOT cut it.
So all in all the ST is for driving, not riding around in a car.. But DRIVING around in a car.
And if you are not used to a stick, then consider if you commute. The ST is not happy in a twenty to forty mile crawl at under 5mph with endless stop start.. You will go insane if you had to do that 10 times a week, in an ST. Or downtown streetlights. Consider every stop you have to row the shift lever 5 times That is EVERY stop. For EVERMORE. No getting tired, no saying car shift yourself today.. NOT.
If you love driving, controlling your car. feeling like the master of your domain, and love to know your car is FAST (well not Corvette or GT500 fast, but fast enough)..
And do not mind the harsh ride over anything other than smooth pavement.
Then get the ST.
If not. then keep your SE
Good luck,
Elizabeth
What do you think?
"""
Well I kind of 'had a crazy moment' and ordered a ST in a fit of passion. I 'should' have kept the 2012 5 speed SE as it was just about perfect for me. (I am 65 years old)
THe ST is a harsher rid. (in fact I doubt most ordinary folks would tolerate it) It is just like a small car with lowered springs. stiff, bouncy. not like the SE. Though on a smooth road it is smooth too.
Then the power. It has a LOT more power. 'Getting hauled off the jail for multiple violations' sort of power. Now I like power like that, prior to the 2012 Focus SE I owned a 1999 Contour SVT since new, for 13 years. (and would have bought an identical car over again) The SVT had 200 hp, and a five speed manual. AA sedan instead of a hatch. Both cars can easily be driven at normal speeds, and easy on the throttle the car is a kitten.
On the other hand: I know what driving at 140mph is like. and how hard it is to do. and how EASY it is to go 130mph.. LOL And how one can go from 60 to 110 in a few seconds..
And that going around corners one cannot EVER beat the laws of physics... and that tiny patch of water really really matters...
Anyway, if you never want to drive fast. scary fast, then do not buy the ST.
Especially a ST1 (the whole point of the ST1 is to GO SCARY FAST on a budget.)
I almost bought a ST1. Then decided to opt for the bling of the ST3. For $6K it is worth the money. HID, NAV, Recaro full leather, auto climate control.
If I had it to do over? Well so far OK. But if I get speeding tickets I will be crying. When you get a ticket for 12 over... ahhh so what. When the ticket is for 37mph OVER the speed limit. (my last SVT ticket) it HURTS. (and really lucky for me too. If the cop had been 1/4 mile further down the road right then that day. My ticket would have been for 75mph OVER the speed limit.
This is what owning a fast car does to one.
It is like being an alcoholic, drunk on speed, and having that addiction driving the car, all the time, except the addiction is speed. It really grows on one.
Today my fastest hit was about 85mph in a 50 zone, bump to change lanes (A guy was tailgating me and I was annoyed)
So anyway.. that is what you have to accept. The gradual addiction to the gas pedal, and the results: Eventually a speeding ticket. Maybe a BIG speeding ticket. (my 'solution' is to drive the speed limit, on cruise control, most of the time. It works, and keeps me from the loss of my license)
Another thing is warming up the car. With the oil temp gauge, I realize I usually do not drive far enough to really warm up the engine. And you do not want to use much boost with a cold engine. Winter.. Snow tires on other wheels mandatory I spent $1,700 for my set of 18" wheels and snow tires and those were all at a discount.
With snow tires the car is good in the snow. My IMO only. Folks used to Jeeps with mud tires might think differently about the ST in the snow.
Handling is razor sharp. if a bit busy. No taking you hands off the steering wheel on this ride. You knee will NOT cut it.
So all in all the ST is for driving, not riding around in a car.. But DRIVING around in a car.
And if you are not used to a stick, then consider if you commute. The ST is not happy in a twenty to forty mile crawl at under 5mph with endless stop start.. You will go insane if you had to do that 10 times a week, in an ST. Or downtown streetlights. Consider every stop you have to row the shift lever 5 times That is EVERY stop. For EVERMORE. No getting tired, no saying car shift yourself today.. NOT.
If you love driving, controlling your car. feeling like the master of your domain, and love to know your car is FAST (well not Corvette or GT500 fast, but fast enough)..
And do not mind the harsh ride over anything other than smooth pavement.
Then get the ST.
If not. then keep your SE
Good luck,
Elizabeth
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