Orange Focus ST

[DAN_REV1_TURBO]

I was driving up the old A50 coming out of Coalville (Leics) area this afternoon, a Focus ST was miles ahead of me booting along I could see it in the distance, and I was driving my car nicely as it has a couple of issues at the moment and isnt ready to be giving it the beans.

Anyway, theres a few speed cameras and everyone slowed down, then theres a set of lights that went to red and I ended up sitting abot 5 cars back from this ST that had been flying down the road earlier.

He decides to move over to the left hand lane, and is moving VERY slowly, everyone in front of me started to overtake him, granny in a fiesta even went round him, and he was going so slow, that I thought `ok,must be something wrong with it, I`ll indicate and go round too`. As soon as I went round the side of him he starts speeding up, I`m speeding up to go past, then I realise what hes doing.. VRRROOOOM... ST launches up the carriageway leaving me to look `owned`, and overtaking all the people that had just gone round him. So basically he had clocked me and decided he wanted to have some fun?lol. Never really had that happen in that fasion before, someone slowing and waiting to draw you in! Had it at the lights when u pull alongside someone but he must have seen me in his rear view and purposely waited for me to overtake.

I wasnt playing though, wasnt trying to catch him in my poorly Tubby! Plus it was a bit of a silly place to do it and quite a few other road users around. It did make me wonder what the outcome would be if my car was 100 percent/had my injectors/fuel pump/ecu and remap sorted..lol.

Was hoping to pull alongside and ask if it was a standard jobby but he turned off at an island, cant they be `chipped` and tuned for a couple of grand and made silly quick? I have to say, it did shift a bit! Its pushed me to purchase the injectors tonight and if anyone has a Walbro fuel pump for sale please let me know. Maybe not much of an interesting story but it was about as exciting as my weekend got!lol.

[Ryan S]

rev 2 with breathing mods will rip it a new keyhole they are pretty torquey cars, but to be honest, it's nothing you couldn't shake off, my bass player in my band had the exact same car(in ASBO orange as well) and as smooth and comfy and sporty as it is, it's a front wheel drive ford, regardless of how many BHP or turkeys it has :p, seriously though, my bassist was dumbfounded by the fact he couldn't pull away or keep up with me, also, on a side note, my guitar player has a 2.5 turbo impreza something or other, and it is literally the exact same story never had an 'off the line' race with either car, but from a rolling start at around 30, both cars are in my mirrors i'm still totally shocked at how well these cars can compete with modern day motors, admittedly my teeth are rattling around in my head at any given point while in the car, but still, massive kudos to the Mr2

[dazzz]

You can even give them a headstart and still see them off.

I had a spirit drive over a few sets of lights last week with one. By the time i'd shifted to thrid it was obvious which is better at traffic light GPs

[vmaxnick]

My nemisses drives an ST. With a spirited driver at the wheel, they are surprisingly hard to keep up with in the twisties but a tubby should be able to see them off on the straights

[matt_mr2t]

I like them. They look nice (3 door facelift) and drive beautifully. It's no where near as quick as a tuned up tubby but as above, they travel fast.

On a smooth, flat and not too bendy road it wont get near a sorted lighter rwd car.

But on general brittish roads with pot holes, bad cambers, dips and strange bends - they're xxxx hot.

[vtecpower]

rev 2 with breathing mods will rip it a new keyhole they are pretty torquey cars, but to be honest, it's nothing you couldn't shake off, my bass player in my band had the exact same car(in ASBO orange as well) and as smooth and comfy and sporty as it is, it's a front wheel drive ford, regardless of how many BHP or turkeys it has :p, seriously though, my bassist was dumbfounded by the fact he couldn't pull away or keep up with me, also, on a side note, my guitar player has a 2.5 turbo impreza something or other, and it is literally the exact same story never had an 'off the line' race with either car, but from a rolling start at around 30, both cars are in my mirrors i'm still totally shocked at how well these cars can compete with modern day motors, admittedly my teeth are rattling around in my head at any given point while in the car, but still, massive kudos to the Mr2

+1 if my re2 tubby with breathing mods can keep up with a E46 M3 im sure a focus st wouldnt be a too hard target

[alanmr2turbo]

I dont even bother with them as they aint worth the little effort needed to see them off.

[loudandproud205]

Yet a standard rev1 of a roundabout didnt worry a 106 gti until 65/70 mph

Thus making me angry and decided to lose weight and gain power

Now they don't phase me, mind I have set higher standards these days

[vtecpower]

Yet a standard rev1 of a roundabout didnt worry a 106 gti until 65/70 mph

Thus making me angry and decided to lose weight and gain power

Now they don't phase me, mind I have set higher standards these days

i find that with my rev2 tubby if i have a play with these little cars when coming off a roundabout because they handle better they redline first gear and come off the roundabout in second at high rpm..

because in the tubby i wont push it over a roundabout and im not going to hold it in 1st gear and stress out the car so im in second and by the time im off the roundabout im in second gear at 3000 revs .. so obviously the little car is doing more speed and we got to close that gap then pull away.. thats probably why you find they hang out with your tubby till 70

standing still is a complete different story

[pistol pete]

try going against a chipped tuned one..
as i alwasy said the one i get to drive around in seemed pretty bleeding quick..
found out while doing the service and looking though the recipts it has
sports cat, mongoos exhaust, eibach lowering springs, and a code red tune cost 3500 from ford when it was new (inc front mount re tune etc etc) should be
which when looking on the code red site could be the stage 3 with the bigger turbo as well..
so ranging from 280-330hp..
i wanna get it on rollers ... but it is a beast.. may not sound too much but is soo capable.. it quite happily saw off my sti impreza i used to have with out too much trouble..

me personally on uk roads and weather.. the focus st is a better car..
on track nice smooth roads sure the mr2 will probably be quicker.oh and the seats in the st are to die for.. soo comfy

[pistol pete]

on a side note.. the one in the orginal post.. sounded like a plonker...
and should not be allowed a decent car...

[matt_mr2t]

It just amazed me Pete how it took every bump and twist and never got unsettled.

You know that feeling in a stiff low tubby when you hit a pot hole, crease or even just an uneven surface you get? When all of a sudden, for a second, you're not sure if you're tyres are touching the road any more?
The ST just didnt have that.

On the other hand, it didnt have any kind of feel. You cant feel the turbo kick in. You cant feel much from the steering. You have no idea how fast your going until you look at the speedo.

Horses for courses.

[pistol pete]

It just amazed me Pete how it took every bump and twist and never got unsettled.

You know that feeling in a stiff low tubby when you hit a pot hole, crease or even just an uneven surface you get? When all of a sudden, for a second, you're not sure if you're tyres are touching the road any more?
The ST just didnt have that.

On the other hand, it didnt have any kind of feel. You cant feel the turbo kick in. You cant feel much from the steering. You have no idea how fast your going until you look at the speedo.

Horses for courses.

ah see not feeling the turbo kick in is a completly different story on the one i drive.. the remap etc etc makes a massive difference
i can imagine a stadard having that problem though..

[DAN_REV1_TURBO]

the one in the orginal post.. sounded like a plonker...

Yeah he was being a bit of a plank, slowed right down until I had no choice but to overtake him, then just booted it and left me sitting in the right hand lane. lol. Like I say though I wouldnt be surprised if it wasnt standard, it was pretty damn rapid for a Focus. If I see the guy again when I get my car back on the road (gone in to be sorted today!) on a bit more of a sensible bit of road/empty lanes for a blast, I might give it the beans and see what poke it has then. I think he lives local I`ve seen it a couple of times when i`m in my work van I`m sure, although, orange ST`s are a pretty common sight!

[monkeyra]

20 years of suspension and chassis advancement - thats why the Focus ST will be better in the twisties.

[matt_mr2t]

I dont know if it's "better" it just makes you feel more secure and comfortable if that makes sense.

Some would argue that the tubby being more raw and having less gadgetry makes it a better drive.

I'm some where down the middle.

My mate always turns his TC off on his and wonders why I leave mine on unless its's bone dry. He doesnt quite understand the difference between understeer and over steer and the consequences of both when you break traction

[DAN_REV1_TURBO]

Saw this guy again the other day! He lives in the same village as me and seems to use the same stretch of carriageway I do quite a bit. Unfortunately my CC/injectors/Fuel pump/ECU will not be fitted until September.... He raced past me again and flashed his hazard lights and waved/smiled/laughed this time!lol.

Well, let him keep giving it Mr big bananas and then he can have a shock when he isnt expecting it.

[xanthus400]

tbh he sounds like a bit of a tool whats the point in what he did????
However theres always 2 or 3 focus st's parked at graham goodes on aylestone road just down the road from me.And they are probably seriously tuned. Used to have 5 escort cossies sitting outside so and they were tuned. One is an orange one so you never know. Have you seen the st in the castrol colours kicking about in Leics?

[DAN_REV1_TURBO]

Think he must just like to have a bit of a spirited drive dow the a50 every now n then lol. Everytime he sees me he deffo gives it the beans to whizz past me, it`s like a mr bean moment and i`m the three wheeler at the min! Yeah I have seen that, not moving though only parked up.

[Timmo]

One of my good friends runs a facelift ASBO. His has been slightly tweaked and produces 294bhp. I've got to say that the engine is fantastic. Torque literally everywhere. Can be a pain to launch off the line with its front drive though. Sadly, even a standard will leave my N/A standing!