Background:
27, dude, calls himself an Engineer (Ehh...). Started automotive life with a 5-speed V6 mustang, then after many years bought a used 04 STi. After a painfully short 4 years, sold the STi and bought the ST. Do I feel it's worth dropping the "i"? Hmmm...
After having the STi and having to get an entirely new engine (Long story, dealership blew the car and took over a year to get it not fixed right). I finally had been working a real job for about a year, I wanted a new car that could be reliable/fun. I kept tabs on the ST and finally bit the bullet last May. Initially it was great, I was floored by how the power felt (a 1.6L shouldn't put out this much torque) and was amaze at how fast it spools. It was fun tooling it around, then things got boring in winter. No longer did I have my STi with Blizzaks which didn't give a fuck about snow and fun beyond fun here in Cleveland. Spring rolls around and that magic never came back. I put on an intake (My STi had one, I'm a kid and like making pew pew noises). It helps, but still didn't come back. A dog ran in front of the car in early May (10pm on a rainy night, I saw a flash in my headlight and THUMP. 7K in damage and entirely new front end, all the way to the battery tray). In the meantime I've been riding my GSX and driving the rental focus. I came to a realization.
I don't miss the ST.
I don't know why I feel like this. This car is an amazing hatchback. Unbelievable performance, THE best seats I've been in since the Scuderia I tracked (I have the Recaros obviously) and overall just a killer car. I bought it thinking I didn't have to fiddle with it, because Ford did all the work. And I was right.
And yet... I'm not in love with it. I almost feel it's too good. It's good everywhere. It does nothing BAD. As a car, it's all one person could want with no compromise. And I think that is the problem. It does nothing bad to make me appreciate what it does good. No crazy lag (I LOVE lag with matching power), it's not stupid fast, It's not a RWD sports car, etc. It's the most practical and compliant car with the best features one wants for a car. And it makes it...boring and dis-engaging (Also the engine doesn't sound good at all). It does nothing bad to make me appreciate what it does good.
I think Top Gears James May said it best. This car would be better if it were worse. For some context, let me explain. I'm a die-hard clutch guy. I'll also be the first to admit a DSG, flappy-paddle will no doubt out-perform a human clutch 103.4 percent of the time. But I hate them in street cars. The Nissan R35GT-R is an astonishing piece of technology and rightfully deserves it's "Godzilla" credentials. It also stands (in my view) for everything I don't want in a personal sports/street car. I'm not racing professionally, I don't need the DSG. I don't need the computer controlled braking/YAW sensors, etc. To me it's bloatwear (I'm not against things like DI or ABS, etc.).
Maybe that's it. I see this as too much of a future is scary and I don't like change. But the ST doesn't have this. It has a 6-speed, simple single-scroll turbo, and a small engine. Just a great chassis, great seats, and the most powerful version of the motor Ford offers (for the 1.6). But it feels sterile; too German. I like and appreciate the torque, but I don't like how the power is so linear. It's too much everywhere, there's no disparity (I feel an issue of all modern turbo cars to remove lag is a mistake, but that's me). There's no rush, it just keeps pushing you (pulling I guess, FWD) forward. There's no high rpm wail of a K-series engine, no
So my problem lies in the engine? Is it that? I somehow don't appreciate how well the engine responds and how well it offers power? I want the engine to be worse? I've talked to Randy, and he can induce some lag in a COBB program, but that's spending money (and warranty) on a car I'm not sure I want. And that will never fix the fundamental problem of how this car sounds.
Sorry if I'm rambling. Part of this is helping me figure it out.
27, dude, calls himself an Engineer (Ehh...). Started automotive life with a 5-speed V6 mustang, then after many years bought a used 04 STi. After a painfully short 4 years, sold the STi and bought the ST. Do I feel it's worth dropping the "i"? Hmmm...
After having the STi and having to get an entirely new engine (Long story, dealership blew the car and took over a year to get it not fixed right). I finally had been working a real job for about a year, I wanted a new car that could be reliable/fun. I kept tabs on the ST and finally bit the bullet last May. Initially it was great, I was floored by how the power felt (a 1.6L shouldn't put out this much torque) and was amaze at how fast it spools. It was fun tooling it around, then things got boring in winter. No longer did I have my STi with Blizzaks which didn't give a fuck about snow and fun beyond fun here in Cleveland. Spring rolls around and that magic never came back. I put on an intake (My STi had one, I'm a kid and like making pew pew noises). It helps, but still didn't come back. A dog ran in front of the car in early May (10pm on a rainy night, I saw a flash in my headlight and THUMP. 7K in damage and entirely new front end, all the way to the battery tray). In the meantime I've been riding my GSX and driving the rental focus. I came to a realization.
I don't miss the ST.
I don't know why I feel like this. This car is an amazing hatchback. Unbelievable performance, THE best seats I've been in since the Scuderia I tracked (I have the Recaros obviously) and overall just a killer car. I bought it thinking I didn't have to fiddle with it, because Ford did all the work. And I was right.
And yet... I'm not in love with it. I almost feel it's too good. It's good everywhere. It does nothing BAD. As a car, it's all one person could want with no compromise. And I think that is the problem. It does nothing bad to make me appreciate what it does good. No crazy lag (I LOVE lag with matching power), it's not stupid fast, It's not a RWD sports car, etc. It's the most practical and compliant car with the best features one wants for a car. And it makes it...boring and dis-engaging (Also the engine doesn't sound good at all). It does nothing bad to make me appreciate what it does good.
I think Top Gears James May said it best. This car would be better if it were worse. For some context, let me explain. I'm a die-hard clutch guy. I'll also be the first to admit a DSG, flappy-paddle will no doubt out-perform a human clutch 103.4 percent of the time. But I hate them in street cars. The Nissan R35GT-R is an astonishing piece of technology and rightfully deserves it's "Godzilla" credentials. It also stands (in my view) for everything I don't want in a personal sports/street car. I'm not racing professionally, I don't need the DSG. I don't need the computer controlled braking/YAW sensors, etc. To me it's bloatwear (I'm not against things like DI or ABS, etc.).
Maybe that's it. I see this as too much of a future is scary and I don't like change. But the ST doesn't have this. It has a 6-speed, simple single-scroll turbo, and a small engine. Just a great chassis, great seats, and the most powerful version of the motor Ford offers (for the 1.6). But it feels sterile; too German. I like and appreciate the torque, but I don't like how the power is so linear. It's too much everywhere, there's no disparity (I feel an issue of all modern turbo cars to remove lag is a mistake, but that's me). There's no rush, it just keeps pushing you (pulling I guess, FWD) forward. There's no high rpm wail of a K-series engine, no
So my problem lies in the engine? Is it that? I somehow don't appreciate how well the engine responds and how well it offers power? I want the engine to be worse? I've talked to Randy, and he can induce some lag in a COBB program, but that's spending money (and warranty) on a car I'm not sure I want. And that will never fix the fundamental problem of how this car sounds.
Sorry if I'm rambling. Part of this is helping me figure it out.