My First ST with Mods 97K and I'm learning what I bought... The drive home was amazing!

[M-Sport fan]

When they were both released, Ford set up an autocross course for folks to come test drive them and compete against each other for times. The owner of the Mazdaspeed forums brought me along that first year to make sure the Focus got driven to the limit & then compared against the MS3.

I set FTD in the FoST at Dodgers Stadium that year. The next year Ford released the FiST. I set FTD in the FoST again, this time at the Rose Bowl. I got to do a winner takes all run against the 2nd fastest guy that day in the FiST. I believe I was .5 slower in the FiST compared to my times in the FoST on that short autox course.

As an aside, I never understood why Ford didn’t put a mechanical LSD in the car despite all of the competitors having one at that time…. MS3, Si, etc

The FoST is the better performance vehicle & it’s not even close imo. The FiST is only tossable to a point, on the street. The moment you get out on a track where 10/10 is possible, the inadequacies of the FiSTs suspension & contact patch are immediately apparent.

The 1.6L is the FiSTs best feature. I still think ZX3s are the best handling FWD cars I’ve ever driven in anger. The FoST platform is just another evolution of that, just a shame about that 2L.

It probably depends somewhat on just how 'tight' the autocross course is set.
On a /Street class 'Miata' type course I would expect the FiST to at least be slightly quicker.
On a much more 'open' course, with longer straights and more shallow radius turns, as well as yes, any open track, I would expect the FoST to rule, stock vs. stock.
Except for the coin difference, especially when both new, I would have had a hard time NOT going for the FoRS if I could live with something as large and hefty as a Focus platform (despite the problems with both, but especially the FoRS' glitches).

The one I really like, as one of my fave boosted FWD rides (and one I like even much more, including aesthetically, than the much vaunted/beloved modern, boosted CTRs) is the Mk2 FoRS (that RS500! ) which of course we were not ever allowed to have on this side of the pond.

 

[Grsemky]

or haul my custom GoPeds to the track or drag meets.

Man I had a sweet custom Xped with an RC34 that was stolen from my side yard a few years back, I'm still bitter about it😭😭

 

[Vinnyzilla]

If you needed more cargo space to haul around small toys, YES, the FoST was a better choice.
It does not have twice the interior cargo space of a FiST, but it definitely has more room.
Also (especially if you do/did not plan to mod either choice), coming from higher powered rides, the power and straight line acceleration of the FoST would not be quite as much of a let down for you as the FiST.

I'm happy how I landed. No let down here. My BRZ is my track car but just play in the streets and this was to replace my truck I sold. The money was burning a hole in my pocket plus Christmas time is a great time for deals. My gf gonna commute with it and I'll use hatchback for my RC boats and bins to the pond on weekends. The mods are very tastful and this ST is badass for my needs. I'm glad I got the bigger motor Focus and not the Fiesta. I realize it's not a GT500 or a VTEC S2000. The turbo effect is pretty amazing on this ST design and that hooked me to own a turbo Ford hatchback 😉

I don't agree with the oil that he was using and I think I want to put a oil cooler kit in this ST for summer driving over 85F. I know Royal Purple is a quality oil but not my choice.

I have to post this in FoST forums.

Anthony Ray

 

[Vinnyzilla]

When they were both released, Ford set up an autocross course for folks to come test drive them and compete against each other for times. The owner of the Mazdaspeed forums brought me along that first year to make sure the Focus got driven to the limit & then compared against the MS3.

I set FTD in the FoST at Dodgers Stadium that year. The next year Ford released the FiST. I set FTD in the FoST again, this time at the Rose Bowl. I got to do a winner takes all run against the 2nd fastest guy that day in the FiST. I believe I was .5 slower in the FiST compared to my times in the FoST on that short autox course.

As an aside, I never understood why Ford didn’t put a mechanical LSD in the car despite all of the competitors having one at that time…. MS3, Si, etc

The FoST is the better performance vehicle & it’s not even close imo. The FiST is only tossable to a point, on the street. The moment you get out on a track where 10/10 is possible, the inadequacies of the FiSTs suspension & contact patch are immediately apparent.

The 1.6L is the FiSTs best feature. I still think ZX3s are the best handling FWD cars I’ve ever driven in anger. The FoST platform is just another evolution of that, just a shame about that 2L.

I love ZX3s I've owned 5. I was looking at one of those special ones the SVT Cosworth 1994 or 1995 I could get it for pretty decent miles but my girlfriend thought this ST was was sexier but when you said "Driven in anger" I laughed out loud 😅 those ZX3s handle bizsnatches!

 

[Vinnyzilla]

Man I had a sweet custom Xped with an RC34 that was stolen from my side yard a few years back, I'm still bitter about it😭😭

I have a GoPed dealership showroom lol... mostly rare builds. I got them locked in my other shop.

 

[Vinnyzilla]

Are you sure you dont want to join the Focus ST group?

I assume they had a focus ST group in here but it looks like this is all Ford Fiesta only?

Do you guys have a link? I'm all committed into here and then come to find out we don't have any message boards for Ford Focus ST?

Anthony Ray

 

[scooter123]

The Focus version is naturally quicker in a straight line right off of the showroom floor, and can be made to be even quicker yet with the proper mods/tuning, despite the increased weight vs, The Fiesta ST.
But as Stubborn Approach above mentioned, that engine has had it's share of problems, even more so than our open deck blocks have had (mainly when crazy big turbo boost volumes, and on the edge tunes are thrown at the factory long block).
The Fiesta ST IS a bunch more nimble than the Focus ST right off of the showroom floor, despite it having an independent rear suspension vs. our solid beam axle, but both cars can be made to handle exceptionally well, again with the carefully thought out, sensible suspension mods.

The Focus ST will probably never be as 'tossable' through tight turns/slaloms/etc. as the Focus ST, again due to it's increased size and heft.

70 here, and I love that no one expects a senior to be driving anything but a placid, sedate, milquetoast bland SUV, or Avalon or such, and they see me getting out of the little street rally rocket (but to them a 'shitbox' LOL) but then I always tend to totally buck any stereotypes and 'trends', and never choose 'the usual, go-to, popular thing', in general.

Another 70 year old with a Magnetic 2019 that is "mostly" stock. However it has been upgraded in the Cooling area, as in Mountune full intake, Mountune Intercooler, Mountune Radiator, a Cobb rear motor mount and 2.5 inch Cobb Exhaust. Spent a lot of years tweaking Quadrajets and SBC's and still have my 85
Monte Carlo SS with a GMPP HT383 under the hood. The ST is a bit quicker to 60 but after 80 it's all SS, it will probably do over 160 but that won't ever happen if I'm driving it, I've seen what can happen if things go wrong at those speeds. That said both cars have been north of 110 and the stability is wonderful which indicates that Ford and GM got the aerodynamics right.

 

[Grsemky]

I have a GoPed dealership showroom lol... mostly rare builds. I got them locked in my other shop.

Man I miss when ADA had a showroom I could go to, I haven't seen goped dealers since highschool... When I bought that Xped originally! I have soft spot for the solid tire peds, even with bead locks I would slip the tire lol