Ford Pits the Focus ST against it's rivals...and a BMW M3.

[Fraggy]

Originally Posted by MalFaction

Actually, grammar rules state that for an acronym you use an if the spelling of the letter starts with a vowel. So while an S is a consonant, the spelling of it is "ess". Using an is correct, using a is incorrect.

Love it, thank you.

[mpresiv5]

that video just made me want to buy another m3..

[Los Angeles]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[sensi09]

Originally Posted by FR01

Interesting. A friend signed me up for a Focus ST driving event tomorrow. I may be going there in my M3....$$$$$$$$$$$$

How was this?

I just googled it and the LA event is full
http://www.drivefocusst.com/Map.aspx

[Neph]

Originally Posted by adc

Hate to be the voice of dissent, but I drove the regular Focus and it is a very nice driving car. Beats the pants off something like a Golf etc. the only letdown in that car that I could find, was the cheap LCD in the dash, which had evident signs of burn-in on a 10k mile car. Everything else was of good quality - plastics, decent seats, knobs, etc.

So I would not discount the ST as a good driving tool. Not at the same level as the M3 of course, but if it addresses the lifeless steering of the GTI and handles better, it might be the pick of the bunch in that category.

YMMV.

+1

The Focus is my rental of choice. Always enjoy driving it as the handling and steering feel are much better than I ever thought it would be.

At least they didn't show it beating the M3!

[JWKC]

[1º]

Originally Posted by phillye30fanboy

guess, what you pay for shit you get shit. thats why people buy BMWs..

People buy BMWs because they have enough money to pay for them, not everyone can pick one up brand new, and CPOs are still quite pricey for some as well. Why spend X when you can pay Y and save Z for more important stuff?

[punky8d]

Originally Posted by Rated ///M

Hahahah I love it..

[BMW M Power Mexico]

Great car, great ad.

I love the Focus.

[averrec6262]

Im sure with some mods that thing can be a ton of fun

[Klier]

Hahaha, great commercial!

[MrRager]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

So 3 points were made:
1. It has variable ratio steering. Ohhhh. If it made for a better handling performance car, wouldn't Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, etc. do it? I don't think anybody who knows what it is wants variable ratio steering in their performance car. I know I don't.
2. It has 20 psi boost. Most people don't know what that means, and in any case, it's just one of countless variables designed into an engine. The only thing that matters ultimately is output. It is what it is. Pointless.
3. It's cheaper than... hmmm. Let's compare it to a Ferrari 458. Wow. It's cheaper. How 'bout a 911. Wow, cheaper. This thing is a world beater.
That's it? That's all they could come with to convince us to buy their product?
This is why American car makers are where they are. They've spent the last 30 years building the cheapest thing they can make, then, assuming the public is stupid, relying on dishonest marketing to sell to the ignorant masses.

i guess you've never heard of active steering...

[Signal513]

Originally Posted by adc

Hate to be the voice of dissent, but I drove the regular Focus and it is a very nice driving car. Beats the pants off something like a Golf etc. the only letdown in that car that I could find, was the cheap LCD in the dash, which had evident signs of burn-in on a 10k mile car. Everything else was of good quality - plastics, decent seats, knobs, etc.

So I would not discount the ST as a good driving tool. Not at the same level as the M3 of course, but if it addresses the lifeless steering of the GTI and handles better, it might be the pick of the bunch in that category.

YMMV.

I had a similar experience with a Focus rental a couple months ago. I got in and thought...wow...this ain't bad. I am betting that the ST will be a great car for the money too

[AnalogDan]

Ford aimed this at car blogs where humorless German car fans would get riled up.

Judging by this thread and the thread over on Autoblog, it worked.

Well done, Ford. I thought it was great. Additionally, the Focus ST is a fantastic car, and I would absolutely consider owning one as a daily driver/family car in the future, if it were all I could afford, for whatever reason.

[rconti]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

Are you seriously bitching about the commercial? It's a f@cking commercial for crying out loud.

Some people will find *anything* to get butthurt about.

I drove the Focus ST yesterday at their Performance Academy thing. Fun little car! I wish I could steal the seats for my Miata. I believe it's truly the better car over the WRX, but sadly, the only reason I'm interested in the WRX is for the all-wheel-drive.. which makes the ST, in my mind, a non-starter as 'competition'.

I love that the fun inexpensive car market is heating up again, and that Ford is bringing the ST to the US. I hope they sell a gazillion of them.. and in awesome colors like tangerine scream, because the world needs fewer boring cars.

[Erich2142]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

So 3 points were made:
1. It has variable ratio steering. Ohhhh. If it made for a better handling performance car, wouldn't Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, etc. do it? I don't think anybody who knows what it is wants variable ratio steering in their performance car. I know I don't.
2. It has 20 psi boost. Most people don't know what that means, and in any case, it's just one of countless variables designed into an engine. The only thing that matters ultimately is output. It is what it is. Pointless.
3. It's cheaper than... hmmm. Let's compare it to a Ferrari 458. Wow. It's cheaper. How 'bout a 911. Wow, cheaper. This thing is a world beater.
That's it? That's all they could come with to convince us to buy their product?
This is why American car makers are where they are. They've spent the last 30 years building the cheapest thing they can make, then, assuming the public is stupid, relying on dishonest marketing to sell to the ignorant masses.

Totally agree.

Originally Posted by Gearhead999s

At least Ford did not pretend that it competes against an M3.Hopefully I will have one as my winter car

Couple of things, yes im with the "its alot cheaper" part but how can you compare it to BMW M3? The Subaru WRX or the STI are alot better than this junk that Ford calls it ST and they throw M3 coupe in this silly video? Im glad they did not put 911 or a Lambo in this video.

I wont even have this car as a winter driving car, my M3 work fine in winter!

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

So 3 points were made:
1. It has variable ratio steering. Ohhhh. If it made for a better handling performance car, wouldn't Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, etc. do it? I don't think anybody who knows what it is wants variable ratio steering in their performance car. I know I don't.
2. It has 20 psi boost. Most people don't know what that means, and in any case, it's just one of countless variables designed into an engine. The only thing that matters ultimately is output. It is what it is. Pointless.
3. It's cheaper than... hmmm. Let's compare it to a Ferrari 458. Wow. It's cheaper. How 'bout a 911. Wow, cheaper. This thing is a world beater.
That's it? That's all they could come with to convince us to buy their product?
This is why American car makers are where they are. They've spent the last 30 years building the cheapest thing they can make, then, assuming the public is stupid, relying on dishonest marketing to sell to the ignorant masses.

Ford is kicking ass right now..originally thought your post was dripping with sarcasm..now I realize you are serious. You need to get a grip...its a commercial.

[GrumpyBimmerFan]

Creative clip... not sure how ST relates to the RS, but RS focuses are quite fast. I had one lightly modified keep up with my M (prior to SC. I had tune HFC, Xpipe), 80-160mph no prob. On the nurburgring I've seen those RS's fly pretty fast too.

[skalberti]

4 wheels...... Standard
Power door locks......standard
Windshield....... Standard

Two other things I noticed
1. Where's her helmet
2. Where's the disclaimer about being a professional driver on a closed course

[kb135]

Originally Posted by ES_TRADER

love the dollar $ign$$$$$$$ coming out of that quad exhaust

The ST can't do that. Thats a deal-breaker for me.

[Sered]

What I don't get is why they're comparing it to the Mazdaspeed3. It's the same damn car (it would be like comaring the Camaro to the Firebird pre-Pontiac-death). It's going to SUCK when modded. Torque-steer out the wazoo and serious traction problems with even mild power.

[luv135i]

i like the way the whole demeanor of the video changes when the m3 comes..like a scene out of transformers with a decepticon