i would for one and to be honest i`m amazed there aint more that think so from a looks point of view alone i could buy a vxr and leave as it is, its pretty much perfect.

 

Hmm... mixed responses there.

The main view I had was of the side, then the rear as his lane moved off while my lane queued to turn right.

Maybe it was the colour that did it...? Anyone else seen one in red?

FAO Scooby-doo: The scoob doesn't have that many parts that pay homage to "max-powerdom" IMHO. The bonnet scoop is for the intercooler, so the only thing left IMO is the boot spoiler. I'm ok with spoilers/wings that are functional, but all the plastic around the lower rear of the Focus made it look a bit "add-on" if you know what I mean. As you can tell, I'm not a big fan of side skirts. I thought they died out with all the old Richard Grant RGA styling stuff..lol (remember them..?!!?).

I guess I need to see one in blue maybe..?

Still prefer the look of the old RS Focus.

 

"Still prefer the look of the old RS Focus."-absolutely no contest, if i owned an st i`d be ashamed if i pulled up at the lights at the side of one lol

 

I prefer the looks of the ST over the VXR.

 

i'm a big fan of the RS, not driven but would love to!

 

I have managed to get a Demo ST2 for this weekend, pick it up tomorrow. Doubt it will compare to my STi8 but quite looking forward to having it. Its a blue one although the orange has grown on me.

 

Thanks for that Cheif. Vxrboy dont know what hes talking about from what ive read.more positives for the ST. Thats good enough for me. (ORDERED ANYWAY)

Borgie

 

Interesting reading this, the wife and I own a KA and a Focus as our everyday cars and towards the end of this year we will be renewing them as the 3 years are coming to an end!!!!

I have been looking at the Golf GTI / Civic Type R / Focus ST / Astra VXR and comparing them.

The Focus does look great and understated, the blue was nice but the silver fogsurrounds seemed to really clash and turned me off that colour, the red looks ok but the orange is crazy!!!! the pics of it in brochure and internet dont do it justice to when u c it 'in the flash'

I'm trying to sort out a test drive on the VXR and the ST which will make the final decider.

I havent seen a VXR with my own eyes so cant comment too much on that but my research has shown me that the handling isnt up to scratch and only good in a straight line.

At the end of the day I'm just looking for an everyday car, not a car to replace my RB5, so am not expecting blistering performance and handling, just a replacement that can live up to the standard of my current Focus.



I still prefer the shape of the old focus (MK2) overall

 

You've left the new Octavia VRS off your list, underestimate it and miss out on a great car.

In stock at 16K in various colours at autofinders.

 

I forgot to mention that it needs to be able to fit a 14 year old and a 10 year old in as well as the wife & I

Me being 6ft 6 doesnt leave many cars with leg room in the back

p.s. "SKODA" I can hear my wife shouting!!!!! i tried that one before, she dont want a skoda!!! she says look how crap they are doing in th WRC

 

An Octavia VRS has more room than your Impreza in it or any of the other cars you mention. Perhaps you are confusing it with the diesel Fabia.
This is the car with the same engine/platform as the MKV Golf GTI. Remap would see you at 240bhp+.
As for the Skoda prejudice things have moved on, why not go where the smart money is? If I was buying rather than leasing I'd have had the Skoda over my BMW anyday.

 

I totall agree with you mate, I personally like the Octavia RS and was an option before the Scoob but I would never get it past the wife to ok

 

Had the same problem with my girlfriend I told her that she obviously didn't know what she was talking about. She gave me a slap and I went and leased a BMW!

 

Interesting - I'd have said the opposite. Depsite the fact the bonnet scoop is 'needed', it still looks very Max-powerish as it's different to other cars, but I see your point. However, the spoiler on the back of the STI, for example, is there purely for downforce? Right.... That's about as Max Power as it comes...

 

I love the RS Focus. Still want one now!

 

Tried a Focus ST..... like someone else has said, it wasn't exactly quick.... I currently have a Cupra R which IS quicker than the ST I tried (6500 miles).

I have also tried the VXR Astra, IMO this car is much, much better looking, 'feels' much quicker and looks more like a 'hot hatch'. I have had many Vauxhalls over the years so was prepared for a low quality interior, but the VXR really impressed me and would have one over the ST, no question.

 

But the Focus ST has so much going for it. A characterful engine (2.5 litre five-pot, instead of everyone else's anaemic 2 litre 4-pots), 225bhp as standard with a turbo which means that 300bhp is probably achievable, and you can get the ST 1 for a shade over £15k if you search around!

 

Saw my first one on the road yesterday - young lad (Ford employee probs ) in the bright orange version.

Spotted him in town, then last night he came hooning up past our house in it.

Looked brilliant, orange is better in the flesh and the car didnt look as "bloated" as it does in the brochures.

I want one, but the mrs wants a TT

Anyone know what length test drives Ford do? They've been pestering me to test an ST for a while, and we're away shortly for 4 days (long weekend), wonder if they will give me one

 

I got one from Ford Fleet for the weekend.

 

used to do a bit of Air conditioning work for a ford Garage and most of the guys in there said they wouldnt touch any focus with a barge pole. I dont think i've ever seen so many warranty engine failures Rs was nothing special either, heavy and slugish.

 

Had a laugh with a jumped up little sh*t in one of these the other week - of course he had to be in a bright orange one.

We were on a main roundabout in my home town going on to a dual carriageway and as we passed the last turn off in the scooby he pulled out on us and nearly drove into the side of the car and pulled in behind us so close you probably wouldn't have got a piece of paper between us. He obviously thought he was the bees knees 'cos all his mates were in the car and then my other half put his foot down and this bright orange car was but a little dot in the rear view mirror. How we laughed when we slowed down for the traffic lights at the end of the road and he finally caught up with us and cut us up to get in front of us and nearly wrote his car off because there was hardly any room in front.

And he had the nerve to wave his hands about and mouth off at us - he must've been really embarrassed.

 

TBH, I wouldn't trust any of the "guys" in a Ford garage

Our Focus has been ultra reliable since buying 3 years back, fabulous car and wouldnt hesitate to buy another

 

well im happy with mine now ive got it. ive had a lot of good comments.
Tangy beast!
well worth the six month wait

 

I did exactly that, test drove both, and went with the VXR.
The Focus ST is an excellent car, but I found the VXR to be more fun, and a lot more hot hatch, the ST was trying to be a grown up hot hatch, where the VXR is all out nuts.

As far as looks go, I like the ST, but prefer the VXR. Id say they both look cool than an Impreza (IMO), as they're hatches, rather than a 4 door saloon that isnt great looking to stat with (I always thought Impreza's looked like something Kia would design if they tried to make a performance saloon)

PS: handling on the VXR is superb, its easy enough to induce understeer, but easy enough to avoid it too.