Jamz_

iTrader: (12)

I wouldn't say it was all show and no go... its a 2l... not a 1.4 focus.

BOB.T

You do know you can get actual STs for that money don't you?!

ScoobyJawa

10.5k for a 2006 thats not even an ST - sorry mate, in your dreams, as said, you can get ST's cheaper than that.

Jamz_

iTrader: (12)

Yep

Matteeboy

I said "not much" go. A (claimed) 180bhp 2.0 litre four pot is still a long way behind a 220ish bhp turbo'd five pot.

I do think you've done a convincing job visually but like many others, I just can't see why. And I reckon you'll need to knock about £2-3k off that asking price.

Jamz_

iTrader: (12)

TBH I'm not too fussed about selling it... If I get asking price for it, I'll take it, but I know i wont, I'm just putting it out there and see what happens...

The reason for the price is that I'm after a real st, and would like to get as much as possible for mine... you never know, some young'un might come along and fancy it (cheaper insurance/tax/service/petrol then the real thing)

Devildog

LOL Mat, you can be such a sanctimonious **** sometimes

S line and M Sport kits make their recipients better looking, in most peoples eyes. Grip and handling enhancements are also worthwhile to those who enjoy driving.

What's wrong with subtle body mods and larger wheels and tyres - irrespective of the relative performance?

Its not like the Focus in question is badged up as an ST - the mods are subtle and very much enhance its looks. Hardly a car fit for Barryboys is it? With a 2L and 180bhp, it will hardly be slow. Faster, probably, and better handling than many a factory "bodkitted, big alloyed spoilered and stripe'd hot hatch" from not so long ago.

Tell me, when Mrs Matt puts on the make up and some nice clothes, do you tell her not to bother?

Would you have bought a brown 3 series? After all, its just the same car.

Would you never add options to a car to make it better looking?

Ultimnately, you stance seems to be against visually enhancing anything

stevros

iTrader: (1)

i bought my focus st2 for £9000 with only 19000 on the clock it still had ford original warranty on a 56 plate absolute bargain!! i owned the orange st for about 4 months!! couldn't beleive how thirsty it was averaged 19 to the galllon in town with a light right foot!! sold it and made 1600 quid on what i payed so all was deffo not lost!! a real nice car to drive! bought my first wrx after (53 plte blobeye) and it drives even smoother and uses less fuel too, love it!!

Matteeboy

They don't do a brown 3 series - dammit.

And yes, I always leave cars stock visually - only time I ever changed the look of a car was fitting big bumpers to a mk2 GTi - the small bumpers were about to fall off and I couldn't find any direct replacements. Oh and I took off the "16V" badge from my mk3 GTi because it looked cr4p.

Grip and handling enhancements? Can you please tell me why a 318d M Sport/Audi A4 2.0TDI needs 255 18 or 19" section rear tyres? And Bigger wheels? Almost always trash the ride quality and handling finesse. Hardly "better" handling. Check Evo mags comment on the Z4 with 17s -they say it rides and handles much better than on bigger rims and countless reviews have stated how oversized rims have ruined the ride and handling.


Rock hard suspension? we live in the UK, not on a racetrack (mine has optional Sport suspension though). It's all just overpriced chavving.

I said I thought that Focus was decently executed, just can't see why.

As for me being sanctimonious - look in the mirror DD and see what stares back at you.

Comparing some plastic bodykit and Tonka toy alloys to a (Swiss Tony voice) beyoodiful wooman = silly

IMO bodykits and silly wheels do not look "better"

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

coffee/keyboard interface

5t.

Matteeboy

Errmm - soot comes out of both exhausts (unlike in some two exhaust cars...!) suggesting both pipes ARE needed - I know because once in a while I clean the pipes.

Devildog

Yes they do - or did, when yours was made.


Lets add hypocrite as well, shall we?

How many times have you gone to lengths to post that you ONLY base you opinion on personal experience, not what some magazine quotes?

How many times have you derided other posters for doing what you have just done?

Ride quality and handling finess are more often more reliant on tyre make, compound and side wall flexibility than rim size. BMWs on 19" non run flat tyres often ride better than 17" run flats, for example.

No doubt your car rides like a brick on its overpriced, chavved, sports suspension then?

You need to stop being so generalistic. Decent aftermarket springs/dampers can often bring ride improvements on top of body control and handling gains.

Perhaps because it looks better, grips better, stops better and handles better? Its hardly rocket science. Even for you.

Not reponding with "my wife is beautiful regardless" = epic fail

So you think a 3 series on standard weedy alloys and standard springs looks better than one on 18"s with subtly lowered sports suspension that more fully fills the arches?

Devildog

No, Matt, it suggests both pipes are connected. One larger pipe is better from a flow perspective than two smaller ones.

It is entirely cosmetic.

Matteeboy

Whatever DD. You get yourself all frothed up into a lather, realise you aren't getting anywhere with your half ar5ed "facts" so resort to more stalking behaviour again.

And weedy alloys? So a Macca F1 has weedy alloys? Every mk1 Escort rally winner is the same? The FQ360 Evo 9 - weedy too? Are big alloys suddenly tough and manly? Is an M Sport 318d on 18s/19s suddenly "well 'ard" -No, they are simply a design fad and oversized alloys are utterly gay. Filling the arches? Who cares unless you are a ponse. Better smaller alloys that fit than slammed wheels stuck under arches that rub (FYI a mate just took his 19s off his new E91 335d M Sport - they rubbed the arches despite professional fitting - hardly "performance" enhancers are they?). I notice how much effort you put into your posts - multi quotes, etc. It speaks volumes.

Same old same old yaaaawn. Sorry but I simply cannot be bothered this time. Better get stalking again...

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

thought the same thing... you can fit twin exits to a lot of cars and they'll do the job they were designed for... let gas out. Are they needed on a saxo? No, but they can be fitted so that doesn't stand up really.

5t.

Matteeboy

Diesel - they come with the two exhausts - you cannot delete them or add them. You can add M Sport and S-Line kit - "M" and "S" stuff belongs on proper M or S (or RS) cars (or in M&S stores boom boom), not bog standard four pot diesels/petrols with no oomph.

Same for twin exhausts on lame cars - which Audi and Mazda are both guilty of.

Oh and if you want "weedy" alloys, opt for the 19" BMW M Sports - they actually crack and break on a regular basis. Unlike any of the smaller alloys.

Another example is the E46 M3 - everyone knows they handle much better on 18s yet most opted for 19s because they thought they looked better - now that IS gay/weedy/pointless.

Just like Paul and his Focus RS - at first he got loads of positive comments, then he dared to be enthusiastic about it and so the snidey remarks came out to play always by the usual suspects (computer geeks with an old banger that was once quickish). I enjoy the banter but some of you must advertise for a life some day.

TBH if I bought a 997 Turbo tomorrow, I'd get a skipload of stick.

Apologies for having a decent, highly rated car. I know, you all try and pull it to bits using the lamest little reasons possible.

BOB.T

Give it long enough and it'll pull itself to pieces

Matteeboy

Diesel - true enough and fair points too.

Off to fit a small 18d style "zorst" to mine right now... ;-)

Always been a fan of sleepers/Q cars - dad had a Ford P100 that looked almost stock but had a 400bhp V8. And a BBR Shogun with around 250ish bhp - I really loved those cars. His mate turbo'd a new 205 GTi 1.9 too. And another mate built a stock looking splittie VW with a tuned Porker Turbo unit (from the wheels up) - SO damn cool.

Guess it's influenced me quite a bit.

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

That's not the case at all there is no need to be so sensitive. You whaled in on a new poster for doing something that DD has shown isn't really out of the ordinary.

Its a nice car, you bought it because it is a nice car, certainly makes a change from the very recent Astra. BMW made it look nice with lots of pointless styling things that probably detract from the performance along the way but hey ho that's life. All this fuss on alloys, remember steel rims are generally lighter than alloys, hence the Pug Rallye editions, what did people do? Put alloys on them. Matter of taste.

Nice quote on the 335d...

"For 2009 the entire 3-series lineup has been given a mild facelift inside and out. You'd be hard pressed to notice the exterior changes without a 2008 parked nearby, but there are a slightly modified grille and headlights up front, deeper rocker panels, and new taillights to compliment the reshaped rear bumper and trunk lid. Dual exhaust pipes on a diesel are a nice touch, and speak volumes about the personality of the 335d."

Why do all that if the old one worked fine? Why bother to design cars? Its all about style and image that's all. Even BMW list the twin exhaust as a 'exterior styling' feature BMW UK : BMW 335d M Sport Pricing and specification

EDIT - wanted to preview and posted

Point is there was no need to criticise the OP's car when he's new to the board. He clearly likes his performance and track days and has improved rather than chavved his car. This isn't Barry Boys so it was unfair to have a go really (think this applies to others too not just you.)

5t

Matteeboy

I'm off to polish the Jimny's 15s - proper performance wheels ;-)

5t - the older models had twin exhausts too - not a design change. The rest of the facelifts (called LCI) are subtle - I prefer the newer front, I prefer the older rear.

stilover

Funny how yet another persons thread has turned into "Lets take about my BMW 335D"

Matteboy, your opinions on the OP car are warranted, and I agree with the principal of turning a 2.0l Focus into a ST look-a-like is a waste of time, but disagree over someone ticking the S-Line option on their A4 TDI. As said above, style is more important to most than top speed. Each to their own.

However turning every thread into talking about your 3-series is becoming irritating to us all now.

Contribute, yes. Turn every thread into talking about your car, No.

stilover

For the record matteboy, my diesel golf wears 18" R32 Alloys.

Am I wanting people to think I own a R32? No.
Does it improve the look of the car? yes.

Matteeboy

Actually Stilover I didn't turn it into a 335d thread - I tried to avoid it. Dieseldog threw in the first mention of it. In fact I only mentioned it in the 42nd post in response to what someone else wrote. As usual a few threw their own oars in. It's not me that's going on about it - it's other having a pop regardless of what I write.

So thanks Stilover but you are talking bo77ocks again.

R32 Alloys on a diesel Golf - epic fail.

stilover

Could have been worse. Could have bought a BMW.

Matteeboy

I used to see mk4 non R32 Golfs with R32 alloys - they were probably 99% nicked, they didn't fit the car properly and they looked wrong. Same with all the R32 "lookalikes" around. Luckily the mk5 was harder to copy so I've yet to see any R32 clones packing a 2hp lawnmower engine.

A 170bhp Golf TDi got all stroppy yesterday on the A30 - took great offense to being overtaken (perfectly safely) so tailgated me for about a mile where traffic dictated that I couldn't pull over. He wasn't so cocky on a long uphill section just after Bodmin...

Seen many a 2.0TDI Golf driven in a similar manner.

Poor retort BTW - you can do better than that.

stilover

Well mine are neither knicked or copies. Were fitted by the dealer, so everything is present and correct.

BMW drivers are some of the worst on British roads. Think they're a cut above the rest, just because it's a BMW they're driving.

As for driving style. Mine is purely for getting to work & back. It does the job that is required of it. Gets decent mpg while returning a decent turn of speed. Decent for what it is, a 170bhp diesel. If I'd wanted a faster diesel, I'd have gone for a Audi A4 or A5 3.0TDI. Or maybe just get the Golf chipped, or buy the 3.0 & get that chipped. Have I? No. Why? Because it is just for getting to work and back.

If I wanted a faster car I'd go and buy one...... Oh wait...

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

FYI it doesn't say they are new for this year it just notes that they are a statement, a feature not a performance part. Your argument was that anything that doesn't add performance and is done for asthetics... say an s-line kit or a ST kit is by definition chavvy. DD made the point that the twin exhausts are purely a style thing and just add weight and lower performance of the car which by your own definition made your own motor a chav mobile. Since it isn't it should be obvious that the original generalisation was at best harsh and at worst plain wrong that was all.

I do tend to agree that it isn't really wortht he effort to make a car look like something it isn't. However, if he had put ST badges etc on it and had it sprayed orange then I would agree. Subtle changes and some added performance (in the handling depart too on a car that is heralded as a cracking handling motor) is hardly chavvy (IMHO)

5t.

Matteeboy

Hang on - you only need a car for getting to work and back in - why bother with a 370 then?

And shouldn't you have it by now? What's it like?

That's what i'm interested in, not some boring argument about what brand is great and what isn't.

BMW make some cack cars, they make some great cars. Same with Ford (the original topic) and Nissan.

stilover

The Golf is for commuting to work & back. The 370Z is for having fun on a weekend.

Picking it up this Saturday, although the layer of snow on the ground outside may change that.

G00ner

My hero...