geesta

Opinions please, What is ownership like? Is it an every day driver? Can you leave it anywhere?

I own a Focus ST, is it a good swap or is the ST the best all rounder?

Cheers
Geesta

B0DSKI

iTrader: (17)

Ask on the MLR register M8

Never thought the MR came in a 300??? Just 320 340 & 360 ???

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

MLR is the place to ask. Afaik the only difference in power between all the MRs (not the 400) was a remap from Mitsi. I think there are some spec differences such as leather and sat-nav. However, I think the long and short of it is that the cheaper car is the better one, as you can then add some simple mods and have all the power you want.

Timwinner

iTrader: (3)

A few weeks ago I asked the same question on a few other forums, The general thoughts seemed to be "dont"
I asked with an open mind but was told that day to day they are not the easiest thing to live with, Service intervals are short, fairly hard ride, not always reliable.

I did have a lot of positive results too but on the balance of things I decided that I could not take the chance for my daily hack.

Hope that helps.

iamevilhomer

I have owned an evo 9 as a 2nd car for 1 year now and love it.It's fitted with a Nitron race kit plus ap brakes all round,and remapped to 400bhp. The race suspension did away with it being good as a daily driver.
I think an mr with standard suspension would be excellent as a daily driver. In terms of parking it anywhere,well that would be up to you,but they do get lots of attention.
The difference in the 300,320 , 360's etc is remaps and hardpipe kits. 400bhp is easy to achieve and reliable too.
The mlr would be the best place for advice,

bigsinky

you couldn't carry petrol to them mate. High teens.

john banks

I used to get 20-25mpg out of my 9depending on how it was driven, but the MIVEC on the 9 does help economy.

The 8MR has very good and quite comfortable suspension compared with the older models, the main issue with comfort is noise levels from the exhaust when modified with a 3" exhaust. If they are looked after well they are also quite reliable. They do need an oil change every 4500 miles or six months, and the AYC does need its fluid changed every 9000 miles or 12 months, but if you find a good specialist to do it it is not an expensive car to look after at all relative to its performance.

The 8MR FQ320 is the pick of the bunch if you are keeping it standard or lightly modifying it. Reason being is it comes with intercooler pipes and sensibly modified exhaust already which I find about right for noise levels, it is not a full 3" straight through bomber spec You can just buy a £50 decat pipe and a Walbro fuel pump and map it to about 380 BHP. The 340 of the 8MR has a nasty piggyback ECU controller, and on the 9 (not sure on the 8MR) also adds leather and "sat nav".

Great cars, but depending on how you prioritise performance, traction, grip vs running costs, comfort, refinement some would prefer the Focus ST.

The Focus RS is a nice compromise though. I would take that over an FQ320 if I had to keep the FQ320 standard. Also consider 135i, 335i if you like RWD. All ace cars.

MattW

John, had an 8FQ330 which was top power output at the time, that came with Leather/Alcantara and 'SatNav'*.

*Traffic Master Sat Nav which is voice directions only. There was a phone in the car, press the button connect to nice lady, tell her where you want to go and instructions are sent to the car.


Edit - Daily hack, not for me

jaytc2003

iTrader: (1)

on my 8 (just shy of 400bhp) I am in the mid 20's on a motorway run, far better than my early classic that was remapped and probably on running about 260ish

jaytc2003

iTrader: (1)

service intervals are no different to a scoob in my opinion, cheaper to work on (if paying a garage) but easier to do it yourself. Only regular thing that needs servicing that may not be diy for everyone is the ayc. I have suspension from the 9 on mine and although the ride is firm, its not unbearable (34000 miles in just under a year in mine doing circa 150miles plus per day), touch wood it hasnt missed a beat (oil and filter change every month due to mileage covered)