Anybody driven one? I know they are supposed to be a bit thirsty but only doing 5k a year and the money I'd save on insurance over my vrs (it's half the price lol) I can live with it.

Seriously tempted, might even get an orange one lol

I had an orange one for a few months very thirsty but a lovely car sound great and torquey

facelift version? really like how they look and sound. meant to go/drive well too. given low mileage and half the insurance cost, what's not to like?

I had an orange one for a few months very thirsty but a lovely car sound great and torquey

What mpg did you get? I'm hoping it would see 30's on a run, is this realistic, need to test drive one.

Do it, with a stainless exhaust they sound the nuts!

Especially only doing 5k a year!

What mpg did you get? I'm hoping it would see 30's on a run, is this realistic, need to test drive one.

Got 32ish on a run and as low as 15 when booting it!

I've had two St3's, both the earlier shape, neither horrid orange!

Averaged 26mpg. You will see early to mid 30's on a motorway run.

A nice car overall, but Ford ruined the steering with the electronic system and the front end feels very heavy. The engine sounds great but has fairly limited tuning potential, much like the mk1 Octy VRS.

Having just bought a mk2 Octavia VRS, even though diesel, I'd say it outhandles the ST.

Mk1 Focus was a different story, less potent (save for the RS), but a much better handling car.

What mpg did you get? I'm hoping it would see 30's on a run, is this realistic, need to test drive one.

You should get more than this really. I get 39 mpg on a run in my S4. Low 30s is a bit disappointing really. But then again 5k miles a year fuel doesn't really matter.

Goes well, handles well, sounds awesome - do it!

You should get more than this really. I get 39 mpg on a run in my S4. Low 30s is a bit disappointing really. But then again 5k miles a year fuel doesn't really matter.

You can get amazingly good mpg on a C63 AMG, but for some reason the Volvo 5 pots are thirsty engines. My 850R has a better (stronger) version of the Focus engine and mpg is also rotten - thankfully is works well on LPG.

My ST220 was noticeably better, easy to get high 30's mpg, I hit 40 mpg just once in the Focus but that was doing a Clarkson'esque economy run at 55-60 mph!

39mpg for a V8 is good going.

It depends what you want, but to be honest there are far better hot hatches out there unless you want to start spending silly money on mods because the engine is very restriced in standard form. The mk2 RS is a different kettle of fish of course.

My ST3's never felt fast, I expect a Mountune remap would have helped, but suspension is waaay too soft for a hot hatch, think of it as more of a GT.

I expect a mk5 Golf GTi would be a much better proposition with a stronger engine too.

Oh, I say this as a long time Ford fan - my (late) step father was Ford of Europes brake cooling expert.

Good MPG from a C63, you sure? I heard they were painful.

Sorry the 39mpg was from the supercharged V6. I'd very much like to drive a focus RS. They come in auto?

Good MPG from a C63, you sure? I heard they were painful.

Sorry the 39mpg was from the supercharged V6. I'd very much like to drive a focus RS. They come in auto?

Ah!

I know someone with a C63 AMG and he can easily get mid 25 mpg, I think that's good for a huge engine!

Focus RS's and ST's are manual only, the old ones anyway. That's why I bought my Volvo 850R as I badly broke my leg, the M3 had a heavy clutch!

RS is too much money, I'm too tight (and poor) to be spunking £20k on a car. I've got a couple of motorbikes for extreme speed. I just want a newer car that in standard form is capable of a bit of fun. Had my heart set on a Seat Leon Cupra 240, but after reading about oil consumption issues have decided to look elsewhere.

I'd have a MK2 Ocy VRS, but really don't like the look.

Any other suggestions? My requirements are

06 or newer

5 seats

200bhp or more

over 30mpg on a run

Comfortable

Sporty

Not many known issues.......

Answers on a postcard lol

RS is too much money, I'm too tight (and poor) to be spunking £20k on a car. I've got a couple of motorbikes for extreme speed. I just want a newer car that in standard form is capable of a bit of fun. Had my heart set on a Seat Leon Cupra 240, but after reading about oil consumption issues have decided to look elsewhere.

I'd have a MK2 Ocy VRS, but really don't like the look.

Any other suggestions? My requirements are

06 or newer

5 seats

200bhp or more

over 30mpg on a run

Comfortable

Sporty

Not many known issues.......

Answers on a postcard lol

3 MPS

3 MPS

£425 a year tax is too much mate, would tick all the boxes otherwise

Problem with the MPS3 is the tax, I think they are in the £400 a year bracket.

As for the VRS handing better than a ST no fricking way ever, sorry I had my ST for 4.5 years and even standard they are better than the VRS, However you can upgrade the VRS shocks and springs to correct that and make it better but still a set of Eibachs on the ST and its a dream to drive.

As for tuning being limited... I strongly disagree , like everything if you have deep pockets then it can go very fast indeed I had 300bhp out of mine and that was a map+exhaust+intercooler+Induction Kit and that was code:red.

Now A good friend of mine has pushed on with his car and its now 430bhp, its been in a few mags as well jamsport in Northampton built it and they even had a way to stop the liners splitting as well.

Oh that's another problem, 2007 models even standard cars split the liners as the walls are so thin it would appear that around the "57" plate we did have a few bad batches of cars, a friend had one and did the liners within 3000 miles, all replaced under warranty.

the early engines are know to have this weekness and the drive shafts on the early ones break if you get a little happy down at santa pod, having said that mine was fine.

Defiantly something to watch out for. 2006 cars had the stronger clutch the later cars seem to have had a change and a few cars had slipping clutches when you get to the 300bhp mark.

Honestly the best car I have owned it was fun, comfortable, Fast when you need it and yes you can see 30's in the MPG but if you are then you are doing well Those 2.5 make a love noise if you are stil not sure there are many companies that have demo cars to show you what you can get for a modest sum.

Ron

What is you maximum budget for a car to suit all your other points on the wish list?

george

Love to see 300-430bhp in a FWD car, even with a LSD. 1st and 2nd gears become pointless! You'd need such deep pockets to avoid wheelspin and torque steer that you may as well just buy a better car! Unless you are hugely passionate about Fords I guess.

Regarding the C63 getting 25mpg, well that's pretty bloody good for a 6.2 engine. Tyres and parts aren't cheap though. They make the best noise though.

Damn those Mazda 3 MPS's are amazing value, we have a disabled foster child so I could even get the car tax for free.

Budget is around £8k really.

Keep the suggestions coming please

What is you maximum budget for a car to suit all your other points on the wish list?

george

Yes a key bit of info needed really.

Astra VXR, they torque steer loads but is another option. Probably on a par with the ST to be honest.

Are you really able to save that much money on insurance with the performance cars that we are going to suggest over a Octy vRS.

Do you pay just to much insurance at present?

The Seat that you asked about is no more of a risky buy than any other car.

You could go for a Ford with a Powershift box, or a Subaru Estate, or a Volvo just anything.

You can find a good one or a lemon, or high Service cost coming up, its really down to you and your mechanical skills or a 'mates rates mechanic'.

Have fun looking, but as far as your Skoda goes its sometimes better the Devil you know,

& you never see how ugly your car is when driving it, unless looking in shop windows!.

(or spot another one the same on the road)

Using the 'Disabled exempt road tax' on an car with expensive road tax is a bit cheeky, but then that what i do,

no point putting it on a £30 or £110 annual one.

(they are clamping down on abuse of the Exemption but when it is the car for the Childs or DLA recipients transportation its not relevent.)

george

Edited 11 July, 201213 yr by sk4gw

Insurance on the VRS with mods declared is circa £550 FC, I've had quotes for the ST and Seat Leon of around £330, so quite a saving really.

As for using the disabled exemption it's irrelevant really, we have two cars and both get used for our foster child, if we choose to exempt the more expensive car who cares, it's not like we get value for money with our road tax........

The Free road tax plus over £2800 every year in Mobility money helps the wheels go around on a car tho!

george