Ford Focus ST
Gary Coulson writes
When I got in I was immediately reassured of its excellent build quality and cosy cabin that Focus has always given with a well laid out ergonomic cockpit. Its Riccaro bucket seats wrap around you and make you feel really in the car. But wait, what is this? ;Turbo gauges, metal pedals, one hundred and sixty on the Speedo, looks like the faithful family pet has been given a growl.
When you turn over the 2.5 litre turbo charged five cylinder power unit that has been shoe horned under the bonnet you tend to hover the throttle pedal and gently squeeze, the music that caresses your ears is transferred to your face in the form of a rather large grin. You let off a little and the muffled pop from the exhaust turns the grin into a laugh because you know you are just about start a beautiful love affair with a machine. At this point you may think I have gone slightly mad but trust me, you have to try it!
A short, silky shift into first and away you go, although first is hardly needed as it would happily pull away without it. The trick with Focus ST on your first journey is to find lots of empty road as it has a habit of catching up with the car in front rather fast and without any kind of effort from the throttle. The power delivery is very smooth and torque is immense at low revs and coupled with the beautifully positive steering makes for a really easy relaxed town drive. Even though the RS team at Ford have given the car the great handling and the grip of my girlfriend holding on to a bar of chocolate it is amazing how smooth it is, absorbing bumps and holes beautifully.
Putting the gears into fifth and sixth at 30 to 40mph is more than comfy and the rev counter should never have to go above two and a half thousand. There is one slight problem with when doing this, there is some kind if little demon that sits under the bonnet and you can hear it calling you names like sissy pants or telling you it's like Driving Miss Daisy. The moment that road opens up in front of you it starts to shout at you ... a barrage of things like "your mum looks like a Camel", or "where's your nappy, baby face?"; that wannabe Stirling Moss that dwells beneath the skin of us all breaks through and suddenly your free. Both driver and machine breath a huge sigh of relief as the engine note changes and your pulse starts to race. At 50mph you bring it into third and press the throttle, launching you into a world that I suppose could be described as the dark side. If Darth Vader needed something to relieve the stresses and strains of a hard day conquering the universe and torturing princesses he would choose a Focus ST. (see note below)
At first it all gets a little scary and maybe a little worrying when you hit seventy because it becomes quite apparent that the Speedo needle is still rising at the same rate that it was in second and third. There is no end to the immense torque that the fire-breathing dragon under the bonnet is throwing at you. You can hear it roaring and shouting at car in front, "Get out of the way or get burnt it screams", who is in control here, the car or me. The ST's lust for three figure speed has to be tamed you know but it would be like telling a polar bear to go easy on the baby seals.
The ST feels just as solid and sure on the road at high speeds as it does around town when on a leash. The slightest adjustment of the wheel alters the direction as if in a go-cart, those wrap around Reccaro's doing the job of keeping you upright and snug. The sure footedness of the car gives you great confidence when turning into bends and planting the throttle into the apex just makes it dig in even harder to find that grip that the engine is demanding. If things do get a little out of shape it is hardly noticed as the Electronic Stability Programme does its job of controlling under and over steer. Eventually you are forced into admission and give up trying to push the car to its limits, I am sure I can hear that voice again "is that all you have got Nancy boy". Within a few miles your heart starts to beat normally again and that tingling sensation in your fingers and toes dies away and once again you are back in the world of the responsible and eco conscious. You feel a kind of a bond with an ST that is something only a special machine can give you. I am just not sure if the relationship is good buddies or master and servant, then again, I can cope with that, my master at work growls like my ST but I know he means well.
As you get out, start to walk away and look back at the ST sitting there looking back at you it whispers "see you tomorrow if you think you are hard enough".
Ford ST Models & Pricing*
- Fiesta ST = £14,000
- New Focus ST = £18,250
- New Focus ST-2 = £19,250
- New Focus ST-3 = £20,250
As yet there is no New Mondeo ST but watch this space (previous Mondeo ST is available as a used car
* prices correct as at April 2008. Please check latest prices and offers with our sales staff
Gary and Tempest Vehicles urge you to drive safely, within the speed limits and do not torture little princesses.