Focus ST curb wait

[JST]

Yes, true. IL speculates that they moved the link to increase the effective size of the bar without actually putting in a bigger bar.

[clyde]

Originally Posted by lemming

what are your thoughts now on the overall package, curb weight/power to weight, packages available, etc?

Too much weight, too little power, frustrating option packages...

But I'm still almost certainly going to buy one. Reference.

[clyde]

Originally Posted by JST

Yes, true. IL speculates that they moved the link to increase the effective size spring rate of the bar without actually putting in a bigger bar.

Fixed that for you. And them.

[clyde]

Went back and read the R&T compro this evening that JST linked to earlier paying more attention to the MS3. But it's not the same MS3 as yours, John, right? I have not kept up on all the platform and sharing.

[lemming]

Originally Posted by clyde

Went back and read the R&T compro this evening that JST linked to earlier paying more attention to the MS3. But it's not the same MS3 as yours, John, right? I have not kept up on all the platform and sharing.

How come its so much cheaper than the JCW.?

It seemed ferocious in the r&T comparison.

[John V]

They introduced a "new" one in '10. Ours is an '09. But the chassis, suspension, brakes, transmission and engine were changed just about not at all.

Incidentally, I drove my buddy's '13 GTI 2.0T DSG to lunch and back today. It is a much more .. "mature" car than the Mazdaspeed. It's playful, but is quieter, more comfortable, and more refined feeling by far than the MS3. The seats are amazing. The steering wheel is fat and has a great feel. It feels very much like a front-wheel-drive BMW. It has a more usable powerband than the Mazda, but it lacks a certain brutality. I was surprised to actually like the transmission (though I wouldn't pick it). I kept thinking that Marisa would really prefer it to her car, but..

Having said all that, our Mazdaspeed has required zero trips to the dealer in three years and 80,000 miles of ownership and has given us one check engine light (stuck EGR valve, which I cleaned). By this time in her ownership our VW... well, yeah. It was a much different experience.

[clyde]

Originally Posted by lemming

How come its so much cheaper than the JCW.?

It seemed ferocious in the r&T comparison.

A more interesting question may be what the margins are on the two cars.

Originally Posted by John V

They introduced a "new" one in '10. Ours is an '09. But the chassis, suspension, brakes, transmission and engine were changed just about not at all.

Incidentally, I drove my buddy's '13 GTI 2.0T DSG to lunch and back today. It is a much more .. "mature" car than the Mazdaspeed. It's playful, but is quieter, more comfortable, and more refined feeling by far than the MS3. The seats are amazing. The steering wheel is fat and has a great feel. It feels very much like a front-wheel-drive BMW. It has a more usable powerband than the Mazda, but it lacks a certain brutality. I was surprised to actually like the transmission (though I wouldn't pick it). I kept thinking that Marisa would really prefer it to her car, but..

Having said all that, our Mazdaspeed has required zero trips to the dealer in three years and 80,000 miles of ownership and has given us one check engine light (stuck EGR valve, which I cleaned). By this time in her ownership our VW... well, yeah. It was a much different experience.

I should probably drive a GTI. But I won't.

[RMR]

Originally Posted by clyde

A more interesting question may be what the margins are on the two cars.

I should probably drive a GTI. But I won't.

I said the very same thing in 2011 when I started looking for a new car.

What sold me on the GTI over the MS3 & MCS was the Autobahn (leather) interior and the 2.0T. It brought me back to the days when I owned the A4 Avant. I chose to go with the DSG because now with the kids getting older my wife will probably be driving the GTI if I need the Pilot. For 22 years I've had a manual as my daily driver. After 3 months with the DSG I would not want the manual in this car. (Long story short - Go test drive a MK6 GTI)

[lemming]

Originally Posted by clyde

A more interesting question may be what the margins are on the two cars.



I should probably drive a GTI. But I won't.

just so you know, i'm not asking to be a meddler, i'm asking because my thought processes often mirror yours, so you're helping me think aloud.



i wish GM had something like the Focus ST.

that's completely stupid and subjective, but symbolically, it would mean something to me to have a Cruze SS that is comparable to the Focus ST.

[JST]

Originally Posted by RMR

I said the very same thing in 2011 when I started looking for a new car.

What sold me on the GTI over the MS3 & MCS was the Autobahn (leather) interior and the 2.0T. It brought me back to the days when I owned the A4 Avant. I chose to go with the DSG because now with the kids getting older my wife will probably be driving the GTI if I need the Pilot. For 22 years I've had a manual as my daily driver. After 3 months with the DSG I would not want the manual in this car. (Long story short - Go test drive a MK6 GTI)

I really like my VW. It fits my needs nearly perfectly, and it's reasonably fun to drive. It does have a Germanic feel to it.

But so does the Focus, and for clyde's purposes, the Focus has one key thing that neither the GTI nor the R has: defeatible stability control. If I had any interest at all in autocrossing this car, that would be a deal-breaker for me. The R is fine on the street, and I've never even noticed or wanted to turn off the ESC in daily driving, but for competition a non-defeatible stability control is like having sex wearing a canvas condom.