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What hot hatch do you own? This poll is closed. |
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| Golf GTI / R / R32 |
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196 | 0.02% |
| Impreza WRX / STi |
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133 | 0.01% |
| Mazdaspeed 3 |
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92 | 0.01% |
| Veloster Turbo |
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20 | 0.00% |
| Focus ST |
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149 | 0.01% |
| Other Hot Hatch |
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230 | 0.02% |
| Elantra GT |
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1000001 | 99.92% |
| Total: | 1000821 votes | ||
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The Focus ST was the first car I ever bought that was both new and my own choice (I always got hand-me-downs that I either never needed or didn't fit to my lifestyle). I was in the market for a hatch because of the people-moving aspect + gear/luggage aspect. I had looked at the MS3, Abarth, ST, and even the Juke. ST just felt fun to drive everywhere and even when I'm being liberal with the gas, got better gas mileage than my truck on the highway. Living in Illinois though, I cannot fathom why they put the Eagle F1 summer tires on them without an all-season option. I'm saving up to get a new set of all-seasons for the inevitable weather change and saving my Eagles for the summers/autoX, with the idea to get new rims for the summers when the time is right. After that I'm picking up mudflaps and hopefully the TSB that Ford put out for the 1-2, 2-3 engine bang will finish out what I want to do this year to it. I honestly wanted the Abarth because its a blast to drive, but drat that thing needs a sixth gear. The seating position is a bit weird too, but I do like what they did with the pedals for heel-toe downshifting.
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Jul 31, 2013 19:41
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| # ¿ Apr 27, 2024 23:44 |
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The few things I dislike on the ST: -turning radius is big for a small car, but considering I was coming from a truck, still smaller than that. I heard the remedy was to go down a wheel size but the 18s fill that wheel well so nicely -exhaust note is a bit muted on the outside. I wish it was a bit louder to really distinguish it from stock Focuses -brake/gas arrangement is tough for heel toe downshifts, but I've seen people create their own spacers to raise the gas pedal, something I might do in the future since my friends dad is a machinist and loves making custom parts -throttle response feels like its been messed with for a more easier time to drive and save gas. The Cobb access port tuner can fix this, as well as a number of other performance adjustments Those are my dislikes. I love the car and a lot of my buddies want to give it a spin whenever I'm in town.
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Aug 4, 2013 17:47
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Realized a few days ago in the ST when you have your front wipers on and you put the car in reverse, the rear wipers go on. Blew my mind at the things they think of. If I want to keep the car under warranty, and I want to upgrade it, my choices are sticking to the official Ford store I assume? Or would my warranty just not cover the non-stock part?
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Aug 8, 2013 15:32
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Sepist posted:Another cool feature is ford apparently picked at random which ST's have vanity lighting and a telescoping sun shade. My fully loaded ST3 has neither but some peoples ST1/2/3 have both or just one of those features. Some with vanity lighting have 1 or 2 lights My ST1 doesn't have telecoping sun shades, I wish it did because sometimes the sun peeks down in the gap. Also noticed that Euro STs get a dead pedal while US ones get nothing. People are either resorting to getting a weathermate or buying after market, but I wish it was something that Ford US did from the start to match the pedals.
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Aug 8, 2013 16:31
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Learned stick when I bought a '93 S-10 that my mom had to drive home from the guy because I didn't know how. Drove it around stalling it out but got the hang of it and fell in love; all the way to when the tranny stopped grabbing gears and there was a leg-sized hole in the bed. I stopped driving that thing in 2005, and wasn't until the ST that I drove stick again, didn't miss a beat or stall it out since. The salesman was actually surprised I wanted a manual car, told me that automatics got better gas mileage and asked if the ST was for enjoyment or functionality. Idiot, why not both?
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Aug 9, 2013 19:21
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I got the ST1 because I wasn't a fan of the Recaro seats, and neither was my girlfriend (my passenger 75% of the time) and some of my friends. I wish I could have gotten my ST1 with HIDs or even the touch screen, but it requires getting the Recaros. I wouldn't say I'm fat, I'm about 215, but the Recaros are clearly made for someone who is a thinner than that.
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Aug 14, 2013 22:32
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Sepist posted:Re: recaros - I'm 6'1 205 pounds and just took the st3 on a 1400 mile trip, the seats were super comfy. Their comfort seriously varies from person to person. I averaged 28.4 mpg with the Cobb 91 tune and spirited driving the entire time. I'd love to get the Cobb tune someday if thats the sort of gas mileage you're getting. Its incredibly hard NOT to drive the ST like you stole it. I average between 25.8 to 28.1. I did try for about a week of borderline granny driving it (keeping RPMs below 2,500 RPM, shift at 2,000 RPM) and was able to get into the 30s. But then if I wanted to drive like that all the time I'd just get a base Focus.
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Aug 15, 2013 15:43
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I honestly wished I had some hot hatch action when I was younger. My first car was a beat-up 74 Road Runner (in 2000) and after that was my manual '93 S-10, then onto '01 auto Dakota. I loved the fun of driving the S-10 but wished I could hold more passengers and stick more to the ground. At college my friend's girlfriend had a manual Escort Wagon which was a blast to drive.
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Aug 15, 2013 16:47
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Thats a handicapped spot too isn't it.
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Aug 20, 2013 01:36
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I wish I could afford the Accessport, it's incredibly beneficial: better mileage, performance, even has launch control. Unfortunately the next purchase for my ST are all terrains and some mudflaps. Next year I'd like to slap on an exhaust system and get the AP.
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Aug 31, 2013 16:52
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Sockington posted:All terrains or all seasons? When I think All-terrain, I think knobby Jeep tires. Ha ha my phone corrected it to terrains. Honestly rallying out the ST would be pretty fun and badass looking with floppy mudflaps and knobby tires. But yes, all seasons. Either the Continental DWS or Michelins. My dealership actually sent out a bunch of coupons saying they'll match the price of tires and install them. Might take them up on that with the Tire Rack price.
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Aug 31, 2013 21:13
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I like the look of the scoop on the Speed3, wish the ST had something to complete its aggressive look.
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Sep 4, 2013 02:19
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echobucket posted:Going to pick this up tonight. (sorry about the crappy cell phone picture) Definitely looks sharp, nice call on the red! Does the Fiesta ST have the sound symposer like the Focus does?
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Sep 4, 2013 21:57
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Would it be considered perhaps, a fastback?
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Sep 5, 2013 03:38
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echobucket posted:I drove around at Lunch with my phone mounted to the dash so you guys can hear the sound it makes. I like it! Sounds very peppy and looks like its a blast to drive on smaller roads.
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Sep 5, 2013 19:52
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The 18s on the ST doesn't help but if you're not using the e-brake to make your U-turn you're doing it wrong.
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Sep 5, 2013 22:57
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blk posted:Any of you with Focus STs putting car seats or kids in the back? If so, how's it working out? I've done this a few times with my niece and nephew. My niece is two and her car seats fit without any hassle, and my nephew is six so he's fine with a booster, which fits with no problem. Both of them like how the ST drives.
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Sep 7, 2013 05:20
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SpellEdge posted:Looks like I need the rear motor mount tsb done on my focus st, when it clunked on the way home from work today, I thought I ran something over.I did a couple more runs to confirm. I'm a little annoyed since I asked the salesman about the issue before I got the car, and he said it wouldn't be a problem because of the build date. I got the same problem and my dealer didn't know the TSB existed, let alone thought it was possible to recreate. So far I'm the first and only ST they sold to be doing the TSB, although they're still waiting on parts, since June.
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Sep 9, 2013 19:52
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Put on a set of RokBlokz Rally Mudflaps on the ST. Aiming for a set of steelies and winter tires to complete the look for the Illinois winter. Maybe plastidip the steelies white? Anyways, pics. Pardon the iPhone quality, I think I need to get re-accustomed to my Nikon L810 again: Fronts were no problem, just crank the wheel to move the tires out of the way. The real fun were the rear sets. Either you could squeeze them in with the rear end jacked up or remove the tires. I opted for the removing of tires:   Finished! I actually had the "RB" stickers on wrong but luckily they give you a lot if you mess up.  Here it is in daylight. Car has been dirty due to my apartment complex mowing and doing yardwork every week to kick up dust and dirt. With how low the flaps go, looks like no automated carwash lines for me anymore. 
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Sep 11, 2013 00:24
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POST IS NOT EDIT, damnit.
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Sep 11, 2013 00:25
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Damnit Phone!
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Sep 11, 2013 22:41
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Small leak or a puncture or some hooligan? I've had a tire explode in the middle of the night after what I think was hitting a rough piece of curb.
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Sep 16, 2013 15:13
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My '13 Focus ST is at the dealer getting the new motor mounts put in. It's also developed a nasty habit of the parking brake light going on since the handle itself is as sensitive as a 19-year-old virgin.
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Oct 18, 2013 18:52
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They're stock mounts from the base Focus, which don't really have to hold down an engine that's putting out a lot of power. The 2013 models are pretty much the only ones with the problem, the 2014s have the new ones in already. Here's an example. The RMM is doing a terrible job. Supposedly the new rear motor mount is based off of the CP-E, the other mounts from another Ford car I can't remember off of the top of my head. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr6ssEdlAl4
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Oct 19, 2013 01:19
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Yep, I'm sure if I didn't buy the ST that average would be a lot higher.
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Nov 8, 2013 06:17
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Was going to do the Octane Academy as a vacation to get away from the stress of home and work, but that went out the window when my company notified that I was being let go at the end of this month along with a few others  In Focus ST news, for us guys in the parts of the world that get dirt and snow, there is a TSB out to get the handle sensors fixed and covered with sealant since they get clogged and won't respond to human touch.
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Dec 18, 2013 07:45
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Butt Wizard posted:Speaking of new fleet additions - took delivery today: Goddamn that thing looks so clean. I'd love to hoon about in a 90's hatch, what are some other good models from that era in case I somehow come into some money and want to relive some of the classic hatch days?
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Jan 20, 2014 18:56
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Dakotaboy88 posted:Mine runs great, but the rattles in the headliner around the sunroof drive me crazy. I stuff a glove between the liner and the roof until it warms up enough to properly fix it, and this has mostly shut up the rattles. Recently the dash has also started rattling a little on the left side of the My Ford Tough display panel. A little push on the plastic surround shuts it up for awhile. I've been getting this too in my instrument cluster, a push usually solves it as well. It's happened only the past few months as its gotten bitterly cold here in Illinois, in the summer it's quiet, I'm assuming its from the plastics shrinking a bit. When I'm bringing it into service for the handle sensors I'm going to point this out big time that it is driving me nuts and would like it to be addressed ASAP.
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Mar 2, 2014 06:36
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Nice ones! I honestly think white spoked rims are the best, those will most likely be on my ST sometime in the future.
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Mar 5, 2014 19:20
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Yeah I got the same thing, not happy it's in Utah, there's a nice raceway out here in Illinois. Oh well.
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Mar 6, 2014 16:03
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Wish something would go wrong with my ST to get a sweet axle-back exhaust system! Glad to see they helped you out.
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Mar 10, 2014 19:17
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GarageLine has a bracket plate for FoSTs that can not only move the accel pedal up for better heel-toe, but you can also move it to the left for it to be closer to the brake. Pity it's about 125, but so far it's the only part out there unless you go your own route of using shims.
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Apr 4, 2014 19:29
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The 2015 Focus ST will have a flat-bottom steering wheel, new rear and front fascia (slightly), cleaned up interior, improved steering and suspension, same powerplant: http://jalopnik.com/2015-ford-focus-st-this-is-it-1596682576 Looks like they went with the electronic parking brake too. Sort of jealous of the interior, that cubbyhole in front of the shifter would be a huge asset in my '13. Wonder if I can switch out my steering wheel?
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Jun 27, 2014 14:22
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Yeah I disabled hill assist on my FoST because of that.
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Aug 2, 2014 20:14
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Bob A Feet posted:Heres some hot hatch porn. Preemptive I don't care about my car's buck tooth hood gap Ugh one of the reasons I hate living in IL is the stupid front license plate requirement. It makes my ST looks like it's got a Bugs Bunny mouth.
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Aug 19, 2014 18:36
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Probably from people driving them like morons. I don't think I've ever seen a Scion tC owner drive like a human being with self-respect.
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Aug 28, 2014 22:47
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I have a 45 minute commute in my FoST and honestly if it was any other car I'd hate the drive. But there's some nice curvy and scenic roads I can take to work which let me avoid the feeling of driving to work a bit more.
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Sep 3, 2014 21:11
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Depending where you live weather-wise, get WeatherTechs. And if you want some light upgrades that are cheap, I think Cobb is/has a cold air intake or air filter that helps nicely. I just a Cobb air filter in my FoST and it's bit more peppier with better sound.
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Oct 5, 2014 18:08
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If I checked my VIN and it qualifies for the recall, but my car isn't showing any symptoms (yet), should I still try and go ahead with it?
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Oct 30, 2014 15:56
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| # ¿ Apr 27, 2024 23:44 |
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Just called today about the recall and said they'll perform it this Friday. Luckily I was already bringing my car in for an oil change, instrument cluster issues (lots of rattling), and getting new wipers (thank you Owner Rewards). I've had some stalling before and its incredibly scary for it to happen at an intersection, hopefully this solves the issue. What do they technically do with the wiring harness anyway?
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Nov 5, 2014 17:45
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