Ford Focus ST Priced < $25k
 

Article: Ford prices 2013 Focus ST from $24,495* [UPDATE: Configurator launches]

The new Ford Focus ST was just priced at $24,495 - at that price you get 2.0 turbo'd liters pumping out 252hp & 270lb! This this is a bargain for the price. Great interior (optional recaros), Ford Sync, and good looks. Definitely going to be a great contender in the hot hatch segment.

The Mazdaspeed 3 and GTI better watch their backs!

What are your guy's thoughts?

I will surely test drive this thing when it comes out in the Fall/Winter. I was thinking this thing was going to cost north of $30k, comparable to the new VA R20.

thanks! im in the market for a dd#2 hatch so this might work. :tup:

waoh.. that's a ugly fish face...

Wow, cool. It's like an overpriced fwd WRX :ugh2:

hey red-wat are your thoughts on the latest impreza hatch? i saw one this am and it actually looked okay...:ugh2:

I like it, but not in that yellow. I need some sort of fun yet practical vehicle... S2000 is not fulfilling practical duties very well. :)

no way! :rofl2:

meh...

I like it...... That will be an awesome DD. I had a Focus as a DD & now my DD is the Fusion. The new 2013 Ford Fusion looks hot too. Ford has turned the corner drastically in their cars appearances. I wouldn't hesitate to buy the new Focus or Fusion, but not the 1st year it is out though. I would wait for the 2nd yr of production to buy, so that all the bugs are out.

would make for an excellent dd that you can have some fun in :)

there is just something not right about this statement. :rofl2: that's an american camry!

Looks cool! Sure is packing a good amount if power for that car.

Nahhh...... Of course the Z is a better looking vehicle. Have you seen the new Ford Fusion? The front end has the look of the Aston Martin. I wouldn't throw rocks at it. It would be a good DD or even a primary vehicle. In end who are we trying to impress?

Funny question to ask here. :bowrofl:

Yea the new Fusion has some sexy lines for a $20-30k sedan:
Google Image Result for http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/00-2013-ford-fusion-detroit-2012-opt.jpg

yah, it looks like a mitsubishi to me... :ugh2: yah, can't impress anyone with that, you're right. :icon17: hahaha.

personally i dont like sedans; they are useless like all-season tires, imho. it's hatch or coupe for me, i prefer more towards the extremes. :tup:

The Fusion's looking alright for a midsized family sedan, better than the current camry and accord, that's for sure. As for the focus ST, it's about where I was expecting it to fall, price-wise. I think it's a great value fun, yet practical car. I don't remember that huge front fish mouth, though because I remember liking how it looked before, but I def don't like that front end now. For a practical DD, though, I would like to see it with an auto with paddles. (here come the flames) Of course, it is the sporty version of it's line, though, and not being marketed as the practical other car for people with sports cars, lol.

I priced myself a Focus, and I'd need to fork out $29k to get the stuff I want. Forget it, I want my WRX, damn the awful MPG I get!

I think it has the potential to be the best fwd offering in the price range if you need sporty/practical. But if they made an AWD model i'd cream in my pants.:tup:

:iagree: AWD would have been an awesome addition.

:icon18: Somebody throw a box of Kleenex quickly.......

i wonder how the torque steer is vs mazdaspeed3?

We need something that will carry the torch for the EVO. And this platform has serious potential. I test drove a focus SE with my wife and its a great handler with a beautifully tight turning radius. I came off mpressed. She liked it a lot but preferred the roominess of the altima, and the altima feels more powerful. But handling was a delighful surprise for an FWD, I don't think this car will be a bad pick. But AWD rocks on the enthusiast side.

It's got some torque-steer compensation system that works with the electronic power assisted steering, so it's supposed to be muted.

hummm... :tiphat:

Nissan is really good at controlling torque steer. And in the 13 altima. They are adding understeer control as well. If Ford copies this type of tech? It could be a dream to drive? Possibly?

huh... i thought i saw on edmunds(?) review that the current maxima has some level of torque steer when launched. :confused:

how does the understeer control work? by brake distribution? :confused:

Maximas are worse handlers than altimas, believe it or not. Not as reliable either. Maximas basically have more looks. I'm not sure how understeer is controlled specifically, but its description sounds like its computer controlled. Possibly through braking? Let me see if I can find the altima spec sheet again online.

Lifted from Nissan "A Nissan first, the 2013 Altima is equipped with Active Understeer Control (AUC) to give you a smooth, controlled, and comfortable ride. The system senses understeer and oversteer and subtly applies braking power to the inside wheels when you are turning, giving you sharper handling in all conditions."

Thanks :tup:

http://www.nissanusa.com/all-new-alt...ecs/25_sv.html

The new altima is bad azz... me like

huh, always thought maximas were superior to altima's but guess not any more. :tup:

thanks, mustang. yah, applying brakes would help. do you guys remember back in the days when honda had the prelude-SH? that was the other way, i think, where the drive train applied more power to the outer wheels when turning.

In my experience the Maxima is pretty damn stout. I'm thoroughly impressed with that car... especially the handling. Altima? Not so much.

GM_Traitor3.5's Maxima kicks a lot of butt. Especially now since it's on Eibachs and Super Sports. Last year on the stock all-seasons we did a Dragon run with him, me, Red__Zed, and shadoquad (total ~4800lbs) and didn't die. What a rush. Kudos to Nissan for building a really nice, fun sedan. :tup:

Though the new Altima does look really nice. They keep making it more and more like the Maxima.

the 2013 is supposed to get some pretty mileage as well, pretty close to compacts like corollas, civics, and focuses.

so the 2013's is the new re-designed altima they started showing? :confused:

you can tell i dont know much about sedans. hahaha.

:tup:

Maximas giive you more luxury and better styling. Altimas are much lighter and equipped with a 3.5. Are faster and take corners better.

I'll be looking into this when it hits showrooms. I don't mind FWD. This is pretty sweet.

who cares? why is this in the 370z General Discussion section?

agree, it should be in Other Vehicles section