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You are in... Forums > Discuss This > Drives > Ford Focus ST (2012) CAR review
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Joined:
Sep 07
Posts: 2581
admin says:
Aug 06
Posts: 663
daveandrews13 says:
Disagree, I think the standard car is far better looking than this monster. I wanted a new ST when the new model came out, but then I saw the pictures. I think the interior looks awful, really low rent (5" screen?!) and then they took 18 months to actually launch it, in which time I got bored of waiting and bought something better. I like Ford, but I think they are doing the World car thing wrong.
Jun 07
Posts: 1003
chrisward1978 says:
Autocar have a review of the Focus ST estate. More practical and with a better looking rear end. Compelling madness.
www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/first-drives/first-drive-review-ford-focus-st-estate
Feb 07
Posts: 4482
bertandnairobi says:
"if they get the materials and detailing right. But they won't, will they". There´s a touch of recieved wisdom here. I´ve sat in the Ford Mondeo and I´ve driven it. And I´ve had a close look at all the similarly themed cars. Each one has something a bit **** about it but there´s nothing overtly worse about the Ford Mondeo. The mantra that Ford gets materials and detailing wrong is just that, a mantra. None of these "faults" are critical or visible from more than 25 mm away. Many are just matters of taste passed off as objective truths. Don´t like Ford´s dash design? Well, so what. It doesn´t affect how it drives and it´s not unprofessional. There´s no point in saying a Mondeo (or it´s competitors) isn´t as refined as an Audi; not much is. Further none of these detail failings really matter on a day to day basis. As with all cars, most things you don´t like you learn to ignore after a short while. I think this obsession with millimetric perfection has become tedious.
Designwise, Ford´s stuck in a hole. The more Martin Smith talks up "kinetic design" the less interesting these cars get. Both the Mk1 and Mk2 looked very distinctly different from their peers. This design, especially in dark colours, is oddly anonymous when you consider how many styling doodads they stuck all over it. It´s damn near as overcooked as Citroen´s awful C4 /DS4. Fundamentally the graphics are dull.
@bertandnairobi Have you seen the "chrome" grille on the current Mondeo? It's very obviously cheap plastic from a hundred paces. And don't get me started on the black plastic grilles inside the Focus' gaping maw. Horrific details, both.
I´d noticed the chrome grille but hadn´t noticed it was deficient. It´s not clear whether I am lacking good taste or you are being over-sensitive. I think this means it´s a subjective thing. Fastidious customers won´t like it and more practically minded people won´t care. I don´t care.
Sep 10
Posts: 175
MG5Sport says:
Why are they comparing these three cars? They aren't direct competitors (though the Focus ST and Golf GTI are very, very close) and the VXR already has direct competitors in the upcoming Focus RS and Golf R, not to mention the upcoming Impreza WRX STI and Lancer Evolution XI. Plus Vauxhall/Opel is launching a Astra that will compete with the Golf GTI and Focus ST directly.
@bertandnairobi
That's great that you don't care
But for me, I don't like ford's new front grille's on their cars (Focus ST and Fiesta) they are horrifically ugly, and they remind of what Peugeot's 207, 308, 407 ugly gaping grille's were
Nov 10
Posts: 184
Moretti says:
Not sure about the UK market, but in the US, the grille comes painted if you order the sport package or get the more upscale trim levels. Still looks like a toad (maybe the reason they don't offer it in green or brown), but that little change from bare black plastic to painted makes a big difference in terms of perceived quality. Wish they sold the Astra here, but the only US choices for this type of car (compact hatchback) is the Ford, even uglier Mazda, and the overrated trash VW and even talking about purely the non-performance models only adds a Toyota. I'd prefer a small wagon to a 5-door hatch, but that leaves only the Audi and I've made my experience-based opinions on that junk abundantly clear.
Jan 12
Posts: 17
PAAdam says:
Great spec car from Ford and by avoiding expensive tech parts it is nicely priced. If I was looking for a hatchback family car this could be it although design-wise it is a disappointment compared to what the Focus used to look like. BUT since I prefer to drive something slightly sportier I will be looking at the Astra or Scirocco. Still, except for the looks, nice job Ford.
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