Test-Drove a 2014 Focus ST

"The WB" (thewb) 12/12/2013 at 17:57 • Filed to: None

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After the input I asked for the other day, I decided to get some seat time in an ST today. Went and tested the ingot silver 2014 ST with the ST2 package.

Visually, the car is like the rest of the vehicles in its class - not particularly inspiring, but tastefully functional and quirky enough to be something beyond an econobox.

The interior was the Charcoal semi-leather Recaro, with the MyFordTouch. In the short time I had to play with it, I wasn't particularly impressed with ease-of-use, but it seemed like it could be learned easily enough. I did notice the lack of tactile buttons, however.

Driver controls were well placed. I never had to reach for a shift, and the throw was a good length, with distinct gating for all 6 speeds. Instruments were not easily decipherable and had short sweep distances on all but the speedometer and tach, which were easily visible and placed well.

Inside was comfortable, clean, and tasteful. Ford has certainly come a long way from even 5 years ago. My only complaint was the glossy black plastic around the volume knob, which was already fingerprinted. Rear room was acceptable for a compact, boot room was significant and would meet all of my needs.

Clutch feel suited a car you could drive all day, every day. It had an easily determined engagement point that progressed gradually.

Power was more than enough - the melting leftovers of an earlier snowstorm left wet patches everywhere, but even giving it full throttle with one tire in the wet and one in the dry, torque steer was relatively controlled and traction control managed well. I could feel the "torque vectoring" braking working on the slick wheel, and never did it feel out of hand or like it would wrest the wheel from me. The last ST I drove was a 2005, and this one is leaps and bounds ahead in every way - a pleasure to drive.

I am very satisfied with the refinement level of the car, impressed with the broad torque delivery, and the interior is great for this price point. There were no bendy roads near enough to really give it a test, but a couple of u-turns left me with confidence knowing that pushing it to the limit would probably be very linear. As noted by many reviewers, liftoff when entering corners really allows the car to yaw quickly, which would extend to lift-off oversteer when really pushed or while trailbraking.

I still have to do due diligence and test the MazdaSpeed3 and (sigh) the WRX hatch, but I do expect the Ford to come out ahead, especially considering the price difference. I could easily drive this car everyday, get good gas mileage, and have a lot of fun doing it. The sales associate was great and is going to call me when a black one comes in so I can look at it in person.

ddavidn > The WB 12/12/2013 at 18:02

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Awesome, keep us updated. I hope to do this in a few years (with the 2014 models, still) too.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > The WB 12/12/2013 at 18:11

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I test drove a black ST2.

I loved it with two crucial exceptions.

1: it was black. Not a fan.

2: My shoulders are too wide for the scoops on the Recaro seats. It was very uncomfortable for me.

The WB > ddavidn 12/12/2013 at 18:14

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Will do. If I end up going with it I'll keep updating.

The WB > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 12/12/2013 at 18:18

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People either love or hate black cars. I love white in the 108degree summer, but prefer the look of black.

As for the seats... I noticed I don't tend to lean back in seats, but sort of hover forward of them (weird, I know.) I will have to check that next time I'm at the dealership since I have somewhat wide shoulders.

StoneCold > The WB 12/12/2013 at 18:24

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You're not alone in 'hovering'

Saracen > The WB 12/12/2013 at 18:25

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I got to drive (and by drive I mean thrash) one on an autocross course last year.

If you think it's fun on the street wait until you toss it into the corners.

Very controllable lift-off oversteer...in a FWD car!!

The WB > Saracen 12/12/2013 at 18:28

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That is encouraging, I am going to try to get back into autocrossing at some point, and I figure it will help to have a car I can do it in.

I also am within striking range of a road circuit, which would be quite nice.

The WB > StoneCold 12/12/2013 at 18:41

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Glad to know I'm not the only one. I think it stems from my first car, which had broken power seats. You had to hook a drill motor up to adjust them, and they'd slowly creep backwards. Eventually, I'd be sitting upright and they'd be lying on the back seats, because I was too lazy to adjust them. I just got used to sitting upright and not leaning on the seatback.

A terrible idea in an accident, but you know.

Tom McParland > The WB 12/12/2013 at 18:59

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The WRX is bonkers quick but feels cheap on the inside, the AWD is nice to have but if you are not in the snow-belt you don't really need it. The MS3 is pretty sweet the only thing that is a bonus with that is you can pick up lightly-used or CPO examples for a nice deal.

liquid_popcorn > The WB 12/12/2013 at 18:59

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Out of curiosity, have you cross shopped a GTI as well? I ask because I did, and ended up in a GTI. (disclosure: I now work for VW in sales, haha)

coriolis > The WB 12/12/2013 at 19:06

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I'd also suggest looking into getting an ECU tune for the ST if you end up with one. The MS3/WRX also have its own versions. These devices may really change the car a, look up what owners of the cars with a tune are experiencing. For my ST, its got a bit more bite - sure I get much worse gas mileage, but it's awesome.

I run a stock ST with a Cobb AccessPort, using FSWerk's 91 tune (ver 8b). Stock stats for the ST is 252hp/270tq, about 220hp to the crank.

There were other ST's with different tunes (both versions and tune device, SCT is another) and I had the lowest numbers. :P

Kate's Dirty Sister > The WB 12/12/2013 at 20:11

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I had mine for 4 months. Love it, except for the city mpg.
It is terrible, like 15mpg and I'm not even pushing it.
On the other hand, it is awesome on the highway.

Your review is pretty much spot on.

Slow4o > Saracen 12/12/2013 at 20:12

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I have never experienced a FWD car with so much oversteer, and for that matter a TC system that allows that much oversteer. The Ford guy's running the autocross I did told me to keep TC on, and I was amazed at how much it let me step the rear out.

Kate's Dirty Sister > liquid_popcorn 12/12/2013 at 20:14

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The gti is awesome but the price difference is substantial.
I got 4k rebate on my st and 0% financing, at this point the gti was almost 7k more with 5% financing.
It was a no brainer.

disclaimer : Canada

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > The WB 12/13/2013 at 09:32

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The hovering thing would get old pretty quickly since I'm looking at it as a daily car.

Plus it can't be good in a wreck if you are forced back into the seat. You'd probably have mighty sore shoulders.

liquid_popcorn > Kate's Dirty Sister 12/13/2013 at 09:59

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Ah, okay. Here in the US the GTI pricing is about even with the ST, at least in my area. Sounds like the ST definitely made more sense, then.

rogco > liquid_popcorn 12/13/2013 at 16:41

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I'm in USA, and shopping around the 2014 focus ST will probably save me $3,000 over a comparable GTI. I'm interested in the new GTIs coming out, but they have to do something about the plaid seats!

liquid_popcorn > rogco 12/14/2013 at 13:42

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Come to or call me at Lindsay VW in Sterling, VA - we'll see if we can close that $3k gap. ;)

The WB > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 12/17/2013 at 13:38

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Yeah, I've thought about that. Oh well.

The WB > liquid_popcorn 12/17/2013 at 13:40

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Well, I get fleet pricing through my company (which the ST is strangely eligible for) so I can get a pretty good deal on it.

I'm going to test drive the GTI, but it will really have to impress me.

The WB > coriolis 12/17/2013 at 13:41

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That's what I've heard, looking at some of the torque charts is astounding.

The WB > Tom McParland 12/17/2013 at 13:42

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Yeah, AWD would be needed maybe 2 days out of the year, just not enough to justify.

The WB > Kate's Dirty Sister 12/17/2013 at 13:43

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Hmm. That's about what my Ranger gets city-only, but I don't do much stop and go where I live so it should be ok.