'18 Focus St: The Review

"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword) 10/05/2018 at 11:47 • Filed to: Oppo review

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Background: after experiencing numerous problems with my previous car, a relatively low miles ‘10 mini cooper s, I decided I had had enough, and began shopping for a used car. I was already looking at focuses (focusi?) As my experiences really turned me off of non-porsche german cars, leaving only the focus and the veloster. I live with my parents still, allowing a more substantial payment. Even though I should be getting a job soon, between debt and everything I would rather go inexpensive to leave room for future hoopties.

Finally, I read an article on the FP that mentioned Ford’s factory discounts on cars such as the ST. This meant I could get a new car for the same as nice used examples just a month earlier. This sealed the deal.

The buy: dealer was ok. Some finangling was required to maximize my discounts, but the salesman was extremely cooperative given I was getting the car for basically cost. The trade in I got for the mini was abysmal, but the hood release had broken for the second time literally the day I went to get it appraised. Wow. Did I mention I now hate that car? The Focus was traded from another dealership, as my dealer didn’t have any. No test drive but I didn’t care. This is when the problems really began, as the other dealer didn’t remove the brake rotor shipping protectors before they drove it to mine. Yikes. Also, my car didn’t have a trunk liner, which I didn’t realize until I got home. I did look the car over before I took delivery, but I didn’t think to look back there. The dealer understood, and gave me a liner from another car on the lot. It had a cutout for the subwoofer mine didn’t have. This matters because when I got the one that was supposed to be from my car... it also had the cutout. Which means the other dealer pulled one from another car. Whatever, there are bigger problems in life. I ended up with an essentially option-less Focus ST new with a six year extended warranty for the same price as a used, low mileage loaded car. I got it (not including trade in) for 22,195, (this including a six year extended warranty) off an MSRP of 26,045. although, this deal is similar to what is now advertised on their website, it wasn’t at the time.

The car: fantastic. I bought a no-options car, and it has basically eveything I need. The real quibble I have is that interior materials vary wildly. The seats are nice for cloth, the window switches and steering wheel are fantastic. The center console is made out of some cheap plastic that scratches with a fingernail . The shift knob also feels cheap. Base stereo is fine, I’m no audiophile. Mostly I love sync and usb compatibility. Seats are comfy, and the car is reasonably roomy. Visibility is ok, but the a pillars are huge. Pedal feel isn’t as nice as the mini, but decent. Shifter similarly so, it doesn’t really make an impression other than the cheap knob. Most of all, I love the massive flat and raked windshield. Reminds me of an 80's wedge car when I drive it, really enhances the experience for me as odd as that sounds.

The drive: I’m in love. Not insanely fast by any means, but it just pulls so hard in second gear. Fantastic, but pedestrian feeling until you wind it up. Power comes on early, but the rev range is so huge that by the time it gets going you are already going sixty in third. Cornering is dead flat. The car feels like a spaceship compared to the crap I’m used to. Brakes are likewise fantastic. Combined with the reasonable ride and this car beats the piss out of the mini, which felt like a very zippy bus riding on a rock hard suspension. I don’t like the 18 inch rims for a daily, I’ve scratched them already (although I’m used to them now). Mostly they don’t allow for sloppy parallel parking at all. Of special note, I’m only getting 18.5 mpg in suburb traffic, compared to the EPA 22 city. Dear god, I hope this is break in, as the gas tank is frustratingly tiny. As of writing the car has about 1,500 miles on it.

Also of note: I do like the sound symposer. Given that it isn’t a speaker, and rather the engine noise ducted into the cabin, it gets a pass. Makes the car sound reasonably meaty considering I am definitely not going to make the mistake of putting an exhaust on it. If it was a speaker I would have removed it. The car also has a legit spare instead of making me use runflats.

Conclusion: I just love this car. I would have been so much better off with one of these or a fiesta last time, and I imagine this (with the warranty) will keep me satisfied as a daily. I wish I would have gotten the heated leather Recaro seats, but in this case, beggars can’t be choosers. Next thing is to take it someplace fun, and take some more pictures. I feel like I am going to own this baby for a long time. This is an impressive product . It makes me really sad that they are killing it. I’M LOOKING AT YOU FORD WHAT AM I GOING TO BUY NEXT TIME AHHH

Next on the list: winter tires and mats.

Total Score: 8/10. That would increase to 9/10 should the fuel economy improve. Needs a bigger gas tank and a nicer dashboard. I would also like leatherette seats honestly instead of cloth or real leather.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > My bird IS the word 10/05/2018 at 11:51

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I really like the look of these, and you chose a great color.

I’d definitely be happy to drive one. Love the usability of a hatchback.

My bird IS the word > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/05/2018 at 11:55

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IMO best of the hot hatches. It makes me want the RS even more but I think it would make the interior even more egregious for that price level.

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > My bird IS the word 10/05/2018 at 12:05

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I’ve had a ‘17 ST and now an ‘18 ST (hot pepper red, ooohhh yeah) for a total of 16 months. A few points:

- your description of brakes and speed are spot on to what I feel. I’m partial to the third gear pull but that gets you in a heap of trouble fast.

- mileage will get better. Both of mine started really low for the average, mine now is at 24.6 due to my drive to work is only 6 miles and at most 30% highway depending on which way I go. My other had about 26mpg average.

- avoid LSPI, meaning don’t hammer it heavily into boost at low rpms in 5th and 6th (not sure why one would). When going up hill at highway speed in 6th, downshift to 4th or 5th. The cruise control programming is aggressive and will boost in 6th up a hill. LSPI can blow engines, usually more in modded cars but just a word for the wise. I’ve never had trouble but I also downshift in these situations.

- if you use the hatch or the car In general for hauling (I have) a neat trick is to pull out the headrests of the back seats, then pull the back seat cushions up (if you grab them from the back of the cushion under the back of the seat, you should feel it and you can pull them up and rest against the front seats(. Then you can lay the back seats down flat and you get a lot more space. You may know this already but if not, it’s super helpful. If you don’t understand my explanation, there’s a ton of YouTube vids on it.

Enjoy, sounds like you will just like I am!

My bird IS the word > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 10/05/2018 at 12:09

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I’ll have to look into the seats. I think mine folded flat just fine with the headrests in... but I wasn’t really paying attention. Thanks.

ihm96 > My bird IS the word 10/05/2018 at 12:10

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The rough ride on those Mini’s really improve when you get rid of the runflats. My my mom has had a Cooper S of each Gen. Compared to Focuse s I’ve driven I definitely prefer the Mini but in terms of which one I think would be less of a headache to own down the line I’d bet its the Focus

My bird IS the word > ihm96 10/05/2018 at 12:12

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I’ve detailed why I hated the mini. It’s been nothing but stupid problems, and the expensive ones were all about to come up according to the forums.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > My bird IS the word 10/05/2018 at 12:14

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Yeah, the RS is great, but once you’re paying that much, there are other very interesting options. The reviews of the Type R are great, but I can’t get over the styling. If they offer versions in the future that tone things down a little, it might find its way onto my list. 

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > My bird IS the word 10/05/2018 at 12:15

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Completely flat or angled flat? If completely then maybe your front seats were set differently. You can’t fold them completely flat without lifting up the back seat cushions, but if you did that and had the headrests in then Maybe I’m doing extra work, lol

My bird IS the word > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 10/05/2018 at 12:18

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Like I said I need to check. I haven’t used it much like that, I didn’t even know the seats pulled out.

My bird IS the word > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 10/05/2018 at 12:29

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Yeah I don’t think I would have figured that out if you didn’t tell me. Thanks.

ihm96 > My bird IS the word 10/05/2018 at 12:36

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My mom never really had issues with hers but it wouldn’t surprise me lol. Both good cars. I love the Fiestas too, I’ve only driven a base stickshift one but even that was a blast

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > My bird IS the word 10/05/2018 at 12:43

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No prob, enjoy the car! You always hear things about these and fiestas, but I reminded myself that yes, these cars aren’t going to be perfect as they started as economy cars. Really though, they’re a hoot and a great DD. There’s nothing else I could want right now for the price point that could accomplish what this car does for me.

Svend > My bird IS the word 10/05/2018 at 13:21

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Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 10/05/2018 at 13:35

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What does LSPI stand for?

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > My bird IS the word 10/05/2018 at 13:36

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Mostly they don’t allow for sloppy parallel parking at all.

I hear you on that. I’ve taken to feeling out the curb by steering into it, then stopping, straightening the tires and then pulling forward, that way I KNOW I’m not rubbing the rim on the curb. I’m so sad about all the curb rash on my wheels.

My bird IS the word > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 10/05/2018 at 13:39

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The rash I had on the mini was all from the previous owner, I was hoping to avoid it on this car. However, the mini had 16s, and I was able to bump the curb with the tire no problem. The focus I did that and the tire slipped off the curb, scratching the rim.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > My bird IS the word 10/05/2018 at 13:40

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The RS is one I’d consider if I can find it severely depreciated and somehow still in stock form. It’s possible that none of that is likely since it may actually become something of a collectors car.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > My bird IS the word 10/05/2018 at 13:43

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Yeah, I’ve learned to approach a spot with my wheel turned something like 45 degrees to ensure it’ll only be the tire that contacts the curb. From there I’m always able to make fine adjustments without scraping my wheels.

Have you ever looked into the cost of having wheels refinished? It’s something I may look into. The cheap answer is probably Plastidip, but I’m not sure I’d like the look of that. But not sure a 2010 m/y car is worth more...

karl_sans_marx > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 10/05/2018 at 15:33

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Ditto on the fuel economy: I’d consider myself an aggressive driver in Chicago city+interstate driving, and I get 23-24 mpg on average (2013, 45k miles) . When I’m gentle, I can get up to 30mpg. The car is stock programmed to respond to your driving style. S toked to find I don’t have to trade for a Mazda3 to get reasonable mpg .

If my setup were stock, I suspect it’d be even better: Cobb Stage 3 isn’t first intended to improve fuel economy.

My bird IS the word > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 10/05/2018 at 16:06

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Ehh, its not bad enough for me to care. It's just my daily, I'm not going to let the scratches and whatnot bother me on this car.

My bird IS the word > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 10/05/2018 at 16:08

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I hate to say it, I think its going to pull a lancer evo.

Pooper Scooper > My bird IS the word 10/05/2018 at 16:44

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G as mileage will only improve if you learn to ease off the gas and shift early. I’m averaging 23.4 mpg mixed and I really work hard to keep it that high. I do disagree with you on the cheap shifter. Idk if they changed something, but my 15 Focus ST 1 has a leather wrapped shifter.

Joe6pack > My bird IS the word 10/05/2018 at 17:14

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These cars are absolute bargains. I chose the GTI over the ST, but I really liked the Focus.

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 10/05/2018 at 17:57

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Low speed pre ignition. Basically creates unnecessary knock in the engine. Lots of stuff online on it if you’re bored 

Surveysays! > My bird IS the word 10/05/2018 at 19:48

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In regards to mileage, i do mostly city stop and go during the week. You can get into the 25-27 mpg range pretty easily. I generally just go 1-3-6 or 1-4-6, get to 6th gear early and it makes a big difference, just dont slam the pedal down in 6th gear if you need to accelerate.

Trump's Left Butt Cheek > My bird IS the word 10/05/2018 at 20:31

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‘15 Focus ST3. These cars needs two mods: 1) Ford Racing Tune and 2) a LSD. Makes a world of difference. The only thing I dislike about this car is long road trips...suspension far too stiff. I am getting 27 MPG and am not light on the skinny pedal.  I did just get a new trans under warranty @ 35K.  I am a bit worried about that.

Trump's Left Butt Cheek > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 10/05/2018 at 20:37

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I have had my ST for 3 years and did not know I could pull up the rear seats....dang.

My bird IS the word > Trump's Left Butt Cheek 10/05/2018 at 20:43

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I'v e found the suspension to be just fine. I don't really plan on modding it since I'd much rather spend the money on other projects. 

wafflesnfalafel > My bird IS the word 10/05/2018 at 22:47

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S uper nice, (and awesome price - damn.) Love that color. It’s still a fabulous looking car...

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > My bird IS the word 10/06/2018 at 01:27

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Congrats and thanks for the review!

RoyalH > My bird IS the word 10/06/2018 at 04:23

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I’ve got a ‘13 I bought with 28k miles and have put about 40k on since. I love the thing. It’s good fun that doesn’t compromise the practicality of the base Focus in any meaningful way. Especially good on mountain roads. I am averaging 26 to 27 mpg with a best of 33 and a worst of 20. Note that in actual calculations of filling the tank, it usually beats the trip computer if over 26 mpg. My biggest co mp laint is visibility to the rear. The ‘13 does not have a backup camera and it is harder to back into a parking space than my ‘89 Dodge dually pickup. I also don’t like that I can’t see the hood (I don’t share your enthusiasm for the long sloping windshield with corresponding long dashboard ) and am considering an aftermarket exhaust because I hate the ugly twin hexagon exhaust tips. My only trouble so far has been some sort of b oost pressure sensor replaced under warranty.